Page 80 of The Crownless King
He’d fed from her not even two hours ago, yet the beast within him salivated at the chance to taste her again. Reading his mind, Amaya whined her hips and sighed.
“Tell me something, baby girl.” He gripped her waist and rolled them from the bed.
Amaya squealed as he lifted her, carrying her into the bathroom. “I’ve already taken a shower.”
“I want a bath,” he told her, setting her down on the counter.
“What that got to do with me?” she asked flippantly.
Levi shook his head and ran the water, grabbing a canister of bath salts from the cabinet. Steam was wafting from the water, and he waved his mate over, probing her mind to see how she was feeling.
“I’m fine, King,” she told him softly, taking off her clothes.
He did the same, stepping into the water first before she joined him. She settled in front of him, wiggling until she was comfortable. Levi took a deep breath, inhaling the lavender from the salts, allowing it to relax his body. He pushed all the machinations and worries to the back of his head and wrapped his arms around his queen. The longer she lay in his arms, the more her body relaxed. Laying her head back on his chest, she sighed.
“Do you think what happened today is our new normal?” she finally asked.
He gripped her tighter, nuzzling into her neck. “I position myself to be the most visible Bayi in our coven. It takes the heat off my men and the other Bayi as a whole. Our vampires are always a target because the Collective fears one of us rising above the others.”
She hummed in thought. “To keep what happened with your great grandfather from happening again?”
He kissed his mating mark. “Exactly so. There was a risk in me putting myself forward, but it allowed the others to live as normally as possible.”
There were nights when he regretted his choices, but the lessons his father had drummed into his head were hard to remove, even after decades. Caring for his people had been bred into him.
“Why haven’t they tried to take you out?” She lifted one of his hands, kissing his fingertips.
“Once I started freeing the smaller cities from the grasp of the Buru, I collected my very own followers. Had only the Bayi covens followed me, perhaps they could’ve taken me out. But if you’ve noticed, there are all different types of supernaturals on my team.”
She nodded. “That won’t stop them from trying.”
His free hand drifted up to her neck, cuffing the bottom as he nipped her skin. “No,” he said reluctantly. “And as my queen, that puts you in danger. I should’ve warned you before—”
“It wouldn’t have mattered. We were destined to be together. No warning would’ve stopped the inevitable.”
He cupped her chin and turned her head to face him. “I love you.”
“Levi,” she whispered, tenderness swimming in her eyes.
“It was probably from the first time I saw you. The Akachi had my mind gone, but even through the fog, one fucking fact was clear.”
She held her breath. “And what was that?”
“That you were mine.” He kissed her, needing to taste her like he needed his next breath.
Her hands trembled as she cupped the back of his head. His tongue danced with hers, a slow sensual movement that had her melting in his arms. Her eyes opened, dazed as he pulled from her.
“I love you,” she whispered.
He chuckled darkly. “You should’ve been stopped fighting me.”
She laughed and turned back to settle into his chest. “You too cocky for me, King.”
“You like that shit,” he murmured against her skin.
Lust rose in him, a sleepy beast that barely rested when she was near. Without warning, he bit down on his mate. Amaya gasped, momentary pain shocking her. It didn’t last long, and she tilted her head, inviting him to feed. The cold press of her chaos power shot through his bloodstream, feeding the ravenous hunger only she awakened in him. He wanted inside of her as he fed from her. Pulling away from her neck, Levi didn’t close the holes. Instead, he lifted her body and helped her spin around to straddle him. Water splashed out onto the floor as he brought her down on his dick.
He closed his eyes for a moment to savor the hot clasp of her pussy. He opened his eyes a moment later, knowing he couldn’t hide the monster in him. Instead of scaring Amaya, she hummed in anticipation, gripping his shoulders and lifting her hips before slamming back down onto him. The hunger in her gaze matched his own.
