The Laws of Kings Read online

  “I did like the dress and what was underneath, not that I was expecting to see both in such a short period of time, but I’m not complaining,” Dace says, leaning against the door frame of my room.

  “Oh no, please go away and leave me alone.”

  “I can’t. You have my coat and my phone too.” I look down and push my hand into his pocket, pulling out his phone and a couple of pieces of paper with female numbers on them.

  “Oh, sorry.” I look down at his phone as a woman’s name appears. “Scarlett wants to know how much longer you are going to be. She misses your big … wow, and she wants to do some pretty dirty things to you.” I hand him the phone. “You better hurry before she explodes as she says she will surely do.”

  “I still need my coat, too,” he says as his tongue moves across the edges of his teeth, reminding me of its touch against mine and the trembling it caused within my body.

  My desires suddenly give way to anger. I don’t know why, but I am pissed that he was supposed to be my date for the night and he was planning on ditching me the whole time. It didn’t matter what I said or did. He really was going to write me off for Horny Scarlett. “You know what? You’re an asshole!” His cocky expression quickly changes to a puzzled one. “You know you are. How dare you make plans with another woman when you were supposed to be out with me.”

  “Excuse me? When were we on a date?”

  “At the restaurant. You showed up so I wouldn’t be the third wheel. I know Preston and Antony are trying to get us together. Why? I have no idea. We have absolutely nothing in common.” I babble on while he stares at me blankly. “The proper thing to do Dace … is to give a woman a chance, treat her with respect. Not every woman is smooth, with a sharp witted comment for every situation, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t just as wonderful as any of the rest. What is it about Scarlett that makes her better to spend time with over me? Huh? What?”

  “Do you need medication of some kind?” he asks.

  “No, I don’t need medication! What I need, Dace, is some respect. You want your coat back so you can go see Scarlett, well here.” I take off his coat and toss it to him. I stand up straight and proud in nothing but my underwear. “Enjoy your night since apparently this isn’t good enough for you.” I walk away only to turn back with another point that comes to mind. “And another thing …,” I stop as he tosses the coat and begins walking towards me. “What are you doing?” He doesn’t answer; he only continues to look me over before walking right up on me.

  “Let me tell you something, Austin. I think you’re one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. You are certainly the most fascinating I have ever met, and I have known a lot of women around the world, but not one has ever criticized me for asking for my coat back. There was no plan to set us up. I was simply planning on dropping Antony off and borrowing his car to take Scarlett out on a date. She complains when I pick her up on my motorcycle, but she was running late, so I came into the restaurant to have a drink while I waited to hear from her. I saw you and thought maybe we could try again, since we haven’t seemed to have gotten along so well, thus far.”

  “You stuck your tongue in my mouth.”

  “Yeah, I do that sometimes.”

  “What do you mean you do that sometimes? Who does that?”

  “I wanted to see how you would react.” He moves in closer, backing me up against a wall. “See, like now. I try to get closer to you, and you back away. I need the help of walls to keep you near me.” He runs his fingers through my hair, sliding them down my face. “Do you want to be near me Austin? Do you want anything from me?” He leans in and kisses my neck softly; I feel a twinge of excitement race down between my breasts, causing my nipples to harden. “If you want me to stay, then ask me. If you want a date, then encourage me to ask you.”

  “Stay if you want, but I won’t be manipulated into begging for you, and I am certainly not going to ask for a date when it should be offered with respect.” He looks at me in shock. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to get dressed and sit down and enjoy a movie. You are welcome to join me if you’d like, but don’t expect much more from me.” I walk away from him with a sway of my hips and a bite of my bottom lip as I slide on some pants and a shirt. He starts to say many things, but somehow, I captured his tongue, and he’s speechless. I push him to the living room and show him where to sit. We don’t say much, and he really doesn’t say anything at all as he watches me from the corner of his eyes. I trade glances with him throughout the movie, but I’m careful not to scare him away with too many words. All this time all I had to do was treat a man like he was a suspect, and I could gain the control I want. I only need to be patient. “I just ordered some new movies, and I have margarita mix. We could play a game together, a board game or something…” I am not going to have sex with him, I’m not. Preston was right; he wouldn’t respect someone like that.

  “Movies and board games?” he asks.

  I nod. “I understand if you would rather go be with that other woman, but I am sorry. Despite my appearance, I am not going to do those same things she has planned for you. So, Dace, it’s your choice. Scarlett and all her new fantasy ideas and toys or stay here and try to be my friend, get to know me a little, and watch a movie.” I go into the kitchen, waiting for the front door to shut, which it does. I sigh, not surprised but still, I have to admit I am a little disappointed. I grab my drink and a blanket and curl up on the sofa, preparing to watch the scary movie by myself. When the door opens again, I sit up with a wide smile. Oh wow, it worked.

  Dace tosses Preston’s keys on the side table with a frustrated sigh. “Stop smiling at me. What’s this damn movie we are watching? It better be good if I am not going to get laid tonight. He curses himself as he crashes next to me on the sofa. He eyes me harshly as I hide my smile. “My coat smells like you now. She would have cut my balls off if I showed up with your scent all over me. And Antony took Preston to my loft, so I have nowhere else to go, thank you very much.”

  “You can stay here. You can even sleep on the couch if you like.”

  We eye each other with a humored smile. “Thank you, I will. I do sleep in the nude though, so try not to sneak in a peak while I sleep.”

  “Oh I wouldn’t even consider it.” I breathe slowly.

  Chapter 10

  Dace

  I’m on the fucking couch. I am actually being forced to sleep on the fucking couch. I sat here all night watching her stupid movies and playing her stupid games, and yet, I am still on this fucking couch. I am starting to despise this woman.

  When I open my eyes the next morning, I see Antony sitting across from me, clearly humored by the situation. “Sleep well Dace?”

  “Fuck you,” I say, slowly getting out of my awkward position. “Are you done with my place? Can I go back home now?”

  “Oh, yeah. I was done last night. We came back here and slept.”

  “What? Why didn’t you tell me that?”

  “Because you looked so peaceful. I don’t think I have ever seen you sleep so soundly and without the protection of all your high-tech security even.”

  “I was tired—more than usual I’m sure,” I say, grabbing my things and leaving so we don’t have to discuss me being comfortable in what is still a stranger’s home.

  I can’t get her out of my head. All day I try to figure out what happened. I had control. I had her. I should have been waking up in her bed this morning with her naked body stretched out over mine. I must have done something wrong, looked her way too much or something. I need to be indifferent and uninterested. I step into the building as she is getting her mail. I don’t even give her a second glance as I walk by, and when she steps onto the elevator, I look straight ahead, and when she sweeps her hair behind her shoulder and it floats her invigorating scent across my face I … I turn and face her with anger.

  “Yes?” she says, which really pisses me off.

  “Would you like to have dinner with me?” I ask. />
  “I would love to,” she says sweetly.

  “Alright then. I will see you … later?” I say, still unsure of what just happened.

  “I’ll be ready by eight.”

  “Okay”, I reply to the air as she walks out the elevator and to her place. “What the fuck just happened? I’m not even hungry.”

  I show up at her door promptly at eight, still cursing myself for ending up in this mess. I should leave, show her that she can’t trick me into doing what she wants. I can still get control back by leaving her waiting. I smile and step back from the door and start to walk away when the door opens. Austin steps out from behind it looking…

  “Speechless, are you? Then I guess you like my new outfit? I’m not used to such things, but I thought I would try something new for one night.” I know she is talking, but every curve of her body shows within her tight sweater and even tighter pants and those fuck me boots are enough to send me kneeling at her feet. She suddenly throws on a biker jacket and grabs a helmet.

  “Got your own helmet do you?”

  “I thought it best, that way I can make sure of its safety. I don’t know you well enough yet to trust your judgment on such matters.” She smiles, shutting the door and walking ahead of me. I follow after that amazing ass happily. She follows me to my motorcycle while I wait for her to change her mind, but she never does. She puts her helmet on and climbs on back with me and feels her way around my back to my chest and then she says, “Go.”

  I rev it up and go like the lady asked me to, driving around the streets finding the best roads to take her on. The more I feel her enjoyment of it, the longer I go, the faster I go, and the more fun I have. “Are you hungry or are you having too much fun?” I ask her.

  “Just a few moments longer and then you better buy me the best meal I have ever had.”

  I rub my hand down her thigh. “Deal.” We ride into the next city, and I stop at an old pizza parlor that my mother used to bring me to. I take her hand as we walk in and find my favorite place to sit, a nice quiet place in the back.

  “This is the best meal I could possibly have?” she asks.

  “Oh, yes it is. I promise you,” I say, enjoying her happiness. “You aren’t that scary.”

  “Who said I was scary?”

  “Well, you come off a little hard, and you don’t seem to like people much.”

  “I don’t. People only cause pain, and they rarely can be trusted to do otherwise—even when they say they love you,” she says honestly, and I begin to understand her a little bit more.

  “I agree.” She doesn’t say much while we eat; she simply enjoys the meal with a few sweet glances my way that make me a little crazy. I am so distracted watching her swirl that cheese around her tongue I miss my own mouth. She laughs grabbing a napkin and wiping my face for me, looking into my eyes the whole time. Before she can pull her hand away, I take hold of it and kiss the palm of her hand, getting a nice whiff of her perfume she sprayed on her wrist. “That’s a nice perfume.”

  Austin smiles warmly running her fingers along my face and removing some strands of hair from my eyes. “You have warm eyes, I like it better when I can see them.” My heart flutters and I am not sure why.

  When we finish eating she follows me right back onto my bike. We ride for a couple of more hours before I take her home. I walk her to her door, and that is as far as she willing to let me go. “You’re not going to let me in to watch a movie?”

  “No, I’m tired now and need to get some sleep before work tomorrow.”

  “Can I not even have a kiss? I did buy you dinner.”

  “And gave me a nice ride too.”

  “Let me in and I could give you a much better one.”

  “Hmmm, as tempting as that sounds, I think I would prefer sleep tonight. But I will do one thing for you.”

  “And what’s that?” I ask as she leans in and touches my lips with hers so softly I barely feel them. “Is that all I get?”

  “For now,” she says, looking into my eyes as if she is searching for something.

  “What do you want from me, Austin?”

  “What do you want from me, Dace? After all, you asked me out.” She kisses my cheek and leaves me at her door, confused and with a bulge in my pants that is anxious to get out. Unfortunately, I have no place for it to go.

  Another date with Austin, and I still don’t make it inside afterwards. We had a great night at the movie theatre; she held my hand and let me sneak in a quick kiss here and there but never much more. I have never been more frustrated. If that’s the way it’s going to be, then I’m not going to ask her out again. I’ll wait for her to ask me, which I’m sure will happen.

  Days later, she hasn’t even texted me. I end up going to bed early since I can get nothing else done. I wake up in the middle of the night sensing something is wrong. I’m not sure why. Even after I check the security cameras, I can’t shake the feeling. I call Antony, and after he chews me out for waking him up, I assume he’s okay and hang up. Michael and Ettore should be fine with all their bodyguards and my father the same, so what is it? I pace around, take a drink, and decide to check on her. I knock on her door and then think about running until she opens the door in a towel. “Ummm, hey. What are you doing up?”

  “What are you doing at my door so late?”

  “I … I don’t know. I was having trouble sleeping and was wondering if I could borrow that pillow I used when I slept here. It was really comfortable.” I know it sounds completely ridiculous, but I was desperate, and she’s distracting me with all her wetness.

  “I guess I can understand that. I have trouble sleeping too sometimes. I haven’t found a pillow that helps though. The only thing I found that helps at all is …” She grabs her towel. “Is a hot bath.”

  “Why can’t you sleep, Austin?”

  “A lot on my mind I guess. Let me go get that pillow for you.” She comes back with the damn pillow and hands it to me. “It’s not a very expensive pillow, but you are welcome to keep it if it helps you that much.”

  “Thanks, I owe you one. You know, I have a great recipe for a drink that will help you sleep.”

  “It’s not that I can’t get to sleep it’s …” She sighs and smiles. “I think I’m okay now.”

  She doesn’t look fine. “Since you’re up, how about going for a ride with me, maybe the night air will help relieve your stress a little bit.” She looks at me and laughs as if I’m crazy. “Come on, can’t hurt. Maybe it will help us both.” She thinks about it for a minute before surprisingly agreeing.

  The good thing about Austin is she doesn’t take any time to get ready to go anywhere. We are on my bike and driving down the road within fifteen minutes. The streets are quiet this late at night, and it is certainly cold. I can feel her shivering against my back. I start to say something, but she tightens her embrace around me, and it feels too good to stop. I put a hand on hers and hold it and go around a few more times before driving back and getting her into the warm building.

  “I wish we could stay out there longer, maybe drive and never come back.”

  “You’re shivering. You need a warm bed and possibly some hot chocolate. Let me make you some. I make the best hot chocolate around.” I don’t give her a chance to say no. I take her hand and escort her to my place. I can’t get rid of my smile as she comes in and waits for me to make her the best hot chocolate she’s ever had.

  “Wow, this is really good.”

  “Told you,” I say, sitting down next to her. “Are you still cold?” I scoot closer to her and pull a blanket onto both of us. She watches my every move but avoids looking into my eyes. “Austin …” She looks up at me and I take advantage. Taking hold of her lips, I savor each one fully and encourage her mouth open so I can tease her tongue. The kiss feels so good, I want more. She relaxes, grasping my face and turning her body towards me. I pull her into my lap and situate her perfectly when my cell goes off. You have got to be fucking kidding me! I try to ignore it
and enjoy the moment I have been waiting for.

  “You should probably get that,” she says, moving away from me. “People who call this late are usually in trouble.”

  If they aren’t, I’ll make sure they are. “Okay, stay right there though. Don’t move.” I get my phone and answer it. “What?!”

  “Don’t yell at me. I’m just checking on you,” Antony says sarcastically. “Payback is a bitch, and I haven’t been able to get back to sleep since you woke me up asshole.”

  “Drink some hot chocolate, Antony, and call me tomorrow, late tomorrow. I’m hanging up now.” I hang up and turn off my ringer so he doesn’t interrupt me again. I rush out to Austin who is sound asleep on my sofa. Damn. I take the blanket, cover her up completely, and give her the pillow she gave me to sleep with before going to bed myself. I, somehow, fall back to sleep and have the best sleep I have had since my evening on her couch. She’s gone by the time I wake up, but she left the pillow with a note pinned to it.

  Thank you for a great night. I have never slept so well. – Austin

  I can’t find anything on a John Scott that matches the man Antony and I once knew. My system seems to be working fine, but I am still having trouble getting it to find what I need it to. I’m not sure why. I can’t seem to get anything to work right these days. I stand up, kick a chair, and fist my hair in frustration with a roar.