Rise of a Queen: A Dark Billionaire Romance (Kingdom Duet Book 2)
Rise of a Queen: Chapter 27

I carry a sleeping Aurora in my arms from the bathroom to the bedroom.

I keep telling her that falling asleep in the bathtub is dangerous, but she mumbles that I’m there.

It’s true. I am there. I don’t take the fact that she trusts me enough to fall asleep in my arms for granted.

Since I took her a few days ago, I’ve been trying to spend as much time with her as physically possible.

Not having her sleep next to me on an everyday basis has been torture. Needless to say, I’ve been having blue balls for all the times I didn’t fuck her or spank her until she begged me to come.

But here’s the strangest part. It’s not only about the physical connection — even if it started that way. While I love how she comes undone under my touch, I enjoy how she curls into my embrace more. How she wraps her arms and legs around me while she sleeps. How she holds on to me when she has nightmares. How my name is the first thing she whispers when she wakes up. How she grabs my arm and invites me to the baths I run for her.

Most of all, I enjoy how she tells me about her days and her work. How she retells one of her and Layla’s adventures with a huge smile on her face. How she keeps urging me to get in touch with Aiden and Levi because they’re my family.

Aurora barged into my life, wreaked havoc in my order, and disrupted my chessboard. At first, the moves she made were insignificant, but they kept escalating with time. By the time I noticed the changes, it was already too late to kick her out.

Not that I would.

If anything, I’m keeping her.

All of her.

She smells of her apple lotion that I’ve become lowkey addicted to. It’s not even about the scent of apples — it’s about her natural body warmth mingled with it. It’s a trademark that no other human being would be able to replicate.

I can’t get enough of it no matter how long I fill my nostrils with it.

She moans softly when I place her on the bed. I cover her with a sheet over her bathrobe and spend a few minutes watching her.

It doesn’t matter how often I see her soft face with the tiny features, full lips and long lashes. It doesn’t matter whether she’s asleep or awake.

I can’t get enough of watching her, of wanting to get so close that she won’t be able to leave.

Am I being overbearing? Probably.

But I honestly can’t imagine my life without her in it. If anything, I’ve forgotten how I used to live before she came along.

I brush my lips against her forehead before I begrudgingly leave her side and step into my closet.

After putting on a tuxedo, I stand in front of the mirror to do my bowtie. While I hate to leave Aurora’s side, I have a banquet to attend.

She’s out for the night after the thorough fucking and bath massage.

Besides, if I even attempt to skip tonight, Harris will show up here and bitch for an hour about meetings like the workaholic he is.

It’s strange that I used to be exactly like him — if not more demanding — but now, the idea of leaving takes all my self-restraint.

Tiny hands wrap around my chest from behind as her warmth glues to my back.

Aurora’s head peeks from the side and she meets my gaze in the mirror. “Going somewhere?”

“Work.”

“What happened to ‘we’ll stay in bed all day?’” She tries to hide her disappointment from her overly expressive eyes and fails. She can be so adorable sometimes.

“Didn’t we, wild one?”

“Well, not really.”

“I think your arse and pussy would testify otherwise.”

She hides her face against my jacket to camouflage the flaming of her cheeks. I get the urge to grab her and kiss the fuck out of her.

So I do just that.

Spinning around, I wrap my hand around her throat. Her dark blue eyes meet mine, wide, expectant, and I meet those expectations when I slam my lips to hers.

I lost count of how much I’ve kissed her but each time she melts against me, her tiny fingers wrapping around my bicep or nape, it feels like a first.

And like every first, I feast on her luscious lips, grabbing her by the arse and pulling her against my trousers.

I’m rock hard again. Fuck.

Pulling away, I breathe against her mouth without releasing neither her arse nor throat. “Go back to sleep.”

“Do you not want me with you?”

“What the fuck is that nonsense?”

“Well…” she stares at her feet. “You don’t take me with you to events or even invite me.”

I place two fingers underneath her chin, forcing her to stare up at me. “Didn’t you say you don’t want to take part in anything that has to do with ‘my world?’”

“That was before. I thought…”

“You thought what?”

“I thought you were embarrassed to have me on your arm.”

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

“You’re not the type to be embarrassed, but, you know.”

“No, I don’t know. You’re not my dirty little secret, Aurora. I’ll shout at the top of the world that you’re mine if that’s what it will take.”

Her delicate throat works up and down with a swallow. “But people will talk about my resemblance to Alicia.”

“Fuck people, and Alicia has been dead for eleven years. I don’t think she minds.”

“So you’re not keeping it a secret?”

“Why the fuck would I announce in front of the world that you’re my fiancée if I was keeping it a secret? Stop having those thoughts, okay?”

“Okay.” A smile grazes her lips as she tiptoes and kisses me on my cheeks. “Have fun.”

I grab her by the arm before she can leave. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Back to sleep.”

“Forget about that. You’re coming with me.”

“I am?”

“If you want to. I would be happy if you came with me and made the night less boring.” I rephrase so it doesn’t come off as if I’m ordering her around.

Aurora is a strong, independent woman, and needs her choices. I think part of the reason why she acted up the other time was because I completely took that will away.

It’s hard to give a choice when I’m used to my orders being met, but for her, I will learn. Eventually.

“I would love to.” She wraps her arms around my neck and seals her lips to mine.

As I kiss her, I know, I just know that there’s only one choice I would never give her.

The choice to leave me.