Page 56 of Kiss the Filthiest King

I glance toward Caenan, strong and silent at the entrance of the reception room, trying to see any sort of clue in his expression, but he’s doing a great job at imitating a statue.

“Huh.” Loch can put so much meaning in one sound.

Too bad I can’t actually decipherwhathe means by it. I’m too tired to guess, and too curious to leave it alone.“Whathuh?”

“It’s only that you don’t seem that broken up about it. I find it interesting you’d throw yourself away on a man you don’t even mourn.”

“You’re the fucking worst,” I seethe, crossing the space between us.

My first instinct is to slap him. He deserves a damn slap for all the insults, this one especially. But then his own words, and Darina’s come to mind. If I do that, he will make me pay for it, sevenfold.

“Give me the wine,” I demand instead.

If I have to put up with him, I’d rather do it drunk.

* * *

Ishould have used my iron cup. I know it from the first sip, directly from the gullet. By the time half the bottle is gone, I am a mess.

"You're not so bad," Loch tells me.

"You mean, I'm not so bad now I'm drunk."

"I mean, you're not so bad in any state. I thought you were going to be a weakness, but you've already proven your usefulness on day one. No one else here could have done what you did with Junis. You're a weakness. But you're also a strength."

I have to conclude that he also is very drunk.

"Who knew that all it would take to gain your approval would be a little murder?"

"Don’t sell yourself short. It was a perfectly average-sized murder."

For some reason, we're both laughing like we haven't heard anything this funny in our entire lives, heads thrown back on the surprisingly comfortable couch.

"It’s not that I’m not mourning him, by the way. It’s just…I’ve had a lot going on, with my parents and all."

"Your sister has known Ryther for a week and she'd be a mess on the floor if something happened to him. You didn't care for the boy," he tells me, matter-of-fact. "Not like one should for their partner. It's common, in your world. People settling to avoid being alone."

I think about his words a little too hard, until my head's hurting. "No, I cared. Icare."

"You can lie," he reminds me. "So you can say whatever you want. But your actions show you didn't, not truly. You cared about as much as I would if someone threw paint on my third-favorite suit."

I shove his shoulder, hating that he might not entirely be completely wrong. I was with Ben because I wanted someone. But it was comfortable.

Loch grabs my wrist and pulls at it, until I'm only inches away from him. Then his other hand slides between my thighs through the soft fabric of the pink dress, pressing just right.

"Let me show you how much you cared," he breathes, before his mouth closes in on mine.

I gasp into his demanding kiss, as skilled fingers circle my folds over the clothing.

I know what he's doing. I know it's a game and in order to win it, I have to tell him to stop, that I don't want this, that Ben's memory is far too important for me to let some hot, skillful man help me forget everything so soon after his death.

A better person would have. If it weren't for the wine, my desire to win could possibly have given me that strength. But then his hand's cupping one of my heavy breasts and his mouth moves to my neck, collarbone. Hands undo the laces keeping the dress into place, and then he's on me, lips sucking my bare nipples as he shifts to hover over me, lifting my legs in one smooth move. My skirt slides up my thighs. He's not one to waste an opportunity, those clever fingers now seeking my panties, sliding underneath.

"You might want to switch your guard shift to the other sister," Loch says.

For a moment, I'm confused, but I open my hooded eyes to see him watch Caenan, still standing by the door.

Oh shit, I completely forgot he was here. He truly was too good at acting like a piece of furniture. Or I'm just that drunk.

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