by Jagger Cole
12
Claire
“We’re safe here.” Enzo’s words warm me, like a blanket. I’m shaken from the explosion outside. But his hands slide up and down my arms, and then he pulls me close against his body. I breathe into him, feeling my adrenaline slowing. We’re back in his private quarters, and I’ve changed into pajamas. The entire palace is on complete lockdown. There’s an armed guard outside the door to his chambers, men on the roof above us, and the whole palace is crawling with even more guards.
“That was a bomb, wasn’t it?” He hesitates, which I’ve learned isn’t like him. I pull back and look up into his face. “Enzo.”
“Yes,” he finally growls. “I won’t lie to you, Claire. I’ll never lie to you. So yes, it was a bomb. A roadside IED meant to get tripped by my car. Two of my men were on patrol and accidentally tripped it first.”
My face falls. “Are they…?”
“Alive,” he grunts. “But not in good shape.” He growls low in his chest. “Claire, I’m sorry you’re in this. You shouldn’t be. This is my war to fight, not yours.”
“This is the job,” I shrug, smiling. “After all, I’m here as a journalist, right?”
Enzo looks down at his hands on my hips and smirks. “Perhaps not just a journalist,” he says quietly. A shadow crosses his face. “Claire, I’m wondering if you should stay here.”
I frown. “The palace?”
“Bullogia, beautiful,” he growls.
My frown deepens, and I shake my head. “I’m here for a story, and I’m not leaving without it.” He smiles, and his eyes twinkle. “Enzo?”
“Yes?”
“I…” the wheels are turning in my head. After the day I’ve had, and what I’ve seen, I know how this story needs to come out. “I have an idea how to show the world the real Bullogia.”
“Oh?” He smiles curiously.
“I need access, though.”
“You have it.”
“No, Enzo,” I smile. “I need real access. Not just the tour of the countryside. I need to be able to go everywhere and show everything. I need the world to see the truth about the old regime, and the good you’re bringing. I need you to share how these counterattacks are crippling your country’s ability to move past the trauma of war.”
He frowns. “Show them weakness?”
“It’s not weakness.”
“Yes, it is.”
“Well then it’s what you need to do as someone in charge of all of these people to help them.” He scowls, but I can see a smile start to curl his lips. “Oh, and also, I…” I blush. “Never mind.”
“No, what?”
“It’s nothing.”
Enzo smiles. “Speak your mind, beautiful.”
I sigh. “I need you to tone it down.” He growls, and I pull close to him and kiss his chest. “I just mean, you’re constantly the fearless war-hero leader. You’re the rebel king with a gun in his hand. But, to the rest of the world, it just makes you look like a despotic warlord.” I frown. “Sorry, that was out of line.”
But Enzo just smiles. “No, don’t be sorry, Claire. You’re right.” He sighs. “I’ve fought for so long, I simply… I don’t know how to stop fighting. I’ve forgotten how to put down the gun.”
“It’s tough to have to be something you’re not used to being.”
“Sort of like denying yourself something when you’re used to getting what you want,” he growls. My face reddens as he pulls me closer to him. “Ask me.”
“Ask you what?”
His eyes glint, and his jaw ticks. “Ask me what I want.”
My blush deepens, and I breathe a shaky breath. “Me?”
He groans. “Yes, you. I want you, Claire.”
“And you’re used to getting what you want…”
“Always,” he hisses. He looks at me like he wants to devour me whole right here and now. But he takes a breath and pulls back. “I’m not going to convince you that you should leave Bullogia, am I?”
I frown. “Do you want me to go?”
“Not ever,” he confesses. “But in that case, here.”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a smartphone. And this one has service. He presses it into my hands and smiles at my surprised face. “You aren’t my prisoner, Claire,” he growls. “Call who you want, tell them what you want.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
Enzo nods, and his fingers brush my chin. He tilts my head up and leans in to kiss me in a way that feels like he’s claiming me. It’s a bruising kiss, like he’s barely holding back. So much of me doesn’t want him to hold back at all.
“I need to coordinate the search of the city with Giotto. There are forty armed men watching these quarters from every angle. You’re safe here, I promise.”
I nod. “Are you coming back?”
“To you?” He growls, and I gasp when his hands grip me tightly. “I will always come for you, Claire.” He kisses me hard, and then pulls away. He strides from the room, even as I’m still gasping for breath from the kiss.
13
Claire
“Oh my GOD!” Emily screams when her face fills my phone screen. “Claire! What the fuck! Oh my God, how are you?!”
I laugh. “I’m good!” I’ve already called my bosses at the LA Herald to give a rundown of how the story is going. I’ve also checked in with my neighbor who’s been watering my plants. But now that all of that’s settled, I’m calling my friend, finally.
“You’re alive!”
I giggle. “Yes, Emily, I’m alive.”
“We didn’t know what happened! All of a sudden those fascist assholes shoved us into the van and made us leave! Oh my fuck, I was losing my fucking mind with you staying behind!”
“I know! I know! Emily I’m so sorry, my cell plan didn’t work here, and they asked me so suddenly to be the sole reporter for the story… I couldn’t say no.”
I don’t know why I’m quasi-lying. I don’t tell my friend that Enzo basically demanded I stay, almost as his prisoner at first. Maybe it’s so Emily doesn’t freak out any more than I’m sure she already has been. Or it’s because at this point, I’m regularly kissing and sharing a bed with that same man. And letting him put his mouth all over me. I blush at the memory of the treehouse…
“Yeah, the network called us on the plane and filled us in. But still! What the fuck! How the hell has it been being there?” She wrinkles her nose. “Has the tyrant like, demanded you marry him or something yet? Are there really kill-squads and concentration camps?!”
I roll my eyes. “Emily, what do you think? I mean as a professional.”
She smiles. “I think most of what we’ve heard is probably an exaggeration.”
“Or entirely bullshit. No murderous death squads. No concentration camps, I promise.”
She grins. “Well, this so fucking cool that you’re going to be breaking the Bullogia story to the whole world! How’s the tyrant?”
I sigh. “Emily, he’s just a king. And he’s actually beloved here. The people freaking love him.”
“Let me guess,” she says dryly. “He’s got a hundred and fifty percent approval rating in typical strongman fashion?”
I roll my eyes. “He’s not like that, Em. Honestly. He’s…” I start to smile, and a blush blooms on my cheeks.
Emily giggles. “Dreamy? Sex on wheels?” I start to roll my eyes, but Emily stops me. “Oh no no no, don’t get all prude on me. He is. So wait, you didn’t answer my question. Has he demanded you marry him yet?”
“No marriage,” I sigh. “I’m just going to be his personal sex slave.”
She grins widely. “I know you’re kidding but let me just hang on to that one a little longer before you confirm.”
I laugh loudly. “Emily, he’s actually wonderful. He’s strong and fierce, but he’s also sweet and extremely intelligent. He truly cares about his people in a way a lot of elected leaders don’t. Let alone kings. He’s unflinching, which is part of what’s hurting his
image on the world stage. But he’s absolutely loved by the populace here.”
Emily grins widely. “Sounds like someone’s got a crush.”
I blush deeply. “The real him is something the world needs to see, Em. And I want to show that with this story.”
“Well, I’m so psyched for you, girl,” she sighs. “I mean, story of a lifetime, plus you get to stay at a royal palace getting cozy with King Hunky.” She sighs again. “God, this is like every princess fantasy I’ve ever had.”
I giggle. “What I’m getting is a truly incredible story. The previous regime is waging this dirty war against the people here; carrying out terrorist attacks on civilians, blowing up bridges, you name it.”
She shakes her head. “Jesus, that’s wild, Claire. I mean that’s like nothing we’ve seen in any report out of Bullogia.”
“Because the previous regime is using fake stories and public opinion to hurt Enzo.”
She giggles. “Oh is it Enzo now? Not ‘your highness?’ ‘King Amantea’?”
I blush again, and she crows in laughter. “Well, someone’s settling in nicely. Don’t think for a minute I’m done pressing you on this. But I really need to get going for this work thing.” She pouts. “Claire, I’m so glad you’re okay over there! If you need help with the story, call any time. Honestly.”
I smile. “Thanks, Em. Really.” I end the call just as the door to Enzo’s quarters swings open. He strides in, looking haggard and worn. He’s been gone about an hour, and he looks like he’s just fought another war.
“Are you okay?”
He nods, frowning. “Who were you talking to?”
“My friend.”
“From your crew?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
Enzo scowls. “The man?” he growls it possessively, and I start to grin.
“Is that jealousy?”
His jaw ticks. “Fuck yes.”
I tremble at the intensity in his voice and the heat of his gaze. Desire blooms inside of me. “It was my friend Emily, my producer.”
He grins. “About?” My face reddens, and he chuckles. “Tell me, beautiful.”
“You,” I whisper.
He smirks. “All bad, I’m sure. The evil tyrant king imprisoning you in a tower?”
I giggle and curl my legs under myself. “I’m sorry, there are towers? I think I’d like a room upgrade.”
Enzo grins. “Funny.”
“Why thank you.”
He moves towards me and leans over where I’m sitting on the couch. His fists press to the back of the couch, and I can see his muscles clenching under his tailored dress shirt. “Tell me,” he growls, leaning down close to me. “What else do you need?” I blush, and he chuckles. “I mean for your quarters, princess,” he grins. “The fresh fruit and flowers every morning? The room service? There’s a spa, you know.”
I grin, and my heart beats like a drum as I look up into his eyes. “Well, maybe I don’t want all of that.”
“Maybe I’ve got three heads,” he growls.
I giggle. “Okay, okay, I yield.” I chew on my lip and lose myself in his gaze. “It’s nice. Being here is nice.” I smile happily. “Being here with… with you, is nice.”
“Nice,” he growls, grinning at me.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Just nice?” My blush darkens, and he leans down. His lips press to mine, and I find myself whimpering as I kiss him back. The kiss deepens, and then he pulls away. He closes his eyes, and I watch as he frowns and clenches his jaw. “I’m going to let you go, Claire.”
I wrinkle my brow. “What?”
“You can go. You’re free to leave. Keeping you here was…” He scowls and shakes his head. “An overstep. Perhaps a mistake.”
My heart feels like it’s being twisted. I swallow a lump in my throat and look down at my lap. “Oh,” I say quietly.
“Do you not want to leave?”
“I—” I slowly shake my head and look into his eyes again. “No,” I whisper.
“No?”
“I don’t now,” I say gently. My heart is still twisting. After everything that’s happened, especially today, this feels like the rug being pulled out from under me. “Enzo, what happened? What changed?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” He’s being cold, but even I can see it’s a front. He turns, and I stand and follow him to the balcony.
“Tell me,” I say urgently. I grab his arm, and he turns, growling deeply. I gasp, but I don’t back down. “What happened?”
He takes a slow breath. “There were other bombs, throughout the city. Some under schools. Some under churches. One was wired to our children’s hospital,” he seethes.
“Oh my God,” I gasp. Horror spreads over me, and I bring a hand up to my mouth. “Enzo, that’s horrible.”
“I can’t do this, Claire,” he hisses. “I can fight a war with soldiers and guerrilla fighters for years, but I won’t fight one with civilians. My enemies have been looking to see what will break me.” His jaw clenches. “This is it. This is the line I will not cross. I won’t watch innocents get blown up in my own goddamn country. If that means stepping down as king, so fucking be it.” He closes his eyes again, and his hands move to my hips. “I’m sending you away, because I can’t protect you here, Claire,” he says quietly.
He leans forward and kisses my forehead. His hands tighten, like he wants more. But then he pulls away suddenly. He whirls and storms for the door.
“That’s it?”
“That’s it,” he growls.
“And the story?”
His shoulders slump. “Tomorrow, you can follow me to any meeting you choose. You can finish your story, for what good it will do. Then, you’re free to go.”
He goes for the door, but I stop him. “Enzo?”
He pauses again, and he half turns to look at me with anger and sadness in his eyes. “Yes.”
“I could stay longer,” I say quietly.
His brow deepens. “For your story,” he growls.
“And because I don’t want to leave.”
He stiffens. His shoulders clench. Slowly, he looks back at me. “Claire…”
“I don’t want to leave,” I whisper again. He makes a feral sound and he turns fully. He starts to move towards me, and my core tightens.
“You don’t want to leave Bullogia?”
I shake my head, and he still moves towards me.
“I don’t want to leave you.”
He moves quickly, and I whimper when he slams into me. His powerful hands grip my waist tightly, and his mouth presses hotly to mine. He scoops me into his arms, and I moan as he starts to carry me into the bedroom.
“You’re not leaving me,” he growls. “Not ever.”
14
Enzo
My very soul craves her. My skin burns for her, and every one of my muscles clenches in anticipation of taking her all for myself. She moans into my lips, and my hands tighten on her perfect, tight ass. Somehow, I don’t topple over any furniture as I carry her blindly into the bedroom. My mouth never leaves hers, even as we both fall onto the bed.
Claire whimpers, and her body surges against me. I kiss her roughly, and the last of my control slips away. With a hiss, I shove her hands above her head and pin them there. I slide the other down, and I start to open the buttons of her silk pajamas. I don’t even need this woman in lavish lingerie, or diamonds and pearls. I don’t need her fancy or gussied up. I just fucking need her.
I taste her moans, and my mouth drops to her neck. I push her top open and trail kisses down her soft creamy skin. I move down the slope of one of her pert, soft tits. Claire whimpers when I suck a dark, pebbled nipple into my lips. I tease her mercilessly with my tongue, and then kiss my way to her other nipple.
“Enzo!”
Her back arches, and she moans in pleasure. I release her hands and they slide into my hair. When I begin to kiss down her tummy, they tighten.
“Oh my God,” she gasps. She’s panti
ng heavily, anticipating where I’ll be tasting her next. She’s already had my tongue between her legs, and now she knows damn well how much I’m going to make her scream. My hands trail down her sides, and I slip my fingers under the waist of her bottoms. I pull them down, and she does that thing where she raises her hips to allow me to pull them off. The silk pulls away from her hips, and then down lower until her glistening little pussy is revealed to me.
Christ, she’s a vision, and that sweet pussy between her legs is heaven itself. I pull her bottoms the rest of the way off, and when she’s naked before me, I undo my own shirt. I peel my clothes away standing in front of her, and she murmurs and gazes at me. Her eyes slide over my body as I undress to just my boxers. Her gaze hesitates on my scars, and she worries her lip.
“Where you were shot?”
“Yes,” I growl. I move onto the bed and over her. I kiss away her questions, and I pin her down before I slide back down between her legs. I push her pretty thighs wide, and then I taste once more what’s mine to taste.
Claire cries out in pleasure when my tongue licks across her pussy. She’s so damn wet for me, and I groan eagerly. I push my tongue into her and then bring it to her clit. I swirl over the hard-little pleasure spot, my hands still pinning her down to my bed. God I could taste this woman all day and night. I could drink her desire every minute of every day. Her sweet pussy opens for my tongue, spreading for me to taste her deeply.
I suck her clit back between my lips, and this time I’m merciless. I want her to come for me, and I want it now. I want her still shaking from her climax when I feel her little pussy swallow my thick cock. I tease her clit back and forth and around in circles. The sound of her pleasure fills my ears and the room, until suddenly, she jerks her hips, and she moans loudly.
“Enzo! Oh God, Enzo! I’m coming!”
I grunt against her. My tongue dances across her clit while I suck, and then I can feel her come. Claire moans and pushes her pussy against my mouth. I can feel her coming, and her desire drips over my chin. She’s still shaking and gasping for air when I slide up between her hips. I kick my boxers down and off. My cock springs hot against her pussy, and Claire whimpers. She looks down and gasps sharply.
