Page 137 of Wanted By a King

“Well, it wasn’t until the bet that I decided to take it that far.”

Her brows shoot up again. “A bet?”

“Yes. Gunner and I had some bets going. It was an easy bet to take.”

Her blue eyes darken as she glares at me. “What, becauseI’measy? Is that it?”

“No, Princess. Because I wanted you. I wanted to conquer you. Taint you. Peel away those layers of rich bitch until you were nothing but a submissive little mouse.”

She scoffs. “And how’d that work out for you?”

I chuckle as she glares. “I’d say rather well. You may not be the submissive mouse I thought I wanted, but I’ve peeled away enough layers to see the strong woman you are. The caring woman that no longer sits in her tower and rolls her eyes at people like me. People like my club brothers or the Cruz Cunts.”

“Yet you still try to dominate me.” She hisses and I nod.

“Don’t pretend you don’t love that, Princess. I know your body better than you think.” Leaning forward, I grip her hair in my fist and drag her closer, tilting her head back. “You can still be the strong woman I’ve watched you grow into and still submit to me. Give yourself over and trust me to push you but never hurt you.”

“So all of this started with a bet, and then you decided to fucking own me like I’m a piece of property?”

Shifting closer, I press my nose to hers, breathing the same air as I fight to stay calm and not strip her clothes off.

“Don’t forget, Princess. You own me right back.”

Her breath rushes out at my words, so I close the distance and claim them in a forceful, teeth clashing kiss. It turns hot and heavy in a matter of seconds, and although all I want is to strip her bare, I somehow manage to rein myself in and break the kiss.

“You’re so fucking consuming, Zo. You have no idea how much I wish I could fucking run away with you and live somewhere that no one else can bother us. Somewhere just for you and me.”

“Isn’t Nirvana that place?” she whispers against my lips, and I shrug.

I’d fucking like it to be, but my life belongs to the club.

Gripping her chin, I tilt her head back as I look down into her eyes.

“I was going to come here that day, when you graduated. I hadn’t been here in so long and I kept putting it off because of a certain blonde haired princess always stealing my attention. I figured that with your graduation and being with your family, that perhaps it was a good time to go. But I couldn’t do it. For some reason, the need to watch you was more important than Nirvana.”

“Watch me?” she asks, and I let go of her chin, letting her settle back into the cushions.

“Yes. I watched you graduate. Listened to your speech, standing on that stage as you addressed your peers. I watched you at the restaurant too, as you ate. As you sent me messages and ducked off to the bathroom to fucking tease me.”

“You were being a prick.”

I shrug. “Aren’t I always?”

“I guess. But if you were watching me at the restaurant, then you must have been there when…” She trails off as her eyes drop to my chest and her eyes glass over.

“Yes, Princess. I was there. And for some reason, you think I wasn’t.”

Her eyes dart up to mine. “But you weren’t. What did you do, stand back and watch my mom get shot? And Leslie?”

I shake my head and use my thumb to wipe up her tears. “I didn’t stand back, Princess. I was right there with you. Shielding you.”

Anger quickly contorts her expression, and she shoves my chest to push me back as she leaps up off the couch.

“Don’t fucking lie to me Grayson!” she yells, spinning to face me as she towers over me this time.

“I’m not lying, Princess. The three men came out of the shadows near the alleyway beside the restaurant. I got to you as fast as I could. It all happened so quickly. I couldn’t save your mom or your sister, but I could save you. So I wrapped my arms around you and threw us both to the ground as I covered you with my body.”

“But… I thought… it was Gunner who did that. I’m sure it was his voice. He said—”

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