King of Slaves (Jenna's Story) (The Slave Series Book 5) (31 page)

“Don’t you dare throw me out,” she told Kioni, who looked pretty bad with a tube down his throat and an IV connected to his arm. The white hospital clothes made him look small and weak compared to the big strong guy she knew him as. Nevertheless, his eyes lit up when he saw her.

Jenna ran to the other side of his bed, making sure she had Kioni between her and the door.

She took his hand and kissed his cheeks just as Zurry burst through the door with wild eyes.

“Zurry told me you didn’t want to see me and I get that it’s a pride thing, but if you think I’m not impressed with you taking a bullet for me, then you are crazy.”

Kioni couldn’t speak but squeezed her hand and closed his eyes for a second.

“I have something to tell you, and if you have any hope of me marrying you, then you’ll let me stay.”

Zurry and Kioni exchanged a long glance, and then Zurry backed out of the room and closed the door.

Jenna took a breath of relief and then she kissed Kioni’s nose. “If we are to do this, Kio, then it’s for better or worse. You can’t shut me out when it gets bad, do you hear me?”

He nodded and she saw tears in his eyes.

“I know you are dominant and old-fashioned in your view on women, but I also think you are gallant and thoughtful towards me – and last night you showed me that you are brave too.”

Jenna caressed his cheek lovingly. “As long as we are both alive, we will have differences and arguments, but you once said that you would rather fight and make up with me than be bored with someone else. Do you still feel that way?”

His teary eyes blinked, and he gave a tiny head nod and squeezed her hand again.

“I’ll take that as a yes, and that’s good because I’ve come to the conclusion that you are worth all the hassle that surrounds you.”

Kioni made a sound in his throat.

She nodded her head and dried away tears from her eyes. “Yes, I’ll marry you, Kio.”

Kioni’s shoulders visibly sank as he closed his eyes with a sound of deep relief.

CHAPTER 28

News

3 Months later

Kioni

“Don’t be nervous, you look gorgeous,” Kioni said and pressed a kiss to Jenna’s lips.

“I can’t help it. Look how my hands are shaking.” She held up her right hand for him to see.

“It will be over in less than an hour and then I’ll take you to my bed and reward you, I promise.” He gave her that sexy grin that made her stomach do somersaults.

“Ready?” The press officer asked.

Kioni hooked Jenna’s arm under his and nodded to the man. “Ready!”

When the doors to the grand ballroom of the palace opened Jenna was almost blinded with flashes from all the cameras. The interest from the press was overwhelming – hundreds of reporters had turned up from all around the world, more than half of them from the US. The small press room that was typically used for press statements wouldn’t have been big enough, and so for the first time in the country’s history the ballroom was used for a press briefing.

Jenna wished Kioni wouldn’t walk so fast. Her high heels and long simple dress might make her look stunning according to Erin, her bubbly friend and employee, but she couldn’t walk as fast as him. From the way Kio strode into the room wearing his sharp tailor-made suit, with his shoulders squared and his arm moving protectively around Jenna’s waist, he radiated pure power.

Jenna wasn’t a stranger to the press; her father’s life in the spotlight had made her accustomed to it, But this was more than she had ever faced before, and her smile stiffened a bit when she realized there had to be more than two hundred people waiting to ask questions.

With a small, reassuring smile Kioni guided her to the loveseat that had been set out for them.

Just breath and smile
,
Jenna told herself as the press officer cleared his throat in a loud manner to quiet down the reporters in the room.

A short introduction was given in Spiri and then he spoke in English, “King Kopilus is proud to present to you his fiancée and the future queen of Spirima, Miss Jenna Eleanor Davis. We are now opening the floor for questions.”

The first person the press officer pointed to was a chubby man who bowed to the king and congratulated him in Spiri before asking his question. Ever since Jenna consented to marry Kioni three months ago, she had studied with a tutor to learn the language, but she was still grateful that a translator made sure the questions and answers were translated into English.

Kioni answered the man in Spiri and looked so proud that she squeezed his hand.

The next question was from a beautiful brunette. “Sarah Thomsen from Fox News. Ms. Davis, can you tell us how you went from insulting the king to loving him?”

Kioni and Jenna exchanged a quick smile and he raised one brow, looking almost as interested in the answer as the rest of the people in the room.

Jenna cleared her throat, feeling nervous with all eyes on her. “It’s true that we didn’t have the best start to our relationship, but along the way I learned that the king is a very kind and generous man. Sometimes opposites attract, I suppose.” She had been instructed to keep the answers short and concise and looked at the press officer for approval. He nodded discreetly.

“Mell Shaw, CNN News. Congratulations to you both. Your Royal Highness, can you tell us how you proposed to Ms. Davis?”

“To be honest, I proposed to Ms. David on several occasions and she took her time to consider her answer – which wasn’t easy for me, as I’m not a patient man.”

Small laughs broke out in the crowd.

“How exactly I proposed I would like to keep between my future wife and me. All you need to know is that she said yes and that it has made me the happiest man in the world.”

Smiles erupted all around.

A representative from a local TV station wanted to know if Jenna would continue her work to finish the building projects she had been working on.

“Yes, Ms. David will complete her job as planned. She is one of the finest architects in the world and it would be a shame not to let her use that gift. In four months, when she is officially made queen of Spirima, she obviously can’t work her corporate job, but together we will continue to work hard on making Spirima a glorious nation.”

There were questions like: “When is the wedding date?” To which the press officer shortly replied. “June 27 th,
”
and “How did your family react when you told them you were marrying a king?“ To which Jenna answered, “I think they were more surprised that I was marrying at all, since I’ve always said that wasn’t for me.”

And then there were questions about the recent attack on the king and his speedy recovery, which Kioni all handled with ease. He had specifically asked her not to mention that he had taken a bullet for her, but that part made no sense to her. Now that they were marrying, it wouldn’t matter that they had been alone at the cabin.

“I don’t want people to think you are marrying me out of a sense of obligation, Jenna,” he had told her.

“But people will see you as a hero.”

“I’m already a hero from my actions during the war. What I want now is to be the man who won your heart because of who I am, not what I did.”

“That makes no sense, Kio. You are who you are because of what you do, don’t you see that?”

“Listen, can’t we just keep that incident between us? My people know I would take a bullet for my woman; any decent Spirimian man would. I won’t impress them with that sort of bravery.”

To that, Jenna had no reply, so she had promised not to share with the press that her future husband had saved her life and taken a bullet for her. 

The press conference lasted half an hour, until Kioni stood up and thanked them all for coming.

“As a last thing before we leave you, I want to express my gratitude to Ms. Davis and her team for the incredible job they are doing in not only rebuilding our country, but reshaping it and creating a brighter future for the people of Spirima.”

They took a last pose for pictures, leaning against each other and smiling lovingly at one another. The American journalists shouted for a kiss, but Kioni didn’t comply with their request. This was Spirima, and men did not kiss their women in public. It was fine with Jenna; she got all the intimate attention she needed in private and had no need to share that part with others.

Jenna raised her hand and waved at the crowd when Kioni led her out of the room, and as soon as the doors closed behind them, their shoulders relaxed and they fell back into normal postures that weren’t as stiff and formal.
Just like actors getting offstage,
Jenna thought.

The press officer came to congratulate them, and everyone agreed that their answers had been perfect.

“I’m so proud of you, darling, you did amazingly,” Kioni said and rewarded Jenna with a huge smile. “I loved your answer about respecting our culture but bringing your own with you as well.”

“Thank you.”

“Would you be interested in posing for some more pictures in the garden?” the press officer asked.

“No,” Kioni said quickly. “We have other plans.”

The press officer inclined his head and left.

“What plans?” Jenna asked in a soft voice.

Kioni turned and gave her a smug smile. “I told you that when we were done, I would reward you in my bedroom – have you already forgotten?”

“It’s only noon, I didn’t think you were serious,” she said.

“Ohh, I’m very serious, Blondie. You are officially mine now and I’m taking you to bed.”

Jenna gave him a loving shove. “I told you to stop calling me Blondie.”

He grinningly pulled her to a quiet corner where he pressed her against the wall and nibbled at her earlobe. “You tell me a lot of things, and I still do as I please. I think that’s why you like me so much.”

Jenna’s heartbeat was pumping faster as lust spread like wildfire in her body. Kioni had an erotic power over her unlike anything she had known in her life.

“I do like you a lot, you’re right about that part.” She moaned and tipped her head back, giving him access to her throat.

“Good, because from now on, it’s you and me, Blondie, for the rest of our lives. There’s no going back. You know that, right?”

“Uh-huh.” Her eyes were closed and her lips spread open, taking in the feeling of Kio grinding himself against her with his bulging erection.

In a breathy whisper she managed to say: “I want you so bad.”

He chuckled. “That’s my girl. And you’ll have me, be sure of that, Jenna. My bedroom…
no              w!
”

CHAPTER 29

Chicago

Jenna

“I can’t believe you’re really leaving us for good,” Alex complained and closed the moving box that she had just filled with the books Jenna was bringing with her to her new home. 

“How was it to empty out your desk and say goodbye to your boss?”

“It was okay… Miranda was teasing me about how she had hoped making me a partner in her company would have outweighed being crowned queen.”

“If she knew you better, she would know it’s not about the title but the man.”

“She knows.” Jenna chuckled. “Miranda is cool – and besides I’ll still be closely involved in the project and overseeing things. How can I not, with my personal interest?” Jenna stood up and stretched her back, looking around the apartment that had been her home for seven years. “This move is both exciting and weird.”

“And sad,” Alex added.

“Nahh, I wouldn’t say that. I can’t be sad with a wedding coming up next month to the man I love.”

Alex bit her lower lip and looked like she was about to cry. “Well, good for you, but I’m the one losing my sister.”

“Aww, sweetie.” Jenna moved fast and kneeled down next to Alex, pulling her sister in for a hug. “You’ll never lose me. I’ll always be here for you, night and day. And especially nights, since that’s my day, with the time difference and all.”

“It’s just that with Mom gone, and you abroad, I have no family left here.”

“You have Dad.”

Alex rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. He’s not exactly the world’s greatest dad, and I don’t see myself running to him when I need a hug.”

“I know, but maybe you should give him a chance. He loves us… in his own way.”

Alex blinked away a tear and wrinkled her nose. Jenna could see she was trying not to cry.

“What is it? Tell me.” Jenna stroked Alex’s back.

“I don’t want to be lonely,” Alex confessed and couldn’t hold back the tears anymore.

“You won’t be, sweetie. You have all your girlfriends, and soon Mr. Right will come along. Together you’ll buy that cozy house with the white picket fence, and have a bunch of babies that will drive you crazy and completely sleep-deprived. You’ll see.”

Alex sniffled and gave a small laugh. “I hope you’re right – and actually, I’m bringing a date to the concert on Friday.”

“You are?” Jenna felt all the color leave her face.

“Yes. Darren. He lives in my building and has asked me out at least five times since I returned from visiting you in Spirima.

“But maybe Kalen’s concert isn’t the best place for a first date, Alex.”

“It’ll be okay. He helped me hang up a shelf last month and stayed and had pizza, so I kind of know him a little already.”

Jenna shook her head in disbelief. “I can’t believe you haven’t told me about him.”

Alex shrugged. “Yeah, well, there wasn’t much to tell.”

“The guy asked you out five times and you had him over for pizza… who are you and what have you done to my sister?”

A ghost of sadness crossed Alex’s freckled face. “It’s just that since Z nothing really compares.”

“You can say his name, you know. He’s not Voldemort, and nothing bad will happen if you say Zurry.”

Alex looked down. “I know.”

“Honestly… sweetie. You knew Zurry for one day and it’s been six months.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Alex agreed. “And that’s why I’m going to get my act together and go out with Darren, who is a very nice guy.”

“Good.” Jenna squirmed in her position on the floor.
This is a dilemma. Do I tell Alex that Zurry is flying in with Kalen tomorrow or leave that detail out? It was supposed to be a nice surprise but now it might ruin her chances of moving forward.

“I’ve just got to ask you one thing, though,” she said. “Are you absolutely sure you would never consider moving to Spirima and be close to me and maybe get your guy?”

Alex gazed out the window with a thoughtful expression. “I read somewhere that passionate affairs like the one I had with Zurry never end well. When something burns too brightly, it dies out too quickly.”

Jenna rubbed her forehead. “I hope you’re wrong about that, because I would say Kio and I are pretty passionate together.”

“No, I didn’t mean it like that. I’m sure you two will have a long and blissful marriage. But me and Zurry…” she trailed off.

“You and Zurry what?”

“It was a crazy thing… like something pre-programmed in my system that I had no control over.”

“What do you mean?”

“How do I explain something I don’t understand myself?” She frowned. “I think back to everything that happened between us and I wonder ‘
Who was that woman?’
I said and did things that weren’t typical for me at all.”

“You mean like more or less agreeing to sex within the first hour of meeting him?”

“Yes… and telling him about an erotic fantasy of mine.”

“What? You never told me that.”

“No, but I told you he made love to me and you were so shocked because you thought he was a hardcore Dom type, remember?”

“Yes, that did surprise me.”

“He only did it because I told him it was my fantasy to be taken like it meant something, like he wanted to claim me for his own.”

Jenna widened her eyes. “Oh wow… now it makes sense that you two were both so affected by the short affair. Kio and I wondered about that.”

“Yes, it was very powerful to hear him say that I belonged to him… and stuff.”

“I understand.”
Shit!
If sex-induced oxytocin wasn’t enough to make a woman bond to a man, then having him say all the right things about love and possession would certainly do the trick. 

Alex sighed. “But Darren is a really nice guy too.” It sounded like an attempt to convince herself.

“He just graduated as a dentist last year,” she added.

“Nice.” Jenna didn’t know what else to say. Alex never asked questions about Zurry, and although Jenna was tempted to tell her about his coming here, she didn’t want to spoil her sister’s chances with Darren – he sounded like the right type of guy to fulfil Alex’s dreams of a family in Chicago.

“I told Darren that Kalen plays phenomenally,” Alex said.

“He does, I just wished I could have escorted him here myself, but I really wanted these extra days to tie up loose knots and say goodbye to my life here in Chicago.”
Ask me who is escorting Kalen instead of me… come on, Alex, ask me.

“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Alex said and got up. “Okay, enough talking – these boxes won’t pack themselves, and I’m sure Kio wants you to pack up and come home as soon as the concert is over.”

“You are right about that; I’m flying back on Sunday.”

“At least I get to see you Friday for the concert and Saturday at Dad’s house for dinner.”

“It’s not so bad… you’ll fly over for the wedding soon, anyway. You’re not trying to get out of your promise to me just because of this Darren guy, are you?”

“No, of course not. I’ll come and stay two weeks to help you through it. I’m the maid of honor, after all.”

“Thanks, sis,” Jenna was interrupted when her phone buzzed. “That would be my handsome fiancé.”

Stepping into her bedroom she answered her phone.

“Hey, Kio.”

“Hey, gorgeous, how is my woman doing?”

“Packing up, and getting ready to move.”

“Good. Did you hire people to do it like I suggested?”

“Yeah, kinda, Alex is helping me for the price of a take-out pizza and a bottle of wine that we are sharing as we are packing.”

He laughed. “Okay, just don’t work yourself too hard. I need you in excellent shape when you get back.”

She grinned. “Sounds naughty.”

“It is… I’m dying here. Ten days without you feels like a decade.”

“Aww, I miss you too.”

“Is Alex excited about Zurry flying over?”

“I didn’t tell her.”

“Why not?”

“I didn’t know how to.”

“Just tell her – haven’t you learned yet that it’s better to be honest than polite?”

“Apparently not.”

“Hmm… give me time and I’ll get you there.”

“I love you, Kio.”

“Then tell me again that you can’t wait to marry me.”

A melodious chuckle escaped her. “How many times do you need me to say it?”

“All the time, especially to any men who come near you. Tell them you’re marrying the love of your life in five weeks.”

“Are you scared I’m going to run off with some guy while I’m here packing my things?”

Kioni gave a short “hmpf” sound. “Don’t even put that thought into my head.”

“I have another thought for you, then.”

“What?”

“I was talking to Miranda Johnson, my former boss.”

“Yes?”

“She never had kids but has a soft spot for children, and when I described the situation with all the orphans she almost teared up.”

“And…”

“And she never does that… she’s always so pragmatic.”

“So what are you saying?”

“Miranda and I talked about her being the sponsor for a number of orphanages and schools. She loved the idea. Kio, the woman has more money than she can ever spend in her lifetime and the will to succeed at anything she sets her mind to.”

“That’s amazing.”

“You just wait until she starts sharing the news with her friends. She talked about starting a foundation to aid the children of Spirima, and with her connections she can make a huge difference.”

“You are amazing, Jenna… you know that I love you, right? I truly can’t wait to call you my wife and to see what we can accomplish together.”

Jenna smiled and put a hand to her heart. “I love you too.”

“Then hurry back to me.”

“I’m packing as fast as I can – I’ll be there Monday morning.”

“Good, I already cleared my calendar. We are spending the day in bed.”

She laughed. “Do you want me to bring something back from here?”

“All I want is you Jenna. For the rest of my life.”

“You got it!”