Just Like That (The Kings)

The sound of JP’s car turning down the driveway drew my attention. I wiped my palms down the front of my pants and waited for him. When he opened the door, a defeated man stood in front of me.

I rushed to him, putting my hands on his arms. “Are you okay? What happened?”

His jaw flexed but his eyes were tired. “I had a conversation with my father. It didn’t go well.”

I swallowed hard, not sure what that meant, as I searched for the words to explain what I had uncovered in his absence.

“Is . . .” He gently sniffed the air. “Is something burning?”

I shook my head and waved my hand. I did not have time to explain that I’d just invited his sisters and the Sullivan women to a séance to contact my dead sister. “It’s sage.”

He shrugged, and my heart melted a little with how he’d come to simply accept I did weird shit while he was gone.

I had opened my mouth to speak when he pulled me into an embrace. “Did you tell him?” JP’s voice was hollow and near breaking.

I looked up at him. “No. Of course not—not without you. JP, look at me.” My hand moved to his face, forcing him to look at me. “We’ll figure this out, okay?”

His blue-green eyes were distant and somber. “I’m not sure what there is to figure out. It’s all right there in the results.”

I stammered, unsure how to respond. Surely he didn’t intend for Russell to have any involvement with Teddy. The man was a liar, a cheat, and a murderer.

I went to voice my concerns when JP cut in. “I should have seen the signs. Olive was even listed as a beneficiary to an investment account. I didn’t think much of it, but given the information we have now . . . it’s clear they were more involved with each other than we thought. In a way, he cared or felt guilty enough to take care of her financially.” JP’s shoulders lifted in a weak shrug. “It seems that was the only way he knew how to show he wasn’t completely heartless.”

I nodded. “I think I figured it out.”

A chill caused goose bumps to pinch my arms and I stepped back to rub them. I didn’t want JP to hate Olive, but he deserved to know the truth. “I think . . .”

Fuck, why was this so hard?

I cleared my throat. “I think after you slept with Olive, she came here and lied about being pregnant. Thinking back, she was going through one of her wild streaks around that time, and money was always tight. She’d have a job for a few weeks and then just decide to stop showing up. I think she met you and—” My voice cracked. “I think maybe she met you and saw an easy paycheck.”

He was rigid and cold, but nodded. “My father intervened. Sent her away just so he could be a source of comfort for her.”

My voice wobbled. “After that, I think she knew Russell was Teddy’s father. She kept it a secret from everyone, but when she realized he would never choose her or maybe when she saw his true colors . . . then she got sick and I don’t know—I think she thought the better option was to lead you to believe you’d gotten her pregnant.”

His face was hard and angry as the pieces started fitting together in a sad, manipulative puzzle. JP had been my sister’s pawn, and she’d used her son to her advantage. It was horrible, even if she thought it was the best thing for her child.

“I’m so sorry, JP. I swear, I had no idea.” I melted into him and his strong arms pulled me closer.

“I know,” he soothed.

Concern flashed over his gorgeous features before his logical demeanor took over. “My father is getting out of prison, which means he will be back. He isn’t one to let go of any influence he has over any situation. He manipulated your sister, and he’ll try to manipulate you. When he gets out, he will be in control of the narrative.”

Fear seeped into my awareness and gripped my chest. In control of the narrative? What does that even mean?

I searched his eyes for answers. “Will he try to hurt us? What should I do?” Panic was rising, and all I wanted to do was bury my head into JP’s chest so he could tell me everything would be all right.

JP stood, hard and unmoving, in front of me. “There’s no telling what he will do. My best guess is that he’ll assess the situation—see if he can manipulate you the same way he did Olive. He’ll see Teddy as a pawn, something to stroke his ego. He will seek custody, Hazel.”

My heart pounded as I shook my head. “That’s impossible. No judge would give him custody over me with his record, would they?”

JP’s lips flattened into a grim line. “He could make things happen.”

I sucked in a shocked breath, taking a step backward. “No. Why would he even want custody?”

JP stared at me. “It’s what I would do.”

I was sickened at the thought. “You’re nothing like him.”

A sad, disbelieving grunt was all he gave me.

Tears filled my eyes. “What should I do? JP, what do I do? Do I leave—take Teddy and run? I⁠—”

A sob broke free and I crumpled.

JP’s hands pulled my shoulders. “I will not let him near you or Teddy. I will keep you safe, even if it kills me.”

His hands stroked my face, and my eyes lifted to meet his. “There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you.”

His lips lowered to mine. In the dark kitchen, I pinched my eyes closed, willing every worried thought to float away.

“You think I don’t see the candles and the tarot cards and whatever else is burning on my kitchen island? I know what I’ve gotten myself into.”

A smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. “A hex?”

He smiled back. “My Hex.”

I let his mouth warm my skin as his lips touched my neck. I hummed, luxuriating in the way his touch let every worry float away and pop like tiny bubbles.

With him, we were safe.

We could figure anything out.

We were loved.

My mind was exhausted, and I wanted nothing more than to get lost in the man I had fallen in love with. I leaned into his kiss, pressing my body against his.

His palms smoothed up my arms and over my shoulders, slipping beneath my cardigan and pushing it back down my arms.

We were both on edge—scared and needing some kind of reassurance it would all be okay.

“Make me forget,” I whispered. His blue eyes caught mine. “Make me forget everything but you.”

Without a word, JP scooped me into his arms. My legs wrapped around his waist, and his arms supported my weight. Our kiss was deep and sensual as he walked me to the bedroom.

Frazzled and drained from the day, a frenzy started between my legs and spread up my back. I didn’t want to think. I wanted to feel. His strong arms held me as one hand kneaded my hip.

He placed me on the bed, standing between my legs. His index finger stroked down my nose, catching my lip before trailing down my neck and between my breasts. He gathered the fabric of my shirt, peeling the layers over my head and exposing my bra. My nipples pressed against the fabric, yearning to be touched.

Tasted.

He toyed with the barbell that poked against the thin fabric, and I hissed a breath.

“I want you.” His thumb strummed my nipples as his other hand stroked down his cock. “I want all of you.”

I arched my back. “I’m yours.”

On a growl, he prowled over me, lifting my body higher onto the bed. We tore at each other’s clothing, hating anything that separated us.

His hand dipped between my legs. “So fucking wet for me.”

I gasped as his finger glistened in the dark room, then disappeared into his mouth. He rumbled an appreciative moan and my thighs clenched around him.

His hard cock stood between us as I stared up at him. A defiant glint sparked in my eye. “I like it wet.”

One dark eyebrow shot up. He eyed me, then spit on my already slick pussy.

“Jesus.” I couldn’t believe how filthy and in command he was.

“Better?” he asked with a haughty edge to his voice.

My core was on fire as he slipped one finger, then two, inside me. I gasped, clenching around his fingers.

“Yes,” I cried, unable to form a coherent sentence.

He pumped in and out of me as my legs trembled. He slid another finger inside of me.

“Fuck,” he hummed. “I like feeling you work to fit me in.”

His fingers curled inside me, stroking the spot that had my legs shaking. “Please,” I pleaded.

“Please what?”

JP was so hard and all I wanted was to feel him slip inside me. “More,” I begged.

He adjusted his position so he was settled between my legs. The head of his cock notched at my entrance, but instead of thrusting inside, he eased his way in.

Inch by glorious inch, we watched his cock disappear inside me. I stretched around him, struggling and adjusting to being wholly and completely filled by him. It was a cruel and delicious torture.

My heart thudded against my ribs as he finally sank deeper and his hips met my body. We exhaled as one and goose bumps broke out along my arms.

With an aching deliberation, JP pumped in and out of me until the world faded away.

Every worry—every doubt—faded into oblivion until nothing remained but the two of us. “You are so fucking tight,” he ground out. “So fucking pretty taking my cock.”

He pinched my nipples, rolling my piercings between the pad of his fingers, and a hot surge of warmth spread between my legs.

I gasped as my pussy pulsed and my orgasm rolled through me. Bracing himself over me, JP pumped harder and faster as I rode the wave of my orgasm. My tits bounced as he thrust deeper.

JP’s hand gripped my face. “Look at me.”

I wrenched my eyes open to find his intense stare focused on only me. “You’re mine.”

“Yes.” The word was nothing more than a pathetic little noise, but I was already completely unraveled.

“I’m going to fill you with my cum so you know who you belong to.”

Jesus. The mouth on that man had my feminism flying out the window as I whimpered, unable to hold off any longer. A second orgasm slammed into me as we both toppled over the edge.

JP cursed as his back tightened and we rode the wave together. He collapsed beside me, running his rough palm over my slick skin. I preened and stretched, feeling his warm cum slowly coat my inner thigh.

You’re mine.

Our fingers intertwined, neither of us concerned about the mess we just made or the weight of the evening we just had. I rolled toward him as he mirrored my position.

A painful, unspoken truth floated between us.

I was too afraid to give my fear a voice—too afraid not to. Emotion sprang to life as my eyes welled with tears.

Had I never sought out JP, we never would have known that Russell King was his biological father. Teddy would never have been in danger and the two of us would be driving down some winding highway with the windows down and the music up.

“Hey,” he whispered and stroked my cheek. “What is it? Did I hurt you?”

I shook my head.

“I never should have come here,” I whispered, a tear slipping free. “But I’m glad I did. I’m happy that he met you . . . that he got to experience a father’s love. I don’t care what that paper says, you’ve been more of a dad to him than anyone.”

He eased forward and his forehead dropped to mine.

“Don’t run.” His voice was laced with desperation. “Whatever you do, don’t run.”

How did he know?

Every cell in my body was screaming to run. I wanted to scoop Teddy up and bundle him in my arms. We could pile into the skoolie and head west and never look back. I didn’t need Michigan if it meant Teddy would be safe from a terrible man.

But my body refused to move. Cocooned in his arms, I melted into JP with a sob. “I’m so afraid.”

In my life, I had learned to do hard things, but nothing seemed more impossible than having to tell Teddy the truth about JP.

The next morning Teddy was his usual quirky self. I painted on a happy smile as he got ready for school.

“What are you doing today?” he asked.

Oh, nothing. Just figuring out how to break your heart and also keep you safe from your biological father, who happens to be a psychotic narcissist.

“Editing some pictures. I really need to be better about posting . . . the fans are restless.” I sighed and shrugged. I hoped my smile and cheery tone sounded genuine.

Teddy frowned, and it was an arrow to my heart. He looked so much like JP that I still struggled to believe they were half brothers. “Do you still love it?”

I frowned. “Love what?”

Teddy hiked his backpack on one shoulder, then the other. “Traveling. Posting about the skoolie. Being super famous.”

I chuckled. “I’ve told you . . . I’m not super famous. I do enjoy the freedom of my job. But now that you mention it, I haven’t missed the traveling part as much. I liked building the skoolie and posting the progress but . . .” My shoulders lifted. “Now I’m not so sure.”

“If it’s not fun, then do something else.” His serious face was so sweet.

I grinned. “That’s solid advice. I’ll think about it.”

I fluffed his dark hair. “Ready to go?”

Teddy stopped. “Where’s Dad?”

A lump expanded in my throat. “Oh, uh . . . JP had to head into the office early. I’m sure we’ll see him later.”

His face twisted at the odd use of JP’s name but, thankfully, he let it go. As we walked to the bus stop, I let Teddy carry the conversation. By the time he waved at me from his seat and the bus turned a corner and disappeared, I was emotionally wrung out.

I started to send a quick message to JP, letting him know that Teddy was off to school, like I’d always done.

After last night, I was sure he needed, as badly as I did, a way to reconnect and get reassurance that everything was going to be okay.

Instead, I steeled my nerves and slipped my phone back into my pocket.