Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27552 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
I look to King who doesn’t appear as surprised as I thought he would be.
He smiles at my confused expression. “Pup, I know. I talked to the nurse at the hospital. She told me everything. Well, I made her tell me everything. Told her I would show up every day if she didn’t.”
“You did?” I raise my eyebrows. I shouldn’t be surprised
“Of course, I fucking did. Why do you think I’ve been giving you so much space? Why I haven’t been asking you if you’re okay? She told me not to and that you’d talk when you’re ready and I shouldn’t push you.”
“And you listened?”
“It wasn’t fucking easy,” he admits. “But you’re so brave. Admitting you needed help and getting it. My only problem was admitting that I can’t always be the one who will be able to help you, and that just don’t sit right with me. But I realized that I could help you, by sending Ruby to your room.”
“You know Ruby? That traitor.”
“I know everyone in this town, Pup. You should know this by now. I was locked up with her brother. She used to sneak us in these little turkey pot pies.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and kisses my fingers. “I don’t know what she said to you, but I’m glad she helped you.”
I trace my fingers over the scar lining his eyebrow. “Me, too. She said what I have is long-term postpartum depression, exasperated by pregnancy hormones. I always thought that postpartum was something that went away after you had a baby, but she said it’s different in all women and can sometimes last for years. They may need to tweak them as time goes on but right now, I feel…a lot better. And when Ruby told me her own story of how she went through the same thing, I felt, I don’t know, less alone.”
“Pup, you’re never in this alone.”
The cringe of guilt rears its ugly head. “I wanted to tell you. I did. I tried to, several times. But I didn’t understand what was going on myself, and the thought of coming to tell you that I feel sad or off felt silly and selfish.”
“Selfish is the furthest thing you could ever be. And there’s nothing you can’t tell me, but I understand why you didn’t. I don’t like it, but I understand it.” He presses his forehead against mine, and I inhale the smell of soap and the faint trace of cigarettes. “Make me a promise. In the future when you ain’t feeling right, even if you can’t explain it or understand why, just tell me something’s not right. I won’t try, and fix it. I’ll just be here for you. I am here for you. Always.”
“When did you become so wise?” I ask with a sniffle as my chest swells and the love I feel for King spills from my eye.
King wipes the tear with his thumb and sucks it into his mouth. “When Preppy rose from the dead.”
I scrunch my nose. “Huh?”
He chuckles. “Nothing, I’ll explain it to you later. Better, yet, I’ll let Preppy ramble on about it.”
“There is one more thing I have to tell you,” I admit, biting my lower lip.
“Tell me anything,” he says.
I lick my bottom lip and watch as King’s eyes follow the movements of my tongue. “When I went for my follow up appointment today, the doctor gave me another prescription. One you don’t know about.”
He stills. “For what?”
I put my arms around his neck and pull him closer. “For you. It’s been six weeks.”
Kings eyes darken, his lids hooded. “Now that’s one I can help you fill.”
The anticipation heats the air between us. King stands and lifts me into his arms.
“You don’t have to carry me!” I squeal.
His voice is low and dark, full of raw desire and emotion. “I carried you back then. I carry you now. I’ll carry you. Always.”
Chapter 9
Ray
There have been so many moments when I’ve not felt good enough or strong enough over the past few months, but being with King, like this, is a reminder of clarity. Of what matters.
Of us.
King kisses me passionately, a slow burn that builds into an inferno with one swipe of his tongue against mine. When he pulls back, it’s only so he can navigate the stairs, taking two at a time until we’re alone in the new addition of the house. It’s dark and empty, but I see more clearly than ever before.
I see King.
I’m nervous, although I know I shouldn’t be. It’s been a while, but there’s no doubt what I want, and what I want is him. All of him. Forever.
Now.
“I ache for you, Pup. Now, more than ever.” He stalks over to me. The muscles of his strong thighs flexing beneath his tight jeans. “Did you know that? Do you know what you fucking do to me?”