Page 50 of The King Contract
“You’ve got to try it,” Callum insists, oblivious to our interaction. “King, tell her.”
I settle in beside Millie. “She will. Once the weather dies down, I’m giving her a lesson.”
Millie turns to me. “Since when?”
“Since now. What do you think?”
“Did you not hear my earlier comment about coordination?” she grumbles.
I grin. “I did, but I know you well enough to know you’re your own worst critic. Come on, you might be good at it.”
“Unlikely.”
I wiggle my eyebrows. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Millie twists her mouth into a smile before taking another sip of coffee as Callum scoffs. “Nauseating.”
SOCIAL MEDIA FEEDS EVERYWHERE
@noahkinguploaded new photos: Love me a good storm. And a mojito. I really love a mojito. #australiansummer
@miapeters:Is this a soft launch? Where is her face? WTF IS HAPPENING?
@bellarose32:It’s a fkn hard launch SHE’S TAGGED BITCH. @miapeters
@tantilly:They went to school together, that’s a bit cute.
@rosiethompson:She’s got nothing on Sofia.
@archerlovescoffee:Stop pitting women against women. @rosiethompson
19
MILLIE
Stonefish
“Nervous?”
“A little bit.”
Lies. Fucking lies. I am scared shitless. I’m standing in a brand-new one-piece Ellis insisted I buy for this occasion, but I was too embarrassed with how much it pushed up my breasts, so I threw a rash-vest over the top.
Not only that, but I’m also standing next to a board that’s twice my size and looks heavy as shit. There are people witheyeballswho could see us or recognise us. Which is part of the point of this whole façade, but I don’t exactly relish the idea of making a fool of myself in front of anyone, let alone people with phones and cameras.
“Don’t worry,” Noah assures me. “It’s perfect conditions for learning. We’re getting you comfortable in the water. You don’t need to do anything you’re not ready for.”
“Cool.”
I’m anything but cool. I’m pretty sure I urinated in my swimmers. Like, pee has come out because I wasn’t joking when I said I have zero coordination. Plus, I’m scared of stonefish.Fucking stonefish. There’s probably fifty of them out there right now pretending to be rocks and sneering at me?—
I jump as something touches me.Great.Noah’s touching my shoulder and now I’m thinking about how big his hands are. I haven’t stopped thinking about his hands (amongst other things) for an entire week, ever since we had our never-to-be-spoken of again dry-hump on his couch. Every night since, I’ve fallen asleep replaying the scenario and getting myself so hot and bothered I’ve had to dig out my vibrator.
“Ready?” Noah asks, bringing me back to the beach.
Why does he have to look so hot?It’s distracting. He’s wearing black shorts that stick like plastic wrap around his strong thighs, and the muscles from his torso and arms are shining in the sunlight. The weather has done a complete turnaround now we’re halfway through November. The sun is almost violent in its brightness, the heat making the sparkling blue waves inviting. I’d love to dive in, just not on a goddamn surfboard, and preferably away from the gorgeous man in front of me.
“Millie?”
