The Skull King (Skull 1)

I saw the come in the tip of the condom, so I didn’t know how that was possible. “How did you do that?” I’d never seen a man come and then be ready to go again right away.

He moved on top of me and separated my thighs with his knees. “Look at yourself, baby. That’s how.”

8

Cassini

After a plethora of climaxes, I lay beside him on the sweaty sheets. I didn’t snatch my clothes and bolt for the door right away because it wasn’t too late in the evening. Maria wouldn’t wonder where I was, and Lucian’s security detail wouldn’t find my disappearance odd. So I had some time.

Besides, I was so tired and satisfied that I didn’t want to move.

His king-size bed was so comfortable. His pillows were like clouds, and the low lighting created a cozy ambiance. Hundreds of women had lain in this same bed before me, but instead of feeling jealous, I felt lucky.

I got to be one of them.

I turned over to look at him, to see the sexy man sprawled out next to me. Six three and muscular, he was sexy from head to toe. His thighs were just as sculpted as his arms, and his calves were so tight, I wondered if he constantly had a muscle cramp. At this angle, the V in his hips was even more noticeable, deep cuts in his well-built frame. My hand planted against his stomach, and I trailed my touch over the endless grooves of his abs.

He turned his head and looked at me, his sleepy expression and messy hair making him a sex god. His hand covered mine, and he gave it a gentle squeeze.

I moved closer into his side and rested my face against his shoulder. His cologne and sweat mixed together to form the scent of pure masculinity. My hand rested against his chest, and I closed my eyes because I wanted to stay there forever. This man was a stranger, someone I randomly met in a bar late at night on a Wednesday, but now I cuddled into his side like I knew him like a lover. The truth was, I didn’t even know his last name. I had no idea why he had guards all over his property at all times. But I never asked because it didn’t seem to matter. He was just a man who got me off. He would never be anything else, not even my friend.

But it was nice to pretend. Just as I could pretend my husband was someone else, I could pretend I met this man on the town. We had chemistry, so now I was in his bed, his part-time fuck buddy. I would return to my small apartment afterward and live my life, having the freedom to see him again if I wanted to. No one owned me. I was in charge of my life—my freedom. None of it was real…but it was fun to pretend.

My eyes trailed over his body, and that was when I noticed the ring on his right hand. On his middle finger was a skull made of diamonds. It was gray, the color of fossilized bone, so the diamonds were vibrant and noticeable. It was a peculiar ring. I remembered the back of his business card and the image of the skull in the center. The fact that he had guards watching his place at all times didn’t bode well. The only kind of men that did that were criminals. “That’s an interesting ring.”

His lips rested against my hairline. “That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“Well…it’s different. What does it mean?”

“It represents my world. It represents my power. It represents me.”

I scooted away so I could look him in the eyes. For a man so hard and rugged, he shouldn’t have had such beautiful eyes. It seemed like a crime that a man could be that beautiful. Anytime he walked into a bar, he must have had women scratching at his pants to get them off. “And who are you?”

He turned on his side and propped himself on one arm. He looked down at me with that fearless expression, like he truly was afraid of nothing in this world. His hand started at my knee then migrated slightly to my belly. “I’ll tell you who I am—if you tell me who you are.”

“I have a feeling I’m not as interesting as you are.”

“I disagree.” His fingers brushed over my belly button then glided to my ribs. “I’ll answer your question, but you have to answer any question I ask of you. We got a deal?” His hand moved through the valley of my tits, sliding up slowly as he approached my neck.

“That sounds like a dangerous game.”

“It is.” His hand moved to my neck and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You wanna play?”