Coldhearted King (Empty Kingdom, #1)

by L.M. Dalgleish

I can’t believe he thinks he can get away with calling me kitten again. In a moment of insanity, I reach out and wrap my fingers around his dick. His very hard dick.

WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK

“What was that?” he hisses. “You should have raised your proposal with me before presenting it to Cole.” “This is an update meeting, isn’t it? If he doesn’t like the idea, he can say no.” “It’s not your place. I’m the project manager. Cole isn’t going to appreciate a junior architect making suggestions that will cost his company a lot of money. Plus, I don’t appreciate you going over my head like that.” The elevator arrives, and Paul steers me in. As soon as the doors close, I tug away from him. “Well, Cole wants to talk about it, so he can’t have hated the idea that much.” “Don’t go around calling him Cole, either. It’s Mr. King to you.” I stare at him, wondering why he’s being so pompous. He’s right, though. I shouldn’t be so familiar. A flush warms my cheeks as Paul eyes me. “Let’s not argue about it. From now on, I’ll make sure to go through you first.”

absolutely not. dont you dare back down, youre not in the wrong

He looks a little appeased. “I’ll join you during your meeting and we can all discuss it together.”

bro why do you have to ruin everything

“But as the project manager, I feel like I should—” I pin him with my gaze. “If I wanted you here, I would have asked you to take part.”

THANK YOU

“Let me guess. You’re one of those men whose relationships consist of multiple one-night stands because they’re afraid of emotional intimacy?” I raise my brows and she presses her lips together, probably remembering who I am and where she’s standing. She gives a little shake of her head. “I’m sorry, that was completely—” “Accurate. Except for the being afraid part. Replace that with not being interested in, and you’ve got it.” “Right,” she mutters. “Well, lucky me to be one of the many, then.” She pivots as if she’s about to leave. “More memorable than most,” I say, and she jolts to a stop, looking at me over her shoulder.

YESSIR

Her nose wrinkles. “Should I be flattered that if you line up all the women you’ve slept with, I’ll be one of the few you can pick out?” “Most women would.” She puts her hand on her hip and angles her head to the side so her dark hair tumbles over one shoulder. “I doubt that. But if that’s what you need to tell yourself to sleep at night, then you just go ahead. While those women are chasing you around, begging for a night in your bed, I’ll be with my very attractive, very intelligent boyfriend, having some very enjoyable emotional intimacy.”

please stop lying to yourself

“I should have waited. If I’d known who I was spending the night with, I would have realized what a big mistake I was making. Now at least I’ve got a man who takes care of my needs and has an interest in me as a person.”

LIAR

Her eyes narrow. “You seem to remember an awful lot about that night for someone who’s probably screwed any number of women since then. How often have you touched yourself thinking about me?” She’s not trying to be seductive. She’s angry. And sick bastard that I am, I like it just as much. “Too many times to count,” I admit, savoring her sharp inhale. “So next time you and your boyfriend are sitting across the table from me, you’ll know I’m remembering your sweet pussy wrapped around my dick and I’ll know you’re remembering my fingers and tongue in you, and how hard I made you scream. You might be with Paul, but I have no doubt you’ll be thinking about me the next time you fuck yourself with your fingers.”

“I’m sorry, Dee. I really am.” Alex gives me a long hug. I let out a ragged breath. “You never liked him.” “Because I didn’t think he was good enough for you,” she says, pushing my hair away from my face.

Cole reaches out and brushes his thumb across my lower lip. “I want to see this lipstick smeared all over my cock. I want my tongue deep in your pussy. I want to make you come until you physically can’t anymore. And I want it tonight. Just one night and then we go back to New York and the way things are now. But if you agree, you’re mine until morning. And Delilah,” he says, gripping my jaw and forcing me to focus on his words over the pounding of blood in my ears. “If you say yes, I plan to make you forget Paul ever existed.”

“I hope you’re not attached to that tiny scrap of lace you’re wearing,” I say, “because I’m about to rip it off so I can taste you again.”

That’s my girl.

I climb off him and look around for my T-shirt, but his hands encircle my waist. “Wear my shirt,” he murmurs in my ear.

“Delilah, I . . .” he says, his voice rasping. “Get out, Cole. I don’t want you in my home anymore. I don’t want you in my life. You want us to be over? Then we’re over. So get the hell away from me.”

Jessica doesn’t read the signs. She tips her head down and looks up at me through her lashes. “We’re made for each other, Cole. Now stop messing around and come and make your future wife happy.” I step closer and bend down to murmur in her ear. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.” Then I turn and leave.