He follows the line of my hand. “Yup.”
“That’s Deneb.” I move my finger up and then to the right. “Now look above it and over a smidge. That’s Vega.” I give him a moment to locate the pinprick of light. “Straight down from there, you’ll see another one, that’s Altair.”
He shifts his head and it gently bumps mine. “Hmm.” His brows slide together as he continues to stare. “It looks like a triangle.”
“That’s exactly what it is,” I admit with a slight smile as some of my nervousness melts away. “Those three points are known as the Summer Triangle. It’s an asterism.” It’s so much easier to gaze at the sky and point out stars than to reveal my feelings and wait for him to accept or reject them.
“An asterism?” he repeats.
“Yup. It’s not a constellation but a noticeable pattern of stars in the sky.”
“Huh,” he says with a nod, “that’s pretty cool.”
“It really is.” Since I can’t bring myself to open up just yet, I instruct, “Now go back and find the first star I pointed out.”
“Deneb?”
“That’s the one,” I say in surprise.
Kingsley lifts his hand and gently places it over mine so that our fingers touch. He squints and moves them until he’s able to aim at the brightest light. The contact has electricity zipping through my fingertips and shooting down my arm.
His head swivels until his gaze can pierce mine. “Now what?”
Huh?
Air leaks from my lungs as I mentally jostle myself back to awareness.
Right...
I move our hands a fraction so he’s able to find the approximate location. “Straight down from Deneb is a line of three stars. Do you see them?”
“Yup.” He moves our hands as if tracing the pinpricks of light.
“Okay. Now go back to the second star and you’ll notice that there are two flanking it on each side, giving it the appearance of a cross.” I pause as he squints. “Do you see what I’m talking about?”
“Mmm hmm.” As he tilts his head to get a better look, I catch a whiff of his cologne and my insides contract in response.
“That’s known as the Northern Cross. It’s the backbone of the Milky Way.”
When he remains silent, I turn toward him. With his attention focused elsewhere, I’m able to look my fill. Kingsley is probably the most handsome boy I’ve ever seen but staring at him now makes my heart spasm. From the thick slashes of his eyebrows, to the slant of high cheekbones, and a perfect cupid’s bow of a mouth, he’s absolute perfection. A furious rush of emotion fills me.
Sadness.
Regret.
Longing.
We were doomed for failure from the very beginning. Maybe we really are like Romeo and Juliet, just like Everly claimed.
Minus the suicides.
“There are a lot of little stars clustered around there,” he murmurs.
I clear my throat along with those distracting thoughts and refocus on the canvas of night sky. “Yup, it looks like a haze or a river of stars running through the Northern Cross. It’s pretty, isn’t it?”
“Kind of magical. I can see why you like astronomy so much.” Kingsley lowers our hands until they can rest between our bodies, but he doesn’t untangle our fingers, they remain connected.
We remain connected.
I draw my lower lip between my teeth, realizing I need to force out my feelings before the moment can pass us by. For all I know, it’s already too late. A fresh burst of fear blooms in my belly. If I don’t take the risk, I’ll never know what could have been. No matter how daunting it is, I can’t walk away from Kingsley until I’ve exhausted every avenue. If he doesn’t return the sentiment, then yeah...it’ll suck but I would rather lay it all on the line then walk away with my pride intact.
It's those thoughts that spur me into action and have me rolling on top of his prone body. My knees slide around his waist until I’m able to sit astride him. Kingsley’s eyes go wide as I shackle each wrist with my fingers before dragging his arms overhead and pinning them to the ground.
When he opens his mouth, I shake my head and lower my face until my lips can sweep over his. I’m afraid of what he will say.
“Just let me get this out,” I plead.
His mouth snaps shut. It’s a heady sensation to have him at my mercy with my hands locked around his wrists and my body pinning him to the earth. From the time we’ve been together, it’s become obvious that Kingsley enjoys being in control. Especially sexually. If he wanted, he could easily change the dynamic and flip me over so that I’m the one at his mercy. Or he could tell me to fuck off and walk away. The hands that bind him are nothing more than symbolic. We both know who holds the real power.
The moment is bittersweet. For all I know, this could be the last time I kiss or touch him. If that turns out to be the case, I’m not sure how I’ll move forward. It’s possible that I could mourn the loss of him for the rest of my life. It’s a disconcerting realization and only makes me hyperaware of how important it is to tell him everything that’s in my heart.
Unable to help myself, I nip at his lower lip before tugging the plump flesh into my mouth. I suck on it once. Twice. And then again before releasing it.
“I’ve missed you, Kingsley.”
Other than the groan that escapes from deep in his chest, he remains silent.
The need to kiss him pounds through me, but I can’t delay the inevitable any longer.
“Do you remember the morning my mom walked in on us?”
The sexual haze clears from his eyes as he jerks his head into a tight nod.
“Until that point, she hadn’t realized we were sleeping together. I asked why it mattered, and that’s when she admitted they were looking for ways to break the contract. Even though I hadn’t mentioned anything to them since the day I was told about it, neither wanted me to be forced into marriage.”
Emotion flickers in his eyes as he draws in a deep breath before releasing it. His chest rises and falls with the gradual movement.
“If I could go back and do it again, I’d tell her that as much as I didn’t like the idea of being coerced into some kind of archaic arrangement, I was happy with you. That I wanted you. Instead of admitting the truth, I remained silent. Maybe if I had been honest, everything that happened could have been avoided.” I shrug as grief fills me, threatening to suck me under. “Maybe then Dad would still be alive.” It's a painful acknowledgment to make. “It kills me that I broke your trust. I made you doubt me and my intentions. That’s the last thing I wanted to do.”
A heavy silence falls over us as a fresh wave of nerves surge through me. I don’t know if what I’ve admitted has made a difference. The stillness of his body leads me to believe that it hasn’t. I inhale a shaky breath, ready to slink home and lick my wounds in private. I laid it all on the line and it wasn’t enough.
“Are you finished?”
“No,” I whisper urgently. There has to be something else I can say to sway him. A burst of adrenaline shoots through me as I wrack my brain. All I know is that it can’t end like this.
When I remain silent, he hikes a brow.
Everything inside me deflates like a balloon with a pinprick. “Yeah, I guess.” My face heats with embarrassment. This will probably be the portion of the evening where he tells me to fuck off.
And who can blame him?
“Good.” With one swift motion that takes me by surprise, he rolls us over and pins me against the afghan. Even though my hands are still clasped around his wrists, they’re now pressed to the ground as he props himself up on his elbows. “Is it finally my turn to talk?”
I nod as my teeth sink into my lower lip before mentally steeling myself for the worst.
“You might not realize it, but the day we spent on the boat was the best damn one of my life. It only took a couple of hours to fall for you, Summer. More than anything, I wish our relationship could have
been normal. I hate that all this family bullshit had to get in the way of everything and fuck it up.”
A tiny bubble of hope fills me as the air gets lodged at the back of my throat.
“But that’s exactly what happen, and we can’t change it. We can’t go back in time and rewrite history. It is what it is.”
And just like that, any optimism budding to life inside me plummets back to earth before crashing and bursting into a raging inferno.
“It’s no secret that I was pissed off when I overheard what your parents were up to. It made me feel like everything between us had been a game.”
Unable to keep quiet, I blurt, “It wasn’t—”
He silences me with a kiss. When he finally pulls away, his mouth twitches at the corners. “I know,” he murmurs. “Deep down, I realized the contract bothered you and that you didn’t want our relationship tied to the company. I had a hard time separating the two. Stupid as it sounds, my pride was bruised. It felt like a rejection.”
“I’m sorry,” I repeat, unable to say it enough. “It was never my intention to hurt you.”
“I realize that, too.” This time, when he presses his lips to mine, it’s long and slow. Liquid heat pools in my core as my toes curl with need.
I’ve missed this and him so much. More than I ever thought possible. Whatever it takes for him to forgive me, I’ll do it.
“I don’t want us to be over,” I murmur.
His lips lift into an arrogant smirk, one that makes my heart flip over painfully in my chest. “Oh, baby girl, we will never be over. All I was doing was biding my time and giving you a bit of space.”
A relieved smile breaks out across my face as all the nervous energy careening through my body melts away.
Not wanting him to have any lingering doubts, I say, “I choose you, Kingsley Rothchild. I choose you because I want to, not because I have to or have been forced into it. In the end, that’s all I wanted. The freedom to choose.”
Gently, his lips stroke over mine. “From the first moment I saw your perky ass in the air on that beach, I chose you.”
A gurgle of laughter erupts from me as my mind tumbles back to that moment. “You are so damn romantic,” I sigh teasingly.
With a grin, he nips at my mouth. “I’ll show you romantic later.”
My heart bursts with all the happiness that fills it and the words slip free. “I love you, Kingsley.”
His body stills as he pulls back enough to search my eyes. I don’t give a damn if he returns the sentiment, it’s important that he knows exactly how I feel.
“I love you, too.”
As soon as his lips slant over mine, I open so his tongue can delve inside and tangle with my own, transporting me to a place only he’s capable of. After a few minutes, he groans, rolling us over until he’s once again on his back and I’m draped over him, head resting against his chest. His arms stay wrapped around me, anchoring me in place.
Anchoring me to him.
And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This is where I belong.
Where I have always belonged.
With Kingsley.
Epilogue
Kingsley
Five years later...
I stand at the controls and cut the engine before dropping the anchor into the water. We’re about thirty minutes from the marina and there’s not another boat in sight. It’s almost as if we’re alone in the middle of nowhere.
Summer is already spreading out her towel on the bunny pad at the front end of the boat. With one smooth movement, she strips off her coverup and drops it to the side. Her long dark hair has been plaited into two thick braids that slide down the slender line of her back. The microscopic black bikini she’s wearing leaves little to the imagination.
If I had my way, she wouldn’t be wearing a damn stitch of clothing. Give me twenty minutes and that’s exactly how she’ll be. Buck naked, writhing beneath me, moaning out my name as I thrust deep inside her body.
That image is enough to have me standing at attention as I grab my towel and head to the front before dropping beside her. A smile spreads across her gorgeous face when I close the distance between us and smack a kiss against her lips.
“I’m so glad we could spend the week here,” she sighs.
Here just so happens to be the Rothchild family beach house in Door County, Wisconsin. This place holds special meaning for us. It’s where we met five years ago and where she ran to when she thought it was possible to hide from me.
Like that was ever going to happen.
Not fucking likely.
She could go to the ends of the earth, and I would still find her.
“Me, too,” I agree, trailing my fingers over the bare flesh of her belly before tracing a path along the elastic band of her bikini bottoms.
It’s been a big year for us. A couple of weeks ago, we graduated from Northwestern University. Summer is the proud owner of a bachelor’s degree in astronomy, and I have one in business. We applied for graduate programs at the same school. Two months ago, we found out that we were accepted, and we’ll start back in the fall. The plan is to continue living in Chicago for the foreseeable future. During sophomore year, Summer secured a volunteer position at the Adler Planetarium and recently parlayed it into becoming a full-time staff member.
That’s my girl, always going after what she wants.
I’ve been working at a small consulting firm downtown to gain experience. And we have a kick-ass apartment with amazing views of the lake that’s in walking distance. So yeah, I won’t lie, life is pretty damn sweet right now.
And it will only get better.
At some point, I’ll be expected to return to the small town I grew up in and take over Hawthorne Industries. We’ve talked about what the future looks like.
Marriage.
A couple of rut rats.
A house.
The whole shebang.
I glance at Summer’s left hand and the gigantic rock that sparkles in the bright sunlight. It’s enough to straight-up blind you.
Hey, what can I say?
I like to mark my territory.
And Summer is definitely mine.
Just like I’m hers.
And that my friends, will never change no matter what life throws at us.
~The End~
If you loved Queen of Hawthorne Prep, please consider leaving a review at the retailer where you purchased this ebook! Now that Summer and Kingsley’s story has been completed, Austin will get his own book in the Hawthorne Prep series! If you would like to be added to my email list for release information, please contact me through email [email protected] or on Facebook! Thank you so much for reading!
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King of Hawthorne Prep
Chapter One
My gaze wanders over the water as white-capped waves roll rhythmically toward the sandy shore. When the wind picks up, a warm breeze rustles through my hair and I tip my face toward the sun before stretching.
Could life get any better than this?
Doubtful.
A family friend was kind enough to let us borrow their beach house in Door County for the week. Mom and Dad surprised us with the impromptu vacation a few days before we were supposed to leave.
The house we’re staying at isn’t one of the newly renovated million-dollar monstrosities that flank us on both sides with their gargantuan square footage, swanky pools, and perfectly groomed lawns. But it’s steps from the beach and has breathtaking views of Lake Michigan. This house is fifteen hundred square feet with three cramped bedrooms, an outdated kitchen, and a ton of seashell decor. Even so, there’s something charming about it.
Sweat beads my forehead as I haul myself from the chair I’m sprawled on and saunter to the water’s edge. It might look as inviting as the Caribbean cast in varying shades of cerulean and turquoise, but it doesn’t feel like it. Especially when my skin has been
crispifying for hours beneath the sweltering sun.
A breath hisses from my lips as the frigid liquid rushes past my ankles. The first couple steps are the worst. As soon as numbness sets in, it gets better. Braving the water, I continue forward as the waves swirl around my calves. I do a little dance, bouncing up and down on my toes, trying to get used to the cold as it sinks into my bones.
I force myself to move deeper until the water reaches my hips.
It’s now or never.
With that brief pep talk, I suck in a breath and dive beneath a wave as it peaks and curls. Water rushes around me, instantly chilling my overheated flesh. After a moment, I break through to the surface and expel the lungful of air from my body.
It’s easier to submerge myself the second time as I dive to the bottom before trailing my fingers through the fine-grained sand in search of clamshells. When my lungs burn, I pop up again before floating on the surface so the sun can warm my skin. With my eyes closed, I stretch my hands and legs, allowing the waves to rock my body. My mind drifts as the rhythmic motion lulls me to a contented place. Every once in a while, I lift my head and search for our little blue one-story cottage to make sure I haven’t drifted to far down the shore.
My plan is to make the most of our little beach vaca before returning to Chicago next weekend. There’s so much that needs to be accomplished before senior year begins in the fall.
A couple of months ago, I registered for an introductory astronomy class at a local university about thirty minutes from the house. Next on the agenda are campus visits. I’ve scheduled tours for the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Those three are my dream schools. All have impressive astronomy programs. To round out the summer, I’ve snagged a volunteer position at the Adler Planetarium. I’m scheduled to start next Monday at nine o’clock sharp.
Long after my fingers turn pruney, I drag myself from the water. As I trudge toward shore, a bleached clamshell glints in the sunlight from the bottom and catches my attention. Stilling my movements, I bend over to inspect it. A wave crashes over me, stirring up the sand and covering the shell. Once the debris settles, I turn, brushing my fingers across the bottom until they land on it again.
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