Reign of a King: A Dark Billionaire Romance (Kingdom Duet Book 1)

by Rina Kent

  I did change her mind and she paid for that one with a rough fuck against the carpet with my hand around her throat.

  At times, I say I’ll take it easy on her. That today, I won’t spank her or roughen her up, but whenever she’s in sight, all my resolve scatters into thin air. She brings out the intensity in me and makes me want to take her to unimaginable heights.

  It doesn’t help that she screams for more, or that her body unravels around me like she was always meant to be mine.

  She was.

  She is.

  I stroke a stray strand of her hair off her eyes with a finger. She’s hugging the duvet as if it’s my chest.

  The line of her soft curves has a handprint from when I gripped her last night and fucked her raw. Her arse is completely marked by me and her tits have some hickeys. I like to leave my marks on her skin whenever I can. To see her all mine. To know she chose this willingly.

  Her lips part and a soft moan spills free as she leans into my touch.

  Fuck me.

  This woman has the ability to drive me fucking insane, even when she’s sleeping.

  I shouldn’t feel proud whenever she says I’m unstoppable, or that I’m nothing like anything she’s experienced before. But I am.

  She didn’t tell me that with her own mouth, though. Aurora would never admit to that in front of me.

  I overheard her conversation with Black Belt when they were lounging by the swimming pool the other day.

  Which reminds me that I shouldn’t eavesdrop on conversations not meant for my ears. But when it comes to her, I do it anyway.

  Aurora has come into my life like a wrecking ball, and there’s no way to stop the change she’s bringing on.

  I could set her free, give her back the stocks and go back to my balanced life.

  But a wild part of me rebels at the thought. Which is ironic, considering I was never a rebel.

  My parents were the conservative, refined type. My mother participated in a million associations and my father was a businessman. My older brother and I were brought up to be leaders. Only, we took different routes to achieve that.

  James was the rebel — the black sheep who cared more about sports and partying and drugs.

  I cared about accomplishments. I lived my entire life aiming for more, but never got enough. It could be because I watched my father hit rock bottom after someone targeted the family business.

  It could be because I also watched James spiral out of control after his head injury until he eventually slipped between my fingers.

  After witnessing both of their early deaths, I decided I’d never let anything else slip out of my control.

  So why the fuck am I letting Aurora sleep in my bed every night?

  Her eyes flutter open and she blinks a few times before her focus remains on my face. For a second, she smiles, eyes easing and nose twitching. Just as quickly, she shakes her head as if realising she shouldn’t be doing that.

  “Jonathan?” she croaks. “What time is it?”

  “Late.”

  “What?”

  “You’re late. Your alarm went off fifteen minutes ago.”

  She stares at the clock on the bedside table and groans, sitting up. Her tits are distracting as fuck when she changes position.

  “Oh my God.” Her eyes widen to that fucking blue. The blue that I want to confiscate and turn into my tailor-made brand.

  “Why didn’t you wake me up?”

  I could’ve, but then I wouldn’t have been able to watch her sleep or witness her current frantic movements.

  My head tilts to the side as she abandons the sheets and stands in her full nakedness

  That’s one of the highlights of my day.

  “Jonathan!” she scolds, even though her cheeks tint in red.

  “Yes?”

  “Did you do it on purpose?”

  “What would give you that idea?”

  “The way you’re watching me.” She folds her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes on me.

  “That’s kind of useless when you’re fully naked, wild one. Or are you perhaps tempting me?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Well, I am tempted. After all, you owe me a punishment.”

  “No, I don’t. I paid for spending the night yesterday.”

  “How?”

  “You…know.”

  “Say the words, Aurora.”

  A red hue covers her entire body and the nipples peeking from between her fingers harden as she mutters, “You fucked my mouth.”

  Not really. I actually gave her free reign and she sucked me off like a good girl. Over time, she’s been getting used to my pace, making up for her lack of skills with her determination. She’s the only one who still manages to stare up at me with defiance even when I’m wrapping her hair around my fist, hitting the back of her throat with my cock, and smudging that red lipstick all over her mouth.

  Considering her reservations at the beginning, it’s clear she hasn’t given much of those before – blowjobs, that is. I have the urge to murder any fucker who put their hands on her before me.

  “But you didn’t pay for the kiss in my office,” I tell her, still taking my fill of her nakedness.

  Truth is, I love kissing Aurora. She comes undone when my lips ravage hers. She melts against me and lets me do whatever I please.

  There’s something euphoric about owning a fireball like her and making her come to me as if that’s what she’s always needed.

  It’s one of those bizarre things that are only related to her. Kissing never mattered to me before to the point that I never did it.

  But with her, I can’t get enough of it.

  I don’t tell her that to keep her coming back to me for more.

  “Later,” she mumbles. “I want to have dinner out tonight. A date.”

  A date. I don’t even know how to date, but it usually includes Aurora loosening up and talking about her past. For that reason alone, I take her up on her offers whenever she asks.

  “That’s two punishments.”

  “I’m fine with that.”

  “First one now?”

  “No. I’m going to be late.”

  “Here’s how it will go. I’m going to count to three and if you don’t go into the bathroom, you might have to call in sick.”

  Her eyes widen and before I start counting, she jogs to the bathroom. My grin widens as I pick up my phone and leave.

  My feet come to a slow halt in front of Alicia’s room and my smile vanishes.

  I place a hand on the door as I often do.

  Alicia is a reminder of when I also lost control. I have to make sure that doesn’t happen with Aurora.

  She already shares her looks; she won’t share her fate.

  33

  Aurora

  Damn Jonathan.

  I curse him under my breath for the whole time I’m stuck in traffic.

  The tyrant is bent on getting me out of sorts. He gets off on seeing me helpless, defenceless, and completely at his mercy.

  Not that he has any.

  He’s sadistic to a fault.

  And you enjoy every second of it. Hell, you’re looking forward to tonight like you’ve never looked forward to anything before.

  I shoo that intrusive voice away and release a breath when I finally arrive at my flat.

  Paul called to tell me I had another package. Since I was already late, I texted Layla to carry on with the morning factory meeting without me and fill me in later.

  I can’t miss any chance to know more about Alicia. I snooped through all the books in her room and even the library. She often circled and underlined words in red. Sometimes, she scribbled words like:

  I wish you didn’t save me.

  The worst thing you can do to a life is suffocate it.

  A crime is a secret.

  Bury them all.

  The more I read, the deeper the hole between me and Alicia grows. I’m starting to doubt if I even knew my sister.


  It’s like an entirely different being possessed her hand and scribbled those words.

  Maybe it’s like with Dad. I thought I knew him, but…

  I shut the door on that thought as I step into my building and smile at Paul, who’s watching TV with Shelby. My neighbour doesn’t even acknowledge me. It’s Paul who strikes up a conversation, asking how I’ve been.

  He reaches behind the counter. “There was a man who came to ask about you the other day.”

  My muscles tense. It must be the solicitor. “Did he mention his name?”

  “No. He left when I told him you don’t live here anymore.”

  Phew.

  Shelby raises the volume of the TV and my relieved breath catches. A news anchor appears, his expression serious and it’s for a very good reason.

  The man who’s sitting across from him in a grey room is the main character in my nightmares. The one who digs graves and suffocates people with duct tape.

  Maxim Griffin.

  The most notorious serial killer in the UK’s recent history.

  My father.

  The news anchor’s serious tone drifts from the TV. “Today, we’re having an exclusive interview with Maxim Griffin. It’s the first time in eleven years that he has willingly chosen to talk. What happens when a killer breaks his silence?”

  The camera zooms out to focus on Dad. He’s sitting casually on a chair, wearing a black jacket and khaki trousers, appearing serene. His beard is trimmed, but he’s still the same — broad, tall. Handsome. Looking like every woman’s dream makes him so scary.

  It’s why they fell at his feet.

  When his suave voice sounds, his Yorkshire accent barely there, I almost topple over from the force of it on my nerves. “I chose to be silent, thinking I was protecting my daughter. But now, I realise she needs to be brought to justice, too.”

  I stumble and nearly fall backwards.

  No.

  No, no, no.

  “Miss Harper?”

  I gasp as Paul touches my shoulder. My heart jumps in and out of synch as if it’s about to leap out of my throat.

  “Are you okay? Do you need to sit down?”

  I need to get out of here.

  Not just the building, but out. Out.

  I snatch the package out of Paul’s hand and fly out of the place where Maxim’s voice rings out, where he’s haunting and coming after me. My heart is hammering and my breathing is bursting out.

  Tears stream down my cheeks as I feel the world closing in on me with its ghostly hands and meaty fingers.

  It’s like that time all over again.

  A body slams into me and I pause. My lips part when I meet her eyes. Those bright green ones. Sarah. I’ve never forgotten her name. The way she looks is different now. She’s not confused, crying, or begging me to bring back her mother.

  She’s just like them.

  She wants me to pay.

  “I knew it was you. Give me my mother back! Give me my life back!” She slaps me across the face so hard, I reel from the shock of it. I don’t move, though. I don’t even protect myself. If I stay still, if I let them beat me, they’ll eventually get it out of their system and leave me alone.

  “I’m sorry,” I whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Your apology can’t give me back what I lost.” Slap. Scratch. Claw. “Murderer! Murderer!”

  “I’m so sorry. I’m s-so sorry.” A sob tears out of my throat as I chant the words over and over again. Not that it will make them stop, but it’s the only thing I know to say to them.

  My lips burn. I taste the metallic tinge of blood. But I stay in place as she takes out her anger and bitterness on me.

  My physical pain is nothing compared to what she and the others have been through.

  When Sarah seems spent, she slumps to the ground, bawling, sobbing, and falling apart. I try to clutch her shoulder, pull her up — something to offer a small amount of comfort — but she shoves me away. I fall backwards, my hands and hip taking the sting.

  My palms burn and blood seeps from the skin, but it doesn’t matter. This type of pain doesn’t matter.

  I stumble to my feet, ignoring the dirt on my clothes. All I care about is the small box between my fingers.

  She glares up at me, her gaze full of tears and her expression haunted, distraught.

  Just like back then.

  That’s what it looks like to steal a little girl’s innocence when she’s just ten. To steal her only support and the only person she had by no fault of her own.

  “I hope you die like Mum did.”

  I step backwards, my lips trembling. I keep walking like that, not wanting to give her my back. Being hit on the head in the past has taught me to never give them my back.

  Being stabbed in the ribs has taught me that, too.

  I keep watching my surroundings in case someone else has figured out where I live.

  Now, they’ll come for me.

  Now, they won’t leave me alone.

  Run.

  Run.

  By the time I reach my car, I’m a mess. My cheeks and palms and even my neck sting. My lips won’t quit bleeding. My heart aches and I feel like breaking apart.

  I rummage through my bag and snatch my phone. Jonathan. I have to call Jonathan.

  I hate that my first thought is of him, but a sense of safety envelops me like a warm blanket in winter when I think of him.

  His phone is off. My fingers tremble as I let it fall to my lap. He’s probably in a meeting.

  My gaze shifts to the box in my palm and I retrieve the flash drive, jamming it into the car stereo.

  Alicia’s voice filters in, brittle and shaky. “Claire…I just…I just found out Jonathan wants me dead. He’s been poisoning me all this time. He wants to kill me. I…I don’t think I can make it. I wanted to take you and Aiden and go, but…I don’t think I can. He’s after me. Remember when I told you to only call him in emergencies? Don’t. Ever. Run, baby sister. Run from all of them.”

  I gasp as her words creep into my head like doom.

  No.

  No.

  Jonathan didn’t…he couldn’t…

  And yet, he did.

  It’s just like when Dad told me on that day I was crying when Alicia didn’t come to see me.

  “You’re born alone. You die alone. Why do you keep leaning on other people?”

  My mind shuts down. I turn numb as all the events from today slam back into me. Dad’s interview. Sarah’s attack. Alicia’s warning.

  I kick the car into gear and do as she said. As I did eleven years ago.

  I run.

  I disappear.

  TO BE CONTINUED…

  Jonathan & Aurora’s story concludes in Rise of a Queen.

  Curious about Aiden & Elsa? You can read their story in Deviant King.

  You can also read Levi & Astrid’s story in Cruel King.

  If you haven’t yet, you can read the bonus scenes from Jonathan King’s POV in Rule of a Kingdom.

  What’s Next?

  Thank you so much for reading Reign of a King! If you liked it, please leave a review.

  Your support means the world to me.

  If you’re thirsty for more discussions with other readers of the series, you can join the Facebook group, Rina’s Spoilers Room.

  If you’re looking to what to read next, jump into Rise of a Queen, the epic conclusion of Jonathan & Aurora’s story.

  Release Date: November 19th

  Blurb

  Nothing is fair in love.

  This is my kingdom. My territory.

  I own everything and control everyone, Aurora included.

  She shouldn’t have barged into my world with no armour.

  She shouldn’t have caught my attention with no warning.

  Alas, she did.

  Then she thought she could disappear.

  If a battle is what it’ll take to protect and own her, I’ll shed blood.

  Wars aren’t fair,
and neither am I.

  Find Rise of a Queen here.

  Also By Rina Kent

  ROYAL ELITE SERIES

  Cruel King

  Deviant King

  Steel Princess

  Twisted Kingdom

  Black Knight

  Vicious Prince

  Ruthless Empire

  Royal Elite Epilogue

  LIES & TRUTHS DUET

  All The Lies

  All The Truths

  KINGDOM DUET

  Rule of a Kingdom (Free Prequel)

  Reign of a King

  Rise of a Queen

  TEAM ZERO SERIES

  Lured

  Crowed

  Ghosted

  Shadowed

  Misted

  Team Zero Boxset 1-3

  THE RHODES SERIES

  Remorse (FREE)

  HATE & LOVE DUET

  He Hates Me

  He Hates Me Not

  About the Author

  Rina Kent is an international bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.

  Darkness is her playground, suspense is her best friend, and twists are her brain’s food. However, she likes to think she’s a romantic at heart in some way, so don’t kill her hopes just yet.

  Her heroes are anti-heroes and villains because she was always the weirdo who fell in love with the guys no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of mystery, a healthy dose of angst, a pinch of violence, and lots of intense passion.

  Rina spends her private days in a peaceful town in North Africa daydreaming about the next plot idea or laughing like an evil mastermind when those ideas come together.

  If you’re in the mood to stalk me:

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  Contents

  Also By Rina Kent