Ruthless King

And so damn sexy that she found herself leaning into him for another kiss before she realized what she was doing.

Bad, Jilly.

“No. No more kissing while I’m ill. I forbid it.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Do you really think you get to forbid anything?”

“If you can do it, so can I.”

“Really? And what will you do if I don’t do as you want, sweet baby?” He looked amused at the idea.

“I don’t know. Maybe I’ll spank you.”

He started to laugh.

Jilly gaped at him, unable to even muster annoyance at him laughing at her. Because she didn’t think she’d ever heard him laugh before.

The man rarely smiled. He was so bogged down by everything he had to do. By his life. His responsibilities.

And yet, right now, he was laughing.

So she didn’t care that it was kind of at her expense.

Suddenly, he grabbed her hip and turned her to face him, her legs straddling his. Then he cupped her face between his hands.

“You’re so cute, baby.”

“I am?”

“You are.” He lightly nipped at her lips. “So adorable, thinking you get to spank me. Or make the rules.”

Dear Lord.

What was she going to do with him?

“I’m trying to keep you safe,” she told him.

“Which is my job.” Suddenly, his face grew serious and her stomach dropped.

Uh-oh.

Was he going to take it all back? Tell her that he hadn’t meant it? That he didn’t want her? That he regretted the kiss?

She knew it was too good to last.

But she’d hoped that it might have lasted more than five minutes.

“Which is why you’re coming back with me. It’s safer at my house, where I can protect you more easily. I will have your word that you will allow me to keep you safe.”

Her head was spinning and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath.

“I still don’t understand what’s happening here. All of a sudden, you want me? And I have to move into your house and do what you say?”

Did that summarize it?

Not that she really cared about the safety aspect. Or all that stuff about doing what he said.

She was a big girl and she knew what she was getting into. And she didn’t want to put herself at risk, so she’d likely agree to most of what he wanted her to do.