Just Between Us (The Kings)

Sure,Veda’s rules made me itchy, but it was nothing I couldn’t work with. Seeing the flicker of shock across her face when I didn’t immediately agree to her demands was totally worth it. Surprise dissolved into fury as she flicked her long, dark hair over one shoulder and stomped out of the parlor.

My whole body had lit up when she had walked in—like my soul hummed with awareness at her presence. I had spent every waking moment reminding myself she’d won the bet and it was over. The tiny ember of hope had sparked to life when she’d brought it up again.

She was still thinking about it too.

There was a crack in her armor, and I wasn’t ashamed to wedge it wide open.

Luna chuckled and lit her smudge stick again. “I told you,” she singsonged as she waved the smoldering bundle in the air. “That woman doesn’t pass the vibe check.”

I grinned as I watched Veda storm up the sidewalk. “Cut her a little slack. She’s just uptight and punishing the world for how it’s let her down.”

Luna walked out from behind the counter and circled me once before waving the smudge stick in my direction with a pointed look. “Just in case.”

The red recording light flashed,and the image of Veda’s pink, furious cheeks flashed in my mind. I sighed and leaned back, shirtless on the couch with my hands folded in my lap. “Hey, Precious. I’ve been thinking about you a lot today. People might not say what you expect or do what you want them to, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care. Sometimes it just means they like it when you’re all riled up.” A small chuckle danced out of me. “Looks like we’ve got some making up to do.”

I posted the video on my main content page and checked to see if Veda was online. She wasn’t, and a small prick of disappointment scratched my skull. Still, I knew I’d made the right choice.

If the whole point of my proposition was to help Veda let go, agreeing too quickly to her rules would be a poor start. She didn’t realize how much I wanted to make her take back every rule she tried to put into place. How badly I wanted her. How much fun we could have together if only she let go.

She consumed my thoughts.

It was late, but I was keyed up. I opened our shared messages in Pulse, but with a sigh exited the app instead. I didn’t want the veil of our secret identities any longer. Instead, I pulled up her contact from the group chat and tapped her name.

The phone rang and I paced in my living room. The call went straight to voicemail, and I frowned.

Immediately a text came through.

Veda

Why did you call me? Is there an emergency?

I chuckled.

No. I just wanted to talk.

Oh, I don’t use my phone for that.

When I call, you answer. That’s one of *my* rules.

Bubbles popped up and disappeared as I imagined her biting response.

Veda

Okay.

My eyebrows rose and I redialed her number. She answered on the second ring. My voice was thick and thrumming with desire. “You were supposed to say, Yes, sir.”

Her light scoff sent sparks crackling under my skin. “I thought you were supposed to call me a good girl first.”

Such a fucking brat.

“When you start acting like one, maybe I will.” I was surprised at how much her witty banter lightened my mood. My brain was chaos, and she was the calm in the storm. “It’s late, but I can’t sleep. Come over.”

I could practically hear her gulp over the phone. “Now?”

“Sure. Why not? We don’t have to do anything if you’re not up for it. We can talk more about those rules you love so much.” My hard cock begged to differ, and I palmed it through my jeans. “I’ll pick you up.”

“That’s okay. I can drive over. That way whenever we’re⁠—”

My tongue ran along my lower lip as I sucked it through my teeth. “I wasn’t asking, Precious. Be ready in ten minutes.”

Silence stretched through the phone before her soft voice washed over me. “Yes, sir.”

I ended the call before I could do something stupid like jump and exclaim or blow my load from two simple words.

I scanned my living room, tossing a throw blanket over the couch and pulling my T-shirt on. Once the ring light was put away, I surveyed the room and was satisfied that my meticulous nature meant I was pretty much company-ready all the time.

I swiped my keys off the counter after my phone buzzed. Veda sent her address, and I grinned. She was within walking distance, which would be perfect.

Minutes later I was at her doorstep. I rang the buzzer to her apartment.

The speaker crackled. “You’re early. That’s rude.”

I pressed the button. “Take your time.” With a smile, I sat on the stoop to the apartment building and waited. Veda used up every second of her ten minutes, and I loved that she was such a confident badass.

The door opened behind me, and I stood. My heart thumped at the sight of her makeup-free face. Her long black lashes swooped low as a barely visible blush tinted her cheeks. She wore a matching lounge set—the top was a cropped sweatshirt, and the bottoms were shorts, letting her long, smooth legs shine in the bright moonlight.

Her hands opened under my assessment. “I had already turned in for the night so . . . this is what you get.”

Awareness cut through me like a sharp-edged knife. “I like seeing this side of you.” I held out my hand and she eyed it. “Shall we?”

Her delicate fingers slid into mine as I guided her down the concrete steps. She looked around. “Where’s your truck?”

I smiled, placing her hand in the crook of my arm and turning us toward the sidewalk. “Turns out we’re practically neighbors.” I pointed up the road. “I’m just down that way, and it’s a nice night.”

Side by side we walked in silence. Tension and anticipation bloomed in the air as her fingertips teased the sensitive skin on the inside of my bicep. The moon illuminated our path and the soft crashing of waves in the distance served as our soundtrack. I paused at the entrance to my long driveway.

Veda’s eyes went wide as her hand dropped. “No way. This is your house?”

I nodded, a shy smile spreading across my face.

She playfully slapped my arm. “I walk past this house all the time. I love this house!” With excited eyes she swiftly moved up the driveway and approached my house on the bluff.

I tucked my hands into my pockets. “Home sweet home.”

She stopped and shook her head. “I did not peg you as a picket fence guy.”

My arms crossed. “Where did you expect me to live?”

She teased her lip as mischief sparkled in her eyes. “You give off”—her hand waved in front of me—“a moody dungeon, heavy-metal, black-silk-sheets kind of vibe.”

My shoulder lifted. “I’m used to not being what people expect.” I unlatched the gate and swung it open. “Come on, the dungeon’s inside.”

Her bright laughter floated on the breeze, and it was the prettiest sound I’d ever heard. Veda Bauer was typically stern nods and final decisions, but her playful giggle was a shotgun blast to my chest.

I swung open the front door and allowed her to enter my space. I stepped behind her, pressing my front to her back and toying with the ends of her hair. “When you’re here, you’re in my space . . . so I need you to understand a few things.”

I guided her shoulders so she would face me. My finger slid under her chin so her wide, green eyes could look up at me. “Here, I am in control. I will never hurt you. We will never do anything you don’t want to do, but when you walk through that door, you’re mine.”

A sigh escaped her lips as she shuddered. “No more decisions. No more worries. You do as I say, and I will take care of the rest. Do you understand me, Precious?”

She swallowed hard as her eyes closed and she nodded.

“Say it,” I gently demanded.

“Yes, sir.”

My cock went rock hard, pressing into her as she looked up and waited.