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

She might share physical traits with Alicia, but all the similarities end there.

Her older sister was demure and predictable. She was the type who told me her schedule for the entire week and never did anything that she thought might upset me.

Where Alicia was soft, Aurora is rebellious.

Maybe that’s why she’s driving me insane when Alicia never did.

It’s unfair to even compare both women. Alicia was the mother of my son and the woman who felt too much, then stopped feeling altogether.

Aurora is…different.

There’s no obligation keeping me glued to her. If anything, it’s the other way around. I’ve been trapping her so she doesn’t slip between my fingers.

It’s the first time in my life that I want to keep something instead of destroying it to pieces.

The first time that I’ve looked forward to going home instead of spending all-nighters at the office.

The defiance in that woman makes me both insane and keeps me driven.

The more she slips away from me, the harder I cage her in. The more challenging she becomes, the more ruthless my reaction turns.

It’s an everyday game. One I can’t seem to shake off. But I’ll have to one day. I’ll have to go back to my usual balance and peace.

However, that day isn’t today.

I spot Moses in front of my car, but he’s not smoking. That’s the only reason he’d step outside since he usually stays inside with Harris.

Unless Harris isn’t alone.

I start towards my car and don’t bother to ask Moses if she’s in there. I know she is. Another one of the infuriating habits I’ve developed — sensing Aurora’s presence a mile away.

The front windows are open, so I catch a hint of the heated conversation coming from the inside.

“…you need to look down your nose sometimes. Why is it always stuck in the sky?” Aurora’s voice.

“There’s no other better place to be.”

“You need help, Harris, okay? I’ll forward your details on to my psychotherapist so that he can teach you how to be less arrogant and how to deal with other issues. While you’re at it, take Jonathan with you.”

My lips twitch in a smile. That woman is… I have no words. I, in fact, have no words.

That’s a first.

She left the charity to come bicker with Harris, who, by the way, makes it his mission on earth to win every argument possible. It doesn’t matter what you fight him on, he comes with different ways to prove you wrong — even when you’re right. He doesn’t dare try that tactic with me, though, because he’s smart enough to recognise his limits.

I open the back door and Aurora jolts in her seat, eyes widening to a dark blue that matches the colour of her dress. The way she pushes back against the leather suggests that she was expecting her worst nightmare.

Fascinating.

Her lips fall apart, begging for my dick between them. Blood rushes to my groin at the memory of fucking her from behind until she shattered all around me. I place a hand in my pocket, feeling the evidence of her arousal on her underwear.

I can’t believe that I not only fucked her without a condom – for the second time in a row – but I also came inside her. There was a voice reminding me that I forgot something, but when I’m inside her, I lose all focus on anything that isn’t her.

Needless to say, that’s not good, but fuck me if I can find a way to put an end to it.

Aurora releases a long breath. “Oh. It’s you.”

I narrow my eyes. “Who were you expecting?”

“No one.” She stares at her pink-painted nails.

She’s lying. No idea why, but I’ll find out. Maybe she left the dinner table for some other reason than the tension brought by Ethan.

‘Is she part of the game now?’

A wave of possessiveness slams into me like the first clash in a battle. The need to own her all over again grabs me by the balls, demanding release.

Knowing she’s not wearing any underwear beneath her dress makes the idea more plausible.

Before I can think of a way to kick Harris and Moses out — or send them away — she reaches for her bag in my hand.

“I’m going back to the house.”

“We’ll drive you.” I keep the bag out of reach and barge inside so that I’m sitting beside her. Harris grumbles something unintelligible, but he takes the hint, gets out, and sits in the passenger seat. Soon after, Moses slides into his driver seat and the vehicle slowly retreats into the main street.

“I brought my car.” She reaches for her bag again.

“And I said I’ll drive you.”

“Don’t you have to prepare for a meeting or something?”

“We do,” Harris says from the front seat. “Thirty minutes late.”

I throw him a glare, but he merely adjusts his glasses with both his index and middle finger and focuses on his tablet again.

“I can go back on my own,” she says.

“Or we can drive you.”

“Do you ever give up?”

“Not when I can win.”

She huffs but doesn’t stop trying to reach for her bag.

I grab her by the arm and she freezes as her body half-falls against mine. The storm in her eyes gains an electric spark, almost as if she’s slipping from one state of mind to another. It’s fascinating how much the colour of her eyes can hint at her state of being so accurately.