The Sinful King (Naughty Royals 1)

“Then why are you here?” I blinked back at him.

“I was invited.”

“Yeah, and you came for what? To cast judgment on a king who hasn’t even yet had a chance to show what he’s capable of?”

“If he’s anything like his father we know exactly what he’s capable of.”

“Do you think he is? Like his father?”

“Too soon to tell.” Father shrugged a shoulder. “He hasn’t been tested.”

“There are riots everywhere. People like you who would rather dismantle the thrown than give him a chance.”

“You’re one of those.” He pursed his lips, shaking his head.

“One of what?”

“One of those women who think we should give him a chance because he’s good-looking and charming.”

“That is not true.” I frowned.

“Speak of the devil.” Dad scoffed again and looked up at someone walking up to us. I looked in that direction, surprised to see Elias closing the distance between us. I felt the sudden need to shield him from my father’s judgment. “Apparently you have my daughter’s approval. Not that it means much for your future.”

“You’d be surprised at how much it means,” Elias responded, not taking his eyes away from mine.

“So you two have met,” my father said.

“We have, and now, counselor, if you don’t mind, I’m going to ask Adeline to dance.”

“To dance? Absolutely not.”

“I don’t think Adeline would leave her king hanging.” Elias offered me his hand to take. I stared at it for a beat.

“Her king.” Father scoffed again. “What are you playing at? Have you been keeping tabs on her all this time? Stalking her? Is this all a ploy to get back at me for not giving you her information all those years ago?”

My eyes widened. “What information? When?”

“A dance, Addie,” Elias said, his voice stern. “I’ll explain.”

“Do not get close to this man, Adeline. I know a good one when I see one and he’s not it.”

“Oh?” I blinked. “Have you looked in the mirror lately? What do you see then?”

“I have my faults, but I am not a bad man. This one, this king”—Father pointed at Elias—“He’s not good. I’ve heard more than enough rumors about him and his brother’s escapades and the potential children they may have fathered and left behind.”

My heart dropped. Of course I’d heard those rumors, but I couldn’t imagine them to be true. Not after meeting Elias. Not after . . . everything.

“One dance, Adeline.” Elias cleared his throat. I swallowed. I knew people were watching and I needed to give him an answer and this would be the perfect time to ask him questions.

“Well. Far be it from me to deny a king a dance.” I curtsied as I set my hand in Elias’s palm and looked at my father one more time. “Goodbye, Father. Take care of yourself. And clean those mirrors while you’re at it.”

Elias’s hand tightened on mine as he led me to the dance floor. When we reached it, he turned me fully in his arms and placed one hand on my lower back while the other held my hand up. He pulled me close, so that my chest was against his and there was no choice for me but to move with him. His face lowered, his nose brushing against my cheek and back up to my ear.

“I miss you, Addie. I wasn’t just saying that.”

“People are going to talk about this,” I responded through my teeth as I plastered a smile on my face. “This won’t end well. The media will have a field day.”

“I don’t care. Do you?”

“Yes.” I pulled back slightly and looked him in the eyes. “And you should as well.”

“The only thing I care about is this moment, with you in my arms.”

“Eli.” I sighed, my body melting into his. I pressed my head on his chest and pulled back quickly, realizing how that would look. “We can’t do this in public.”

“I’m the king. I can do whatever I want.”

“That’s the kind of talk that’s going to make people hate you. I’m serious.”

“And you don’t want them to hate me.” He smiled softly, keeping the hand on my back in place as he let go of my hand and brought his to cup my face. “You have the most beautiful heart I’ve ever encountered.”

“What was my father talking about when he said you asked for my information all those years ago?” I asked, needing to get back to neutral ground.

“It was nothing.” He dropped his hand from my face and picked my hand up again as we waltzed around the dance floor.

“I want to know.”

He sighed heavily. “It was a long time ago.”

“I still want to know.”

“You have to promise you won’t get angry.” He held my gaze steady.

“I don’t know that I can do that.” I felt my frown deepen. “Why would I get angry?”

“I . . . about six years ago I met a woman, a girl, really, and we had an incredible night together. Mind-blowing. Intense. Real.”