Page 16 of Hostile King

The oversized shirt she wears skims her mid-thighs. Four buttons were accidentally fastened out of sequence, one side higher than the other, the collar gaping wide. Her hair is disorderly from rough sex and her lips still hold ruddiness from my harshness.

My stomach knots into an agonizing ball. Not with need, but with the prospect of loss—the insurmountable pain of letting her go. Of never having her next to me or calling her mine. When I had claimed her virginity, I thought it would be enough of a title to own.

Yet, it’s not.

I want to own her mind, body, and beautiful soul.

“Apparently I can't leave until I’ve received payment for my services,” she almost laughs, her eyes glistening with a sheen of hurt.

It’s that threat of liquid bitterness that guts me. The snarl of her fascination morphing into loathing. I clear my throat, doing my best to stand firm when all I feel is broken inside.

She has to leave.

“Not for your services.” I scrub my eyes and bat away the weakness creeping in me that begs to bathe...with her…just us. “It was our agreement. I won’t go back on my word.”

She swallows slowly when one of my guys moves in and dumps two duffle bags at her dainty bare feet. “It’s yours as soon as you take the shirt off and get in the shower,” I say coolly. “I can’t let you leave wearing that filth.”

Carina scowls at the cash peeking out at her from beyond an open zipper, her gaze suddenly flicking to mine. “Is that so?” She drops to her haunches and dances her fingertips over the stacked paper notes. “Well, I want to leave right now.”

“No.”

“I’m not going inside that house again.”

We stare at each other, rivalry common in this usual dynamic. “And I’m not letting you leave while another man’s blood touches your body.”

The waft of Marlboro cigarette smoke drifts in on a gentle breeze. André appears by my side, his knuckles bloodied and eyes dark. “Is she actually leaving?” he asks, cocking a thick black brow at her, then at me. “You’re letting her go? What if she—”

“Don’t worry, she won’t say a word.” I halt him with a raised hand. “Give me a minute alone with her.”

André hums as he exhales a plume of smoke. “No worries. The General wasn’t involved in Papá’s assassination, but he did try to orchestrate yours. How do you want me to deal with him?”

“Kill him.”

“You sure, brother? When word gets out, they’ll think you planned it.”

“Kill the bastard. Now give me some fucking space, Dré.” I pinch the bridge of my nose not giving a fuck about the General’s deception at this point. “I have something far more important to deal with.”

Carina folds her arms, as if sensing the conflict twisting in my heart and head. Our gazes weld together, unspoken wishes firing like rockets.

André scratches his head and quietly saunters over to the men obediently waiting for my next order.

I take a deep breath but notice how it doesn’t satisfy my tight lungs. “You’re not going anywhere until I’ve given the pilot permission to fly. Now, come with me. I’ll take you to my suite. Spitfire will store the money in the chopper ready for your departure.”

She pads towards me, her light footsteps not making a single sound. Her gait portrays confidence, except for the turbulent pulse thrumming in her regally poised neck.

“I’m going to hop into that helicopter right now and you’re gonna give the pilot permission to fly.”

The dark chuckle rumbling from my bare chest warns her of my frayed patience. “I think you're enjoying this.” I taunt with a misplaced smirk. “Would you rather have my dick shoved in your mouth? Is that it? Huh? You want my brother and these men to see what a good girl you are? How you like to take orders.”

Her chin hitches, her blustery gaze spearing me in place. “How would your fiancé feel about that?” She challenges, her tone riddled with indignation. “Does she know you paid to fuck me while she wears your ring?”

My temper flares. “Enough of this shit.” I growl, muscles braced and my stomach churning. “The only thing I’ve given that woman is an acceptance of marriage.” A heavy sigh deflates my lungs. “You need to leave, Cari. Get as far away from me as possible. Bringing you here was a mistake. You and I were a mistake. And giving you the impression we had a connection, that was a fucking mistake too.” The torturous lies immediately gnaw at my insides, making me sick.

My hands lash out to cage her cheeks in brutal fingers. The revolting stench of copper and death lingers between us, but it's the subtle scent of Carina that turbocharges my libido. The smell of our fierce coupling only moments ago crackles with perversion and sizzles with corruption.

Tipping into her face, I ignore the deep-seated longing I have to make her mine and pull down the ferrous armor I’ve worn for most of my life. I’m aware of the pilot cautiously preparing the helicopter for its next voyage and my brother lingering a few steps away, curiosity keeping him captivated.

This isn’t a usual occurrence. In fact, it's unheard of for me to tolerate this amount of disobedience.

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