Page 143 of By His Vow
A loud squawk fills the air before a massive bird of some sort flies overhead before diving down into the valley on the hunt for some food.
“This is nice,” Kingston muses.
“Yeah,” I agree. “It’s nice to learn that you’re not always an asshole.”
A chuckle rumbles in his chest. “Don’t tell anyone.”
“I wouldn’t dare. Imagine the chaos that would ensue if everyone realizes their boss is a sap who loves nature and gave their best friend’s little sister a piggyback.”
I continue staring out at the view, but I’m achingly aware that Kingston has turned his eyes on me, and not just because the warmth of his breath hits the top of my head. I feel his attention all the way down to the tips of my toes.
Has it always been like this between us?
No. It was always hatred and irritation.
This…this attraction is new.
New and powerful. And fucking terrifying.
“You’re not just Miles’s little sister, Tate.”
My heart skips a beat, hearing him shorten my name. It’s stupid really, but I’m only ever Tatum, brat or baby to him. Sure, the latter gives me full-body shudders whenever the word leaves his lips. But hearing him call me Tate, like my friends do? It’s a whole new weird level of intimacy between us.
“No?” I whisper, desperate to know what I am if not that. “So what am I?”
He makes a weird noise in the back of his throat like he’s catching a word he doesn’t want to spill free.
“It changes daily. I couldn’t possibly choose one.”
Time seems to speed up as we sit here. A few wispy clouds dance across the sky as the air blows gently around us and birds fly overhead.
Our shadows shift and morph as the sun moves closer to the west as the day progresses.
It’s calm, relaxing, and comfortable.
It’s…everything I didn’t know I needed.
The space between here and Chicago is in contrast to the closeness between us right now.
I’m not entirely sure what it means at this moment in time, but we’re going to return stronger, ready to face whatever is going to be thrown at us next. It’s a weirdly comforting thought.
I’ve no idea what time it is or how long we’ve been sitting here when Kingston finally speaks.
“We should probably head back,” he says quietly, as if he doesn’t actually want to but knows we must before it begins getting dark.
“Yeah,” I muse, reluctantly pulling away from his warmth. “Although I don’t think I can get up.”
He laughs at me as he jumps to his feet and holds his hand out.
I slip mine into it, loving the way tingles shoot down my arm. It’s the same every time he touches me, and I’m quietly becoming addicted to it.
He tugs me to my feet but doesn’t let go fast enough, and I stumble forward into him.
His arms wrap around me, and he holds me close.
He stares down at me as the air crackles around us.
“King,” I whisper.