Page 19 of Kings of Desire
I thoughthewas the one supposed to resist me.
‘Now, Mouse,’ he barked, making my legs close around his waist in the most useless conservative instinct a person could ever have, hoisting a long groan out of his lungs.
Maybe I was scared, or maybe I was just weak, but my eyes followed his command, closing to expect what was to come.
I felt him moving around me, as I was trying to chase away the thoughts drifting through my mind while my intuition was telling me to start running.
Something was stirring in my hair as his wicked words made their way to my ears ‘You smell of fear.’
He could see right through me, and that was no surprise since I found it impossible in those moments to hide the obvious.
Though he had something more to say, ‘That turns me on.’ A thought that made my eyes squeeze themselves shut, desperately trying to conceal the perilous feeling that was building inside of me.
His hands advanced to the back of my head, tightening something around my eyes ‘You should be good to go... That, unless you want me to continue,’ he low tone spoke, resting his palms on my knees.
‘What is this?’ I asked touching the material wrapped around my face and realizing it was a mask.
‘You’re not the brightest bird, are you?’ Cole rolled his eyes, making me push him back to try and see myself in the dressing room mirror.
‘No charm school classes for you, I assume,’ two could play this game.
‘Watch that mouth of yours, Mouse. Or I’ll have to watch it for you.’ Apparently, Cole could say anything he wanted, but no one could offend the king. ‘Or maybe you would like that. You could close your eyes again and imagine it... Or maybe I could make it reality.’
‘That whiskey must have gotten straight to your head.’ I just couldn’t keep my mouth shut since he kept insisting that every living soul should fall for him.
‘Don’t fucking test my temper,’ the lion roared, taking me by the upper part of my arm and whirling me around to face him. ‘I like you better when you shiver.’
It was a threat and it was also a pending promise, while flames of desire were sinfully dancing in his eyes.
‘Why did you put the mask on me?’ Was this a sick fantasy of his or did he have an ulterior reason?
He let his eyebrows narrow into a frown, since explaining himself was certainly NOT a part of his usual routine, yet he manages to indulge me ‘Just because my friends have the memory of a goldfish doesn’t mean that nobody will recognize you. The whole fucking Academy is here, you’re going to run into someone you know sooner or later.’
His answer surprised me. Yes, the mask would be a tremendous advantage, but why would he help me ‘Why are you doing this?’ I asked, determined to convince myself that there could be a living human being trapped behind the asshole layer he’s so proud of displaying.
‘Oh, you haven’t realized it by now? It’s because I fell in love with you from the first second I saw you, and all I want is to protect you,’ his tone so ironic that he almost burst into laughter, even before he got to finish his sentences.
A wake-up call, underlining so thoroughly that fairytales don’t exist. There are only urges, needs of the body, and of a troubled mind. No happy endings, only hollow hopes drifting in a sea of doubts.
‘It’s fine if you don’t answer, but you don’t need to patronize me.’
‘Why do you think I put it on you? I don’t want people to see me around with you.’
At least now he was telling the truth, I was a nobody. No matter what dress I put on, how pretty I look, or how smart I am, I would still be the girl at the other end of the hallway.
I turned again towards the mirror, in an attempt to dodge another bullet since I felt him instants away from explaining my true place in the society ‘How did you know you’ll find this mask here?’
‘It belongs to the blonde that’s friends with Jason’s ex. I forget her name.’
I managed to change the subject, though his answer seemed to be bothering me. There was a 99% chance he slept with her. How else would he know the mask would be in the bedroom? But no matter how much of an obnoxious jerk he was, I still had hopes in that 1%. Apparently, when it came to Cole I was running on auto-destructive mode. ‘But it looks a lot better on you,’ he was still playing his game, alternating ice with fire.
I puffed, decided on not letting him get to me ‘Are we done?’
‘Yes, unless you’d like to take a seat on the bed.’
I raced through the door, without providing an answer since only fightback lines could come out of my sharp tongue at that moment.
‘I’m starting to think I’m going to have fun tonight,’ Cole deviously whispered while rushing to catch up with me as I was walking back through the garden. ‘Take a left through here,’ he continued, showing me the way since I had to stop, unsure if he wanted to stay outside or go inside the main house.
