Page 76 of A King So Savage

“Two o’clock,” Oliver replied. “If this damn jet is ever cleared for takeoff.”

“I’ll speak with you then.” Kingston abruptly ended the call, tossing the phone on the bedside table.

Ava’s gaze tracked it. Kingston knew she debated the possibility of snatching it up and calling for help.

Help that would never come.

“Carson has officially declined to honor his debt.” A rueful smile twisted his lips. “You’re all mine now, little lamb. Time to pay up.” Leaning forward, he tipped her chin with a bloodstained finger until their gazes clashed. “Do you understand what this means?”

“Yes. I understand.” Ava bit her lip and hesitantly asked, “Y-you won’t let anyone else hurt me, will you?”

The very thought made Kingston’s hands flex with the desire to rip somebody in two.

“Fuck no.” His eyes closed as he gathered his control so he could calmly explain things to her. “I don’t want you to leave these rooms. I’ve got to take care of unfinished business, and at least in here, I know where you are and that you are safe.”

“What business?” Her question was a whisper, but beneath it was a tremble of real fear.

Kingston’s lips twitched. They both knew exactly what he was about to do.

“I’m going to kill the man who did this. And in the short window of time he has left on this earth, I will make damn sure he suffers.”

Ava appeared shocked by his savagery. Then, to Kingston’s consternation, fat, glossy tears began rolling down her pale cheeks. Within seconds, she was sobbing in almost uncontrollable gulps for air.

“I was so scared. Scared of what would happen. Ofhim.Scared of what you would do. Scared you wouldn’t come for me.” She met his eyes, fear dancing in the haunting green depths of her own.

It was an emotion Kingston was unfamiliar with but was coming to know all too well. He’d been terrified for her. Frantic with the need to carry her to safety, although Ava most certainly would never be safe with him as her jailer. He was too savage. Too possessive. Too obsessed with this untamed creature he held so violently within the calloused, bloody palm of his hand. But goddamn, he couldn’t stop this.

He couldn’t stop himself.

His heart swelled within his chest when Ava admitted softly, “Most of all… I was scared because Iwantedyou to come.”

Fuck. He wanted to lick every single salty-sweet tear from her cheeks. He wanted to fold her close against him and feel for himself just how fast her heart was beating. Wanted to both savor and eliminate her fear.

Trembles of foreboding raced through Kingston along with a deep-seated urge to scoop her up into his arms.

His fingers tightened on her chin as he fought those unwelcome, confusing urges.

“Kingston…” she whispered tearfully. “I don’t understand this. I don’t understand any of it. There was overwhelming relief when I saw you. And horror as you beat…” She broke off whatever else she might say and instead asked, “How can I consider surrender? How can I want to be destroyed by you? And how can I possibly be safe with you? I’m so confused. And frightened. And alone.”

Without conscious thought, Kingston sank onto the bed. He pulled her into his lap, cradling her body with bloodstained hands. Then his mouth crashed down upon hers, swallowing her feeble protest as he reinforced his claim. At that moment, nothing was more important than obliterating the memory and taste of another man’s mouth on hers.

Ava fought him, the instinct to escape too overwhelming to deny, but Kingston refused to release her. Tightening his arms, he let her struggle while he continued kissing her with all the fierce confusion boiling inside him. Their tongues clashed and tangled. Their breath merged into one, and Ava whimpered in frustrated despair until something switched inside her.

Now, instead of pushing him away, her fingers clutched at Kingston’s shoulders, fingernails digging into his bare skin. She kissed him back even as she wept with bitter regret.

Kingston’s hand came up, his fingers wrapping around her throat and creating a necklace of restraint. When she sobbed against his lips and melted into him, her surrender so sweet and unexpected, a growl of satisfaction escaped him.

“You’re fucking mine, Ava.Mine. And as of this moment, you are not alone. Do you understand? Everything about you, everything that you are belongs to me now. Your fears. Your dreams. Your smiles. Your body. I’ll burn this world to cinders for you because your enemies are nowmyenemies. If anyone gets in my way, if anyone thinks they can take you from me, I’ll slit that fool’s throat. And I’ll take you in a pool of their blood right before their eyes while they lay dying.”

He disentangled himself from their embrace and moved Ava so she was once again seated on the bed. Bewilderment lay stamped across her face, but she obediently stayed where he placed her.

“Now, I’m going to get dressed before I visit the cells and make an example out of my former employee.” Kingston smoothed a hand over her tangled hair and wiped a smudge of blood from her jawline. “You will clean yourself up while I’m gone. Wash away the scent of that animal from your body. Throw this gown and the robe in the trash. You may wear one of my shirts. Take whatever you need from my closet.”

She nodded slowly, and Kingston’s smile was grimly confident. “When I return, the issue of your disobedience will be addressed.”

“I did nothing wrong,” Ava mumbled in a momentary flash of defiance. Stubborn pride turned her cheeks a delicious pink. “I ran from you because I had to.”

“There is no room for negotiation on this, Ava. You were told you could not roam the halls unattended for your own safety. But you did, regardless of your reasons for disobeying me. Even worse for you is the fact I overheard part of the conversation between you and Malcolm. You were foolish enough to attempt enlisting his help before he attacked you. This behavior will not be tolerated, and I will make damn sure you understand this.”

---