Page 26 of King: Darker Than Romance

We both got quiet after that. My eyes got heavy. He pulled me closer and I rested against, feeling safe and secure.

Just like that, I’d forgiven him. No apology, no groveling. I was my own worst enemy when it came to King.

Just before dozing off to sleep I remembered something he’d said earlier.

“What was your dream about?” I asked.

He smoothed down my hair again before answering.

“Our wedding day. The birth of our child. I saw her. She looked just like you, but with my eyes.”

I was stunned speechless. How was I going to tell him that I was leaving after he’d told me something like that? Better yet, how was I going to leave when just the thought of being married to him and having his child made my heart feel full?

***

The next day when I woke up, he was gone. I didn’t see him for another week, but while he was away, I got a call from Spellman. They let me know all my expenses had been paid for the year. I immediately knew King had done it. I guess that was his way of apologizing, at least that’s how I took it. He had made it so I wouldn’t have to depend on Ellis either. Everything was right as rain between us when he came back, until the next incident.

Eden: It All Falls Down.

Present

“It all crumbled after that, like a house of cards.” His voice brought me back to the present. He shut his eyes and ran a hand over his jaw and sighed.

I nodded my head in agreeance. “It really did.” The only good that came from all the chaos was King getting sober. He stopped drinking and doing drugs cold turkey, for a while.

“We were doomed from the beginning.” I pushed myself on you when you didn’t want me. Maybe that’s why.”

“I wish I had a cigarette,” he muttered before he ran his hand through his hair, then leaned further into his chair. He looked like he had something to say so I waited.

“I always wanted you. Eden. From the very first moment I saw you. It was like a punch to the fucking gut. But you were so young, so I stayed away. I should have continued to stay away, but I couldn’t resist you. It came to a point where I just wanted to be around you all the time. Then that night happened, when I found you in my bed. I felt like I no longer had a choice. If I could take it back I would. We’d both be in better places.”

I scrutinized the many emotions that flickered across his face.

I laughed. “Would you take it back?” I asked, doubting he would.

He narrowed his eyes in my direction, before answering. “No. Would you have wanted me to stay away?” He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck like the question made him nervous.

I thought about it. I shook my head no. Even with all that happened I wouldn’t have wanted him to. Being with King was exhilarating. It was like a shot of adrenaline straight to the heart.

Silence accompanied us as we sat. He broke through it.

“Why are you back here, Eden? You never liked being in this house.”

I heard the unspoken question in his question. Our eyes connected.

“I didn’t come back for you, King. I didn’t even know you were getting out until I had been here a few days.”

He nodded. His face was unreadable.

“What happened, with your hus—” He started to say husband but paused. “What happened with Ellis to bring you back here?” He spit his name out like it tasted sour in his mouth.

I dropped my head back onto the pillows and told him.

“Ellis’ parents wanted a baby. We tried for two years. When I couldn’t get pregnant, he blamed me. Two weeks ago, I went to the doctor to be checked. I found out a few days ago I wasn’t the one with the problem. He blacked out and-.” Mid-sentence I stopped, realizing what I had done way too late. I scolded myself for forgetting.

I sat up abruptly, my eyes landed on King. I could feel his anger, like ants crawling over my skin. If looks could kill I would have dropped dead.

“You tried to give him a child, after killing mine?” King’s tone chilled me. He looked as if he was on the brink of becoming unhinged.

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