Page 27 of A King So Savage

And she hated him with every thread of her being.

“Whatever you hoped to accomplish by undertaking this little afternoon jaunt was a wasted effort,” Kingston finally said, breaking the silence. It was dark now, although the light of a bright, full moon penetrated the canopy of trees. He had a pen-sized flashlight in his back pocket that supplemented the moonlight. “The whole of the estate is almost twenty-five thousand acres, and the direction you were headed dead ends in a huge lake. I won’t even mention the security fence around the property. Your escape attempt was dangerous and stupid. Especially dressed as you are and with your injury.”

“How did you find me so quickly?” Ava asked sullenly. She knew her actions were foolish. She didn’t need the man gloating over her failures.

He pointed at an oak tree, and for the first time, Ava saw the blinking, red light of a tiny camera high in the branches. Her heart sank.

“They are all over the estate, including the main house.”

“I suppose they are in the cell, too. So you can spy on your prisoners like the pervert you are.” Ava’s voice was bitter as she stared at his back. The scathing accusation was ruined by the chattering of her teeth.

“There are no cameras in the bathroom, if that’s what has you worried.” He did not address her statement directly, however.

“This whole nightmare worries me!” she cried out, digging her feet in and coming to an abrupt halt.

“I’ve neither the time nor the patience for your hysterics, little lamb,” Kingston muttered, whirling around and scooping her up into his arms. “While true wolves in these woods are unlikely, there are bears and coyotes. And you are near freezing, as it is.”

Ava could not deny that. She hated herself for snuggling closer to the comforting heat of his body. It wasn’t because shewantedto. It was a necessary evil. Besides, she had no choice. His arms were like steel bands, and there was no escaping his hold.

“Hold on tight.” The directive carried a note of mocking amusement and Ava’s irritation grew.

“Untie my hands,” she snapped, then clamped her teeth together to control the chattering.

“And repeat my mistake in granting you too much freedom? Too much comfort? No. You’ll stay bound just as you are. Loop your arms around my neck if you are worried about falling out of my arms.”

“Go to hell.”

He stopped suddenly with a heavy sigh, and Ava’s heart pounded. It was really stupid to keep antagonizing him, but she’d apparently lost all control over her own mouth.

Setting Ava on her feet, Kingston quickly stripped off his shirt, wrapping it around her. It billowed like a blanket, gloriously warm from his skin, but Ava was struck speechless by something else. The sight of inky black tattoos, intricate tendrils and elaborate lines swirling across Kingston’s flesh had her eyes widening.

The design was both savage and beautiful. A crooked crown sat upon a snarling lion’s head with ears pinned back. Sharp fangs dripped with blood and were situated directly over his heart. One fang gleamed more brightly than the other. Thorny vines twirled and crept over bulky muscles and smooth planes, entwined around and through the crown, lion, and even around one coppery brown nipple before creeping down to flirt with the indentations of his ribs. Something was inscribed along his left flank, but in the moonlight, it was too dark to read.

Ava’s fingers itched with the desire to trace every line and swirl. To discover the meaning behind each mark. A man like Kingston did not brand himself with frivolous decoration. There was a purpose behind the tattoo covering only the left side of his body, and God help her, Ava wanted to know every detail.

“Do you want to put your arms around my neck now, or maybe continue staring at me like I’m your next meal?” The mockery in his voice snapped Ava back to awareness.

“You arrogant ass, I’m not staring at you.” She glared up at him. “And for your information, I’d rather put my arms around a snake.”

The devilish glint in his dark blue eyes competed with the moonlight. “I can arrange that.” He pressed closer, reminding Ava how hard and unyielding he was. How big his cock was. When she shuddered, it had nothing to do with the chilly air.

Lifting her bound hands, Kingston unceremoniously placed them over his neck, then slipped an arm beneath her knees, hefting her back up against his chest. “You know, eventually, I’ll do something about that smart mouth of yours. And if you don’t start calling me ‘Sir’ as previously instructed, it will only get worse for you.”

Despite her best intentions, Ava snuggled closer, enjoying his warmth and angry that she found comfort in his steady heartbeat beneath her cheek. But she was so very tired and her feet were so sore that any thoughts of resistance melted away.

“Haven’t you done enough?” Ava murmured as he resumed his deliberate stalking through the woods. “Sir.” The word dripped with all the insolence she could muster.

Ava was certain Kingston’s mouth brushed the top of her head in a fleeting caress before he softly replied.

“Not enough, little lamb.” His arms tightened around her. “Not nearly enough.”

* * *

Oliver was waitingon the lower terrace when they arrived back at the house. Five or six other men lingered around him. A couple of them were smoking cigarettes, while the others simply leaned against the terrace wall and watched their approach.

“We were just about to send out a search party,” Oliver said jovially as Kingston ascended the stone steps. “But it seems you had no issues retrieving our prized possession.”

Ava turned her face further into Kingston’s shoulder, letting her hair fall around her face so Oliver was no longer in her line of sight.

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