Page 14 of The King's Mate

He smiled at her, that sexy knowing smirk that made her tingle. God, what the hell was wrong with her? All the emotions swirling inside her made her a fucked up mess.

Aleo handed the paper to the shaman and took his seat on the throne. The shaman, an older gentleman, set the cup aside and opened the paper.

“The gods have chosen. The mate of King Aleo is … Piper Marsh.”

The room erupted into chaos. Piper stared at him, wondering how he’d managed to pull it off. The gods surely didn’t pick her out of everyone to be his mate. The whole thing had to be rigged.

“She can’t be the chosen one. She’s human!” One of the women came after her, and Piper jumped up to defend herself before the woman shoved her down to the cool marble flooring. A loud roar sounded as a flash of golden fur filled her line of sight. Aleo roared at the crowd, standing between her and them in his lion form. She shrank back, seeing only the gold mane of hair and the large paws. He had the stance of an alpha protecting its mate. Piper sat up, watching as he effectively dismissed the women from the ceremony, daring anyone to make another peep about the decision.

Piper watched him in all his glory. The real beast had come out last night when he’d been inside her. But she liked this side of him, the wild side, that made her feel protected.

Special.

When the room had cleared he changed back into his human form and turned to her. Instead of saying anything, he scooped her into his arms and sat with her on his lap in the chair she’d once occupied.

Piper’s muddy legs draped over his expensive clothes, and he didn’t seem to care. She let him brush her hair from her face and kiss her lightly on the lips. “How did that happen?”

The whole point of mating was to preserve the bloodline. By Aleo putting her name in the cup, everything was threatened.

“There’s no rules for which names go in the cup.” He brushed her hair from her cheek. “I told the shaman to put your name in the cup, and he did. I had no power over whose name was chosen, but I think the gods knew who was best for me, shifter or not.”

His hands cupped her ass as he held her on his lap. “I love you, Piper. I think my heart threatened to beat out of my chest when I saw you running from Tasha. I’d never felt that way before. I honestly don’t want to feel that way again.”

He leaned in to kiss her.

He loved her? When did that happen? Her mind reeled with all that was going on. He held her close, and she simply lay against him, resting in the comfort of his arms. She wasn’t scared or upset. Somehow, he managed to soothe the emotions running wild through her.

However, she hadn’t accepted yet. Nothing was official. He had to have her consent to mate before anything became official. Piper sat back and met his gaze.

“Maybe I don’t want to be your mate.”

He stared at her a moment before chuckling. “Why would you not want to be my mate?”

She swallowed. In the moment, she didn’t have an answer. Her body still tingled from his touch. Her head was still whirling from the fact that he’d admitted publicly that he wanted her. Out of everyone that came to pledge their love and allegiance, he wanted her. And when some didn’t like the choice, he defended her like an alpha male would.

“My father was arrested.”

“It was a misunderstanding.”

“You threw me in the dungeon.”

He licked his lips. “I probably should have left you there. You tried to strangle me. And let’s not forget that slap you gave me when you didn’t get your way in the bedroom.”

He did have a point. Caressing her arms with the tips of his fingers, he made her forget what her point was.

“Let’s not forget our original dispute over you leaving me naked on the bed in front of your father and the royal guard.”

He chuckled. “That was two years ago! But I will say that hot pussy had everyone hard for weeks. I’m getting hard now just thinking about it.”

She narrowed her eyes. “It’s not funny.”

He cleared his throat though he didn’t hide his amusement. “I promise to cover you with my own naked body from anyone peeking in on our affairs.”

She rolled her eyes.

“What do you want me to do? Beg?”

He sat her on her feet and dropped to his knees in front of her. Wrapping an arm around her legs, he said, “Please have me. I’d be nothing without you.” He slid her dress up and dipped his head toward her so that he could press a kiss to her bare pussy. “I need you.” He flicked her clit with the tip of his tongue, glancing up at her. “I want you. I love you.”

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