Bad King

by M. Malone

“She was early, Alberto. Stop worrying. Everything is going exactly as planned. I have a feeling we’ll raise even more money this year.”

  Her father’s stern expression softened slightly as her mother adjusted his tie. Daniela was the only person her father ever spared his smiles on. As if he could hear her thoughts, his eyes swung to her. He frowned slightly taking in her bare shoulders.

  “Don’t you have a wrap? That dress is too revealing, Olivia.”

  Her shoulders slumped. Her dress was strapless but it was a modest neckline and floor length. She hadn’t thought anyone would be scandalized by the sight of her bare shoulders.

  “Young people these days don’t carry wraps, Alberto. Don’t be so old-fashioned,” Daniela chuckled.

  Her father didn’t look convinced but for once he didn’t argue his point.

  “Just don’t offend anyone. This is an important night for your mother. Try not to embarrass us.”

  “Alberto!” Her mother glared at him until he lowered his gaze. She turned back to Olivia. “He didn’t mean that, mija.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. I know what he meant. I know I can be blunt sometimes.”

  Olivia opened her evening clutch and pretending to look for her phone, determined not to let even a single tear fall. What was the point? She’d always known that her father was ashamed of her. He didn’t even know how she made a living. She wasn’t sure if he ever checked the balance on her trust fund to know that she hadn’t touched a penny of it since her accident.

  Even if he knew she wasn’t using that money, he probably assumed she was a mistress for a wealthy man. For years, she’d tried to conform, to make herself fit the mold her father wanted and it was not only unsuccessful but painful trying to bend herself into shapes that would never come naturally. Well, no more. Nothing she ever did would be good enough for him so from now on she wasn’t even going to try. This was the last time she’d bother with keeping up appearances. She was done.

  Olivia snagged a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. She would mingle, smile widely and speak as little as possible. Then as soon as a respectable amount of time passed, she was going home.

  There was nothing here for her anymore.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Fate is playing games with me, King thought. That was the only logical explanation.

  For the past three weeks he’d done everything to distance himself from Olivia. He’d given his Club Prestige membership key to James. He’d taken her number out of his phone to reduce the chances that he’d give in one night and drunk dial her.

  Which had been a real possibility. It was embarrassing to admit because he could usually hold his liquor very well but he’d seen the bottom of more than a few bottles of scotch since then. Hell, he couldn’t even visit his family without one of them bringing up her name.

  Olivia was so sweet. Olivia was so funny. When are you going to bring Olivia around again?

  His parents had never been so eager to see him and he was their flesh and blood! How arrogant he’d been to think he could just walk away and not look back. She was never far from his thoughts, no matter what he was doing. He ached for her and it was more than just physical. He wanted to see her eyes light up when she challenged him. No one ever talked to him like that. He was used to people saying what they thought he wanted to hear.

  Olivia hadn’t cared about impressing him. She’d just been herself. Which, it turned out, was exactly what he needed.

  Now after all of his failed efforts to forget about her, his parents roped him into attending a charity gala with them and here she was. He glanced up at the ceiling briefly.

  Message received. I won’t fuck it up this time.

  It would be a cruel twist of fate if he was pining away and Olivia had gone on with her life like nothing had happened. She might have even met someone else.

  The thought made him stop in his tracks. His father looked back in confusion. His mother walked on, greeting someone she knew, oblivious to his distress.

  “What’s the matter, son? Did you see someone you know?”

  He lifted his chin and gestured to the other side of the room. “Do you know the couple that just walked in?”

  His father glanced over. “With the wife in the blue dress? Actually, I do. He’s the one hosting this event. His wife is a breast cancer survivor.” His father laughed suddenly. “Is that Olivia? Well, what do you know. I didn’t realize she was related to Alberto Reyes. One of his horses almost took the Preakness last year!”

  King didn’t follow horse racing at all but even he knew that was huge. His brow furrowed. Why hadn’t Olivia told him about her family? Not that he’d given her many opportunities. He cursed himself again. He’d been so focused on what he needed that he hadn’t given her the chance to share much about herself. Everything he knew was gleaned from observation. She was brash, quick-witted and obviously only working at Club Prestige for fun if her family was as wealthy as it appeared.

  “Come on, let’s go say hello.”

  “No, wait.”

  But it was too late. His father was already halfway across the room. He trailed behind, uneasy about how Olivia would respond after the way he’d ghosted on her. He would have preferred to initiate contact in a more private setting.

  By the time he caught up, his father was shaking hands with Mr. Reyes and Olivia was watching him approach with a deer-in-headlights look. She apparently hadn’t expected to see him again so soon, or ever, either. Then her expression hardened and she whispered something to the woman he assumed was her mother.

  He would have expected the silent treatment but as usual, his brash Olivia took the initiative, although she addressed his father instead of him.

  “Mr. Kingsley. What a surprise to see you here. It’s so nice to see you again.”

  Mr. Reyes looked between them uneasily. “Olivia, you know Mr. Kingsley?”

  His father guffawed. “Your daughter is making an honest man of my oldest boy here. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now, Alberto.”

  Mr. Reyes glanced at him in surprise before extending his hand. “Well, that’s nice to hear. Your father is very proud of what you’ve accomplished at Kingsley International. He brags about you all the time. It’s a fine thing to have a son to carry on your work.”

  Olivia winced slightly but then her smile returned full force. King clenched his fist at his side. This was a side of her he’d never seen. The dutiful daughter holding her tongue and pretending that her father’s callous words didn’t hurt.

  It made him want to plow his fist into something.

  He’d spent the past three weeks fantasizing about kissing that lush mouth again. Now all he wanted to do was stand in front of her and protect her from the arrows that only family know how to aim so accurately.

  “Actually sir, I hope you and your wife don’t mind if I borrow Olivia for a dance.”

  “You kids go on and dance. Don’t hang out here with us old folks.” Mrs. Reyes beamed at him and nudged Olivia in his direction. She looked like an older version of her daughter with short, curly hair.

  King held out his arm and Olivia curled her fingers around his forearm. He led her into the middle of the ballroom so they’d be obscured by the other dancers. For what he was planning, he needed cover. First, he was getting Olivia away from her toxic father and then he would apologize for the way he’d left things.

  Then he was getting her out of that dress.

  If Olivia could have held her nose without looking like a total weirdo, she would have done it. As it was, she tried to hold her breath. It was the only way to ignore how good he smelled. There hadn’t been any way to decline dancing with him without causing a scene but that didn’t mean she had to like it.

  Except, she definitely liked it.

  “I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. Ever since that night. All I can see when I close my eyes is your face when you came. I haven’t gotten any work done.”

  His voice was
rough in her ear as they danced and the deep timbre sent a delicious tingle down her spine.

  “Who’s fault is that?” she mumbled back, trying so hard not to be affected by that sexy voice growling in her ear.

  “Yours. Entirely. You and those sexy lips.” His hands tightened on her back and he held her closer. The position made it obvious that he was just as affected by the conversation as she was. The thick length pressing against her belly was proof of that.

  “Apparently you didn’t have that hard of a time since I haven’t heard from you.”

  She hated herself for letting him know that she’d waited for the call. Her pride wanted him to think that she didn’t care. Hah! See how he liked that. She should let him think that his lovemaking was so unremarkable that she hadn’t even missed his presence in her life at all.

  Jokes on you, Your Majesty. I have screaming orgasms against random bedroom doors all the time!

  Even as she thought it, Olivia knew she could never pull off a nonchalant vibe when it came to how Thane Kingsley IV made love. She was on the verge of having a heart attack just listening to him describe it. She pulled back slightly, on the verge of overheating.

  “We need to get out of here,” he rasped.

  Olivia had never wanted anything more. However, her parents liked having the whole family present throughout the event. Her father seemed to think it was good press for them to be photographed together smiling and happy. Olivia thought it was ridiculous. By the end of the night, most of the patrons were too drunk and happy themselves to care whether she was there or not.

  “My parents will notice if I’m gone. I can’t do that to my mom. This is her event. She’ll be hurt if I leave without saying goodbye.”

  “Not if I ask my parents to distract them.”

  “Why would they do that?”

  “Because my father wants me married. If he thinks that giving me time alone with you will get me closer to that goal, then he’ll do anything I ask him to.”

  He sent a text to his father. Then grabbed her by the arm.

  “Where are we going?”

  He glared at her, as if his arousal were all her fault. And it was, Olivia thought with satisfaction.

  “Somewhere I can take care of this.” He glanced down at the now noticeable bulge in the front of his pants.

  “And somewhere I can take care of you.”

  Olivia gulped.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  King knew there would probably be talk the next day after the way he’d practically dragged Olivia from the ballroom. He couldn’t care any less. He was done trying to deny the effect she had on him. Clearly she was the one woman he couldn’t maintain his cool façade with and if he was going to give in, he’d be damned if he didn’t get exactly what he wanted in the process.

  Olivia, naked and willing.

  The valet pulled his car up and he tipped him generously, after helping Olivia into the passenger seat. Normally he’d have wanted to show off a little¸ maybe tell her about the completely over the top Maybach Landaulet convertible he’d just had to have. Instead he bit his lip, trying to hold back all the filthy things he was sure would spill out if he attempted to engage her in conversation. They rode in silence until he turned into the underground garage of his condo building on the North West side of the city.

  Olivia sat up in her seat. “Where are we? I thought you were taking me home?”

  He pulled into one of his parking spaces. The other two were occupied by his Range Rover and the Bentley he liked to drive on occasion.

  “I am. My home.”

  “You are so infuriating. Do you ever think about asking what someone else wants?” Olivia crossed her arms.

  “Oh I know what you want, angel. And I’m going to give it to you. Much slower this time and it’ll for damn sure last longer.”

  He got out of the car without waiting for her response which would have probably been to slap him. Not that he wouldn’t enjoy a little slap and tickle but he’d rather not put on a show for any neighbors who might be in the garage.

  Olivia got out of the car before he could open her door. Surprisingly, she didn’t argue with him but followed quietly as he led her to the elevator. Another man rode up with them and she exchanged polite hellos while King remained silent, his eyes on the digital numbers as they rose higher. He didn’t care about exchanging pleasantries.

  His neighbors already knew he was an asshole.

  After the other man got off, it was only about thirty seconds before the doors opened to the penthouse level. He led her down the marble hallway and then opened the door to his East-facing unit.

  “This is beautiful. It looks like the kind of place where you’d live.”

  He stood back and let her wander, her big curious eyes taking in the post-modern furniture his decorator had picked out and the artwork on the walls that he’d bought sight unseen. Her words, innocent as they were, pierced through straight to his newly exposed underbelly.

  He’d lived there for years and it still didn’t feel like home. More like a place to rest his head on the random days when he didn’t crash in his office. Suddenly, it was like he could see himself through her eyes and he didn’t like what he saw. A man who worked at the expense of everything else in his life. A man who prioritized business deals over even his own well-being. When was the last time he’d done anything that didn’t further the business interests of Kingsley International? He honestly couldn’t think of one thing.

  Damn, he was tired.

  Suddenly he wanted to be anywhere else. This place had no real meaning to him and irrationally, he didn’t want Olivia tainted by its coldness.

  “I hate everything about this place,” he muttered.

  Surprise registered in her eyes but then she glanced away. The silence stretched out, a taut wire that could easily snap and maim them both.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t call you.”

  She kept her eyes on the floor. “I’m sure you were busy. So was I.”

  “That wasn’t why I didn’t call. It was because I didn’t want to. I don’t like the way I feel when I’m with you.”

  That got her attention. She dropped her bag on the couch and faced him for the first time.

  “You are such an ass. What did I ever do to you?”

  He walked a little closer, feeling like he was taking his life in his hands. If the daggers coming from her eyes got any closer he’d be bleeding from every orifice.

  “You did plenty to me, angel. You got in my head so I couldn’t concentrate at work. The scent of you lingered on everything you touched and taunted me for weeks. I washed everything I wore that night and still couldn’t escape it. Finally I gave in and wrapped the shirt I wore around my dick and stroked one out while pretending you were watching.”

  Her throat moved as she swallowed, her cheeks flushing pink at his words. “You’re crude,” she accused but her eyes were bright, betraying her arousal at his words.

  “Did you think of me all this time angel? Put those dainty little fingers in your pussy while pretending I was fucking you?”

  She beat against his chest and then moaned when he grabbed her arms and held her against his chest. Unable to resist any longer, his mouth found her throat and he held there, breathing against her skin.

  “I hate you. I hate you,” she whispered.

  “No you don’t. I almost wish you did. I’m not the guy for you, Olivia. You’ve always been honest about what you think of me. Arrogant. Entitled. And you’re absolutely right. I’m nowhere near good enough for you, angel but I want you anyway.”

  He grasped her hair and speared his fingers through it, pulling out the low bun her long curls had been bundled into. Then he covered her mouth with his, not waiting for her to catch up to his intensity. She gasped for breath in between kisses, her hands clasping the front of his shirt as if desperate for something to anchor her in the midst of this storm of desire. Her taste was everything he’d been missing and already he was hard and thick rea
dy to give her everything they both needed. But this time he’d take his time, lick her all over this delectable little body and then keep her on the edge of orgasm for hours before he finally let her go.

  Then she suddenly pushed him away.

  “No. This isn’t happening again.”

  Stunned, King reached for her and then dropped his hands when she glared at him. Chuckling, he put his hands on top of his head to keep them out of grabbing distance.

  “That was too fast, I agree. I promised that I would do it right this time. Take it slow. You make me a greedy man, Olivia.”

  Although her eyes heated at his words, she planted a firm hand on his chest when he tried to move closer.

  “No. You’re still not listening. I don’t want this. I mean, my body wants this clearly, but I’m not a toy you can pick up when you’re bored and ready to play, King.”

  Her characterization bothered him. King knew that he wasn’t the most nurturing man. He was used to getting exactly what he wanted, exactly when he wanted it. But he’d never thought of himself as a user.

  It made him feel like he was just one more person who didn’t appreciate her. Or worse, someone who actively dimmed her shine. He remembered how she’d wilted under her father’s careless words earlier that night. He never wanted to see her look like that again.

  “I’m in unfamiliar territory here. I want you to stay. And I have no idea how to get you to want that, too.”

  She laughed but it was a bitter sound.

  “Welcome to what life is like for the rest of us. Newsflash, you don’t always get what you want. I have the right to protect myself here. I need more than just a screw against a bedroom wall. You don’t. It seems pretty clear to me that I’m the one who’d get hurt. Would you take a chance on a risky investment, Mr. Businessman?”

  She had a point. But he didn’t think of this thing between them as a bad investment. He wanted her, more than he’d ever wanted another woman. Not just for sex either. He wanted to talk to her and get her unique perspective on things. He wanted to know she was safe, even when he couldn’t be with her. He wanted to see her smile.