Page 16 of Claiming Liberty
“Uh, yeah,” Kingsley stumbles. “I do. She’s borrowed.”
My shoulders jerk with a flinch when the computer is slammed closed, then Laptop Guy stands abruptly. Kingsley unfolds his arms to take the computer, but it crashes to the ground after the jerk thrusts it at his chest.
I scratch at my arm as I watch Kingsley’s Adam’s apple bob, his nervous stare aimed at the computer by his feet.
Laptop Guy leans into him to growl in his ear, the words loud enough for me to hear. “Don’t be late again.”
Kingsley nods, inhaling a shaky breath as Laptop Guy pulls back and walks to the door. He leaves without looking back, and as soon as the door shuts behind him, Layan falls forward, her face in her hands.
“What the fuck, Kingsley?” she groans.
“I’m sorry,” he says, smoothing a hand over his long hair, trapped in a man bun. His eyes find me. “Shit, you must be terrified.” He walks toward me, his hands raising in front of him like he wants to calm me down. I stand straight with my eyes fixed on him, unsure what it is I should be terrified of. He seems far more scared than I am.
“Are you okay?” he asks, clearly not reading my body language well.
“Of course she isn’t okay,” Layan incorrectly answers for me, jumping to her feet. She stomps over to us. “He could’ve recognized her.” She slaps his arm, and I feel even more confused.
He lets herslaphim? Isn’t she his slave?
Layan turns to me, her lips parted. “You know him, huh?” She takes my hand, and my hand twitches, but ingrained politeness stops me from jerking away. “Don’t worry, I don’t think he recognized you. Even if he did, masters borrow manor whores all the time. It’s highly unlikely he would ever check in to it, so please, don’t freak—”
“What did he want?” I ask, my voice flat as I nod at the door.
Her mouth hangs open, and she coughs as it closes. Confusion flashes across her face, but she recovers. “Kingsley was late paying his quarterly dues.”
“Quarterly dues?”
“It was aday,” he whines, his words directed at Layan. She doesn’t look at him, but her jaw tics.
“Yeah, that the masters pay to live on the island. They come to collect when you’re late.” She points to the computer. “They were doing a wire transfer.”
“I paid Chaffer already,” Kingsley says to what appears to be deaf ears. “I thought I’d paid Sawyer too.”
“Whatever,” Layan snaps at him. Her face softens when she looks at me. “Anyway, it’s taken care of now, so no one should be back.”
“Oh… Okay.” I say, unsure what else to add.
“Again, I’m very sorry,” Kingsley says, though I’m not sure why. Why do they think I’m so scared?
“It’s fine.” I wave away the apology.
“It isn’t,” Layan says. “But thank you for accepting his apology anyway.”
I don’t say anything, instead opting to stare at the odd couple.Arethey a couple?
I glance between them, taking in their casual clothes and differing postures. Layan stands with her spine ramrod straight and her hands neatly held in front of her, while Kingsley won’t stop fidgeting. He scratches at his muscular forearms while swaying side to side.
Based on her posture, Layan looks like she could be a submissive. She has a sharp tone with him, though, and I cannot for the life of me picture this man dominating anyone. He looks like a guy who belongs on the beach, with his sun-kissed skin peeking from the long slits in the side of his tank top. But not this beach. He’s too nervous, too unsure of himself.
“Hey, hon?” Layan turns to Kingsley who snaps to attention.
“Hmm?”
“Do you think you could make some tea? I’m sure Liberty’s thirsty.”
“Oh, yeah,” he says, overly eager as a smile blooms on his face like he’s grateful he doesn’t have to stomach the torture of standing here another second. “Be right back.”
He bounds for the kitchen, my gaze trailing him.