The Arrogant Architect (16 page)

“We did it, baby,” Ever says as I drive away from the event.

“Yeah, we did. Thank you for getting me through it.”

“Of course, are you kidding me? You
did awesome, really awesome,” she says.

“Thinking of you naked helped me to only focus on you.” She
smirks as I check my pocket, making sure I still have the key Sara gave to me.

“Whatcha looking for in there?” Ever asks and reaches for my
pocket.

“Nothing, would you stay out of there?”

She frowns as I near our destination. I can see she’s
starting to wonder as this is not the way to either of our places. “Where are
we going?” she asks with uncertainty mixed in her voice.

“I have to stop by a project.”

“At this time of night?”

“Yes, baby, at this time of night.”

Shutting the car off as we are parked in front of the huge
rundown waterfront building, I look out my windshield admiring the potential
and then say to Ever, “Do you want to come in with me real quick?”

“Sure,” she responds and we get out of the car. Walking up
to the door, I unlock it and let her in ahead of me. “Be careful,” I say, as I
flip on all the lights for the lower level, watching her every move.

“Are you restoring this?” she asks.

“Maybe.”

Taking her hand in mine, I lead her through the open lower
level and towards the back.

“Why did you bid on it then?” she asks me.

Opening the door to the shell of the kitchen, I cover her
eyes with one hand and then turn the light on with my other. “King?” she
questions me and I slowly pull it away.

She looks around at the remnants of what’s left and then
gets wide eyed. “Don’t look at me like that,” I tell her.

She blinks and I ask her, “Could you imagine yourself
cooking in here?”

“Did you buy this for me?” she swallows and I begin to
panic, the events of what we’ve gone through in the past pouring down on me,
and I remember to keep calm and explain everything to her.

“When I first looked at this place it was for restoration,
honest to God. But… when I saw the size of this kitchen and the location, I
couldn’t help but picture this being your restaurant.” Taking the key from my
pocket, I dangle it out in front of her and she does a three-sixty look inside
of the room.

“King, I don’t even know what to say.”

“You told me after we went on our first hike that if I
wanted to buy you something it could be a restaurant…so here you go.” I hand
her the key and she clenches it in her palm as I open my sketchbook and begin
to draw a rough shape of the room. “Let’s plan it out. Tell me what you want
and I’ll make a model of it for you and then you can decide if this is the
place.”

“Baby, I trust your design skills, it’s not that…it’s…this
is so much.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

“I’m sure it costs a fortune.”

“Not to me.” I feel her slipping from my grasp, not liking
the idea, and I ask her, “Is this kitchen big enough?”

“Of course, it’s huge.”

“Awesome baby, what do you see on this wall?” I ask and
point to it. I can see the wheels inside her head spinning, imagining the
potential in here, the same way I did. Then she says, “This is onlya design,
and you’ll talk to me before deciding anything else?”

“I promise.”

Her hands are locked together covering her mouth, and then
she says, “I’d start with this wall. It has to go, that way, this walkout could
be doubled in size.” I take meticulous notes, like my life depends on them.
Listening to her every word as each idea turns into another and another and
another. There is a smile spread across her face and I love it.

The translation of her vision is clear in my mind, like a
painting and I can see that she wants this. Our visions blend together as she
tells me everything she wants, and page after page after page is filled with
notes and drawings. We are vibing off each other, creating a space, together.
And when she finally stops talking, I finish what I was last writing and then
glance up at her. Her dress is pooled in a pile of fabric at her feet and she’s
chewing her bottom lip. Dropping my pencil and notebook to the floor, she sets
the key down and I grab her, lifting her in my arms, kissing her with all I
have as we stumble backwards, finally landing with her back pressed against the
wall.

My cock throbs wanting to be inside her, especially after
watching her get so passionate about the art of design and creating. “Fuck me,
King,” she begs, rubbing her pussy against me. My pants and her underwear are
separating us, angering me that I can’t just slide in.

Freeing my cock, she removes her underwear and then steps to
me. My throbbing shaft is in the grip of my hand, my mind screaming one thing
and one thing only, to claim her and fuck her until she comes.

She lifts her leg and I hold it up, nudging my way inside
her. Once she fully surrounds me, I move like a machine, sending chills through
my body. She cries out in pleasure as my fingers dig into her thigh. My balls
slap her ass as I pump myself inside her, waiting on pins and needles for the
moment she comes. Her hands are wound in my hair and for the first time being
with her, the noise stops. The silence catches me off guard and I slow my
movements to be sure of it. I’ve never found this solitude with anyone; my
brain is consistently yelling
harder, faster, more
. She looks at me
wide-eyed and asks, “What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, just enjoying you.” Gently I kiss her neck,
nuzzling as I nip her skin, swimming in a sea of silence. Then slowly I begin
to pump my hips, and her moans are like that of an angel, and all that I hear.
I grunt, joining in the ecstasy as her tight pussy clenches me, pulling my
orgasm out of me, without my control. 

Cum shoots from my balls pouring inside her and her nails
dig into my neck, shaking and whimpering as she comes right after me. My chest
is heaving for air, the adrenaline rush she gives me is unlike anything I’ve
ever known.

And I’m grateful after all I’ve been through, to have found
Ever. She accepts me for who I am – she completes me – she makes my life whole.

Ever

Standing in the middle of the kitchen…my kitchen, of my
restaurant…it still doesn’t feel real and I’m quite sure it never will. “Where
do you want these?” King asks me, walking in with a huge box in his hands. I
peek inside at its contents and open the door to the walkout. He sets it on one
of the shelves and wipes his hands dry on his pants. He’s been busting his ass
getting ready for the grand opening tomorrow, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
He’s turned down multiple jobs, resulting in what I’m sure would be millions of
dollars lost, but he’s said that he wants us to do this together.

“What else is on the list, baby?” he asks me as I go through
everything that needs to be done tonight. 

I think I hear a knock on the door, and I look at King and
ask him, “Did you hear that?” Setting my notebook on the prep counter in the
kitchen, we walk out and spot my dad and his aunt peering through the glass.
“Did you know they were coming?” I ask, not feeling quite ready to show them
the place yet.

“No.”

“Hey, guys,” I respond, opening the door, and they come
right in.

“Wow, it looks totally different,” Galinda says spinning all
around, staring in awe at the beauty of this place.

“Thanks,” King tells her, and my dad gives me a hug. “Sorry
to drop in on you like this. I tried to call you when we were on our way.”

“It’s okay, my phone’s somewhere in here.”

“It looks amazing.”

“King really outdid himself. What are you guys out doing?”

“We went to an auction and were passing by on the way back
to Galinda’s.”

“Do you want to look around?” I ask them and they both grin
from ear to ear.

“I’ll show them, baby. You finish what you were doing.”

“You sure?” I ask and King kisses my forehead, knowing that
right now I am feeling completely overwhelmed.

As the three of them walk off, I envision this place being
filled tomorrow night. It’s going to be a dream come true and I owe it all to
King, who looks back at me and winks.

Going into the kitchen, I go through my checklist and
realize that there really isn’t that much more to do. The staff has been a
tremendous help, especially Mistee, who agreed to be my executive chef and I
couldn’t be happier about it.

Closing my book of notes, I think I’m just being OCD.
Deciding to stay in the moment, because I’ll never get this back again, I make
a quick appetizer plate and then grab a bottle of wine as I go in search of my
family. I find them on the rooftop deck, looking out at the bay that our
restaurant is located on. The stars twinkle in the night sky as I set the food
down, turning the heaters on before I gaze out at the vast view and enjoy it
with them.

“You really should charge people more to eat up here,” my
dad says as I stand next to him.

“I’ll be happy if we have constant traffic,” I tell him, and
King rolls his eyes.

“Would you stop worrying? We’ve got reservations booked out
for three months solid, I don’t think you’re going to have anything to worry
about.

I smile, grateful for the support that I’ve had from
Lorenzo. Yes, I now call him Lorenzo, and he’s been vital during this entire
process.

“Are you guys hungry? I made some appetizers.”

They all nod their heads and we take the best seat in the
house. As they dig into the food, I sit back and look at King, so proud of him
and thankful to him for giving me this amazing gift.

“Did you decide on the menu for tomorrow night?” my dad asks
me, knowing that was a big worry.

“Yeah, let me grab you one.” I get up from my seat and get
him one from the hostess stand. As I walk back up to the table, I freeze in my
tracks. Staring back at me is a letter from my mom.

“You don’t have to open it now, Ever,” he says and I swallow
sitting in front of it, scared to touch it. “I know how you like to have them
at midnight though.”

I can tell my dad wants me to open it now, or he wouldn’t
have sat it out in the open like that. We haven’t talked about the letters
since the day of the blowup when King gave them to both of us. I think my dad
assumed that he’d be the one giving them to me…and that’s okay.

“No…I want to open it. It’s what mom would want, I want her
voice to be a part of all this.”

Lifting the letter, King squeezes my thigh and I give him a
small smile so he knows that I am okay with this. He gets worried and that is
the last thing that I want him to be right now.

Running my thumb over the indentation of her handwriting, I
flip it over, the yellow sticky note that reads,
restaurant
is still
stuck to the back. Gently, I tear open the envelope and take out her letter. A
cool breeze whips through me and I’d like to think that it’s her, encouraging
me on. Clearing my throat so everyone can hear her words, I find strength in
the wind.

My dearest Everly,

I never doubted for one second
that your dreams would come true. You are a talented and amazing chef. You have
no idea the power of your abilities and how proud of you I am. It disappoints
me that I cannot be there with you to help you, but I’m a firm believer in fate
and a greater power. I know God has a bigger plan for all of us, especially
you, my sweet Ever. I hope as you read these words you’re happy, and as you
embark on such a huge accomplishment in your professional career, please know
that I’m with you…I always have been and always will be…until we meet again.

Love, Mom

Mr. Prezident, we did it again and I am so grateful for not
only your undying support, but your love and guidance as I finished our 11
^th
book. I cannot tell you how much this is a dream come true, thank you for
pushing me from the beginning, to write
Fatalism
and guiding me along
all these years as I’ve pursued my dream. I love you baby, to infinity and
beyond.

Lisa, we’ve officially done ten books together and I
couldn’t be happier. You are so amazing and talented. Thank you for editing
this one from a wonky laptop, while dealing with yet again another one of my crazy
ass deadlines.

Leticia and Janice, my impeccable proofreaders. If I had
another way to say thank you other than in these words, I’d do it. I’d get down
on my knees, so you know just how much I appreciate the two of you. You ladies
make my books flawless and I am truly indebted to the both of you, forever.

Crystal, AKA the Boss, AKA mama bear, thank you for pushing
me to write King’s story in an obscenely short amount of time. You are a
Godsend, and even though I give you a hard time about my Facebook bans, I
appreciate it…so much. Thank you, for believing in me and my work and for
sticking behind me the way that you do. Remember our #1 rule, and never forget
it.

To my crazies, you ladies make my days so much happier, your
posts, comments, emails, and messages are the best. I hope I’ve made you proud
with this story.

Last, but absolutely not least, to all of the readers,
reviewers, and bloggers. Thank you for taking the time to read King &
Ever’s story. Your support means the world to me. You are the reason I write
and I’d love to hear your thoughts, if you could leave a review, short or long,
it would mean a lot to me. Both the Prezident and I read every single review
and love hearing your feedback.

Be sure to add my next book,
Zero F*cks
, to your
Goodreads TBR. It will be released in September 2016 -
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31679535-zero-f-cks