by Maya Hughes
“I’m fine. Now that I know Esme’s safe. That you’re safe. I’m sorry if I scared you before.”
“It’s okay. I don’t know what I’d do if something happened to my own kid.” Was this what my mom felt that day at the grocery store? That clawing panic that threatened to bring you to your knees?
“The fact that it’s happened twice in the past couple of months has put me on edge.” The ice rattled in his glass as he gazed out the window. “I must be the world’s worst father.” He drowned the pain in his voice with another sip.
“Don’t think that. Don’t ever think that. You have no idea how terrible some parents can be. None. Esme is healthy, happy, warm, safe and loved. That’s more than a lot of kids could ever hope for.” I said it emphatically, probably more than I needed to.
“I’ll get you another drink,” he said, again not asking. I was beginning to get used to his controlling nature. Sometimes he just seemed to know what I needed, even before I realized it.
When Rhys stood in front of me to take my glass, our fingers touched as he took it from my outstretched hand. Once again, I froze, staring into his eyes, as he towered over me. He put both our glasses down on the table behind him and ran his hand along my jaw.
“I don’t know what we’d do without you, Mel.” His touch sent a tingling down my spine as he said my name again. The way it rolled off his tongue. I licked my lips and his thumb ran along my chin, just under my bottom lip. I don’t know if it was instinctual or if I just really wanted to do it, but I couldn’t help it. I dipped my tongue out and ran it over my lips. The fire was back in his eyes now, the fire that made my stomach somersault and my core throb.
He sucked in a breath and ran his thumb over my wet lip. A hint of his flavor danced on my lips and I couldn’t hold back anymore. Maybe it was the highly charged emotional day I had, or maybe it was the fact that I’d wanted him since the moment I saw him, but never thought it possible. I wanted comfort. I wanted his comfort, in whatever way I could get it. I stuck my tongue out and licked his thumb, drawing it into my mouth and sucking on it. A mix of scotch and Rhys hit my tongue. I longed to taste even more of him as he groaned. I loved that I could draw that out of him, make him putty in my hands. Wielding a power I didn’t even know I had.
Rhys pushed his thumb into my mouth deeper and I sucked on it harder, keeping my eyes on him, not wanting to break the trance we were both under.
“You’re playing with fire, Mel,” he warned. When he said my name like that I couldn’t help but turn liquid under his gaze. I let his thumb fall from my mouth.
“I know, but I can take the heat,” I said, resting my hands on his belt buckle. I was out of my mind, but I was past the point of caring. I needed this, and I think he needed this too. One second I was looking up at him, and the next, my back was pressed against the top of his desk, my legs wrapped around him and his heavy weight settled on top of me. I savored his body on top of mine.
Things are just heating up between Rhys and Mel! Grab your copy of this single dad romance, Mr. Control, TODAY!
End of Book Dish!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Reckless King! Heath and Kara’s story was special to me for so many reasons and I hope you enjoyed their journey.
This series is really personal to me because of all the changes in my life in the past year. August 19th is the one year anniversary of my mother’s death and my writing has helped me get through this difficult time.
Love and loss are such important parts of live and that can present itself in many different ways.
To answer some of the questions I’ve gotten about the Kings and this book in particular:
1) Imogen will get her own book :) I hope to have it out by the end of this year!
2) Emmett and Avery’s story is next - Ruthless King! It will be out in the fall.
3) Ford and Colm’s book will be out in early 2019! Fearless King and Heartless King ;)
Reckless King releases on August 23rd!
Thank you again for reading and I hope you’ll follow the Kings on the rest of their journeys.
<3
Lots of love,
Maya
Acknowledgments
It seems that the more books I release, the list of people I need to thank gets even longer. To amazing friends I’ve gained in the community, I don’t even have words. You’ve helped talk me off a ledge so many times, held my hand through plotting and releases and been a shoulder I can lean on whenever I need it
To my editors, Lea Schaffer, Tamara Mataya and Anka. I couldn’t imagine publishing a book without you even if I have to read your comments through my fingers sometimes.
To every awesome blogger, bookstagrammer and reader who helped spread the word about this book and made me cry with their kind words and shouting from the rooftops about Reckless King!!
And to you reading this, thank you so much. Every one of these stories means the world to me and I am always amazed at how welcoming everyone is to my characters. Thank you a million times and I can’t wait for you to meet the rest of the Kings!!
<3
~Maya
Also by Maya Hughes
Kings of Rittenhouse
Kings of Rittenhouse - FREE
Shameless King - Enemies to Lovers
Misters
Mr. Control - Single Dad Romance
Mr. Ruin - Revenge Romance
Mr. Wicked - Second Chance Romance
Under His Series
Under His Ink - Second Chance Romance
Breaking Free Series
Blinded - Second Chance Secret Baby Romance
Mixed - Enemies to Lovers Romance
Served - Enemies to Lovers Romance
Rocked - Rockstar Romance
Standalone
Passion on the Pitch - Sports Romance
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