Page 15 of Craving a King

He leads me back inside the museum to see wax figures that are set up to reenact scenes of governance from the past. We feed peacocks in the indoor courtyards. He even allows me to touch and hold some of the most precious Ashanti artifacts. It’s a privilege most don’t ever have.

We walk out of the museum talking and laughing in an easy manner. A total shift from the anger of our first night together.

Kofi squeezes my hand. “I hope you enjoyed the museum, Ella. It is just a taste of the rich Ashanti culture and heritage.”

“I did, your majesty. Where are we headed next?”

“My home in Kumasi, the new Manhyia Palace. Lunch is waiting for us there. It is a short walk from here.”

I look down at my watch, thinking it could not possibly be lunch time. I’m shocked to see it is 2:30.

“OH my. I didn’t even realize we spent our whole morning here. It certainly hasn’t felt like five hours.”

He rubs the center of my back as we continue to walk. “That is because time flies when having fun with beautiful company.” My heart skips a beat. He drops gems like that constantly. When we visited the gold room earlier and I remarked how beautiful each piece was, he reminded me that their beauty did not rival mine. Maybe I can relax and just be with him. I don’t have to be his queen. I don’t want to be. Maybe I can just enjoy his sweet and loving nature while I am in Ghana.Maybe I will be able to enjoy his body, too. I start to daydream before I remember I’m here to secure a contract, not a lover.Back to business, Ella!

When we arrive at the modern palace, lunch is jollof rice and ground nut stew. The spices and flavors are so delicious that I eat two servings. I pat my bloated belly over the thin cotton fabric covering it. “Hats off to the chef. This is delicious.”

Kofi looks pleased. “Glad you enjoy it. I like feeding you.” He leans back in his chair and studies me for a second, raking his eyes over my body. “Tell me, Ella: who feeds you at home, in Atlanta?”

“Ahem.” I almost choke on the water I am drinking. “Excuse me?”

“Who feeds you at home?”

“Your majesty, I live alone. I feed myself. I’m actually a rather good cook.”

He chuckles, but it feels facetious. “Oh, I am certain you are, but what about your body? Who feeds that work of art? Who satisfies you sexually in Atlanta? I know you avoid relationships. But like me, you have needs. How do you meet them? Do you touch yourself, or is there someone to do that for you?”

I place my glass down on the table and push my chair back. How dare he ask such a sexual question? I can’t afford for him to not take me seriously.

“That is a highly inappropriate question.” I glare at him without blinking once. “What makes you think you can talk under my clothes?”

“Inappropriate!” He guffaws before standing and slowly walking over to my side of the table. He stands behind me and leans into my ear so that only I can hear him, and not the servants starting to clear our meal. “You don’t deem me inappropriate when I allow you to dry hump my dick so your neglected body gets some release.”

I turn around in my chair and face him head on. The nerve! He is infuriating and so full of himself. How could I ever think he was worth daydreaming about? I stand up. “Though I thank you for the service…” I begin before he interrupts me by placing a finger on my lips. It is wildly erotic and eviscerating all at once.

“No thank you is necessary. I’ll call you my queen as I give you only the pleasure a king can provide you. A pleasure I hope to repeat over and over again. Making you come is my new favorite thing. Next time I want to feel that waterfall over my hard, naked dick or in my mouth so I can swallow your pleasure whole. Your panties continually steal that privilege from me.”

I’m so wet. I can feel the moisture pool between my legs. My body clenches tight and betrays me with every wicked word he speaks. Yet my mind is in a rage. No man has ever talked plainly to me about sexual acts. I’ve always been taught that men don’t talk like that to ladies, especially not those they respect. “I’m not your queen,” I hiss. “And you certainly aren’t my king!”

“Ha-ha,” he laughs. “Then why do you insist on calling me such? You have some serious hang-ups if you can’t talk about the things your body obviously wants. It’s just sex. And with me it will be incredible sex. Thatiswhatwe both crave, is it not? I tried to ignore it, but I think we both know until we address it, we won’t get any other work done.”

I am outdone and start to speak louder than I planned to. “I call you ‘king’ because I respect you and your role. I admire the work you do for your people. A respect you clearly don’t return judging by how you talk to me. I will never be your whore.” I spit out the last word like a bullet and hit the target. His face changes quickly from amusement, to shock, and then finally pain. But what is he pained about? He isn’t the one being propositioned like a concubine.

“But I am not interested in anything but a business relationship, Kofi Ajyei, and from now on, I’ll make sure you understand that. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need some air.”

He doesn’t move or follow behind me as I walk out of the dining area. His servants act as if I am invisible. I find the first open door and stomp outside. I am seething with hurt. I can’t exactly figure out why, though. I like the way he talks to me, and I did appreciate the much-needed release my body received from our make-out sessions over this past week. None of that was a lie. He also told me in the garden how much he admires my work. He respects me. I know that. I think what really gets to me is the honest answer to his earlier question about who feeds me.No one.

My body is not being fed at home. I’m lonely and broken-hearted over a breakup from three years ago, and that’s pathetic. He’s the first man I’ve allowed to touch me in years. I don’t want him to know how pitiful my personal life really is.

Chapter Ten

Ascension

Ella

When the African sun starts to overtake me, I reenter the palace to cool off.

I am not ready to face Kofi yet. I made quite the scene. I decide to walk around the palace. Hopefully, the guards won’t shoot me for touring the palace without him.

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