Page 54 of The King Contract
My thumbs continue to make concentric circles. “Are people looking? I hadn’t noticed.”
Her eyes widen as she searches mine for something. Perhaps for a clue as to the meaning behind my words. That I’d be happy if she decided to break her no-kissing rule right about now, contract or no contract.
Millie holds my gaze, almost as if she’s frozen, and I take that as my cue to take the pressure off. Making her uncomfortable can be fun when it’s jokes about sex or her weird fears, but having her struggle in front of me about what is happening between us is not a way I’d want any first kiss with a woman to go down. Especially with Millie.
“Let’s get to lunch,” I say, lightly tapping her legs. “Maybe there’s stonefish on the menu.”
She blinks several times as I lean back, helping her hop off the tray so I can close it. “Noah?”
I slam the tray into place. “Yeah?”
She pauses before she answers me. “You can’t eat stonefish.”
I smile as we head to climb inside the car.
There’s no way that’s what she wanted to say.
21
MILLIE
A great teacher
I wanted to kiss him.
I’ve gone from Padlock Pants, no sex, zero-sense-of-flirting Millie, to a woman who dry humps a man she’s getting paid to hang out with and can’t stop salivating over.
I think he wanted to kiss me, too. I nearly asked him, but my brain was screaming at me to be careful of blurring lines any more than we already have. He’s a renowned player, a suave smooth-talking ladies’ man who knows how to get into a girl’s pants. This is a game to him and I’m playing with fire by letting my horniness get in the way.
After ordering our bar meals at the surf club and waiting for Noah to pose for photos with a few patrons, we head to a table on the busy deck where a few of Noah’s friends sit with drinks. A few more patrons take note of Noah, but nobody approaches him.
I spot Callum and Mack and wave as we approach.
“Hey guys,” I say with a smile.
“Maelstrom!” Mack cries, jumping up and squeezing me around the shoulders. “Great to see you. How’s my boy treating you?”
Grinning, I say, “Like an absolute gentleman.”
Dan appears at my side, raising his eyebrows in the knowing way of a man in on our big secret. He pecks me silently on the cheek before returning to his seat.
Callum pulls me in for a hug. “You look like you’ve been kissed by the ocean.”
“I don’t know if you’d call it a kiss,” I reply dryly. “More like a bitch slap.”
My heart buzzes at their kindness and I ignore the screaming voice in the back of my mind that says, “They won’t be in your life in a couple of months you giant liar!”
Noah gives me a quick introduction to the friendly faces at the table, before Callum waves me over to a woman at the end of the table. She’s stunningly beautiful, with blonde and brown curls looping from her head, brown freckled skin and a vibrant smile. “This is Steph.”
“Hi, Steph,” I say, shaking her hand. “I’ve heard so much about you.”
I grab the seat across from her, grateful for the opportunity to have some breathing space from Noah to clear my head.
Steph leans forward. “I’ve heard lots about you too.”
“Only good things, I hope.”
“Of course,” Steph replies. “I hear you’re now killing it at surfing.”
