Ruthless Creatures by J.T. Geissinger

“Fuck no.” He closes his eyes and huffs out a small, hard
laugh. “And that’s what makes me such a selfish bastard.”
“I’m sorry, but I’m confused. It really seems like you want
to tell me something.”
He inhales deeply, his chest rising. He exhales. When he
speaks again, he sounds a hundred years old. “Forget it.”
A freezing bolt of terror rips through my chest, leaving a
hole where my heart used to be. In a small, strangled voice, I
say, “Oh god. Your boss found you a wife. You’re getting
married.”
His eyes fly open. He stares at me in horror. “No! Natalie,
no. I swear to you. Christ, I’m sorry, baby. That’s not what I’m
talking about at all.”
He kisses me, hard, holding my jaw and the back of my
head as I lie on top of him, trembling. Then he rolls me over
and throws one heavy leg over both of mine.
“Listen to me now,” he says urgently, gazing down into my
eyes. “If that ever happens, if he ever comes to me with that
order, I won’t do it. I’ll disobey him. I’ll never be with anyone
else but you.”
Struggling not to cry, I say, “But you took a vow. You told
me you’d have to—”
“I’d kill him before I’d betray you. I’d burn his whole
empire to the ground before I’d turn my back on the woman I
love.”
That hits me in the chest like a wrecking ball.
I lie there breathlessly, staring up at his hard, handsome
face, recognizing from his lethal tone and the fierce look in his
eyes that what he just said is the truth.
I’m his queen…and he’d kill his own king for me.
But maybe this isn’t a random declaration.
Maybe it’s a plan.
Placing my hands on either side of his face, I say
vehemently, “Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t do anything that