Really Unusual Bad Boys by MaryJanice Davidson Read Free Book Online Page B

to do for the last fifteen minutes, and she instantly took advantage of the situation. She threw herself on Damon’s bed and kicked and yelled and cried.
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    â€œLois?”
    She rolled over and blinked up at the king. Her eyes felt swollen and sore. Her nose was stuffed shut.
    The king was looking sorrowfully down at her. He had changed into fresh robes, and his hair was damp from the bathing room. She remained unmoved at his obvious attempt to make himself presentable before bugging her.
    â€œWe have wronged you, it is true. And now here is another truth—we do not wish it undone.”
    â€œThis is how you cheer me up? Because you suck at it.”
    â€œLois, we do not wish you to return. But you must also tell truths—do you honestly wish to go back? You are here because you lost something, yes? I can think of not one visitor from your world who wished to go back, in all the long years of my reign.”
    â€œStaying here’s one thing,” she grumped. “Being a princess and married without even being asked is something else.” She pulled at the hem of her robe—God, there were yards of the stuff—and blew her nose on it.
    â€œDo you not find my son pleasing?”
    â€œOh, he’s gorgeous and you know it,” she snapped. “And he’s nice—when he’s not tricking girls into marrying him—and a good fighter and he’ll be a great king because he’s smart and sneaky and everybody around here seems to love his ass, and he seems to like me all right, and he didn’t eat me out in the desert when he had the chance, but still. He should have asked.”
    â€œIt is not in the nature of a prince of the realm to ask,” the king chided.
    â€œToo fucking bad, Jack.”
    â€œMy name is not Jack.”
    â€œDon’t let the door hit you on the ass on the way out, Jack.”
    The king frowned down at her. “We have come to comfort you despite the many demands on our time, and now we are displeased,” he said formally. “We require you to rise and adjust to your station and greet your mate, the high prince.”
    â€œâ€˜We’ can take a long walk off a short pier. Buzz off.”
    He glared down at her. She glared back, and hiccuped. The corner of his mouth twitched—Damon’s did that, too!—and then he said, “Perhaps for a bowl of kumkoss?”
    â€œThere isn’t enough candy in the world to get me out of this bed. Now go away!”
    â€œIt is unseemly for a lady of your station to lie abed and sulk.”
    â€œI don’t give a shit!”
    â€œYou will arise at once!”
    â€œWanna bet, fur face?”
    He wheeled about and stomped out, looking like the world’s oldest third-grader. She watched him go in gloating triumph. Ha! Nothing’s getting me out of this bed. I’m gonna lie here and sulk all damn week, if I want. Not budgin’…
    Damon poked his head through the doorway. “I will retire.”
    She sat bolt upright, and her complacency utterly vanished. “Gaaaaah! Don’t you dare!”
    â€œI only wished to come to my room for a brief rest. I had a tiring morning, in case you did not see.” He was approaching the bed with an innocent look on his face, which instantly put her on her guard.
    â€œFine, I’ll go back to my room. I mean the queen’s room. I mean…” She trailed off. Where the hell was she going to go? If she stayed in the castle, she had to sleep either in the dead queen’s chambers, or with Damon here in his chambers, or…what? “Jeez,” she said, “I wonder…maybe I should wish myself home and this whole thing will seem like a narcotic-induced dream. Maybe I— mmph!”
    Damon had pounced on the bed, jumping a good eight feet across the room, and landed on top of her with one of his big hands clapped over her mouth. “Do not,” he warned, his eyes two inches from