Page 64 of The King's Man
“I’ll never be owned by a man,” I whispered, licking my lips, instinctively pushing myself back against the headboard of the bed, though I had no desire to flee.
He growled again, fire in his eyes, and alarm shrieked in my head. I thought I’d seen him feral before. Thought I’d seen him aggressive. But this animalistic edge… I half expected claws to unsheath from his knuckles. He had never seemed more of acreatureto me. A still, small voice in the back of my head insisted I should be afraid. That he was not safe. But my body didn’t respond, except to thrum harder as he crawled forward, opening his hand on my ankle and took hold, pulling me down until my head was on the pillow, our eyes still locked as he continued to inch forward, dragging those fingers up my leg.
“You are not a possession, Diadre,” he growled. “But if I claim you in truth… youwillbe mine.”
“What does that even mean?” I breathed as he crawled up my body until our noses were an inch apart. His shoulders were so thick and broad, he blocked out the light above.
There was a shout nearby and I flinched, turning to look, but he caught my chin and brought me back.
It was reflex to brace against the unanticipated touch, and my hand shot to his chest—but both of us gasped out as that electric snap jolted through us. I was breathing even faster now, and so was he.
“Jann, I think—”
“My woman carriesmystrength with her,” he growled, his eyes narrowing and his upper lip curling back from his teeth as if he already saw another male and was preparing to rip out histhroat. “If you let me claim you truly, every Nephilim alive will see it in you, Diadre,” he breathed.
“Let you?” I whispered, my fear tumbling off my tongue before I could think straight. “I thought there was no choice in a Nephilim’s claiming?”
Jann took a deep breath and dropped his chin. “Most wouldn’t offer it,” he admitted. When I frowned his fingers tightened on my chin. “But between us… you and me… the choice isyours.I would have you, Diadre. I would claim you in truth. But God may strike me down if I lie: I will not take you against your will. And I will kill any man who would—I’ve proven that already.”
I desperately wanted to kiss him, but when I leaned up, he shook his head and held my gaze. “Make your choice.”
My breath came short and fast. I couldn’t look away. The intensity in him. The sheer strength held in such tight restraint… what would it be like, I wondered, to see that unleash? All that raw power held so tightly let loose on the world?
On me?
My belly tingled and I clenched, suddenly eager to see it.
I licked my lips and Jann’s eyes dropped to watch my tongue, but he yanked them back up and made himself hold eye-contact. And that was the moment I vowed to myself that some day, I would see him lose control. I would do everything in my power to snap that leash.
He was on all fours, knees between my legs, one hand braced on the pillow next to my head, the other holding my chin.
He was hard as a rock. Still holding eye-contact, I reached for him and smiled when his entire body quivered at my touch.
He closed his eyes for a moment, hips nudging forward into my grip, then his jaw flexed and he growled and his eyes flew open—the fire of anger now blazing alongside the flames of need.
“Diadre, do not toy with me.”
“I’m not,” I said, breathlessly.Not very much, anyway.“But I will only choose a man who truly wantsme.”
“I believe you have irrefutable evidence ofmydesire,” he muttered dryly. I stroked him again and his fingers tightened on my chin.
“Is it desire, or…” I looked down, between his arms, low where I grasped him and pumped him twice. He muttered a curse and dropped his hips, pinning my hands and his cock between us, but still braced on his arm so his upper body loomed over me.
“Orwhat?”he asked through his teeth.
I swallowed, because the question was real. “Do you just want what you’ve been told you can’t have?”
I’d meant to have my chin high. To challenge him. To draw my line in the sand and force him to step over it, or walk away. But the words left my throat thin and fearful. Something in me was desperate to hear this from him, and that terrified me even more than these brutal men.
I thought he’d roll his eyes. Screw up his face in frustration at my weakness—or smile because it meant he’d won. But to my shock, Jann let go of my chin and sat back on his heels, his face softening into concern.
“Is that what they’ve done to you? Made you a conquest?” he asked quietly.
Inside, I crumbled. I’d been ass in the air before a man. I’d been legs spread and touching myself to let a man watch. I’d ridden a man to his climax, then let him use his mouth to bring me to mine… and I’d never felt as purelynakedas I did in that second.
It was the kind of question that, under any other circumstance I would have met with a wicked grin and a fist on my hip to let him knowof courseI was a conquest. But now? Here? With him?
I didn’t know if it was because of the events with that fucking Nephilim, or because Jann had been so good to me, but I suddenly discovered I had no bravado.
