Page 15 of Truth
I’m immediately looking for his angle, but he’s right. “You were so calm, it was actually a little scary. Seems someone so calm isn’t unfamiliar with that kind of aggression.” It’s not a question. I know he’s not the kind of man people disrespect. He has a powerful presence even in his tender moments.
He stares down at me, unmoving and impassable. I feel stripped, unnerved, and in unfamiliar territory. My list of one-night stands is slim to none and especially with someone as intense as King.
“Two things: I am scary, and I would never hurt you.”
His words resonate. I don’t know him, but I am certain he would never hurt me. He’s the kind of man who protects—so long as you’re not on the other end of it. It’s nothing more than a gut feeling, but I’m trusting myself. The silence stretching between us, tethering our attraction, is palpable.
King puts his hand against the door and leans in toward my face. “Ready?” he asks as he pushes the door open.
Turning my head, I take in the room. An oversized king bed with a rich deep red comforter backed by a heavy ironwork headboard is across from me, lit up by the soft amber glow that sets the mood from the bedside tables. I crane my neck for a better look and can see a small sitting area facing the bed with high-backed leather club chairs and a glass table in between accompanied by a bar cart stocked with high-end-looking bottles. The walls are wood paneled, and they look elegant but purposeful. A set of wrist cuffs are attached. It looks like a fancy albeit sex-themed hotel room, but I’m struck by the jacket and small leather duffel that is on a chair by the bed.
“Is thisyourroom?” I ask, unable to make my legs move forward. There is something niggling at me. I suddenly feel like a conquest, a warm body for the night, even though that’s all I promised. I don’t like the idea he’s been here with other women.What the hell? I’m losing it—how can I be jealous? I’ve known him for all of a hot second.
“Does the idea that I have a room for myself bother you?” His eyes search mine for my answer.
“Yes.” I narrow my eyes at him, clearly unembarrassed by my irrational, absurd anger, but I feel anger, real anger bubbling inside of me, fighting its way to the surface. I can’t lie to him. I feel unable. I’m also unapologetic about it. I want him to be my treasure, some incredible reward for fighting to find my way to the X on the map.
“Good.” His own anger rears its ugly head. “I hate everyone who has ever touched you,” he growls through gritted teeth as he crashes his mouth down to mine. Gripping my waist, he raises me to his height, continuing his murderous assault on my mouth, walking us through the door and kicking it shut.
“I hate that you’ve touched other women,” I mumble between kisses, gripping at his suit jacket to remove it, while he places me back to my feet. “I don’t care if that makes me crazy.”
Grabbing my hands in his own to halt my assault on his jacket, he peels them off his jacket and lets them drop to my side. The silence is weighted. It feels tangible. I’m suddenly hyperaware of our matching accelerated breathing.
“I’ll kill anyone who has touched this body before me,” he rumbles before grabbing at the front of my dress and tearing it open. I gasp, forced back by the tearing of my shirt dress, which is now no more than a very expensive rag. My senses are heightened; I can hear the torn buttons clink against the floor. My entire body starts trembling at the manifestation of my restraint. I feel manic; I’ve never been so fucking turned on, and I am not quite sure what will happen if I give myself full permission to give in to this need.
He stalks toward me, and I instinctively move backward, but King reaches out and grabs my bare waist, lifting and tossing me back onto the bed, I land on my back, he’s hovering over me just as quickly.
“Stay,” he growls, his face almost nose to nose to mine.Holy fuck.
His lips barely brush mine as he walks himself back to standing.
“This won’t do at all.” Looking down at my body, he shakes his head side to side at his dislike of the pieces of my torn dress that have fallen to cover me. He reaches out with one hand and traces the exposed flesh between the fabric, moving it out of the way to leave my body exposed. His touch leaves a sear on my body that travels down between my thighs, and I rub my legs together, hoping to pacify the need. He traces slowly, taking his time, increasing my need until his fingers reach right underneath my belly button.
“What’s your desire?” His fingertip draws slow lazy circles right above my center. My body writhes on the bed. “Are you wet for me?” His voice is sinful as he runs a finger over my lace panties, skimming my clit, making me shiver for more. Backing away, he stands at the foot of the bed, letting his eyes wander over my body, my lingerie in full view. His eyes catalog all the places his hands will touch. I watch him plot and plan where I hope he’ll decimate me. Unable to control the urge to take his clothes off, I push myself up to sitting only to be met with his “Tsk, tsk, tsk,” causing my actions to freeze in place.
“I told you to stay. If I have to repeat myself, there will be consequences.” I blink rapidly at the delicious promise, my eyes fluttering back as the visual presents itself like a prayer.
King walks over to a coffee table across from the bed. Standing with his back straight and his legs spread, he stands like a man in charge, someone familiar with power and how to wield it over another person. He reaches under the cuff of his black tailored suit jacket, unfastens his watch, and places it down on the table. Tilting his head to the side, he gives me a crooked grin and licks his lips as he unbuttons his suit jacket with one hand and shrugs it off, laying it over a chair adjacent to his left. After toeing off his shoes, he starts back to the bed, rolling up his shirtsleeves, exposing his tattooed forearms. He pulls off his belt and tosses it next to me.
“That’s for later. I have a feeling you’ll need some taming.”
Shit just got real.
MY BODY IS SHIVERING ASif I have the chills, but I’m not cold—the opposite actually. I’m on fire watching him saunter back to the bed. He grabs both my ankles, pulling them slowly and dragging me down to the edge of the bed. A sinful smile spreads across his face. Bending my knees, he places my feet onto the bed, leaning forward to push my knees apart until I’m spread.
My eyes grow big as he cups my center, pushing pressure on my clit with the heel of his palm. I moan at the sweet torture, grinding my body back into his hand and gripping the sheets like a lifeline.
“I’m happy to see you like it rough since I didn’t plan on being tender.”
Running one hand up my body, he pushes his finger into my mouth, and I suck and lick while he separates me from my panties with a firm grip and rips, causing me to scream out from shock, the bite from the lace pulling against my skin. My jaw snaps at the hand that’s near my face as retribution for the sting my pussy still feels, but he’s too quick, pulling his hand back before I can sink my teeth in too hard. King looks down at his hand, amused, and then back to me. My chest heaves as waves of emotion and lust drown me over and over again.
“Mmmm, you’re going to pay for that, gorgeous.” His eyes are a storm of sinful rage.
“Promise?” My voice sounds like I’m begging, and I think I may very well be.
“I’ve never meant anything more. Sweetheart, I will ruin you for any other man, and then I will keep you.”
His words are a promise for a future that will never happen, but I don’t care. I want him now. The feeling makes me sit straight up and grip the sides of his neck, locking our mouths together.
