Reign of a King (Kingdom Duet #1) by Rina Kent

Doesn’t she know there’s no erasing a king? At least, not when you reside in his kingdom.

I take my time sliding my gaze down her full, high tits that push against the bra with each harsh intake of breath. The pale skin contrasts against the purple like the type of art you only see in exhibitions.

Her body shape is slim, tall, and fit. Judging from her toned legs, either she jogs or hikes. There’s no line of tan on her shoulders or around her hips, even though we’re just out of the summer, which means Aurora doesn’t do sunbathing.

Aurora doesn’t wear swimsuits, but she runs or hikes.

I tuck that information away for later as I continue watching her rigid posture and the rebellion in her dark blues. They sparkle like a hurricane about to conquer an ocean.

My cock twitches and it’s not just because of her half-naked state. It’s that look in her eyes. The spirit, the fight. The damn stubbornness.

My blood rushes with a powerful heat at the idea of exploiting that fight, of digging my fingers into her armour and ripping it apart from the inside out.

How long has it been since I’ve had a worthy opponent? Aside from Ethan and his dog, Agnus, no one dares to look me in the eyes, let alone stand half-naked, in a vulnerable position, and still defy me.

My gaze slides to a medium length scar beneath her left breast. It’s horizontal, a bit messy, and appears old.

How old, though? And what happened to give her that scar?

There’s also what seems like a tattoo above it. It’s too small to make out its details, but I’ll have plenty of time to study that later.

Aurora wraps an arm around her midsection to hide her scar. She’s either ashamed of it or she doesn’t like to be exposed.

Fascinating.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask in my firm tone that people usually bolt at hearing. I don’t show that she took me by surprise. Again.

I thought I would have to fight her tooth and nail before she removed any piece of clothing. The fact that she’s willingly offering her body is the last thing I expected. And well, fuck me if that isn’t a turn on.

My dick thickens against my trousers, but I don’t bother adjusting it.

“I’m doing what we agreed on. Isn’t this what you want? I’m only giving you what you bargained for, Jonathan.”

“You’re not a whore, so don’t act like one. Put your dress back on and sit the fuck down.”

I’ll have my hands full with this one.

My lips pull in a small smile.

I’m looking forward to it.





13





Aurora





Damn it.

Damn. It.

How does he always make me feel as if I’ve overstepped a line or that I’m doing something wrong? He is in the wrong.

He’s the one who came up with this sordid deal. He’s the one who’s screwing up everything.

Jonathan watches me from across the table, his gaze going back and forth between my face and the arm I’m using to cover my scar and tattoo.

It’s like he’s intimidating me with his eyes alone to make me drop my hand and bare myself for him. Like it’s his right and I’ve been depriving him from it all along.

Damn the tyrant and how much he can communicate with a mere glance.

Crouching, I retrieve my dress and turn away from him to slide it back on. Despite my brave façade, my fingers tremble.

Jonathan King is a frightening man. I might not be willing to let him stomp all over me, but he has the ability to make you feel non-existent by a mere look from his piercing metal eyes.

By the time I zip up my dress and turn around, he’s still watching me with that unnerving focus. I could cut through the tension in the air with a knife if I had one.

He tips his stubborn chin at the chair beside him, repeating his order without having to say a word.

I snap my spine into a line as I walk in the most moderate manner I’m capable of before flopping on the seat at his left. There’s a plate of steak and salad and two types of clear soup. The entire setting is straight out of an elegant restaurant.

“Eat.” Jonathan’s voice disturbs the silence of the room. “It’s gotten cold, but since you’re the one who’s ten minutes late, you’ll bear the consequences. You’ll also pay for those ten minutes of tardiness.”

“I don’t want to eat.” I bunch my fists on my lap. “I want to get this over with.”

“You thought this would be a one-time thing?”

“No.”

He wraps his lips around a piece of meat. I gulp at the sensual way his mouth slides over the fork before he chews leisurely, like this is some eating porn show.

I internally shake my head. Did I just see Jonathan in an erotic way? What in the ever-loving hell?

“Why don’t you tell me what you think this will be, Aurora?”

“I don’t know.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“All I know is that I want to get on with it instead of wasting time on food and nonsense.”

“If you don’t watch that mouth, I’ll fuck it right here, right now.”

My breathing shortens and I stare at him with wild eyes, my attention involuntarily slipping down…

Down…

I jerk my head back up, refusing to entertain that idea. Problem is, he’s painted that crude image in my head and now I can’t purge it out.