Chapter 146 Kira’s Plan
Kira's POV
The silence in the private cabin pressed in like a living thing, thick and heavy.
Adrian stayed on his knees in front of me, my healed hand still cradled in his like it was the most precious thing in his entire kingdom.
His thumbs stroked slow circles over my knuckles, and every pass sent little sparks racing up my arm.
I hated how good it felt. I hated even more that I didn’t pull away.
“I’m staying right by your side,” he said, voice low and rough, like gravel under boots. “I’m not going anywhere, Kira. Not even if you don’t want me to.”
I scoffed, yanking my hand back even though part of me screamed at the loss of his warmth. “Oh, please. You’re a king. You can take as many wives as you want. Don’t you already have a mistress and a child somewhere? Caroline, right?”
The name tasted bitter on my tongue. “All I want is simple. Since we’re legally married, you’ll give me half of everything you own. Then you leave me alone in some beautiful mansion far away from your palace, far away from all the women who’ll keep flocking to you like flies on honey. I don’t want any part of your drama. I want to retire.”
Adrian exhaled…long, slow, like someone had punched him straight in the gut.
His broad shoulders dropped, and for a second the golden shine in his eyes dimmed with real, raw hurt.
It flickered there, unmistakable, making my stomach twist even though I told myself I didn’t care.
“What happened with Caroline…” he started, voice cracking just a little, “it was in the past. I didn’t know it would result to—”
“A child?” I finished for him, crossing my arms tighter. “Yeah, that’s usually what happens when a man and a woman decide to play around in the bedroom, Adrian. Shocking, I know.”
He exhaled again, deeper this time, running a hand through his dark hair until it stuck up in messy spikes.
“I can’t even begin to make up for that past,” he said quietly. “And honestly? I can’t even forgive myself for it. Every single day it eats at me.”
The words hung between us, heavy and honest. For a moment I almost softened. Almost.
Then the dream flashed behind my eyes again…hot skin, tangled sheets that weren’t his, a stranger’s hands that felt way too good. My throat went tight.
“Would you forgive me if I cheated?” I asked, the question slipping out before I could stop it. “If I let another man touch me? If I ended up bearing his child?”
Adrian’s whole body changed in an instant.
The hurt in his eyes burned away, replaced by something dark and feral. Pure rage. Pure possessiveness.
He surged up from his knees like a storm breaking, grabbed both my wrists, and pinned them over my head against the soft cabin wall.
His other hand came up, fingers firm but not bruising, tilting my chin so I had no choice but to look straight into those blazing golden eyes.
“Memorize this look on my face right now,” he growled, so close I could feel his breath on my lips.
“Because I will kill any bastard who even thinks about touching you. And sooner than later, I’ll cripple you before you even meet any damn man. You hear me? You’re mine, Kira. Only mine.”
My heart slammed against my ribs like it wanted to escape. Heat flooded my whole body…anger, yes, but something else too, something wicked and excited that made my thighs press together.
I smirked up at him, sassy as hell even while pinned like a butterfly.
“Big words from a man who can’t even keep it in his pants. What if I kill your precious mistress and cripple you? What will you do about that, Your Majesty?”
I expected him to snarl, to threaten me, to go all scary-king on me so I could shove him away and remember why I needed to leave.
Instead, a slow, dangerous smile curved his mouth. The kind of smile that made my stomach flip in the best and worst way.
“I’ll help you hide the body,” he said simply, like we were talking about the weather. “And since I’ll be a cripple, I’ll let you carry me for the rest of our lives together.”
Oh. My. God. He’s a maniac.
Inside my head, a wild little voice…obviously Leah…screamed ‘YES!’
Excitement shot through me so fast it left me dizzy. He’d help me? He’d actually stand by me like that? For one stupid second I felt seen. Wanted. Dangerous in the most thrilling way.
Then reality slapped me hard. He could be stalling. Playing nice to keep me soft and compliant. I can’t fall for it. Stick to the plan, Kira. Get half his kingdom, disappear, build your own little safe world where no one owns you. No kings. No mistresses. No dreams that make you feel guilty and hot at the same time.
I forced my face blank. “Leave me alone. I want to be alone.”
He didn’t move. His body stayed pressed against mine, warm and solid, his grip on my wrists loosening just enough to be gentle but not enough to let me go.
Seconds stretched. His scent wrapped around me…smoke, cedar, pure male…and it was doing terrible, wonderful things to my brain.
“You think I can just walk away when you smell like fire and want?” he murmured, voice dropping into that spicy, possessive tone that lit me up from the inside.
“When every inch of you is screaming for me even while you’re telling me to go? Baby, I’d rather fight a war than leave you aching like this. I can smell your arousal.”
The words hit me low in the belly, sparking heat that pooled fast and embarrassing.
I felt myself leaning forward before I could stop it, drawn to him like gravity.
He leaned down too, golden eyes half-lidded, lips hovering so close I could almost taste him—
A sharp knock cracked through the cabin like a gunshot.
We both froze.
Adrian’s jaw clenched so tight I heard his teeth grind. He didn’t let go right away. Instead he pressed his forehead to mine for one heartbeat, breathing hard.
“This isn’t over,” he whispered, voice rough with promise and frustration. “I can’t get enough of you even if we have all the time in the world.”
Then he stepped back, raking a hand through his hair again, looking every bit the frustrated, ridiculously hot king who’d just been cock-blocked by the universe.
I slumped against the seat, chest heaving, cheeks burning. My body was still buzzing, traitorous and alive.
I pressed my thighs together tighter, trying to ignore the ache he’d left behind.
Outside the door, James’s voice came through, urgent. “Your majesty. We’ve got a problem with the Oden.”
Adrian cursed under his breath, shot me one last heated look that said we’d pick this up later…whether I wanted to or not…and yanked the door open.
I stayed where I was, heart still racing, mind spinning in a thousand directions.
I’m legally his wife, so I want half of his kingdom.
My own mansion. And my freedom.
But as the door clicked shut behind him, one traitorous thought slipped through…
What if I don’t actually want to leave him anymore?
And that scared me more than any king, any mistress, or any damn dream ever could.
Because that wasn’t the plan.