Page 57 of Destroy a King (Five Kings 4)

Holly

Iwish I never heard that comment. I could hear Dexter on the phone the moment I reached the den. Shamelessly, I stood outside and heard him tell whoever was on the other end of the line that he had paid for my information. He did what was necessary to get what he wanted and if I felt cheap before, it’s nothing to how I feel now. This is all a business transaction to him. Emotionless bastard and if anything, he did warn me. He doesn’t want me—just my body. He doesn’t care about the woman inside and has just used the situation to his advantage.

What do I do now?

It goes against every bone in my body to open the door and smile brightly as he looks up when I enter.

“Hey.”

He nods. “Come and sit down, baby, I have news.”

If anything, his endearing name for me just makes my skin crawl because now I can see it’s all an act. He bought me, plain and simple, and when he gets bored, he’ll figure out a way to get rid just as easily.

“I think work can take a back seat for a few hours.”

My heart sinks. He has that look in his eyes that tells me he’s not done playing with me yet and I wonder what sick pleasure he has thought up this morning.

“You want fresh air, allow me to oblige.”

I look up in shock. “You mean we can go outside?”

“Yes, baby, let me show you why I love it here so much.”

I could be forgiven for thinking that everything was ok because he has an excitement surrounding him that’s contagious. But I know what I heard and I don’t like it at all, but I need to park it and consider my options before I make any decisions that may blow up in my face.

He reaches for my hand and as it closes around mine, I could weep tears of disappointment and frustration. Why can’t I have it all? What have I done to be treated like this because I would never play with anyone’s feelings the way he loves playing with mine?

We head back to our respective rooms to change and for the first time in a while, I pull on my jeans and a t-shirt. Tying my hair up in a ponytail, I reach for my boots as instructed.

As I walk to meet him, it feels strange without my heels because now I’m smaller and more vulnerable in every way.

When I head into the kitchen Dexter is already waiting and if I thought Jason looked good as a cowboy, it’s nothing to the one standing before me now. It suits him. Dexter does rough extremely well and I struggle so hard to keep my poker face on because I don’t want him to know how much I desire him. He’s cocky enough, but fuck me, the sight of that body stuffed into a cowboy shirt and those jeans failing to disguise the extra passenger he always carries in his pants is sending me delirious.

He has his own cowboy hat and boots and I clench my legs to stop an extremely embarrassing wet patch from showing because this man will be the death of every principle I own.

He reaches for my hand and I follow him outside and see the jeep waiting with a beaming Jason inside.

“Hey guys, I’ve got the horses ready and Maisy’s packed a picnic, enjoy.”

Dexter pulls me in beside him and as we set off down the track, the jeep bumps over the rough ground, shaking my bones, making me cling onto Dexter for support.

He leans down and whispers, “I know the perfect spot to rip those clothes off your back because honey, you are about to go on the ride of your life.”

I have no words. No powers at all because he has broken me. As fantasies go, this one will not go unplayed because, despite how I feel, I’m interested to see where this leads, then I’ll deal with it. Maybe leave, tear up the contract, make a stand.

You’re a fool.

That voice is already mocking me because even she knows there is no way in hell I’m going anywhere.

Summer’s the pretty white horse they have given me and I fall in love with her on sight. As I stroke her nose and press kisses on her skin, she neighs appreciatively and nuzzles my hand.

Dexter looks impressed. “She likes you.”

“Treat a girl well and she’ll love you forever.”

He shakes his head as Jason laughs. “True enough, darlin’, the biggest lesson a guy could ever learn.”

Dexter doesn’t appear to listen to advice because he’s more intent on stroking his own horse’s mane and making him feel like his one and only, and he probably is. Now I’m jealous of a fucking horse which shows me how far I’ve fallen and feeling slightly irritable, I pull myself up into the saddle and Jason says with admiration, “Looks like you’ve done this before.”

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