Page 29 of The King’s Man (The Kingdom of the Krow #3)

~ DIADRE ~

Like one of the huge cats that ruled the mountain peaks, he leaped onto the bed, landing on all fours, eyes wild and body poised.

I tensed, but I was breathing as quickly as he was.

“Be certain, Diadre. This is no small thing,” he growled.

I snorted. “I can see that.”

His expression grew more serious. “Not only that. The claiming is real.”

Something about that clanged in my chest and my breath rushed out of me. “You’ve already claimed me.”

“Not like this. Not in truth.” His eyes shone as if they’d glow in lower light.

Every muscle quivered with tension. He leaned closer, one hand coming forward to brace on the bed a foot from me.

“If I take you… you will be mine.” The word rolled in his chest on a growl.

Why did it make me quiver with want instead of fear?

Why did my breathing pick up as quick as his?

Jann’s eyes flashed and he reached forward with the other arm, taking his weight on that fist, the lines in his forearm so deep and tight they cast shadows.

“I’ll never be owned by a man,” I whispered, licking my lips, instinctively pushing myself back against the headboard of the bed, though I had no desire to flee.

He growled again, fire in his eyes, and alarm shrieked in my head.

I thought I’d seen him feral before. Thought I’d seen him aggressive.

But this animalistic edge… I half expected claws to unsheath from his knuckles.

He had never seemed more of a creature to me.

A still, small voice in the back of my head insisted I should be afraid.

That he was not safe. But my body didn’t respond, except to thrum harder as he crawled forward, opening his hand on my ankle and took hold, pulling me down until my head was on the pillow, our eyes still locked as he continued to inch forward, dragging those fingers up my leg.

“You are not a possession, Diadre,” he growled. “But if I claim you in truth… you will be mine.”

“What does that even mean?” I breathed as he crawled up my body until our noses were an inch apart. His shoulders were so thick and broad, he blocked out the light above.

There was a shout nearby and I flinched, turning to look, but he caught my chin and brought me back.

It was reflex to brace against the unanticipated touch, and my hand shot to his chest—but both of us gasped out as that electric snap jolted through us. I was breathing even faster now, and so was he.

“Jann, I think—”

“My woman carries my strength with her,” he growled, his eyes narrowing and his upper lip curling back from his teeth as if he already saw another male and was preparing to rip out his throat. “If you let me claim you truly, every Nephilim alive will see it in you, Diadre,” he breathed.

“Let you?” I whispered, my fear tumbling off my tongue before I could think straight. “I thought there was no choice in a Nephilim’s claiming?”

Jann took a deep breath and dropped his chin.

“Most wouldn’t offer it,” he admitted. When I frowned his fingers tightened on my chin.

“But between us… you and me… the choice is yours. I would have you, Diadre. I would claim you in truth. But God may strike me down if I lie: I will not take you against your will. And I will kill any man who would—I’ve proven that already. ”

I desperately wanted to kiss him, but when I leaned up, he shook his head and held my gaze. “Make your choice.”

My breath came short and fast. I couldn’t look away. The intensity in him. The sheer strength held in such tight restraint… what would it be like, I wondered, to see that unleash? All that raw power held so tightly let loose on the world?

On me?

My belly tingled and I clenched, suddenly eager to see it.

I licked my lips and Jann’s eyes dropped to watch my tongue, but he yanked them back up and made himself hold eye-contact. And that was the moment I vowed to myself that some day, I would see him lose control. I would do everything in my power to snap that leash.

He was on all fours, knees between my legs, one hand braced on the pillow next to my head, the other holding my chin.

He was hard as a rock. Still holding eye-contact, I reached for him and smiled when his entire body quivered at my touch.

He closed his eyes for a moment, hips nudging forward into my grip, then his jaw flexed and he growled and his eyes flew open—the fire of anger now blazing alongside the flames of need.

“Diadre, do not toy with me.”

“I’m not,” I said, breathlessly. Not very much, anyway. “But I will only choose a man who truly wants me.”

“I believe you have irrefutable evidence of my desire,” he muttered dryly. I stroked him again and his fingers tightened on my chin.

“Is it desire, or…” I looked down, between his arms, low where I grasped him and pumped him twice. He muttered a curse and dropped his hips, pinning my hands and his cock between us, but still braced on his arm so his upper body loomed over me.

“Or what?” he asked through his teeth.

I swallowed, because the question was real. “Do you just want what you’ve been told you can’t have?”

I’d meant to have my chin high. To challenge him. To draw my line in the sand and force him to step over it, or walk away. But the words left my throat thin and fearful. Something in me was desperate to hear this from him, and that terrified me even more than these brutal men.

I thought he’d roll his eyes. Screw up his face in frustration at my weakness—or smile because it meant he’d won. But to my shock, Jann let go of my chin and sat back on his heels, his face softening into concern.

“Is that what they’ve done to you? Made you a conquest?” he asked quietly.

Inside, I crumbled. I’d been ass in the air before a man. I’d been legs spread and touching myself to let a man watch. I’d ridden a man to his climax, then let him use his mouth to bring me to mine… and I’d never felt as purely naked as I did in that second.

It was the kind of question that, under any other circumstance I would have met with a wicked grin and a fist on my hip to let him know of course I was a conquest. But now? Here? With him?

I didn’t know if it was because of the events with that fucking Nephilim, or because Jann had been so good to me, but I suddenly discovered I had no bravado.

I gaped at him for a breath, then dropped my face into my hands and prayed to sink into the floor.

“Diadre, no.”

There was a snap and the bed jiggled, then strong but gentle hands took hold of my wrists and pulled my hands away from my face.

Jann had manifested his wings and craned them high and wide, forming a wall between us and the rest of the world. Like an ebony, feathered tent with only us inside.

He held my hands down on my chest and met my eyes, his brow furrowed. “I didn’t mean to imply that you were,” he breathed. “Truly. I only—”

“You didn’t,” I said, shaking my head. “It’s just…

That’s how it feels. But no one’s ever seen before that.

I thought becoming a soldier and proving myself to men meant they’d see what it was that made me unique.

I thought they’d want me because I was special or…

God, that sounds so embarrassing, but I thought…

I thought they would see me. I thought when they wanted me, they’d want all of me.

But they never did, Jann. Behind my back they’d boast that they were the one who could tame me—but the moment they had… they didn’t want me anymore.”

I shut my mouth over those words, cursing myself and struggling until Jann released me so I could put my hands back up over my face.

I was mortified. I’d never said these words to a man.

I’d come close with Jhonas, but he was always so focused on protecting me from what he called the men’s baser instincts that every time I had attempted to draw the conversation deeper, he’d told me to tell him who hurt me and assured me he’d take care of me, and appoint men around me who would in his absence.

Yilan had listened and empathized. She understood. As Queen, she was prized. But, as she put it, “like a broodmare at a horse auction.” She understood the feelings under the eyes of men, but she’d never slept with one of them before and didn’t understand—

“Diadre… Diadre, look at me.”

I opened my fingers wide enough to meet Jann’s eyes through them and found him peering at me with sadness.

“Do not pity me,” I snapped.

He shook his head. “I don’t. I just… I want you to know… I see you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes, the great and mighty Jannus the Halfling—”

“No. Don’t,” he said sharply.

I froze and our eyes locked again.

He leaned in. “I see your determination. I see your intelligence. I see your wit, and your heart—you are brave in the face of danger, unafraid to walk a path alone when you believe it’s right, you love those dear to you with abandon.

You are loyal to your Queen, and trust her, so embrace my King.

Diadre… you are very unique—that’s why you’re my—” He stopped and frowned, cleared his throat.

“There is something very special about you, Diadre. I have never desired to claim a woman before. Ever. Not like this. Not in truth.”

“Only for sexual favors?” I muttered.

“Yes,” he said baldly. “Trust me, my past partners have always left satisfied and safe, but never… never treasured.”

My breath stopped. I stared at him and he stared back.

He shifted his weight, like he was uncomfortable, but held my gaze.

And deep, deep in my chest, something broke loose—there was a tiny cry in my soul.

A chain snapped. I didn’t understand what it was, or why, only that it happened in the same place where I felt that sizzle of electric charge between us when I touched him. And it made me want him. Desperately.

Without a word, I took his face in my hands and leaned up to kiss him.

Jann sucked in a deep breath, like I’d shocked him. But then he turned into the kiss, delving my mouth, his hand sliding to my back to hold me close as the kiss went deeper, and deeper, and the need within me coiled tighter.

I wrapped an arm around his neck and he groaned into my mouth, lowering me back to the bed and covering me with his massive body, his wings still up and curled over us.

I couldn’t get enough of him, couldn’t get close enough, needed his mouth on mine, his body on mine, his touch. I clawed hands into his hair and nipped at his skin, reveled in the sounds vibrating in his chest in response.

And then, as he settled between my thighs and nudged at me, he froze. His head popped up and he braced both arms, staring at me wildly, his eyes hunted.

“Diadre, I need you to—”

“Yes, Jann,” I whispered, grabbing his neck and pulling him back down. “Yes.”