Page 49 of The CEO

He didn’t stop until I was in his arms, one hand resting low on my back. “You look absolutely radiant tonight.”

“Thank you. You cleaned up nicely yourself.” I’d never seen King in a tux, and it made me want to jump him in front of everyone or find a bathroom to have a quickie in. It didn’t help that it had been a few days since he was last inside me. Every day at lunch, he tried unsuccessfully to get me naked.

“Will you dance with me?” The uncertainty in his eyes made my heartache. I hadn’t been handling the situation at work well, and I was taking it out on King. The news about my Lao Lao being in the hospital only added to it. I hadn’t even mentioned it to King yet. At first, I was still processing the fact I’d likely never speak to her again, and then King had been busy at work. I needed to tell him, but I wanted to enjoy this moment with him first.

Placing my hand in his, I gave it a squeeze. With that touch alone, I was already calmer. “I’d love nothing more than to dance with you.”

King pulled me out onto the makeshift dance floor. Our bodies pressed together in a lovers’ embrace. I didn’t even know if we matched the music the band was playing, but I didn’t care. I was lost in King’s eyes. In the dark room, they looked like sparkling emeralds that held so many unnamed emotions in them.

Bringing his forehead to mine, King looked down at me with pain in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on between us, but I’ve missed you even with you right by my side.”

“I know none of this makes sense and I’m sorry.” I rested my hand over his heart. “I’ve missed you too. I’m sorry I’ve been distant. It’s not fair to you. I want to talk, but not tonight. Tonight, I want to enjoy my gorgeous boyfriend in his tux.”

“Have I done something?—”

I cut him off with a finger to his full lips. “You’ve been perfect. I promise you, it’s all me.”

“I know I’m no good at this boyfriend stuff, but when you’re ready to talk, I’m here.”

My hand ran up his chest and cupped the side of his neck. “You’re pretty perfect, if you ask me.”

Even in the dark, I could see King’s eyes light up. His hold on me tightened as he pulled me deeper into his body. “I love you.” His eyes widened before he dipped down and caressed his lips against mine. “That wasn’t very smooth, was it?” He laughed uncomfortably.

“The fact that it wasn’t, shows me how much you really mean it.” I was sure King had never told anyone but his family that he loved them since he’d never been in a relationship, and now he loved me. It was mind-blowing and made me love him all the more.

Wrapping both my hands around his neck or as best as I could with one in a cast, I stretched up on my toes even though I had on high heels to whisper against his lips. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be possible, but I love you too.” King took control, slipping his tongue into my mouth and curled it along mine. My heart rate picked up and I wanted nothing more than to be alone with him.

Pulling back, King chuckled against my mouth. “You’re vibrating, and I don’t think it’s me causing it.”

I was? I was too wrapped up in King that I hadn’t noticed my purse vibrating until it started again. Coming back to reality, I pulled out my phone to see my father calling. My heart plummeted into my stomach. It could only mean one thing. My grandmother.

Reaching up, I kissed him before pulling away. “I’m sorry, King. I’ve got to go.”

I left him standing there in the middle of the dance floor with furrowed brows and swollen lips.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

pria

Tears streamed downmy face as I stared at the dirt covered ground. My father’s hand squeezed my shoulder. “Sweetheart, she wouldn’t want you to be sad.”

“I don’t know about that,” I choked out. “I can’t remember the last time we got along. She hated that Haider and I hadn’t gotten married yet or that she wasn’t a great-grandmother.”

“While she did want those things, she also wanted you to be happy. It was hard for her to admit, but she was proud of you. Of how much you fought for what you believed in. I’m proud of you too even though I don’t say it often.”

Sniffing, I wiped my tears with the back of my hand. “Do you really mean that?”

“Of course, I do.” He closed his eyes as a fleeting look of pain shot across his face. “When I came to see you at work the other day and saw how happy it makes you, it made me realize I shouldn’t push my beliefs on you. You’ve always been your own person and I should have accepted that long ago instead of pushing you away. I want you to be happy, and up until recently, you haven’t been. I think your Lao Lao, me, and Haider had a big part in that. Something’s new and it’s making you truly smile forthe first time since you went off to college. Is it your new job or something else?”

The thought of King brought a calm to me that hadn’t been there since I found out my grandmother died. I missed him, but I’d asked him to stay away unsure of how my family would react to him being at the funeral. He wasn’t happy, but he understood I needed to come by myself. No one knew of my white boyfriend, and I didn’t want to start any drama, but my dad had asked so I wasn’t going to lie to him.

I shifted on the bench to look at him. “It’s something else, or I guess I should say someone else. It wasn’t planned.”

“It rarely is, honey. Why didn’t you tell me about him when we had lunch?” He looked around the cemetery with his hand shielding his eyes. It was bright out and it seemed all wrong for the mood I was in. It should be gray and cold. “Why didn’t he accompany you to the funeral?”

“Because I asked him not to. I wasn’t sure how well it would go over if my tall, blond, and American boyfriend showed up and sat beside me.” I bit my bottom lip waiting for my father’s response.

“I give you an inch and you take a mile.” My father chuckled next to me as he stared down at the cold broken dirt in front of us. “Does he treat you right? Better than Haider?”

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