She pulled breath into her nostrils and walked to him.
The minute she was within arm’s reach, he hooked an arm around her h*ps and pulled her into his lap.
When she settled, he looked down at her and clipped, “Before you start your day, would you at least like to give your king a f**king good morning kiss?”
She stared at him in shock, like she’d never kissed a man before and the very idea was repugnant to her and she’d f**king kneeled between his legs and took his c**k into her mouth not a week ago.
His temper disintegrated and he hissed, “What in the f**k?”
She looked into his eyes, her face paled and she declared loudly, “Callum, I’m freaking out!”
It was his turn to blink and he did it slowly.
“Sorry?”
“Today, I’m going to… there are going to be lots of your…” She swallowed then, her voice filled with panic, she cried, “What if I do something wrong?”
He stared at her a moment before he burst out laughing, pulling her close in his arms as he did so.
“This isn’t funny!” she wailed through his laughter. “I’m representing you and Regan and Caleb and Calder and you and Ryon and even your Dad!”
His fingers slid into her hair and he pulled her head back and brushed her mouth with his.
It was like he’d not moved when she stated, “I need a shower.”
“Honey, calm down.”
“Calm…” She shook her head as if clearing it. “No, really, Callum, I need a shower. I need to be alone, get my thoughts straight, sort my head out. I’ll be fine. I just need a long, hot shower.”
Callum grinned and informed her, “You can have your shower, little one, you just have to earn it.”
She went stiff in his arms and her face again paled. “Earn it?”
His grin deepened. “Yes. Earn it.”
“How do I…?” She paused, tested his arms by pushing against them. They tightened so she gave up and he tried not to laugh as she finished, “Earn it?”
“You can choose two of three things,” he stated.
“Two of three –”
“First,” he cut her off and dipped his head to mark her hair with his temple before he said at her ear, “You can tell me you love me again.”
She stilled in his arms.
He ignored it and went on, lifting his head to look at her. “Second, you can describe one of your dreams about me.”
She stared at him in horror.
He grinned and ignored that too.
“Third, you can kiss me.” He rested his forehead to hers and concluded, “Now, pick two.”
“Can I do one now and one –?”
He lifted his head then shook it. “Two.”
She glared at him.