Page 86 of Reckless King

I’m surprised she can’t feel the intensity of my glare. If I squint any harder, I’m likely to singe her with my anger.

“I don’t really care whether anyone is pleased, except for Violet,” Tate says.

My heart thumps, and warmth spreads like treacle through my chest. He doesn’t know I’m here, but there’s not the slightest hint of a lie in his voice.

The flash of irritation on Amy’s face is quickly replaced by an artificially bright smile. “Of course, that’s very sweet. But maybe, before you and your shop keeper ride off into the sunset together, you and I could meet up for a drink one night.”

I grit my teeth. Does she really think Tate’s stupid enough to take her up on her offer? I’m just about to stalk forward and make my presence known when Tate straightens.

“That’s not going to happen,” he says, the words so icy I’m surprised Amy doesn’t shiver. “I wasn’t interested before, and I’m even less so now. Particularly considering how fuckingin loveI am with my fiancée.”

Amy’s smile is frozen, but before she has a chance to say anything more, Tate turns and sees me standing there. The look he gives me is the complete opposite of the one he gave her. It lights me up inside and sends liquid heat pouring through my veins.

He pulls me toward him, tips my face up to his and brushes a kiss over my lips. “Come on, I need you in my arms again.”

I run my hand up his chest, press it against his heart and go up on my toes so I can murmur in his ear. “I need you inside me.”

Every muscle in his body tightens. With a sharp exhale, he turns his head so his lips almost brush mine. I have no idea whether Amy is still standing there watching, and frankly, I couldn’t care less.

He slides a hand up my back and grasps the back of my neck. “Is that a request, butterfly?”

“Yes. And as soon as we’re alone, I’ll ask you prettily, just the way you wanted.”

Tate takes a step back and scrubs his hand over his mouth. Without taking his eyes off me, he says, “Excuse us, Amy. My fiancée wants to get me alone.”

He wraps his hand around mine and takes off, towing me behind him.

“Where are we going?”

His only response is that devilish smirk. The one that used to make me crazy but now has every nerve ending in my body lighting up.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

TATE

As we approach the dance floor, Violet tugs at my hand.

She frowns, and a little crease forms between her brows. “I thought we were going somewhere we could be?—”

“Alone?”

She nods, and the way she presses her teeth into that plump lower lip of hers has my dick swelling. Fuck, I’m already imagining how good it will feel having her mouth on me.

I pull her toward me, so she has no choice but to end up pressed against my chest. “I’m looking forward to hearing those pretty words of yours, butterfly. But it might reflect poorly on us if we left my family’s gala early.”

“Well.” She blinks up at me. “Maybe not leave, but…”

I slide my hand down the satin-smooth skin of her back and dip my head toward hers, so my lips brush the shell of her ear. “You want me to take you somewhere and fuck you, butterfly? Maybe one of the service corridors or an empty meeting room? My family owns this hotel. I could take you up to one of the suites and give you a quick orgasm if you need it that badly.”

She scowls and pushes against my chest. “When you put it like that…”

“You’re not going anywhere, Violet. I’ve waited long enough. Now you can wait right alongside me for a little while.”

Her throat moves in a swallow before that delicate chin of hers tips up. “Are you punishing me for not saying yes sooner?”

I move my hand lower, fingers ghosting over the swell of her ass. “I’m not punishing you. Hurting you is the last thing I want. But some things are worth waiting for.” I brush my thumb against her lower lip and savor the sound of her indrawn breath. “What’s going to happen between us tonight is worth waiting for. But if you’re feeling needy, beautiful, let me tell you exactly what I’m going to do to you. So that while we’re sitting at the dinner table with my family, making polite small talk, you can think about what’s to come, all the while pressing those gorgeous thighs together. After all,” I smooth my hands down over her hips, “you don’t want to soak through your panties and make a mess of this pretty dress.”

“Tate,” she half whispers, half moans.

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