“Why wouldn’t it be what you want? You were brought here against your will. I’ve treated you… I’ve treated you horribly, Clover,” he growls. “I shouldn’t have kissed you. That’s got your head all messed up.”
“My head has been messed up for a while,” I admit. “You’re not the only one who has feelings.”
“Don’t say that,” he warns.
“I’m not allowed to lie to you, remember? I get spanked if I lie,” I allow a half smile. Taking a deep breath, I look away for a moment before meeting his gaze. “So, here’s the truth, King Lix’tuk… I love you.”
“Clover,” he sighs, shaking his head.
“If you think I’m lying, put me over your knee,” I say. “Get the belt and punish me.”
“I’m not going to do that,” his voice is deep and his eyes are serious.
“Because you know it’s true,” I throw the words down like a gauntlet glove.
“Fuck,” he mutters, conflict in his dark gaze. “Why can’t you just let me do the right thing for a change?”
“Because sending away someone you love isn’t the right thing. It’s just another way for you to punish yourself, like you’ve beendoing for two hundred years,” I state with conviction, staring into his eyes. “And deep down, I think you know that.”
“I said I have feelings for you. I didn’t say I love you,” he admonishes, but his expression softens. His jaw tightens. His gaze drops to my mouth like the truth is sitting there, waiting to bite him. “Fine. Maybe I do.”
He kisses me again, pulling me closer. But it isn’t just his lips that take my breath away. It’s what he said. What he admitted. He feels the same way about me as I do about him.
I won’t let him send me away. I’ve found my place and I refuse to give it up without a fight. I just wish we could go further. I want him so badly. I know it’s foolish—practically impossible, based on what he’s told me—but that doesn’t stop me from wanting it, nor does it stop the fire from spreading through my core, aching for what my body needs. WhatIneed.Him.
I press closer, wrapping my arms around his neck as much as I can. He’s too big for me to hold properly, but I try anyway, fingers sinking into the thick black hair that falls around him like a majestic mane. His mouth moves over mine with more hunger, more desperation, and I feel the shift in him. Feel the moment restraint starts cracking against the weight of what we both want.
He groans against my lips and the sound travels straight through me, sending another shudder through my core that makes me grind against him.
“Clover,” he rasps my name like a warning.
“I know,” I whisper, feeling his hard flesh pressed to my body, my panties getting wetter as I shamelessly rub against his cock.
His hands slide down my back and settle on my hips. He grips me there, hard enough to remind me that he could stop me if he wanted to, but he doesn’t. He lets me continue to grind against him, the ridges on the head of his big, thick cock throbbing. Every time I feel it, my pussy clenches with disappointment.
“We need to stop,” he croaks, but he doesn’t pull away. His hard flesh stays pressed against me, providing just enough friction to make me shudder.
“We should…” I whisper. “But I don’t want to.”
My head has been a mess since the speech, especially after he kissed me. But he kisses me again, and the needy, hungry roughness makes me forget about everything else. Concord City. President Highton. Wars. Prophecies. And all the people who decided what I was before I ever had a chance to decide for myself.
The only thing I care about right now is King Lix’tuk’s mouth on mine. His tusks brush against my skin when he changes the angle of the kiss, and I gasp when one of the sharp tips grazes my cheek. He freezes immediately, pulling back enough to look at me.
“Did I hurt you?” he asks, finger brushing my cheek.
“No, I just wasn’t expecting it,” I breathe. “Don’t stop.”
His nostrils flare. For a moment, I think he’s going to argue. Tell me it’s already gone too far. I know it has, but I don’t care. I just want to be close to him. Feel his warmth. Feel his strong arms holding me close. I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer than I do right now.
Instead, he kisses me like he’s done finding reasons to argue. He rolls me onto my back, his enormous body covering me. He holds his massive weight off me, bracing one hand beside my head, but I still feel surrounded by him. Cocooned by his heat and muscle and strength. Trapped in the scent of leather, grog andhim.
My legs spread, and he sinks between them, adjusting his angle until his hard cock is between us, throbbing against me.
His lips move from my mouth to my jaw, then lower, dragging a path down the side of my throat. I tilt my head without thinking, giving him more access. He lets out a rough sound that makes my thighs squeeze him, hips gently moving, just enough for us to feel the light friction.
“You’re putting way too much trust in me, my little human girl,” he growls, kissing my neck, tusks pressing into my skin. “Your scent is hard to fight, especially when you’re this aroused.”
“I trust you more than anyone,” I sigh, wishing my panties would move just enough to feel his ridges against my skin.
