Page 9 of Vicious Kingdom (Dynasty of Queens #3)

L eo confused me.

I paced in front of the pizza parlor, worrying my bottom lip. “Uh-huh,” I murmured absently into the phone.

David continued to prattle about something.

But it was the dark-eyed businessman just beyond the door who consumed my every thought. He flirted with me. There was no internal switch to flip and make him want me again. Not one that erased the past. No, this newfound attention came from a darker place.

This was either a good start, something I could work with….

Or a bad omen. A change that would lead straight to disaster.

“Annaliese?” David’s voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“Hi, yeah, sorry!” I rushed. “The twenty-fifth is perfect.”

That gave me plenty of time to assess this new situation, make a few counter moves, and hopefully connect with Leo on a deep enough level that I could end the farce with David before he got on a plane.

David sighed. “You’re distracted.”

“I’m not!” I lied.

“Never mind, it’s okay,” he said sympathetically. “You’ve got a lot on your plate, I’m sure.”

Why would he think I had a lot on my plate? “No, really, things are good here. Nice and breezy!”

“Annaliese, you don’t have to be brave for me. We’re going to be married.” His words made my stomach knot. “You don’t have to pretend that packing and making plans to move to California is easy. I know it’s not.”

My eyes popped open. Excuse me?!

But then it came back in a rush. His plan to bring me out west. To mold me into his world. The software engineer was well-to-do; he had a great job. So in his mind, it was only logical that we relocate me.

Chicago was my home.

I had been banished. Sent away to be kept under the watchful thumb of my German grandmother by her own son. Now I was back, and I defied the gods above and the devils below to take me away from my beloved Windy City.

And if the immortals couldn’t, then a software engineer was at a sore disadvantage.

The roar of a bike caught my attention.

My arm lowered as I turned. The figure, clad in a black leather jacket with a helmet pulled over his face, revved once, and then he took off, pulling into traffic.

He’s gone.

“I’ll see you soon?” David’s voice sounded hopeful from where it lingered in my hand.

I lifted the phone back to my ear. “Yep, so soon!”

“I…love you, Annaliese.”

Three little words. We’d been engaged for a few weeks now, and this was the first time he’d said them. He hadn’t even used them during his unromantic proposal.

“Thanks,” I croaked.

David sighed again. “I didn’t expect you to say it back. You shouldn’t feel pressure to, and I know it’s patriarchal to say it first, but I can’t help it. I wanted you to know.”

The knot in my stomach turned sour. Crap. He was trying so hard to be a modern man, gentle and sensitive.

He would have had better luck if he tapped into his masculinity. Dominat and powerful, making me feel safe. Something he never would be able to do.

I didn’t need a husband who was my mathematical equal. I needed a partner who filled the gaps and missing pieces of my soul—while I returned the favor to him!

Someone strong enough to support me in the bad times, and passionate enough to make the good times unforgettable.

I knew what that felt like. I’d tasted it once.

And I wasn’t going to stop until I had it again.

***

“I don’t want to go out,” I lamented. Folding my hands over my stomach, I leaned back in the chair.

Pizza grease stained one of the few untouched spots of my ruined skirt.

“Oh, come on!” Dominic insisted. “We’re going to meet up with Theo, Callah, and Brady to pregame.”

“My car’s back at the jobsite,” I protested.

But Kristy cut me off. “Tall, dark, and handsome will be there.”

I gave the woman a skeptical look. We’d known each other since diapers. She no doubt counted me as one of her friends, even though we both knew she wouldn’t drop anything to come help if I needed it.

“Who?” I pushed, not wanting to take the bait. “Wait, are you talking about Leonard? You think he’s handsome?”

“Well, duh? Did you get a load of those cheekbones? Greek god alert!” Kevin chimed in.

“Roman god,” I corrected, but then tensed.

That was a slip.

A small, teeny, tiny slip.

These academically shallow idiots, however, didn’t catch the detail.

“You’re saying you’re not into him?” Kristy pressed, leaning forward, eyes wide.

“She has David with a heart emoji,” Dominic pointed out.

I kept my stare on the other woman. “You have my blessing, Kristy.”

It would be fun to watch her crash and burn. I was a little devil when it came to war games.

“Well, we’re going to need to find fresh clothes.” Kristy plucked at her spotless tee. “I’m in no condition to go to the Basin after working all day.”

I grabbed another slice of pie. Pepperoni grease slid down my hand, onto my wrist, and dropped on my skirt. I wasn’t hungry, but food was a blissful solace. And I would need that to face a night dancing around Leo.