Page 91 of Emperor of Corruption
“Killian—”
He leans down and crushes his lips to mine. He hoists me up in his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. My stomach drops like it did yesterday in the shower, and nausea rises. I try to pull my mouth away from his, tobreathe, but he doesn’t let me. He turns, strides a few steps forward, and drops me on my feet. Pain radiates up my legs, but he has no mercy—he folds me over the arm of the couch and wrenches up my nightgown.
I bite my bottom lip and brace for what comes next.Pain. I expect it, I’m almost ready for it, so when I feel Killian’s cock nudging my entrance, I startle.
“Wait—”
“No.” He thrusts inside me with overwhelming force. I whimper in pain—I’m not wet or ready for him, but right now, he doesn’t seem to care. He fucks me like he can’t stand me, and the cruelty of each pump hurts more than my body. It scrapes over the raw edges of my soul.
Somewhere between the sex, travel, and force, part of me has grown to care about Killian. Maybe not abouthim, but certainly about hisopinion—courtesy of him reading the first full-length novel I ever wrote. The way he’s treating me right now is tearing right through that care and leaving a gaping hole in my chest. I dig my nails into the couch cushion, squeeze my eyes shut, and endure.
One more week. Less than one more week, and I’m done. He’s just in a jealous rage—he’ll settle. Endure, Lyra.
Endure, endure, endure.
Killian takes his time with me, but he doesn’t put any emphasis on my pleasure. He just keeps thrusting, not seeming satisfied, and not offering me the words of praise he usually does—which hurtseven more.
After what feels like an eternity, he finally comes. He withdraws, leaving me with shaky legs and an aching chest. I push myself up slowly, grimacing at the feeling of his cum leaking out of me. Killian takes my shoulders and spins me around.
“No more looking up other men.” His words aren’t a question, they’re an order.
I nod my head slowly. “I’m not interested in Silas. I was just researching him because I know he’s your competitor,” I whisper.
“I don’t care.” Killian doesn’t flinch, and his glare doesn’t waver. “No more looking up other men. Not until I’m done with you.”
He doesn’t saywhenhe’ll be done with me. The nausea returns.
I nod silently.
Killian turns and disappears into the bedroom. I collapse on the couch, drained, frightened, and so,sotired.
I’ll wait until I get back to the city. Finish the exposé. And then put Killian King firmly in my rearview mirror.
I desperately want to shower and scrub the remnants of Killian’s touch from me, but I’d need to go through the bedroom to get to the bathroom, and I don’t want to be anywhere near Killian right now. So, I use a few tissues to clean up the cum running down my leg, curl up on the couch in a fetal position, and try my best to fall asleep.
When I wake up, it’s morning, and Killian is hovering over me. He doesn’t look happy to see me—quite the opposite, he lookspissed.
“You didn’t come to bed last night.”
I blink sleepily and sit up, rubbing my eyes. “Can we get different hotel rooms, please? I don’t think we’re suited to cohabitation.”
His jaw tightens. “No,” he bites out. “We’re suited just fine. There’s a bed for a reason; you shouldn’t be using the couch.”
“I didn’t want to provoke you more,” I say quietly. Killian doesn’t seem infuriated like he was last night, but he’s not content, either.
Last night might’ve been horrible, but it served as a good reminder for me. Even in my resistance, it’s easy to get caught up in Killian’s charm, and in all the things he offers me—namely, luxurious travel, food, clothing, orgasms, and most importantly, the feedback on my novel, no matter how much it can hurt. I’ve been caught up enough that I’ve forgotten there’s a beast hiding behind his pretty face—a beast that will fold me over andtrulyhurt me if I piss him off.
“Then you should’ve come back to bed.” Killian takes a step back. “Shower. Get dressed. I have several meetings today, and we fly out tomorrow.”
Fly out?“I still haven’t gotten a travel itinerary.”
“You don’t need one. Do what I tell you and behave.”
I nod quietly. One more week—justone more week, and this’ll be done. I’ll be away from here. I won’t need to deal with Killian’s insane mood swings or his bullshit ever again, and Icertainlywon’t need to deal with his jealousy-fueled rages.
I pad my way into the bathroom and switch on the shower. As soon as I step in and squirt shampoo into my hand, a wave of nausea overwhelms me—terriblenausea. The flowery, luxurious smell of the shampoo is suddenly too much.Did I catch a stomach bug?
I barely make it out of the shower and to the toilet in time to throw up. Only bile and water come out, since I haven’t yet eaten this morning, and itburns. I cough, stomach cramping, and fall to my ass near the toilet.
