Page 12 of Brazen King

The hint of whiskey on his breath mingles with the scent of leather and eucalyptus, a heady yet subtle scent that matches his masculine presence and overwhelms me just the same.

But appealing as he might smell, I’m not about to let that distract me.

Mustering my strength, I squirm beneath him, trying to find any avenue of escape.

All he has to do is lean into me, and I feel how fruitless my struggle really is.

I’m also intensely aware of the rock-hard power in his body.

His arms effortlessly lock me in place. And his abdomen and chest are like a slab of granite ready to flatten me.

My pulse flutters as the thought of how thin the fabric is that separates us.

He’s not even wearing a shirt, and all I have is my flimsy black spandex that makes it easy for me to climb onto balconies unseen.

My eyes dart down the exposed skin of his chest without my permission.

I’m dangerously intrigued by the black ink that scrawls across his pecs. The artistry of it is haunting—a blend of flowers and Celtic knots that somehow interweave seamlessly with vacant-eyed skulls and viperous snakes.

A beautiful picture of death and destruction. Just likehim.

“Easy, little tigress,” he purrs, making my stomach flip-flop nervously as I look back up at his face. “I haven’t decided to kill you just yet.” His vibrant eyes shift down to my lips for such a brief moment, I almost wonder if I imagined it. Then they’re boring into my very soul as he gazes at me with unwaveringintensity. “How about we make a deal?” he suggests, his melodic voice turning playful.

“I don’t make deals with snakes,” I spit.

And his chuckle rumbles right into my chest, raising goosebumps across my flesh.

“You haven’t even heard what it is yet,” he teases.

“Fine. What’s your offer?” I grit through my teeth.

“I’ll let you live if you’ll spend the night with me,” he murmurs, his lips curling into a wickedly charming smile. His dimples come out in full force, stealing my breath away.

My skin flames at the lewd offer, heat creeping up my neck until I have no doubt I’m blushing.

But what horrifies me most is the way my core tightens at the thought of sleeping with him. And the peak of my thighs grows warm.

I desperately want to deny the hint of desire. I shouldnotbe tempted by the sound of his offer.

So why is my belly filled with butterflies?

Leaning my head as far from the wall as his arm will permit, I get right in his face. “Drop dead,” I hiss.

His hum of amusement sends tingling anticipation up my spine, and my breath quickens.

“I do love a girl with an attitude,” he admits, his eyes burning with a hunger that would support his statement. “Alright then, how about this? I won’t just spare your life. I’ll let you go. And you can keep coming back to kill me as often as you like. I won’t tighten my defenses. I won’t tell my guards. I’ll give you as many opportunities as you want to try and best me.”

Sleep with him one time, and then he’ll give me free rein to end his life?The offer sounds too good to be true—so I’m sure it is.

“But,” he adds, confirming my suspicion, “each time you fail to kill me, you have to spend the night doing whatever dirty things I desire.”

My heart stutters as my imagination runs rampant.Just how twisted could Killian King be?I’m not so sure I want to find out.But what’s the alternative?

I doubt he’ll let me walk out of here alive if I don’t agree to his terms.

“What happens if I don’t take the deal?” I challenge, trying to gauge what kind of savage I might be making a pact with. “Will you just take me by force?”

My stomach knots uncomfortably at the suggestion, and I pray that I’m not giving him ideas. But I think it’s only fair that I make my choice with eyes wide open. If he’s going to fuck me either way, I’d rather know that ahead of time.

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