Volatile Love (The Gilded Sovereign 2)

“Take me home and show me just how much you love me,” she whispers, tugging the lobe of my ear between her teeth, biting down softly until my dick jolts against my zipper. Before I can retaliate, she scoots off my lap, innocently, and into the passenger seat.

A soft laugh is all I’m gifted before I respond, “Oh, little wolf, be careful what you ask for.” Desire burns in her eyes, and I know they mimic my own passionate expression. This woman tests me, but I love her for it.

“Promise?”

“Don’t ever doubt me.” That’s the only answer I offer as I start the engine and peel down the road toward the house. Time to show my girl just how much she means to me, over and over again. Until she can’t walk, can’t think, and can’t remember who she is because the only name she’ll be screaming is mine.

Bonus Scene

Tarian

It turns out my uncle is worse than Abner. He’s convinced the world owes him something. A need for revenge has taken over me, and the thought of him ever getting to sit at the head of the table is laughable because I’ll make sure he never sees the light of fucking day again.

Even though I’m nowhere near as fucked up as he is, fear that I could one day turn into a tyrant like that makes me wary of being anywhere near the Sovereign which brings me to my little getaway. Even though I’m out here looking for Thane, I needed space from town, from the guys, from the memories of what Tynewood did to me.

The sun burns bright, and I move my shades to the bridge of my nose. There aren’t any people out and about yet, but I know in the next hour or so, this place will be swarming with tourists. I just wanted to disappear from the world for a while. I wanted to find my uncle and make sure he pays for what he did to my father.

Without getting his hands dirty, he ensured I would be orphaned, or so I thought. That is until my mother appeared, alive and well. What Thane didn’t bank on was me taking a seat at the table and sending him running. He didn’t realize that I’d grown up, and I was ready to take him down. He wants what I have, but he fucked that up when he killed my father instead of me.

As much as I want to go back to Tynewood and be with my brothers, I can’t. Not until I finish what Thane started. The last I heard, he and my mother were hiding out here, on an island in the Med. But no one has spotted him yet.

The moment my feet hit the cool sand, I stop and take in the ocean that greets me. This place is heaven, there’s nothing more I could want, and for a moment, I don’t miss home. Tynewood is a distant memory. It could change. I may go back, but right now, all I can see for miles is clear blue waters.

“Tarian?” My blood chills at the sound of my name. All the fucking way in Capri and someone knows me. Jesus, can I not escape where I’m from even for a couple of months?

I turn to the voice. My gaze rakes in the beauty strolling toward me in denim cut offs and a tiny bikini top that does nothing to hide her tits. She’s so fucking hot, but I have to focus. I can’t be distracted by pussy right now. Instead of greeting her, I tip my head.

“What are you doing here?” she asks when she reaches me. This is not what I had in mind when I left my apartment earlier.

“Vacation.” My clipped response doesn’t go unnoticed, but that’s one thing about Grecia Harding, she doesn’t give up that easily. She’ll hang on until I’ve told her to leave me the fuck alone, and even then, she’ll act as if I want her here.

“I heard rumors that you’re not coming back,” she tells me as we walk toward the beach, closer to the water. I wish I could disappear under the current and never return. She’s right, though, I don’t want to go back. I wanted to run and not look behind me ever again.

“Maybe. Who knows what the future brings?” I don’t look at her. I want to, I crave the human connection, but I force myself to focus on the ocean instead.

She waits a beat before admitting, “Sometimes I feel like running away, too, being away from the history of our families makes it easier to think. Having Kelli so adamant about the Sovereign is tiring.” Her confession makes me stop for a moment. Finally, I glance over at her.

Grecia is everything a queen should be—poised, elegant, and beautiful.