Page 22 of Entangled

She was still atop him, straddling him. From this position he drank in the most glorious view of her firm, round breasts, taut little nipples and slim waist. His gaze traveled down her long torso to that thatch of curly hair at the juncture of her thighs that kept calling to him like a siren to a helpless sailor. Those long, glorious legs were wrapped around him and the contact of their bare skin felt hotter than ever. He grew even harder. Damn it, his lust for the nymph was so strong right now that it was driving him mad. Any other man would take what was being offered by such a beautiful woman in his bed and not question the feelings or emotions behind it. No man in his right mind would turn away from such a wonderful opportunity at a time like this.

Then again, Sebastian didn’t want it if it wasn’t real.

“That’s enough,” he growled, picking her up and setting her down next to him on the bed. “I’ve proven my point.”

“W—what point?” She batted her eyes and looked around, seeming confused. Then she looked down and realized she was naked and scowled.

“You were controlling me, using my shell charm to make me want you, weren’t you?” asked Merrow, disgust dripping from her words. She grabbed Sebastian’s discarded tunic from the bed and quickly pulled it over her head to hide her nakedness from him. This man was an ogre to use her in this manner. How could he do such a thing? Especially after she explained to him the power he would have over her if he rubbed her shell charm.

“I’m sorry,” he blurted out. “I never meant for things to go this far, it just sort of…happened.”

“I don’t believe you! And I certainly don’t believe you are sorry at all for your actions.”

“I stopped, Merrow. That should prove to you my words are sincere. I don’t want to make love to you if down deep you don’t really want to do it.”

“Don’t even pretend to know what I want or don’t want. You are a worthless human being and a greedy, evil king who thinks of no one other than yourself!” She shot off the bed and paced the room.

“Is that really what you think of me?” He slid to the side of the bed and pulled on his trews, not bothering with the braies.

“Yes. Yes, it is.”

“I stopped us from coupling,” he pointed out once again. “Doesn’t that mean anything at all to you?” He stood to tie his breeches.

“No, it doesn’t because you also started all this in the first place if I must remind you.”

“I said I was sorry. What else do you want from me?”

“How about letting me go? And setting Dee free from the dungeon as well.”

“What?” He narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “Why in the world would I do that?”

“To show me you are not the cur I think you to be right now.”

“If I did what you ask, what would my men think of me? Those actions would only make me look weak in their eyes. I am their king and ruler. I need to maintain a powerful composure.” He scowled at her, walking over to a trunk and opening it. He chose a new tunic since she was wearing his. He could have asked for his back, but she was glad he hadn’t. Sebastian pulled the tunic over his head, hiding from her view his strong and sturdy chest that she hadn’t minded seeing in the least.

“What do you care what others think of you?” she asked him, holding her arms around her in a false sense of protection.

He straightened his tunic and blew air from his mouth. “I’m a king. Of course, I care. I have to care. I have expectations and an image to uphold. My late uncle’s image. I can’t let him down.”

“Oh, I see. So, you idolize this dead evil uncle of yours so much that you are trying to be him now. That is pathetic.”

His head jerked around and he faced her. “Nay. That’s not true. Not at all.” He slowly tied the strings at the neck of his tunic. “I am different from my uncle. I agree he was evil. He often liked to start wars for no reason at all. He also thrived on putting people away in the dungeon for no good reason in the least, keeping them there until they died from starvation.”

“And you think you are nothing like him? Really.” She sniffed. “You had no good reason to imprison Dee, yet you did. Sebastian Ravenwolf, you are quickly turning into this dead, evil King Sethor, no matter if you realize it or not.”

“I most certainly am not!”

“Prove it,” she challenged him. “Do what is right for the sake of goodness and being fair. Don’t do things only because others expect it of you. Because you are afraid of letting them down.”

“I’m not afraid of anyone or anything!” he shouted, shoving his feet into his boots. “How dare you say that about your king.”

“You’re not my king and will never be,” she answered in a steady voice. Her words were upsetting him, and she didn’t care. Someone needed to tell this man what a fool he was being, and that someone was her.

“Hush!” he spat, fastening his weapon belt around him. “I don’t want to hear another word from you. And when I return in the morning, you’d better be here if you know what is good for you.” He stormed over to the door.

“What’s good for me? Or do you mean for you? After all, a king who does things only for the approval of others or because it is what he thinks he is expected to do, seems like a weak man indeed in my eyes.”

“Don’t say that,” he warned her. His face became red with anger.