The Reign Of Kings - Candice Wright Page 0,124
that I made this beautiful stranger laugh like that, even if it was more at me than with me. I’d take what I could get.
Ducking my head before he catches me ogling him again, I catch sight of my belongings scattered around my feet and across my porch, my eyes slowly widening in horror when I realize what box I had been carrying.
“Shit.” I drop to my knees and hurriedly swipe up as much as I can and dump it into the box, hoping most of it goes unnoticed.
He crouches down next to me to help, but I wave him off.
“It's okay, seriously, I got this. Thanks though,” I grit out, really needing him to go now.
He doesn’t answer so I glance up and see him staring at the eight-inch, hot-pink, silicone G- spot vibrator in his hand.
“Err…”
Use more words, dammit.
“It’s called the invader and boasts sixteen different functions, not that I’ve tried them all yet. Oh, and it's totally waterproof, which is cool. But then that got me thinking, shouldn't all vibrators be waterproof given how wet we get?”
Why, out of all the words in the world available to me, did I choose those? Kill me now.
He just stares at me before climbing to his feet and walking away without another word. Which is just as well. I think there is only so much humiliation I can stand before I spontaneously combust.
I curse my lack of social skills, but this time under my breath so I don’t attract the attention of any more god-like men, and pick up the box before letting myself inside.
The house is one of the smaller ones on the quiet street. A pretty two-bedroom painted in a pale blue with white shutters and flower-filled window boxes. The front yard is low maintenance; either side of the gray paving slabs that lead to the road are covered with an array of pebbles, meaning I don’t have to worry about mowing any grass. A few flowerpots to tend is more than enough for me. Three steps lead up to the house where there is a little decked porch out front that is just big enough for a chair on either side of the door and perfect as a lazy reading spot.
Closing the door behind me, the first thing I notice is the smell. It's a little stale and musty, probably from having sat empty for the last six months. I couldn’t complain though; it was because it had been vacant so long that the landlady offered it up for a steal. And that suited me and my meager savings just fine.
Sliding the box onto the floor in the hallway, I scowl at it, blaming it entirely for what happened outside. On principle alone, I’m going to unpack that box last so it can sit there and think about its actions.
I open the door on my left that leads to the living room and walk over to the grimy windows, twisting the lock and giving them a hard shove to let the fresh early morning spring breeze inside. I take a deep breath and grin. It feels so damn good to have my own space again.
Turning, I take in the place that's now mine for however long I stay. The room is painted cream. If I remember correctly from when I viewed it, all the rooms are decorated in the same color. A neutral pallet, the landlady had explained. It was light and welcoming and that's all that mattered to me.
Two cream leather sofas face each other with a large oak coffee table between them. A tall chrome floor lamp stands in the far left-hand corner of the room and a large ficus tree sprawls outward from the right.
It isn’t much, but it's far more than I had when I landed here in Sunnyville a few days ago. It seemed like serendipity finding a place already furnished and ready for me to move into, and frankly, I’m sick of living out of a motel.
Making my way into the small kitchen, I again open windows to air the place out. The kitchen may be small, but it’s plenty big enough for me and after being stuck in that motel, I will never again take having access to a kitchen for granted.
It's been remodeled relatively recently, judging by the new beechwood cupboard doors and light gray and black flecked countertops. The floor is the same oak that runs through the rest of the house. The appliances are a basic white washing machine, stove, and a fridge freezer combo behind a false door. In the corner, there is a small table with two high-back chairs that will be just right for eating breakfast while the sun streams in through the large south-facing window.
I frown as a knock at the door pulls my attention from the window.
I don’t know anyone here yet, and not a single person knows my address barring the landlady, but my car is outside loaded up with my crap, so it seems pointless to hide behind the sofa and pretend I’m not home. Even if that's what I’d rather do. I shrug and head to the door. It's not like this meet and greet can go any worse than the encounter I just had.
I pull the door open with what I’m hoping resembles more of a friendly smile than a grimace and find a pink cock in my face.
I look up into the eyes of the beautiful man who inadvertently took my vibrator with him when he made his escape and wince.
I open my mouth to apologize, although I’m not really sure what I’m apologizing for, but a different set of words fall out instead.
“You know, it's kind of rude to wave a cock in someone's face.”
Yep. That just happened.
Snatching the plastic dick from his hand, I slam the door in his face. I bang my head against the wall repeatedly before knocking makes me sigh again. Why won't he leave? Doesn’t he realize my mouth is only big enough for one foot?
Pulling the door open again, I paste on a big ass smile. Fake it till you make it, Callie.
“Go out with me.” It's a demand, not a request, his gruff voice making my nipples harden.
Wait, what?
Also by Candice Wright
THE UNDERESTIMATED SERIES
The Queen of Carnage: An Underestimated Novel Book One
https://books2read.com/u/47EMrj
The Princess of Chaos: An Underestimated Novel Book Two
https://books2read.com/u/mBOX9Z
THE PHOENIX PROJECT DUET
From the Ashes: Book one
https://books2read.com/u/bO65pN
From the Fire: Book Two
https://books2read.com/u/38ZQ9w
THE INHERITANCE SERIES
Rewriting yesterday
https://books2read.com/u/3JVj6v
In this moment
https://books2read.com/u/bxvnJd
The Promise of tomorrow
https://books2read.com/u/bowEy1
The Complete Inheritance Series Box Set
https://books2read.com/u/mBO7ev
THE FOUR HORSEWOMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE SERIES
The Pures
https://books2read.com/u/mdGl1y
CAUTIOUS: An Everyday Heroes World Novel
Acknowledgments
Jodie-Leigh Plowman – Designer extraordinaire. Thank you for my beautiful cover.
Tanya Oemig – My incredible editor - AKA miracle worker, who goes above and beyond.
Missy Stewart - Proofreader and lifesaver.
Gina Wynn - Formatting Queen and my new hero.
My girl squad. I’m blessed to have such amazing, strong and talented women in my life.
My Beta Angels. You ladies are the bee’s knees. I will never be able to tell you how much I love and appreciate everything you do for me.
Thais & Aspen – My mighty Alpha’s. There isn’t enough words in the dictionary to express my gratitude for you both.
Catherine & Jess – You guys dropped everything for me, I’m truly honored, thank you so much.
My readers – You guys are everything to me. I am in awe of the love and support I have received. Thanks for taking a chance on me and on each of the books that I write.
Remember, If you enjoy it, please leave a review.
About the Author
Candice is a romance writer who lives in the UK with her long-suffering partner and her three slightly unhinged children. As an avid reader herself, you will often find her curled up with a book from one of her favourite authors, drinking her body weight in coffee. If you would like to find out more, here are her stalker links:
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