King for a Day (The King Trilogy #2)(44)
Author: Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

He cupped the back of my head. “See. That was it, right there. That look in your eyes.”

His possessive gaze overpowered me. I wanted to look away from those stunning, possessive gray eyes, but I couldn’t. Feeling like I was everything in his world for those few short moments was like a drug.

He bent his head to my ear. “Be forewarned, Miss Turner, once we are free and you look at me like that, I am going to f**k you thoroughly. I’ll take you again and again, until you concede.”

Con-con-cede what?

“That you are mine. Not because of the mark, but because your body and soul wish it.”

I wasn’t sure that’s what I wished. I mean—yes, my body wanted him in so many wrong ways, but my brain was still telling me not to trust him. He was a man who would do anything to get what he wanted. He was also damaged. Perhaps beyond repair. I wasn’t sure.

What if I don’t want that, King? What if I do not want to be yours?

He smiled and then rubbed his lips lightly over my cheek again as if he couldn’t get enough. “If you give me what I want, then I will give you what you want.”

I turned my head and met his eyes. Did you just say what I think?

He kissed me lightly on the lips. “Yes. One night with me, and then you may choose.”

He was obviously one hundred percent confident that I wouldn’t leave him. Because King never made a deal he wasn’t prepared to keep.

Deal. Besides, I might not get out of this. But it’s nice to have something to look forward to if I do.

King chuckled softly in my ear. “Oh, I look forward to it, too.”

I rolled my eyes. I meant my freedom.

“You won’t leave me, Miss Turner. You like being mine just as much as I enjoy owning you.”

I took a step back and stared at him, wondering how much more complex we could possibly make things between us. So now what? Vaughn could be back at any moment.

King stood up straight. “Do you want to return? Do you trust me?”

I sighed. I want to, but that’s not how trust works.

“Then tell me what more you need.” He again placed his hand on the back of my neck so I couldn’t avoid his powerful gaze.

I don’t know. More time?

I felt King’s fingers twitch. “Do you know why I chose you, Mia?”

I shook my head no.

“Because you are brave. Brave enough to stand up against me. Brave enough to hope for a man like me. Brave enough to go up against people who could crush you like a fly, all for someone you care about. You are far braver than I. So now, you need to be brave once again and take a leap of faith.”

I wanted to. Hell, my life was on the line. But could I trust him enough for this to work?

What will happen to me when I’m—I swallowed—dead?

“I do not know.”

How long will it take for me to come back?

“A day or two. But that is a guess.”

And if it works? What will happen when I wake up?

“You will call Mack. You will tell him what has happened, and he will come get you.”

And then what? What about you?

“I will be fine. There is nothing that Vaughn can do to me that hasn’t already been done.”

I’m not leaving you here to rot.

King’s face turned into an angry scowl. “You are not, and I repeat, not to do anything foolish, Mia. Mack will take you somewhere safe. You are to stay there.”

Indefinitely?

“I hope not, but if necessary.”

But my parents and Justin—

“Vaughn will believe you are dead. If he finds out you are alive, he will come after you. He will kill you on the spot. You are to stay out of sight.”

I saw his point. Of course I did. But leaving King or anyone to hang out to dry wasn’t my style. I’d rather die than hide while that psycho Vaughn hurt them.

I know I’m not like you and Vaughn. I don’t know how to think like a cruel person, and I can’t even begin to understand the ins and outs of the Club, but I promise, I’ll be careful. My mistake last time was in believing I could play on their terms and go head to head. I thought I could be King for a day. But that was a completely naïve and ridiculous assumption. No one could be King except King.

King grabbed my wrist. “No. Mia. You will stay away. I forbid you to get involved again.”

But—

King gave me a little shake. “Let the chips fall, Mia. Let fate decide who lives and who dies.”

I’m changing subjects now.

“No!” he yelled. “You are to call Mack and do as you are told, Miss Turner.”

Ha! See. Now you’re going to ask me to trust you? And you know what? I do! I trust you to be a complete arrogant ass. I trust that you will always default to seeing me as your property.

“Because you are,” he growled.

I don’t know what time you’re from, King, but in this day and age, women aren’t pets. Your days of barbarianism are over! I own me. I decide what to do with my life.

“I don’t give a f**k about your modern-day ideals,” he yelled. “You will do as you are told, or I will pun—”

“Don’t you dare!” I stuck my finger in his face. “Don’t you dare say it, or so help me, I will kick that giant ghosty dick of yours so hard that—”

King unexpectedly smiled at me and then began to laugh. Not like a little chuckle or snicker, but a double over, can’t get a breath sort of laugh.

“What?” I said, but then replayed my words. I’d told him that I would kick his giant ghosty dick.

“Okay. Okay.” Then I started to laugh, too. “I’m not very good at insults, am I?” I snorted.

“No. In fact, you flatter me and my giant dick.” He stood up straight, still chuckling, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

“Did I make you cry? This is embarrass—” My thought was cut short by something I saw: King’s light flickered to green again, but this time it stayed that way.

I gasped. Oh my God.

“What?” He continued shaking his head, chuckling the words “ghosty dick.”

You just turned green. Bright green.

His smile melted away. “Yes, I believe I feel it.”

We stared at each other for a quiet moment. I don’t know what he was thinking about, or if he was simply listening in on my thoughts, but I was struck with awe. I saw a glimmer of that man—whole, happy, full of life—he once was before his existence turned into a living hell. I don’t think I’d ever seen anything more beautiful than him in that moment.