Chapter 10
10
CLAIRE
“ A re you sure it’s okay that I’m here? I don’t want to interrupt time with your boyfriend,” Livvy said as she sing-songed the word boyfriend .
I rolled my eyes as I parked in between the lines, holding my breath as I did. I hated parking my car. It didn’t matter that there were cameras all over the thing, and it could park itself if I pressed a button, it was still scary.
“He’s not my boyfriend. He’s well…I don’t have a title or a label, and we’re not going to do that. Labels are scary.”
“Tell me about it. I’m sorry for even daring to tease you about it. Although he is my cousin, so I enjoy it a little bit.”
“You know, I could walk down the street and bump into a cousin of yours. It oddly confused me when I found out that you were a Montgomery as well.”
Livvy grinned as she got out of the car, and I followed.
“I know right? We’re just all over the place. Seriously though, is it going to be too much? I know it’s hard for you to get alone time with both of your jobs.”
I shook my head, reached out for her hand.
“No, it’s fine. We’re not going to be alone here either. Crew’s working out, so you’ll be fine.”
“And there’s Aria, so it’s us three girls against those two guys, we can totally kick their ass.”
“Did I hear kicking ass?” Aria asked, as she hugged us both, and reached out for Livvy’s phone.
“Let me see. Give, give, give.”
“I already texted you with the latest photos I have of your dear baby niece.”
I didn’t quite understand the Montgomery family tree. Because technically Livvy was the daughter of Shep and Shea Montgomery. Meaning Livvy was a first cousin to Kane, and maybe a second cousin to Kingston and Aria who were in fact second cousins themselves. But as everybody had been raised together, and spent so much time with one another, they went by cousins no matter the connection within their generation. And to make things even more complicated, they started calling all of their kids nieces and nephews and little niblings, that way they didn’t have to deal with even more cousins. So Livvy’s baby girl Amelia was everyone’s niece, just like Sebastian’s Nora was a niece, and Luke and Landon, Leif and Brooke’s sons, were nephews. I was pretty sure there were a few more kids, or there was at least going to be since I knew of two pregnancies in the generation. But they weren’t even my family, so I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to know everybody without name tags. Either way, them going by generation helped me tremendously.
“You know I can’t get enough photos. Did you see the latest photo of Nora?” Aria asked, speaking of her actual niece. As she was a little twin to Sebastian, Sebastian’s daughter was her niece by blood. However, I didn’t really think titles mattered just then.
Which led me back to Kingston. And the fact that yes, we had something. Something important. But I wasn’t going to call him my boyfriend. Or lover. He was just Kingston. And that was good enough for me.
And why was I suddenly all stressed out?
“She’s seriously adorable. I love my niece. Any news?” Aria asked and my gaze shot up to Livvy.
Livvy pressed her lips together in a thin line and shook her head.
“No news. But it’s fine. We can’t find him to sign over parental rights, and the private detective and the authorities are working on it. But he ran out so quickly that he covered all paths behind him. I just hate the fact that I thought I loved him.”
Aria winced. “You sometimes can’t help who you fall in love with. Even if it’s toxic for you.”
My gaze shot to Aria, but she didn’t continue, and looked relieved when both Crew and Kingston showed up, pulling into the parking lot.
“Hey there,” Kingston said, as he put his arm around my waist and kissed me softly.
That answered that burning question. I guess we were truly not hiding who we were to each other. Whatever that was.
“Hi,” I said, ducking my head, my cheeks blushing. For somebody who could talk dirty right back to Kingston, I was sure blushing a lot in front of him in public.
“Hold on, I need my phone. Where’s my phone,” Aria said, as Crew sighed.
“So nosy.” Then I heard the click of a shutter on his phone and laughed over at him.
“You purposely took your phone off of silent in order to do that, didn’t you?” I asked.
“Of course I did. Now smile. This is going in the family newsletter.”
“You’re not even a Montgomery,” Livvy put in.
“No, but I figured I can send it to one of the numerous group chats I have with you lot, and it’ll all work out in the end.”
“It’s actually a little frightening how many Montgomery group chats you end up in,” I said to my ally in this Montgomery group.
Crew just gave that bright smile of his and winked. “You don’t know the half of it. Come on, non-Montgomery darling. Save me.”
Kingston’s hold on my hips tightened. “I don’t think so, Crew. Go take your pick with one of my cousins.”
“Did you just sell us off to Crew so that you could make out with your girlfriend in private?” Aria asked.
“Damn straight.”
I met Livvy’s gaze, as she gave me a discreet thumbs up.
It seemed the title question was now settled considering he hadn’t balked at the word girlfriend.
How the hell had that happened?
“As lovely as this is, I can’t leave Amelia with my mom for too long. Not that my mom isn’t amazing,” she said quickly, hands up. “But mostly she’s a lot for a three-year-old. And I miss her.” She shook her head. “Why do I always have mom guilt?”
Aria shook her head. “My mom said it was because it comes ingrained. Sorry, she still gets mom guilts. And the four of us are grown.”
Livvy winced. “I still can’t believe your mom had four of you. With just me and John the house was loud enough.”
Kingston cleared his throat. “At least it was you guys sprinkled in with girls, we were three boys. We were loud as hell.”
I gave him a look, then steered my gaze over to Aria and Livvy, as we burst out laughing. “Oh yes, because girls are so quiet and calm and totally little princesses. Never a hair out of place.”
“I feel as though I’ve fallen into a trap,” Kingston said softly.
“Oh, you’re already sunk. But it’s okay, I’m still not going to save you. However, Livvy’s, right. Someone’s booked the gym after us, because apparently, we like to make money in this business. So let’s go.”
“Does he own this place?” I asked, curious.
Kingston shrugged. “I have no idea. He likes to be mysterious.”
Crew smirked. “Keeps me in chicks.”
“Oh yes, let me fall at your feet. Woe is me without thy charm.”
“You know it,” Crew said as he wrapped his arm around Aria’s shoulder, and she pushed him away laughing.
Livvy just shook her head, walking on his other side, and I grinned.
I leaned toward Kingston, keeping my voice low. “ Crew used to date Daisy, right? That’s how he entered into this whole family group?”
“I don’t know if he dated Daisy or became best friends with Lexington first. He just showed up one day and never left.” I laughed and Kingston winked. “He’s one of us now. And no, he’s never going to date a Montgomery again. He’s been quite clear on that.”
“How did you know that’s what I was thinking?” I asked, liking the way that he slid his hand over mine, his thumb running circles over my palm.
“It’s because I was thinking it too. The thing is,” he said, his voice low, as the three of them went into their part of the gym, and we waited to enter, “Livvy is still hurting over her ex. I want to murder the man, but she won’t let us look for him.”
My eyes widened. “What? I thought she had a private investigator.” I didn’t know the whole story with Amelia’s father, Livvy’s ex, but I knew the relationship hadn’t ended well.
“She does. Not a family member. I don’t know why, that’s on her. I’m pretty sure Noah knows where the asshole is or could type a few clicks on his fancy keyboard and find him. But he hasn’t yet because Livvy asked him not to. Because she wants to do this on her own, and not rely on him. If Amelia was ever in danger though, or if we needed the man right away? I’m sure she’d come to us. Because that’s what family does. ”
“I sort of get her point. Not wanting to be a burden.”
“Livvy is never a burden. Neither are you. But back to our point, I don’t see her and Crew together.”
“What about Aria?” I teased.
“Aria is in love with someone else,” he whispered, his voice low.
There was only one man I could think of that turned Aria into knots—something no one really voiced aloud. “Travis?” I asked, speaking of Aria’s friend who I didn’t know well. In fact, I’d only met him a few times. He was the life of the party, but not always around for her. But I didn’t know him well enough to know if he was good for Aria or not. Nor did I know his feelings about her.
“You got it in one.”
“I’ve only met him a few times, and I wasn’t really a fan. Does that make me a bad person?”
Kingston snorted. “Not at all. I hate him. He was supposed to come up to that cabin, and while I’m forever grateful for that snowstorm because it was just you and me in the end, I’m doubly grateful that he wasn’t there. It makes me the annoying big brother asshole, but I can’t stand him.”
“There’s just something about him…”
“Yep. And Aria might see it, because she’s brilliant, but she’s either ignoring it, or thinking she can fix him.”
“You can never fix them.”
His brow raised and I shrugged.
“I could have had stupid boyfriends in high school and college. Not mean ones, just stupid ones.”
“Well, I’ll try not to be a stupid one.”
My lips twitched, and then he leaned down and pressed his mouth to mine.
“Come on, let’s go on the next phase of self-defense before we have to deal with actual work.”
“True, I’m overloaded at work right now, but my assistant Trix is on it today.”
“I would think this time of year would be the hardest for you.”
“So much so. Though wedding season in the spring isn’t much better. But I don’t mind it. Long hours mean I’m rarely home, and if I am home, I’m working, and that’s not really a great thing to say to the guy that you’re sleeping with.”
“I’m working long hours too. Those big parties? They need security. But we’ll find time. Don’t worry, and by the way, is it okay that I didn’t correct her when she said girlfriend?”
I stared up at him. “Stop reading my mind.”
“What? I have no idea what the hell I’m doing. ”
“Okay good. We don’t know what the hell we’re doing together. That’s a good label.”
“Sure. I’m pretty simple though.”
“You’re anything but simple, Kingston Montgomery.”
“True. But I don’t mind.”
By the time we were done with training, I was sweaty, a little sore, and my phone was blowing up with work things.
Crew ended up driving Aria and Livvy back to their houses since he was heading that way, and since Kingston had driven here with Crew, we ended up back at my place, with him driving my car so I could work on my phone the whole time.
I looked over at Kingston and winced. “I’m sorry. Things get a little busy.”
“We get things done though. Now get to work.”
“Aye aye, sir.”
“You can call me sir anytime you want.”
I flipped him off, and he leaned forward and kissed my middle finger, making both of us laugh. “Do you want to come in?” I asked as we pulled into my driveway, and he turned off the car and nodded.
“Yeah. Since we do have your car. ”
I pressed my phone against my forehead and groaned.
“I really did not think of the logistics of this.”
“It’s fine. Kane can pick me up on the way to our night job, or I can hang out here with you for a bit. Just whatever you want.”
“I forgot you have to work tonight.”
“Yep. But it’s fine. I don’t mind. I know you have work to do too.”
“Let me make you something quick to eat, and we can just hang out while we do some work.”
He wiggled his brows, and I rolled my eyes.
“I meant actual work. But you know, whatever.”
“Naked work it is,” he shouted, and I laughed, getting out of the car.
“I like your place,” he said, as I closed the security down, and flipped the locks. It was so ingrained in that moment that I didn’t even think about it, but I saw him notice.
Only, I had done it out of habit. Not out of fear. And not even because Kingston was here with me. I didn’t think that a couple of lessons in self-defense was really going to save the day, or keep me any steadier, but maybe, just maybe, I was figuring out how to be okay.
Or maybe I was just making a big deal out of everything .
“I can make a quick pasta, some lemon and chicken. There’s some defrosted in the fridge.”
“That sounds good. You let me know what you need help with.”
“I actually don’t mind people helping me in the kitchen. Unlike some of our friends.”
“They’re so mean,” he said with a laugh, and we ended up in my kitchen, cooking together, each of us taking breaks to look at our phones and work, and it felt natural.
Everything felt safe. And that wasn’t a word I used lightly, not anymore.
“Okay, you have to tell me exactly how you made that sauce,” he said as we finished our dinner, and rinsed off our plates before putting them in the dishwasher.
“I literally just added some wine and lemons and hoped for the best.”
“That’s how my dad Lincoln cooks, my dad Ethan is way more analytical.”
“I wouldn’t have imagined that,” I said sarcastically.
“I know right? Considering his job.”
“I almost want to ask how it was like living with two dads and a mom, but then I saw the way that they were with you, and it just felt right. Like you just had somebody else there in your life that loved you.”
“You nailed it on the head. It was always a little awkward at soccer games or PTA meetings. But people got used to us. And poly relationships that create families are becoming more mainstream now. There’s even TV shows with those kinds of relationships that are canon.”
“I know, you’re so blasé now. No longer pushing the envelope.”
“Don’t worry, I’m pretty sure the Montgomerys will find a way to make a poly cube or something.”
“I am one hundred percent sure I could not handle that. Way too many limbs.”
“And I don’t like to share,” he whispered, before leaning down and pressing his lips to mine.
I shut the water off, and groaned, moving so he could cage me against the counter.
I should have felt worried, should have wanted to push him away. But I didn’t. Instead I moaned into him, sliding my hands up the back of his shirt.
“When do you have to go to work?”
“Kane will be here in an hour,” he said as he nibbled at my jaw.
“That should be enough time.”
“We’ll see. I still need to finish eating.”
And when he went to his knees and shoved down my sweats, I groaned.
“Okay, okay,” I panted, and then my panties were pulled to the side, and his mouth was on me .
I loved Kingston’s tongue. He could flatten it just right to cover my entrance, before curling it right at my clit. I wasn’t sure how he did those laps, and it was something I wanted to watch fully at some point. He kept going, tasting and sucking, and it took all within me not to fall into a puddle just then. And when he speared me with two fingers, no warning, I came. Just like with a trigger, I was gone, my toes curling, my hands gripping the counter.
“Kingston,” I panted.
“That’s it, say my name.”
I smiled down at him, and his blue eyes grew darker, his tongue darting out to lick his lips. With his hand still covering me, I knelt in front of him, cupping his cheeks, and kissed him.
“You taste so fucking good,” he groaned.
“I like the fact that I can taste myself on your mouth.”
“You are going to like that more and more. Because I’m never going to stop.”
A small part of me twisted in the best way possible, my pulse racing at his words.
Never stop. Because this could be more.
But no, I needed to push those thoughts out of my mind. This had all happened so fast, and I was just trying to catch up. So I pushed reality out of my mind and let myself just live in this moment .
With Kingston Montgomery.
The man, not the dream or the memory.
He kept kissing me, and then I was on my feet again, hands pressed to the counter. He’d shoved my shirt up, and pushed my bra up as well so my breasts were free, his large hands cupping them.
“I love the fact that they’re too fucking big for my hands.”
“They get in the way.”
“Not for me.” He plucked at my nipples, sending shivers down my spine, and I could feel the hard length of him against my back.
“I want you.”
“Then take me.”
I heard him reach into his pocket, the crinkle of a condom, and I was grateful. I only had them in my bedroom, and apparently, I was supposed to sprinkle them all over the house. I would. Next time.
And then he was pressing against me, and I went on my tiptoes, both of us groaning as he slid deep inside me. He held onto my hips, and then pulled out, before achingly pushing into me inch by inch.
It was hard and fast, and I could barely count my breaths before I was coming again, and he was following me.
He leaned over me, both of us sprawled over my counter, shaking .
“I don’t think I’ve ever had sex in the kitchen before.” I looked up at the cameras that I had positioned around my house for security and winced. “And I’m pretty sure that was just recorded.”
He kissed the back of my neck, and then my shoulder, and smiled against me. “I’ll take care of the feed. Don’t worry, no one else can see. You’re safe.”
“I know,” I whispered, knowing it for the truth.
I was safe. With him. Wasn’t that a scary thought?
He pulled out of me, and I immediately felt the ache between my legs. We cleaned up, and then sanitized the kitchen, laughing together, before we went back to work. His phone buzzed again, and he frowned at the readout.
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t recognize the number, but it’s not spam.”
He answered, his face going gray as the other person spoke. I set down my phone and moved to sit right next to him, thigh to thigh, so I could put my hand on his.
“Yes. Yes. Tomorrow works. Thank you. Yeah, no problem. I’ll be there.”
He ended the call, and then sat there for a full thirty seconds without speaking, his heartbeat racing from the way that his pulse beat on his neck.
“Kingston?” I whispered.
“That was the testing center. They found another match. ”
My eyes widened, and I turned to look at him fully. Another match for his bone marrow. I knew it was incredibly rare and almost never happened, but from what I’d read it could . But for it to happen so soon after losing Eddie? My heart broke, only fastened together knowing that it needed to be the strong one here for him.
“Can you donate so quickly?”
“It’s been a few weeks now. So yeah. I think? They said it averages out around twenty days. I don’t really know the logistics of it, but they want me to come in and do testing. Just to make sure that I can.”
I held his hand, my heart racing. “Did they tell you anything else?” And how were you feeling?
“No. They didn’t tell me anything about them or timing other than getting in for testing. It can be anonymous, or they can meet me. I don’t know really what would be best. But it’s up to them. Right? If they want to meet me, I’ll be there. If that’s what they need.”
I knew I was going to probably say the wrong thing, but Kingston never thought of himself. Even if it broke me to do so. “You can protect yourself too by not knowing.” Because there was no question in Kingston donating if he physically could. He’d give every ounce of himself without realizing he’d left nothing for the man in the mirror .
“No, I’ll meet them. If they want. Because that’s what they need.”
Needs and wants. He kept using those words. But he wasn’t protecting himself. He had broken because his friend had died. Because he thought he wasn’t enough.
And now he was going to do it again, only a few weeks later.
Only he wouldn’t do it alone. He was slowly teaching me how to find my own strength—to find my own safety.
So I’d do the same for him.
Even if I didn’t know what it would mean.