Ruthless King

by Meghan March

  But when I turned around, he was gone.

  Disappointment slammed into me, but then I realized he was just following through with my request. Say nothing. Just take me.

  And he did.

  Spectacularly.

  As I took a step to leave the alcove, I remembered my torn panties. There was definitely no way I wanted to leave those lying around for someone to find and speculate as to their ownership. I searched the marble floor almost blindly, but found nothing.

  Well, hell. It wasn’t like I could wear them again anyway.

  I left the ballroom with the biggest smile on my face that I’d had in years, and feeling like the queen of this masquerade.

  Tomorrow, I was going to talk Brett into eloping.

  * * *

  Present day

  That scent. The same fucking scent that hung in my office after Mount delivered his ultimatum. And those hands. The way he touched me.

  God, I replayed that scene from the masquerade in my head so many times to get myself off after Brett would roll over, satisfied after a few pumps, and leave me wondering what the hell happened to the man who took me like he owned me that night.

  All the similarities . . . His groans. His growls. The way he took without apology. The way he fucked me the way I needed to be fucked.

  I already knew my marriage was based on a web of lies, but didn’t realize that the very foundation of my decision to marry Brett was based on deception too.

  There’s no doubt in my mind that somehow, some way, Mount found that note and decided to meet me that night. How he knew who I was or why he decided to do it, I have no idea.

  But what does that change?

  Nothing.

  After the last few days, I know he can play my body better than any man I’ve ever met—save one. The only competition he had was himself.

  That fucking bastard.

  I wanted it. That night at the masquerade and every single time he touched me. I begged him.

  And that fact just makes me hate him more.

  I could kill him.

  But I remember the cold mask that settled over his features as I accused him of murder tonight, and I know I have to protect myself.

  I flip on the nightstand lamp, and a stack of documents that wasn’t there before greets me.

  My loan from the bank. The promissory note is stamped Paid in Full with yesterday’s date. The line of credit. The term note. All of it. Almost two million dollars’ worth of debt, all paid in full. I flip through the documents, on the verge of losing my mind as my stomach twists into knots.

  Mount did this. I have no doubt about that.

  When I reach the bottom of the pile, I find a note in the handwriting I was expecting to find in the box.

  * * *

  Now the debt’s over two million.

  I own you.

  Feel free to tattoo that on your ass, just so there’s no confusion in your mind.

  * * *

  That smug asshole.

  I’m going to kill him.

  I yank open the nightstand drawer, but the lockbox where I keep the gun is gone.

  Mount.

  No matter what happens in my life, it seems, the answer lately is Mount.

  Someone bangs on my apartment door, and I stalk toward it.

  Go down fighting or die trying. That’s how I walked into this, and that’s how I’m going to end it.

  I flip the dead bolts and fling open the door, but it’s not Mount outside.

  “I’ve missed you, Keira. I hear you haven’t been missing me.”

  I blink twice, unable to comprehend the fact that my dead husband is standing in front of me—very much alive—before everything goes black.

  * * *

  Mount and Keira’s story continues in Defiant Queen and concludes in Sinful Empire. You are not going to want to miss the rest of this gripping story! Preorder Defiant Queen and Sinful Empire now by tapping on the titles.

  * * *

  I’d love to hear what you thought about Ruthless King! If you have a few moments to leave a review, I’d be incredibly grateful. Send me a link at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com, and I’ll thank you with a personal note.

  * * *

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  About the Author

  Meghan March has been known to wear camo face paint and tromp around in the woods wearing mud-covered boots, all while sporting a perfect manicure. She’s also impulsive, easily entertained, and absolutely unapologetic about the fact that she loves to read and write smut.

  Her past lives include slinging auto parts, selling lingerie, making custom jewelry, and practicing corporate law. Writing books about dirty-talking alpha males and the strong, sassy women who bring them to their knees is by far the most fabulous job she’s ever had.

  She loves hearing from her readers at meghanmarchbooks@gmail.com.

  Also by Meghan March

  Mount trilogy

  Ruthless King

  Defiant Queen

  Sinful Empire

  * * *

  Standalone

  Take Me Back

  Bad Judgment

  Beneath Series:

  Beneath This Ink

  Beneath These Chains

  Beneath These Scars

  Beneath These Lies

  Beneath These Shadows

  Beneath The Truth

  * * *

  Flash Bang Series:

  Flash Bang

  Hard Charger

  * * *

  Dirty Billionaire Trilogy:

  Dirty Billionaire

  Dirty Pleasures

  Dirty Together

  * * *

  Dirty Girl Duet:

  Dirty Girl

  Dirty Love

  * * *

  Real Duet:

  Real Good Man

  Real Good Love

  * * *

  Real Dirty Duet:

  Real Dirty

  Real Sexy