Forbidden King (Magnolia Falls, #3)

by Laura Pavlov

“Listen, she gave him the tuna casserole for lunch last week when you’d ordered him the pizza. She’s an asshole. And so is her face.”

This is the second time in this series the characters talk shit about teachers and it's annoying

“I knew today was a big day for you, so I thought I’d stop by and give you these flowers and let you know that I had a great time last night,” he said.

Well that's adorable

And she was going out with him two nights in a row? Did she actually like this dude? And should she be going to his house already? We barely knew this dude.

Someones jealous

Who’d you take home last night?” I scratched the back of my neck and looked into those pretty blue eyes that had always been my favorite. “For your information, I didn’t take anyone home. But thank you for thinking the worst of me.”

Well I think it's an earned reputation

“But you like to keep things casual. That’s kind of your shtick, right?” I sighed. “Yes, Saylor. I love women, and I enjoy sex. But I don’t take a different woman home every night of the week. I’m not a sex addict, for God’s sake. I have quite a few returning customers, by the way. So, it’s not quite as dirty as the picture you’re painting.”

I don't like playboys

“That man is so sexy I’d be willing to suck the venom right out of him if he got stung in front of me,” Peyton said, and the table erupted in laughter.

She's not that funny

Selena was next, and she did the same. I never minded a beautiful woman sitting on my lap, but for whatever reason, I just wasn’t feeling it romantically with her. I liked her enough. I wrapped my arms around her when she shivered, and I kissed her cheek. We hadn’t done more than make out, and I knew she wanted more. But something was holding me back. I’d found excuses to cut our nights short every time we went out, usually blaming work.

I'm not a fan of dating others

“You all have the same exact tattoo?” Peyton asked, setting her corn on the cob down on her plate. “Give or take,” River said. “We each chose different fonts and styles. And of course, King went and threw a flower on his.”

Oops

They’d call me The Orgasm MVP. It was a title I’d wear with pride.

Blech

Yeah. We’re probably going to watch a movie. Have a good night.

Liar

I made a silent promise to myself that I wouldn’t fantasize about Saylor after today. Having her back in town these last few months was complicating things. I needed to get my head straight. This was the last time I’d let my mind wander there. It was happening too often, and it needed to stop.

“I’d love to try them. Are they an American thing, mate?” Jalen asked, holding his hand out, and I heard River bark out a laugh from behind

Ok Jalen is a dick

And when I got home, I didn’t even shower. I fell into my bed with my clothes on, and I slept.

There is zero plot in this book. Nothing is happening

“You never did tell us,” Peyton asked, leaning in and waggling her brows. “When you pulled that stinger out, did you get a look at the goods?”

Officially annoying

“Oh, fuck, Saylor.” A gruff sound escaped his mouth, and he groaned. Saylor. He’d said my name?

This is so cringe

“I’m telling you that I don’t like being put into a box.” I leaned forward, glancing over my shoulder to make sure no one was listening. “Unless by box, we’re talking about a pussy, and then you can put me in there all day.”

CRINGE

“Nah. He’s not there yet. But apparently, there are some bad forest fires dangerously close to Barley Creek outside of Rosewood River, and they need help. They are gathering guys from each house in the outlying towns to try to help, and Cook wants to send a few of ours out there for the next couple of weeks, if necessary, and he wants me to lead the crew there.”

When brothers away...

“Can’t go there, Saylor.” His voice was gruff, and my eyes sprung open. Mortification set in as I searched his gaze and realized he wasn’t going to kiss me. Here I was, panting over the man who was barely touching me, and he was turning me down.

Ouch

The feeling was familiar in ways I couldn’t begin to explain. This feeling in my life like I wasn’t good enough.

So here I am again, about to kiss a man I’ve known forever, a man I’m fairly certain is attracted to me, too, and—I’m still not enough.”

“It’s not like I can date you and see where it goes. It doesn’t work that way with us. Your brother is family to me. He’s my best friend. He trusts me. The five of us have a bond. And it’s not a line I can cross casually. So, I can’t go there, and it’s not because I don’t want to. And it’s not because you aren’t enough. It’s because I’m not enough. And if I fucked this up, it would affect a lot of people.”

This is juvenile

“I won’t deny it. But I’m not the one who needs everyone’s approval to act on it.” I smirked. “Have a good night, King. I’m guessing a cold shower is in your future.”

The blanket I’d loved as a kid had been tucked beneath her fucking pillow all these years later. I unfolded it, and right there in the other corner was the faded outline of my handprint I’d drawn for her. She’d held onto it all this time.

“You still have nightmares?” His voice was low and full of emotion. I set the glass down and dropped to sit next to him. “No. Not very often. But I tuck my hand into yours every night, just like we did all those years ago. It’s how I like to fall asleep.”

“I don’t think you have a fucking clue just how much I’d do for you,” he whispered, his hand still wrapped around mine.

My parents’ accident was a reminder to me about how quickly life can take away the ones you love.

And yet he will deny Saylor

She’s a special one. I understand why you’re struggling, but it’s silly to make this harder than it has to be.”

“Oh, my boy, you really don’t know, do you?” I threw my hands in the air. “I really don’t. Are you going to quit torturing me?” “The reason you’re hesitant is because you love her, and that makes everything different.”

I think you’ve loved Saylor Woodson since she came to stay with us all those years ago. You didn’t act on those feelings because you love her. You’re terrified of love, Kingston.

“Don’t run from it. It’s rare to find someone who affects you like this. Who consumes your mind and your heart. It’s what I shared with your grandfather. It’s what your parents shared. And it’s what River found with Ruby. Don’t run from it, sweetheart.”

We’d already crossed the line multiple times, and I was frustrated that he wouldn’t just give in to it and let things happen naturally. Just like any other relationship. There were no guarantees. But it bothered me that he thought Hayes should have a say in this. We were both adults. Two consenting adults.

“Is that my little girl?” A man came around the corner wearing a colorful polo shirt with pink flamingos all over it. His dark hair was thinning on top, and he pulled her into a hug. “Saylor, look at you. You’re so grown up.”

Is he serious?

Because the truth was, I didn’t know this man. And I’d been uncomfortable since I’d walked through the door. This was not my family. These were not my people.

“Excuse me,” Destiny said, in a normal tone for the first time since we’d arrived. “But this meeting was not about Donald or Constance or you, Saylor. This was about me. So, I’d appreciate if you’d stop with your little trip down memory lane. You seem to be just fine. Today is about me having a sister. Something Donald and Constance promised me.”

What is happening

“Beef. Fucking. Cake!” Kingston shouted, and everyone turned. “Put your fucking finger down now, and don’t you ever point it in her direction again.”

“Well, you won’t go too deep with me.” I stared out the window. “That’s not true, Dandelion. I don’t think I’ve ever gone deeper with another person than I have with you.” His words hit me hard. I hadn’t expected that. “I know.” I shrugged as I took in all the wildflowers covering the field in front of me. “But taking things further is something you aren’t willing to do.” “I’ve already crossed the line so many times with you, I’m not sure where the line is anymore.” He cleared his throat, staring straight ahead. “I understand why Hayes would be angry.” I rolled my eyes. “And why is that? It shouldn’t be any of his business.” “You’re wrong about that, Saylor. Half the reason I love him so damn much is because of the way he is with you. You deserve that type of love, and you didn’t get it from your parents. He stepped up. And he knows my track record. He knows that if I ever went there with you and fucked it up, it would be over for me and him. If I hurt you, he couldn’t be in my life.”

He's not respecting Saylor

You deserve the prince on the white horse.” He glanced over at me, dark eyes filled with emotion. He was so damn hard on himself. “That’s the thing. I’m not looking for a prince on a white horse. I don’t need to be saved or rescued.

“I sometimes wonder if maybe I’ve always been single because the only girl I really ever wanted was the one I couldn’t have.” My heart raced as I admitted to her what I’d been wondering since my grandmother called me out on it. “But you can have her. You’ve just decided to become ridiculously moral all of a sudden.”

“Right. Because when you’re testing the waters and have no idea what to expect, you should definitely ask permission from my overbearing brother first.” “I can’t lie to him.” “I’m not asking you to lie to him. I’m asking you to treat me like an adult. When you get together with a woman, do you go to her family and ask if you can kiss her first?”

He's beyond annoying. I would tell him I don't want anything to do with him. He's overcomplicating it.

“We’ll see about that. But I’m not fucking you until we tell him,” I said, trying hard to keep myself in control.

Omfg this is ridiculous. It's gross to ask for permission.

“I’m going to fuck it up, Saylor. I’m not good at this. You deserve a hell of a lot better than me. I know it. Hayes knows it. Why don’t you believe me?” “Because I think I’ve always been yours, in a way. My forbidden King.”

My gaze locked with hers. “You’re so fucking beautiful. Sometimes it’s hard for me not to stare at you.”

“Let’s get one thing straight right now.” I wrapped my large hand around the side of her neck, my thumb grazing along her jaw. “I will never bullshit you. We’ve got to be on the same page if we’re going to do whatever the fuck this is we’re doing.” “We’re just getting one another out of our systems. I’ll probably tire of you by the time we get back to the house.”

“You do know how insane this is, right? You won’t have sex with me until you get my brother’s blessing?” I shook my head and started walking. “This isn’t the 1800s.” “I hate to break it to you, Dandelion. But I don’t think there has ever been a time period where the dude asked the brother if he could have sex with his sister.” He barked out a laugh. “This isn’t about me asking him for permission to fuck you. Trust me. I’m not stupid. He’d never be okay with that. This is about you and me figuring out if this thing is over before he even gets home. It’s not about the sex. It’s about doing the right thing regarding a guy who’s like a brother to me.”

“I’ve never had a man… you know, taste me.

Please no I hate this

I’d always been a man who enjoyed sex. I loved it, actually. It was my favorite kind of escape. Pleasing the woman I was with had always been something I did before I chased my own pleasure.

I really don't care to hear about other women

This was not a fucking fling. This was so much more, and we both knew it.

I was convinced that Grammie was right all along. I’d most likely fallen for her all those years ago, and nothing else had ever compared. But how could I have loved her before I ever kissed her or touched her? I didn’t fucking know. But I knew that I did.

“Have you ever taken a bath with a girl?”

Every book has a bath scene

“I never doubt that, King. That’s why no one needs to know what’s going on—with our friendship or our history. Your connection with my brother and mine with your grandmother. It puts a lot of pressure on things. And I want this. Whatever this is that’s going on between us right now. For us. For me. For however long it lasts. I’m happy when I’m with you. Always have been.”