Page 50 of A King So Savage

Ava turned to face him, her back against the door. Glaring up at him, she snapped, “Maybe. What do you care? Once you get your money, I’ll no longer be your concern. And you have no idea what goes on between me and Drake.”

“I know he hasn’t fucked you. Which is commendable on his part, I admit. But the fact remains that I’ll snap the neck of any man who touches you without my permission. I don’t care who he is.” Kingston trailed his finger over her jawline, then tipped her chin up. “So think carefully before seducing a man with those pretty smiles and fluttering eyelashes.”

Ava grit her teeth. “I’m not interested in seducing anyone. And I don’tfluttermy eyelashes. That’s a ridiculous thing to accuse me of.”

“You’re doing it this very moment, lamb.” He leaned closer, brushing his nose against hers while breathing her in. “You know, as much as I like you calling me ‘sir’, I believe I enjoy your resistance just as much. I wonder why that is.”

Ava avoided his penetrating gaze. Because as much as she hated calling him “sir”, she was beginning to crave the sense of… belonging… the word implied.

And she hated it. Hated the strange link tying her to this man. Hated that, after years of floating through life untethered and alone, this stranger made her feel something wild and fierce. How could she explain an attraction that shouldn’t exist? There was no rationalization for it. Not when he was a bloodthirsty, greedy monster who’d stolen her away from the world and locked her in a gilded cage.

An expression of understanding stole over Kingston’s features. “Ahh. You’re experiencing it, too. This inexplicable magnetism pulling us to one another.”

Ava reached behind her and encountered his hand already gripping the knob.

“I don’t feel anything where you are concerned,” she said. “Unless one counts fear and disgust.”

Kingston grinned, brushing her mouth with his. “Quit flirting with me, little lamb.”

He tasted of wintergreen and whiskey. Spicy. Brisk. Irresistible. In spite of herself, Ava’s lips parted to receive his kiss.

But he merely chuckled and withdrew, leaving her aching for his possession and hating herself for it.

“It’d be so easy to have you on your knees for me, Ava. So easy. And so tempting. But we’ve other matters to attend to this afternoon. We should see to those now.”

ChapterSixteen

No stars to wish upon

Something inside me

Was broken long ago

Shattered on the sea

Kingston kepta tight grip on Ava’s arm while guiding her toward the wing of the mansion containing his office and study.

It was a space useful when it came to intimidation. His enemies were brought there when a reminder of his power was needed. His victims saw the rooms as well when it was necessary. Sometimes, it was the last thing they saw on earth.

He brought Ava to this room on the first day of her abduction, hoping to frighten her into submission. Now, he brought her here for another reason. Other than his own suite of rooms, it was the one place he knew she was utterly safe. And a place he knew no one would interrupt him.

Watching Ava on the camera system earlier while she interacted with his brother had greatly annoyed him. He couldn’t hear what Oliver said. The man was clever enough to keep his voice so low it could not be picked up on the audio. But Ava spoke clearly, and hearing the admission she didn’t trust anyone stung more than it should have.

Why should he care if she trusted him or not? He wasn’t here to play the whole boyfriend/girlfriend with his captive. The money she represented was his focus. Nothing more.

But still…

It was difficult ignoring Ava Blue’s appeal. It existed on a level he’d never experienced with a woman, and it infuriated him. He should be able to take what he wanted from her and discard her as he had the others. Only, he couldn’t find the willpower to make that happen.

Setting Ava in one of the leather club chairs, Kingston threw a Bitter Springs newspaper in her lap. She snatched it up, hurriedly scanning the front page and soaking in the information.

“If you’re looking for news of your disappearance, you won’t find it, Ava.” Withdrawing a fragrant cigar from a tabletop humidor, Kingston clipped the end of it, moistened it with his mouth, then lit it with the lion head lighter. “No one has missed you. And your brother isn’t stupid enough to report your abduction.”

Why does that fact annoy me so much? I should be glad no one has missed her instead of this furious sense of outrage on her behalf. Why is no one desperately searching for her? She’s a fucking treasure. A goddess.

Ava lowered the paper, glaring at him. “I don’t need a reminder of just how invisible I am to the world, Mister Winter. I’m very much aware of that fact. And I’ve become accustomed to it.”

That only made Kingston angrier. To hear her acknowledge her insignificance made him want to break something. Preferably her bastard of a brother’s skull.

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