The Darkest King (Lords of the Underworld 15)

“And you’re sure she told the truth? Vengeful beings, no matter their species, do not create a magical loophole without a nefarious reason. What if breaking the curse—” she used air quotes “—causes you more harm than good?”

He shifted in his seat. “And what if she expected me to fear breaking the curse so much, I wallow in misery, doing nothing, while holding the key to my happiness?”

Yeah. Fair point. “Is the witch still alive?” Maybe, if Sunny pressed a razor-sharp horn against her carotid, she’d null and void her curse. Simple, easy.

“If Lilith lived, she’d be chained to my side so I could torture her every minute of every day.” Relish fizzed in each word, giving her a glimpse of the diabolical underworld prince who lurked beneath the pretty face...and her dark side loved it. “I cut off her head.” With Lucifer’s help.

Lucifer. Hate him!

Sunny bit into another strawberry, and William snapped a second pen in two. Her pulse leaped. Why had he—his gaze had dipped to her mouth, she realized. Clearly he’d lost track of the conversation.

Could she distract him even more?

Infused with feminine power, she traced the strawberry around her lips. He watched, his pupils expanding, causing warmth to dance over her skin. She told herself she licked the juice away to torment him, but she also tormented herself. So sweet! She imagined dripping the juice over his body and laving away every droplet. He’d never have reason to feel sad again.

Another groan left him, shattering her musings. Good! She did not need to concern herself with his emotions.

“Your five minutes are up,” he announced.

Pulse fluttering, she rasped, “Do us both a favor, and reset the countdown clock. I have more questions...and more strawberries.”

“I will not reset—”

“Do it, and I’ll kiss you,” she blurted out, the words leaving her unbidden. A flush heated her cheeks. If he rejected her...

He jolted upright in his chair, saying, “Resetting the countdown clock now.”

9

“Willy’s life hack #69. Always use an ax. They hack up a life better than anything.”

She craves my kiss. Might even ache for it. William nearly pounded his chest in a beastly display of masculine satisfaction.

Ever since she’d entered the office, lust had seethed inside him, demanding its due. A naked Sunny splayed across his desk, long legs spread. He would feast, and she would come with a scream. Twice.

Pride demanded he turn fantasy into reality. Pride, only pride.

He should have done as claimed and used someone else to slake his desires. One-night stands were his go-to form of stress relief, after all. He just... The thought of being with anyone else left him cold right now.

The power of a lifemate. He pressed his tongue to the roof of his mouth.

He’d always believed he craved variety in order to make as many memories as possible. But he’d forgotten the women as soon as he’d come. Therefore, his rationale made no sense.

What if he didn’t need variety to be satisfied?

What if he just needed...her?

Why not kiss her and find out? With her death off the table, thanks to the prediction about Lucifer’s defeat, William had nothing to explain to her first.

If their second kiss was as bad as their first? What, then? And what if she got better, and he fell for her?

Better to tell her no. And he would. No. Nay. Nyet. Any second now, he’d say the word...

She perched in the chair across from his desk, her amber eyes bright pools of arousal, her chest rising and falling in quick succession, her breasts straining her T-shirt.

She pants with arousal—for me? She must. His keen senses picked up the harried speed of her heartbeat. And her nipples...still sweet little peaks. How the beauties must ache.

Tell her no? Not in this lifetime. Why fight the inevitable?

Desire drove him to his feet, the chair rolling behind him. Head high, he rounded the desk. Rather than approaching her directly, he stopped just in front of her and leaned against the desk’s edge. Let her explain her unexpected urge for a kiss before he made a move. For all he knew, she’d only hoped to tie him in knots. Hadn’t she promised to punish him for keeping her in captivity?

Well, mission accomplished, beauty.

He crossed his arms, and she clocked the movement with a heavy-lidded gaze. Her scent changed from deliciously sweet to... What the hell is that? She smelled like the incarnation of sex and pleasure, turning his every inhalation into an internal caress.

He hardened in an instant, his blood heating. His hands trembled, his gut clenched and he ached...everywhere.

What did Sunny experience?

“You claim to find no pleasure in my kisses,” he reminded her, his ego taking another hit. “Why ask for a repeat?” Did she want something from him, perhaps?

A calculated gleam lit her eyes, and he had to silence a groan. About to deal with her dark side again.

“You’re hot and strong, with all the right equipment—” she leered at his erection and wiggled her brows “—and there’s a good chance I’m a shallow, hard-up size queen.”

“Are you, then?” He massaged the back of his neck. To keep her guessing, he said, “I’ve been with shallow, hard-up size queens before. I think I’ll pass.”

Her nails grew into claws, a good sign. “Fine. Mating season approaches, and I’m losing control. In other words...I’m horny. Anyone will do.”

A laugh lived and died at the back of his throat. Sunny, consumed by sexual desires... He quaked with riotous need. Then the rest of her words registered. Anyone will do.

Between gritted teeth, he rasped, “Have you ever had an orgasm, duna?”

“Oh, yes. When I’m flying solo, I’m an incredible lover. The best I’ve ever had.”

He white-knuckled the edge of his desk to stop from reaching for her. “Have you ever had an orgasm with another person?”

“I...yes...no...maybe?”

He went motionless, not even daring to breathe. “Let me clear up your confusion, sundae. No, you haven’t.” But I will introduce you to shared pleasure. I will teach you to love it. Me, and no other. “Tell me how you felt when we kissed?”

After a moment of hesitation, she admitted, “I felt distracted, stressed and unsafe. Granted, I feel unsafe every minute of every day.”

“That’s it?” No hint of arousal?

She didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

He grinned, and she sputtered, her innate fragrance intensifying, drugging him. But the grin didn’t last long. To pleasure this girl, he’d have to first earn her trust. The only way to do that? Time. Time he didn’t have.

Sunny ran her bottom lip between her teeth, leaving a sheen of moisture behind. A sheen he wanted to lap up. Her skin flushed, and he wondered how hot it burned.

Maybe he could pleasure her without earning her trust. He just had to turn her focus to something other than fear. If he whipped her into a furious lather, he could smuggle passion past her defenses. In theory.

Worth a shot. “We’re going to try this again,” he told her. “I’m your master, after all, and you must learn to respond to me appropriately.”

Her eyes narrowed. A promising start.

“My darling sundae,” he continued on. “This is the part where you say thank you.”

Narrowing further... “I have no master, you pompous douchebag.”

Ding, ding, ding. Fury. Time for a little passion smuggling.

Her tirade intensified. “There’s no way in hellebore I’ll say thank—”

William shot out his arm, cupped her nape and yanked her against the hard line of his body. Her lips parted on a surprised gasp, and he swooped down, claiming her mouth with his own, thrusting his tongue past her teeth.

At first, she accepted his kiss as passively as before. Then she gripped the hem of his shirt, holding on for dear life, and actively participated, chasing his tongue with her own.

His pulse quickened. He rewarded her with a suck and a nip. Plaintive moans spilled from her. So sweet. Those plump, irresistible lips...so perfect. Every inch of her...so mine.

“Wrap your arms around my shoulders,” he commanded. She obeyed, zero hesitation, and he shoved a hand into her hair, then used the other to grip her ass and grind his erection against her core.

The bliss! Had he ever experienced something, anything so good? Want more. He spun her around and lifted her onto the desk, then spread her legs farther apart with his hips. When he pressed his erection against her core yet again, a ragged moan left her. A siren’s song he couldn’t resist.

She makes me crazed.