KING: Alliance Series Book Two

“Sometimes I wonder if you’re trying to kill me.” I mumble into her hair after I shift my weight so I’m not crushing her completely.

“Promise I’m not.” A small hand pats my back. “It’s just that you’re so old.”

With my cock still hard I give my hips a sharp thrust, causing Savannah to cry out.

I laugh. “Well, if this old man dies between your thighs, it’ll be a life well lived.”

“You’re such a dummy.” There’s a softness in her voice, and I feel more content than I have in a long time.

We’re both silent for a minute, while we catch our breaths. And that’s when I notice the buzzing sound coming from the bathroom.

I roll my head to the side so my ear is up. “Is that…the vibrator?”

Savannah lifts her head like she’s trying to listen, but then drops back down onto the mattress. “I don’t recall you turning it off before you knocked it out of my hand, so probably.”

I shake my head, a smile pulling across my mouth.

This girl really is going to kill me.

Reaching up, I turn off my bedside lamp, covering the room in darkness.

“Come here.”

The blankets rustle and, doing as I say, Savannah snuggles up against my side.

We both know she’ll end up like this anyway, so we might as well start with it.

With her cheek against my bare chest, I feel her mouth stretch in a yawn.

I run my fingers through her hair. “I’m assuming you need to go to the gallery early to get ready, but I’ll be there by six when the show starts.”

Savannah’s hand slides across my stomach to my side, in a partial hug. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

My brows furrow as I try to dissect why she’d say that, but still tell her the truth. “I want to.”

“Oh, okay.” Her response is quiet.

I run my fingers through her hair again. Maybe she’s nervous.

“Your new van is in the garage, but since you don’t need to haul your paintings with you, I’m having one of my men drive you. He’ll stay outside the gallery until I get there.” She starts to lift her head, but I use the hand that had been stroking her hair to keep her head where it is. “It’s not a prisoner thing,” I feel I need to clarify. “It’s a safety thing. I don’t want you in public alone. Ever.” When she doesn’t reply, I give her hair the softest tug. “Understand.”

“Yeah, fine.” She’s clearly resigned to my heavy-handedness. “But what do you mean new van? Did you buy my van back?”

I scoff, “No, I didn’t buy your old ass van back. And I didn’t bother retrieving that shitty car you got in exchange for it either.”

I swear I can hear her eye roll. “Okay, so what’s in the garage then?”

“The worst thing I’ve ever spent money on.”

She snorts. “I hardly doubt that.”

“Baby, do you understand that I have a reputation to uphold? I can’t be seen buying a fucking minivan. I sent Benedict with cash to buy it.”

“If you’re so against it, why’d you get one?”

“Because, as much as I loathe having to admit it, all the reviews were solid and the internet seems to agree that they’re very practical for hauling large paintings.”

She tries to lift her head again, but I stop her. “That’s very thorough of you.”

“I’m nothing if not thorough.” I think of her exes on their way to Alaska and grin into the dark. Wondering if they’ll ever put it together that they all dated the same woman.

“Well, thank you. I appreciate the sacrifice it must’ve taken to do that.”

I keep grinning. “While you’re at it, you can thank me for our thirty-thousand dollar weekend getaway in Colorado this winter.”

The hand that had been hugging my side moves to cover her mouth as she lets out a laugh. “I forgot about that.”

“Yeah, well, surprise.”

“Sorry.” The way she snickers through the apology lets me know she doesn’t mean it.

I shrug. I’m not gonna miss thirty grand.

“All for a good cause,” I yawn.

Her hand slides back around my side. “Did you find out what the charity was?”

“No idea.”

Savannah’s head shakes against me.

“Oh, and,” I pause to yawn again. “I’ll leave your new license and credit cards on the kitchen island before I leave for my meeting in the morning.”

“New license?” Savannah questions, also yawning.

I nod, closing my eyes. “I had your name changed, Mrs. Vass. Didn’t I mention it?”

“What?! You can’t…” I slide my hand over her mouth.

“Shh, Baby. We’ve got a big day tomorrow.”