Page 92 of The King's Man
I sighed happily and smiled when he gave that low rumble in his chest, under my ear.
“You’re awake?”
I nodded against his chest. “I don’t want to be though. I wish we could live here. Let the nations rage and fight. I want to make love to my mate in the hot water and see which one steams more.”
His chest expanded under me, like he’d drawn in a deep breath. “I wish that too,” he said carefully, his voice deep andrough. “But you and I are both fighters, Dee. We’d go mad with no purpose.”
Propping up on my free arm, I reluctantly lifted my head and stared down at him, wondering how to put into words the things in my head.
Jann went still, holding my eyes. When I didn’t speak, his brow furrowed. “What? What is it?”
I cleared my throat. “I think… I think thisismy purpose,” I breathed, afraid he’d shrink from that. But to my delight, he groaned and reached for my hair, pulling me into another hard kiss. He still hadn’t pulled out of my body and I could feel him thickening again, and my belly fluttered.
I sat up, pulling him with me, but as I caught an eyeful of his beautiful body, my eyes widened.
“What?” Jann asked quickly. “What’s wrong?”
I shook my head, stroking his chest, watching his skin pebble. “Nothing’s wrong. But… You had bruises. Scratches. Wounds from the mists. And they’re gone.”
I was awed.
Jann frowned and sat up properly, but held me to him as he looked down at himself and his brows rose. “You’re right.” Then he raised those incredible eyes to meet mine and his smile grew. “You healed me.”
“Me?” I squeaked.
“The bond,” he said warmly, then touched my face. “You took the bond and… it’s healed me. You weren’t wrong about your purpose, Dee. It’s mine as well. We’re stronger together.”
I experienced a strange rush then—warm desire twisted up tight with nervous fear. But Jann kissed me again and I got lost in the press of his body against mine and his sweet mouth—until he suddenly let me go and cursed, sinking back to brace his free hand behind him in the shallow water. Putting space between us.
“What’s wrong,” I asked worriedly, then looked around—were we being discovered?
“I just realized… we ran from the camp. From Melek and Yilan,” he rumbled, his voice tight and frustrated. “They don’t know where we are, and the sun is dropping. It’s already darker in here. Dee… I need to fly you back. Yilan is going toliterallykill meif I don’t show her that you’re okay.”
I cursed as well. But he was right. I let my head slump back to his chest. “Five minutes. Five more minutes won’t hurt,” I muttered.
Jann sighed heavily, but held me to him and laid back down, returning to lazily playing his fingers up and down my spine. “You’re right.”
“I usually am,” I snorted.
“That’s funny, me too. Clearly we were made for each other.”
I’d never giggled with a man before. It was… delightful. And it ended far too soon.
34.A King’s Purpose
~ JANN ~
The moment we stepped into Melek’s tent, my best friend sighed with relief, but Yilan, who was on the other side of the tent, whirled and hurried towards us, spitting through her teeth. “What the fuck is wrong with you, Jann!” she snapped, rushing for Diadre. “When a woman runs from you, fuckingtake the hint—”
She broke off as Diadre instinctively moved towards her, but was held back by our bound wrists.
Both Yilan and Melek froze, inhaling sharply because they knew exactly what that meant.
Diadre looked at me and to my immense relief, she smiled, then stepped closer to my side, hugging my arm that was bound to her.
“It’s okay, Yilan,” she said quietly. “I’m glad he came after me.”In more ways than one.
The words appeared in my head in her voice—wicked and suggestive—and I startled.
