Page 65 of The King's Man
I gaped at him for a breath, then dropped my face into my hands and prayed to sink into the floor.
“Diadre,no.”
There was a snap and the bed jiggled, then strong but gentle hands took hold of my wrists and pulled my hands away from my face.
Jann had manifested his wings and craned them high and wide, forming a wall between us and the rest of the world. Like an ebony, feathered tent with only us inside.
He held my hands down on my chest and met my eyes, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean to imply that youwere,”he breathed. “Truly. I only—”
“You didn’t,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s just… That’s how it feels. But no one’s ever seen before that. I thought becoming a soldier and proving myself to men meant they’d see what it was that made me unique. I thought they’d want me because I was special or… God, that sounds so embarrassing, but I thought… I thought they wouldseeme. I thought when they wanted me, they’d wantallof me. But they never did, Jann. Behind my back they’d boast that they were the one who could tame me—but the moment they had… they didn’t want me anymore.”
I shut my mouth over those words, cursing myself and struggling until Jann released me so I could put my hands back up over my face.
I was mortified. I’d never said these words to a man. I’d come close with Jhonas, but he was always so focused on protecting me from what he called the men’sbaser instinctsthat every time I had attempted to draw the conversation deeper, he’d told me to tell him who hurt me and assured me he’d take care of me, and appoint men around me who would in his absence.
Yilan had listened and empathized. She understood. As Queen, she was prized. But, as she put it, “like a broodmare at a horse auction.” She understood the feelings under the eyes of men, but she’d never slept with one of them before and didn’t understand—
“Diadre… Diadre,look at me.”
I opened my fingers wide enough to meet Jann’s eyes through them and found him peering at me with sadness.
“Do not pity me,” I snapped.
He shook his head. “I don’t. I just… I want you to know… I see you.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes, the great and mighty Jannus the Halfling—”
“No. Don’t,” he said sharply.
I froze and our eyes locked again.
He leaned in. “I see your determination. I see your intelligence. I see your wit, and your heart—you are brave in the face of danger, unafraid to walk a path alone when you believe it’s right, you love those dear to you with abandon. You are loyal to your Queen, and trust her, so embrace my King. Diadre… you areveryunique—that’s why you’re my—” He stopped and frowned, cleared his throat. “There is something very special about you, Diadre. I have neverdesiredto claim a woman before. Ever. Not like this. Not in truth.”
“Only for sexual favors?” I muttered.
“Yes,” he said baldly. “Trust me, my past partners have always left satisfied and safe, but never… nevertreasured.”
My breath stopped. I stared at him and he stared back.
He shifted his weight, like he was uncomfortable, but held my gaze. And deep, deep in my chest, something broke loose—there was a tiny cry in my soul. A chain snapped. I didn’t understand what it was, or why, only that it happened in thesame place where I felt that sizzle of electric charge between us when I touched him. And it made me want him. Desperately.
Without a word, I took his face in my hands and leaned up to kiss him.
Jann sucked in a deep breath, like I’d shocked him. But then he turned into the kiss, delving my mouth, his hand sliding to my back to hold me close as the kiss went deeper, and deeper, and the need within me coiled tighter.
I wrapped an arm around his neck and he groaned into my mouth, lowering me back to the bed and covering me with his massive body, his wings still up and curled over us.
I couldn’t get enough of him, couldn’t get close enough, needed his mouth on mine, his body on mine, his touch. I clawed hands into his hair and nipped at his skin, reveled in the sounds vibrating in his chest in response.
And then, as he settled between my thighs and nudged at me, he froze. His head popped up and he braced both arms, staring at me wildly, his eyes hunted.
“Diadre, I need you to—”
“Yes, Jann,” I whispered, grabbing his neck and pulling him back down. “Yes.”
25.Make You Mine – Part 2
SOUNDTRACK:Lovesickby Steven Rodriguez
