Silence rolls in the room. Even the other guys in the room stop doing whatever is on their hands and focus on me sandwiched between the two cousins.
Or more like, they’re focused on the hostile energy that’s somehow brewing between the two kings.
Me? I rub my back against Levi’s chest, needing to feel the friction and something else — I just don’t know what.
“No.” It’s a single word, but even in my half-dazed, euphoria-seeking state, I can feel the power behind it.
“Father said —”
“I don’t care what he said.” Levi cuts him off in a cool tone. “Uncle doesn’t tell me what to fucking do.”
A few of the guys howl as if he delivered the punchline of the century.
“It’s your own grave.” Aiden lifts a shoulder and stalks back towards the chessboard and another player who’s been waiting for him.
Levi’s arm curls around my shoulder and he pulls me to the hard curve of his side. A shot of electricity runs through me and settles between my thighs as his fingers stroke my bare skin underneath my top.
I suck in a stuttering breath, holding on to the sensation with everything in me.
“Anyone else has any objection to make?” he asks, but he doesn’t seem to be expecting an answer.
Levi King’s word is law.
Anyone who goes against him can only crash and burn.
The football team’s players all come from prestigious, tycoon families, both old and new money, but they’re nothing compared to the King’s power.
The only one who can stand up to him is another King. Which isn’t happening any time soon since Aiden seems to have lost interest in this situation altogether. He sits on his chair, head leaning against his hand as he continues playing chess.
I’m not surprised when not one of the team members says a word.
Levi drags me beside him down the hall. I hold on to every touch like I’ll die if he stops touching me.
“Keep me some, Captain!” One of the guys shouts.
I’m too occupied by his arm around my stomach to register anything else.
It isn’t until a door closes behind us and Levi releases me that I realise we’re alone in a room.
Wait.
Is it supposed to be this way?
3
Levi
A monster isn’t born. It’s made.
* * *
Here, little lamb. I won’t eat you.
At least not yet.
The girl has been all over me not two minutes ago but now that we’re alone in one of the private bedrooms in Uncle’s sickeningly large mansion, she looks about ready to bolt.
I breeze past her, and she trembles then shrinks back as if the mere contact is electrifying.