10
Kitty wasn’t sure how much time passed, but she didn’t want it to end.
Never in her life had she felt more safe and secure and—well, cherished—than she did lying there under King’s hot weight.His scent, the heat of his skin, the way his head was buried against her neck…
It was so intimate and so…sweet.
The urge to laugh bubbled up in her.Sweet wasn’t a word she’d ever thought to use with King before today.
But now she knew better.Oh, he was still strong and powerful and terrifying at times.But the way he’d touched her, the way he’d soothed her…
No, she’d never be afraid of him again.
Even when he’d been rough, he’d been gentle—if such a thing was possible.He seemed to know innately how to make her feel safe.And being able to let go, to stop worrying, to not be the one in charge…
She smiled up at the ceiling as she remembered the way it had felt to let herself be at his command.
It had felt good.
Better than good.
For the first time in a long time she’d felt…free.Though she couldn’t have explained it if she’d tried.
But when he shifted as if to move, she held him closer.
“I’ll crush you,” he grumbled.
She smiled wider.She couldn’t seem to stop smiling.“I don’t mind.”
He made a sound sound, part rueful huff, part laugh.“I mind.I won’t hurt you…again.”
The brief pause before ‘again’ and the way his voice had sounded so distant…
She swallowed hard and let him go.But she didn’t stop watching for a second as he pulled on his trousers.He picked up her gown and with a quick look to see that it was well and truly ruined, he tossed her his shirt.
She stared at the shirt in her hands for a long moment.
“I doubt anyone else is awake at this hour,” he said, turning his back to her as she finished.“But it wouldn’t do to be caught traipsing down the halls naked, now would it?”
His voice was low and filled with amusement, but the contents of her stomach curdled.
She’d been dismissed.
She swallowed hard and fumbled with the material in her hands before finding the arm opening and slipping it on.The silence was growing unbearable.
Was she supposed to say something?
Was he?
Was he angry or…
Or had this really just been him getting his money’s worth?
The thought made her mouth turn to dust, her tongue tasted like ash.She fidgeted with the collar of the shirt.It fell to her knees, covering her completely, though there would be no hiding what she’d done if she did run into a servant in the hallway back to her room.
But what did it matter?She and her siblings would be gone soon enough.
Where?And with what money?