Page 106 of Vengeful King

“No, it wouldn’t. We still need the partnership. It’ll be easier to get this way.”

Aiden nods and picks himself up off his chair. “Well, let’s make it happen, then.”

I watch him go to Rose, and I smile to myself. Tonight isn’t a night for business. It’s a night for the look Aiden gives Rose, the fondness in their eyes when they lean into each other.

And I have someone waiting for me.

I go to Katrina; she’s waiting at a table, one hand on the stem of her glass. A drink with no alcohol. She’s pregnant, and just the reminder makes me feel ridiculously pleased.

I wrap my arms around her when I’m close. She leans back against me, tucking herself into my embrace. I bury my face in her hair and let the smell of her body and perfume cloud my senses. It’s all I want right now.

In this moment, I think to myself that no matter what Ezra wants, no matter what happens in the future, this right here is worth all of it. This woman in my arms.

Katrina is all I really need.

Epilogue: Katrina

I’m standing in the shower, letting water pour over me. It’s evening, and the tiny window near the top of the shower is almost pitch-black.

Every day, I feel better. More like myself—or rather, a newer, better version of myself. Like the person I could never be until I met Lachlan.

Someone strong and powerful. Someone loved.

It feels like my life led up to him. It doesn’t make the suffering any better in retrospect, but I can see just how wonderful my life is. I know how incredible Lachlan is, now that I’ve crawled out of the deepest ditch I could have fallen into.

I’ve gone from living in a shitty apartment, drowning in debt, to having a comfortable bed and a man I love. A man who would do anything to protect me.

It’s a dream. But it’s real, and I’m living it.

I step out of the shower after a few more blissful moments. I want to stay under the hot spray forever, but there’s something else I want more that pulls me away. Someone waiting for me.

The second I set foot in the bedroom, I feel Lachlan grab me by the waist and press me against the wall. It’s sudden, shocking—he must have come home from the club while I was showering. I didn’t expect him.

He’s on me like an animal, ravenous and single-minded. He does this often, devouring me with his mouth and hands. Sex with him is always rough and intense, but I love it. I crave it.

Today is no different. He kisses me hard, so hard I feel like my lips bruise. I’m breathless at once. He crowds into my space and I’m glad my back is to the wall, giving me enough support to withstand the force of his attention. I want to melt beneath him.

He kisses me, groping me as he takes my mouth. I can feel his hands slide under my towel, tearing it away and tossing it into a corner. I’m naked, still damp, my skin hot from the water. I feel even hotter when he touches me.

He drops to his knees without warning. I gasp as he starts to eat me out. He slings one of my legs over his shoulder and again, I’m glad to have the support of the wall. I can barely hold myself up like this.

His attention is complete. His tongue flicks at my clit and makes me unravel in a way I can’t describe. I tangle my hand in his hair, lost in bliss, and moan as he works me up. I lose myself in the feeling, getting closer, the pleasure building up low in my body.

I can feel an orgasm coming, but he pulls back when he senses me tensing. I groan but he doesn’t touch me again.

I yank at his hair, unable to stop myself, frustrated. “I hate you.”

He grins up at me, lips shining in the dark bedroom.

“No, you don’t,” he says, licking his lips. It’s obscene and I’m transfixed. “You fucking love this. And you love me.”

I shake my head but he slides a finger over my pussy, tantalizing, reminding me of what he could give me. I shiver under his touch and hope he’ll keep going.

But he just sits back on his heels, still looking up at me, something dark in his eyes.

“I could fuck you slow. Make you want it even more, never give you enough.”

I know he would. He’s done it before. But right now, that’s not what either of us want, and I know he’s not going to hold back. So all these things he’s saying are just to remind me, just to make me wet.

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