I let out a small laugh as his desires ran across my head, feeling relieved because for the first time in forever, I was happy to hear this person's desires. His loyalty to Adriel and his kingdom was unbelievably intense. He literally lived to serve and absolutely loved the Kingdom of Night. He seemed to view it as his salvation. Fascinating. I could tell he was hoping that I would be a good leader to not only make Adriel, but the kingdom as a whole, stronger.
It was the most selfless selfish desire I’d ever read.
“Queen?” I pondered with interest. “I mean, Adriel and I are together, so yes? I suppose so, in that case.”
“Well then Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you,” he said with a stiff head bow.
The back door opened, and in walked a shirtless Cash. I could smell his leopard under his skin, and I realized he’d just shifted and gone on a run. My eyes ran over his hard abs and large shoulders, and my mouth watered with the sudden urge to crawl across the counter towards him.
“Get away from my mate,” Cash snapped. “Leave.”
The man immediately nodded and offered me another bow before disappearing out the back door in an impressively fast move. I couldn’t lie, he was very efficient. It was impressive to say the least. I would have to tell Adriel—I bet he would be thrilled. Never mind, I definitely couldn’t tell him. We had to keep his ego small.
“So cranky,” I chided as Cash offered me a sexy smirk.
He walked towards me and lifted me onto the counter, his large forearms resting on either side of my hips. He rested his head on my shoulder as I ran my fingers through his hair, a small rumble, almost a purr, breaking through.
Of course, my stomach had to interrupt the peaceful moment. Cash chuckled softly as it growled. He then stood and began rooting through the fridge. He didn’t even ask, he just did. I absolutely loved it. The man was so insane, yet when it came to me he seemed to have all the patience and control the world had to offer. I wondered why that was, but didn’t I understand that well? Everything cold, hard, and jaded about my views on the world… turned soft around them. My boys.
“What are you making?” I asked curiously as he turned the stove on and slid me a bowl of almonds.
His eyes traced over my expression. “Grilled cheese. Probably two for you and three for me.”
“I don’t need two,” I grinned.
“It will make me feel better,” he explained, amused at my attempt to give him directions, no doubt.
“You always take care of me,” I pointed out softly.
His eyes traced my face as he walked over and leaned in, brushing his lips against mine. “I always will, kitten. If I did that for the rest of my life, I’d be a fucking happy camper.”
My brain immediately pulled forth a memory of when I’d had a particularly rough day with the girls at school.
My eyes stung as I put my hands over my eyes, sitting outside and waiting for the guys to come out of school so we could get the heck home. They were lying. Those girls had to be lying. I knew Cash and Rhett wouldn’t want to be friends with them; they were my friends. I blinked back tears, wondering when I’d be old enough that this wouldn’t matter anymore. Couldn’t fifth grade be over already?
“Lorcan?” Cash’s voice called, losing the hard edge it normally had, instead sounding rather sweet and concerned.
I blinked, wiping my eyes, and then looked up at him. “You guys ready to go?”
“What’s wrong?” he demanded.
“Nothing.” I waved my hand, not understanding why those girls' comments upset me so much. I mean, they were allowed to have other friends besides me…
“Lorcan—”
The car pulled up and I walked towards it, keeping my head down as Cash followed. Once we slid into the car, we waited in silence for Rhett as I intertwined my fingers and began wringing them nervously. He was staring at me. I could feel it, but I didn’t know what to say.
“Cash?” I asked quietly.
“Yeah?”
“Some of the girls said you guys wanted to be friends with them instead of me,” I mumbled softly. Cash bit out a laugh and shook his head.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” he asked, reaching out and intertwining our fingers.
I swallowed. “I’m not worried.”
“Lorcan.” Cash turned serious, grabbing my other hand as I looked up. “You always come first.”
I smiled, feeling my chest relax, and then put my head on his shoulder. “You’re right, I’m being silly.”
“Want to go into the green room when we get back?” he asked suddenly.
“I’d love that.”
Honestly, something small like that had soothed all my fears, and he’d managed to continue to do that throughout our entire relationship. Pulling me out of my thoughts, Cash handed me a plate of grilled cheese.
“Thank you,” I said softly.
“Have to make sure you eat,” he replied with a wink. “Don’t want you passing out during… extracurricular activities.”
I let out a small laugh. “Are you worried about me passing out after sex again?
His eyes sparkled. “It may have crossed my mind. I worry about you, kitten.”
“Hmmm.” I took a bite of my grilled cheese. “Well, that’s only reasonable. Have to keep up my energy.”
Cash and I ate in cozy, comfortable silence as I found myself eating both sandwiches, my stomach feeling rather sated and full.
“What are you thinking about?” I asked quietly as he let out a low rumble, somehow managing to devour all three of his sandwiches before I’d finished my two. How the hell did this man keep such a fantastic body?
“Wishing that you could have shifted and gone running with me earlier,” he admitted softly.
I nibbled my lip. “I’m much better in water than on land.”
His eyes moved over my shoulder. “We made the pool salt water, we remembered that you preferred that.”
“You guys remember everything,” I mumbled but then flashed a smile, sliding off the counter. I walked towards the back door with a smile over my shoulder as his eyes flashed down to the small little pajama shorts and tank I was wearing.
“Lorcan,” Cash chuckled, “what are you doing, kitten?”
“Swimming,” I chirped, entering into the warm night air while slipping off my top to reveal a blue lace bra before shimmying off my shorts to reveal matching panties.
Cash groaned, looking me over before I flashed a smile. Then he surged towards me—too late, of course, because I dove into the water before he had a chance to touch me. I hoped this kitty cat liked water.
“You aren’t supposed to swim after eating,” he grumbled as I surfaced.
The salt water was refreshing against my skin, and the blue glow of the lights felt almost ethereal. Cash stood at the edge of the pool before making the decision to jump in himself. I let out a smile as he dove under the water and I waited for him, treading water in the deeper part of the pool.
“This does feel good,” he admitted, wrapping an arm around me.
“I love swimming,” I commented while wrapping my legs around him as he floated us easily. “I don’t get to do it nearly as much as I would like. Even in California, we had a lake behind us, but it wasn’t salt water, and frankly I was too fucking high to ever consider doing something like that.”