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Feels like forever since I’ve laid eyes on King.
Feels like forever since I’ve known who I can trust.
The voices stop. And I press my ear to the door, straining to hear something, anything.
Nothing.
Silence.
A new sort of panic swells in my chest.
Would he leave? Would he come all the way here just to leave me?
And why does that make my heart ache? I literally ran away from the man. Today.
But what do I do if he leaves me with this even scarier man?
My ear is still pressed to the wood, when I suddenly register the sound of footsteps on the other side of the door.
I jump back, a startled scream stuck in my throat, when the door flies open.
It’s shoved so hard it bounces off the wall, but King snaps his hand out and catches the edge of the door, stopping it from swinging back into him.
His gaze is locked on me as he steps across the threshold and slams the door shut behind him.
I’m backing away.
My head and heart are at war over what’s the biggest danger in my life right now, but my feet don’t care. They just keep moving me away from the closest threat.
We move in tandem, me backward, him forward.
His eyes…
My chest squeezes.
His eyes lookhurt.
He looks disappointed.
In me.
“I h-heard.” My voice is hardly audible.
King steps toward me as he rolls his shoulders, looking like a fighter about to enter the ring. “I know what you heard.” His steps stop and he starts to pull off his suit jacket, toeing off his shoes at the same time. “And you have until I’m naked to ask your questions.”
He tosses the jacket down, revealing two guns holstered at his sides.
I take another step back, bumping into the wall.
His large hands pull the guns free––like it’s a movement he does every day––and he sets them on the foot of the bed.
I wet my lips, trying to remember what he said as his fingers move to the buttons on his shirt.
“Do you sell girls?” My throat aches for him as I ask the question, because I can already see the answer on his face.
“I don’t sell anyone.” He yanks his shirt off and tosses it to the floor. “I don’t traffic people.” He undoes his belt, ripping it free with a snap. “I don’t hurt women.” He unzips his pants, letting them drop to the floor. “But I am going to fuck you now.” He shoves his boxers off. “Because you’re my wife. And it’s about fucking time you started acting like it.”
A whimper crawls up my throat, but King catches it, taking the last step between us and slamming his lips to mine.