Ruthless King

Within reason.

“Not all of a sudden. I told you, I’ve always seen you.”

Because she mattered.

She blinked back her tears.

“I matter?” she reiterated the words he’d told her earlier.

“Baby, you’re all that matters.”

“This still seems like a complete turnaround. Last night, I went to sleep and we were just friends. Today, I wake up to youpacking my bags and telling me I’m moving in with you and that you . . . that you want me. That is what you’re saying, right?”

“Yes, that is what I’m saying. I tried to deny my feelings for you, but some things fell into place last night.”

“Oh, what’s that?”

“Learning that you’ve been keeping a big secret from me. And that even though I told myself I was protecting you by keeping a distance, all that allowed you to do was put yourself in danger!”

Uh-oh.

This conversation was taking a turn.

“Maybe we should just get back to the kissing. I don’t care about the germs anymore. I’ll take my chances on giving you my flu.”

“Nice try. I’m not being distracted from this.”

She tensed, which caused her to start coughing again. Now that the adrenaline rush was fading, she was starting to feel hot and ill again.

“Shit. I think you’re getting warm again. We shouldn’t be talking about all this until you’re safely in bed.”

“At your house?” she clarified.

“Yes. I need you somewhere safer. Where I can keep an eye on you.”

He stood and laid her on the bed. For some reason, he just stood there, staring down at her.

Something like a sense of foreboding ran through her. What was going on? Why was he looking at her like that?

As she started coughing again, he reached over for a bottle of water, holding it for her to sip from. “Once I move you into my house, there’s no backing away. There’s no leaving me. Do you understand that, Jilly? When I own something, I keep it. I don’t ever let it go.”

“You can’t own a person,” she protested weakly.

Why were her insides dancing for joy?

There was something seriously wrong with her. He declared he owned her and she wanted to dance for joy.

Regent just smiled. “You’ll discover that you’re wrong. You’re going to be mine.”

“And you’ll be mine.” She figured she could get behind that if it went both ways.

“Yes, baby. Of course I am. Would I give up smoking for just anyone?”

“I thought I dreamt that. You . . . you don’t have to do that.”

“Do you want me to smoke?”

“Not really. I worry you’ll get sick or something.”