Defiant Queen (Mount Trilogy #2)

Ransom laughs. “After all these years, you think I need directions like that? Besides, I got a couple hungry gators waitin’ to be fed.”

I reach for my phone and open a secure app. With a few taps, my part is completed. “Your money’s already in your accounts. I want to know when it’s done.”

“Yes, sir,” Ransom says, and Saxon just nods.

Saxon gags Brett as Ransom fires up the deafening engine of the airboat.

I turn on the dock and head toward the nondescript black Mercedes I drove out to the meet when I got the notification from Saxon that he had the package and Ransom was ready to dispose of it.

The airboat flies away from the dock, skidding across the water around a turn, disappearing out of sight before I start the car.



As I drive back toward the Quarter, I can’t help but think about how fucked up this day has been on every level. Brett. Keira freaking out. Her attacking me, and somehow setting off an impulse I’ve never had in my entire life.

I kissed her.

I’ve never kissed a woman, just like I’ve never fucked another woman without a condom. Ever. Keira Kilgore is the exception.

It pisses me off to know that Brett Hyde was never the barrier I thought, and yet I let him stand in the way. He was already married.

Why the hell didn’t my people find that marriage certificate in his records? My PI has a fuck-ton of explaining to do.

I’m still shaking my head at how big of a dumb fuck Brett Hyde was. If he was even minutely less stupid than I thought, he’d have made sure that shit was legal so he’d be guaranteed a piece of the assets. The more important point? Keira was legally free the whole time.

I could have swept in and taken over so much sooner. Then again, Keira needed to realize what a piece of shit Hyde was all by herself. When I caught word that she’d secured her own place and was meeting with a divorce lawyer, I knew it was my turn. Finally. It still pisses me off to think about the time I wasted.

But now, she’s really fair game. There’s not a goddamned thing stopping me from keeping her indefinitely.

The devil that always rides on my shoulder chimes in with his opinion. Or you could get rid of her right the fuck now because she’s making you weak.

I’d like to say there’s an angel offering an opposite perspective on the other side, but there never has been and never will be.



I don’t reach my suite until hours later. Because of that fucking voice, I forced myself to make my normal rounds on the gaming-room floor to see and be seen. I won’t deviate from my pattern, because I refuse to acknowledge that the voice could be right.

Once I’m satisfied, I head through the passageways and push open the door that leads into my living area. The first thing that hits me is the strange aroma of food coming from the coffee table. I lift the silver covers to find soup, lobster, steak, and God knows what else. All of it untouched.

The nightstand lamp on the bedside table is still on, and Keira is passed out on top of the covers fully clothed, clutching what looks to be my most expensive bottle of vodka. An empty bottle of vodka, to be more accurate.

Her phone is next to her head, and I reach over to pick it up, expecting the movement to wake her. It doesn’t. When her mouth opens and she releases a soft snore, I know there’s not a chance in hell she’ll be rising before noon, which suits me just fine.

Carefully, I remove the vodka bottle and roll her to her side to unzip her skirt and remove it, along with her blouse. The lingerie beneath is sexy as hell, but the curves of her body are what make my dick harden against the silk lining of my pants.

Not tonight, I think, willing my body to calm the hell down. She’s mine, which means tomorrow I’ll get what I want.

I remove the bra because I can’t imagine that would be comfortable to sleep in, and can’t help but admire the pale skin of her tits and those perfect pink nipples that pucker in the cool air of the room.

Not tonight, I remind myself, and tuck her under the covers naked, like that will somehow dull the temptation she presents.

Like Eve in that fucking garden. Adam never stood a chance.

A rush of satisfaction fills me to see her wild red mane spread out on my black satin pillowcase like fire. I’ve never had a woman in this bed before, but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t pictured this exact moment more times than I’ll ever admit.

I knew I wanted Keira Kilgore in my bed, but what I didn’t see coming was how much she’d challenge me outside of it—and how addictive gaining her submission would become.

I back away from the bed slowly and retreat to my closet to shed my suit. I make a mental note that I need to contact G tomorrow to arrange for a full wardrobe for Keira. Up until now, I’ve had him provide only specific outfits at my request, but things have changed.

When I slide under the covers beside her, she moans and curls her body toward me as she shivers. If she were conscious, she’d never do that, so I take advantage and pull her back against my front. My body heat soaks into her skin, and I wrap an arm around her waist.

She makes a noise, like her brain is fighting to regain consciousness.

“Sleep,” I whisper, and in moments, she releases another soft snore. The fact that I think it’s cute tells me just how fucked I am.

I told Hyde the truth; it was never about the money. It was always about her. He was too blind to see a treasure when he had it in his hands, but I’m not.

I see Keira Kilgore exactly for what she’s becoming—the one woman who might be strong enough to stand by my side and rule an empire.

She’d stare at me in horror if I told her that right now. She needs discipline first, and what’s more, she wants it. I’ve never met a more stubborn woman with such a strong submissive streak. I look forward to taming it but don’t want to extinguish her fire, only guide it in a different direction. Tomorrow is soon enough to explain the rules of how things are going to work going forward.

She snuggles into me in her sleep, and I wonder what it would take to make her this pliant while awake. Short of drugs or alcohol, that is.

I close my eyes, not anticipating getting a single moment of sleep with my brain moving a million miles an hour, but shockingly, I drift off in minutes with Keira’s body pressed against mine.





Keira





An unfamiliar chime from my phone wakes me out of a nightmare. My hands are bound behind my back and I’m on my knees, begging a faceless man to kill me.

With chills racing across my skin, I jerk up in bed, the tides of fear from the dream receding until my eyes snap open and I find myself in a dark room. I reach for my phone as the chime rings again, and use the glowing screen to illuminate the room as my head throbs.

Mount’s room.

Last night.

The vodka.

“Oh fuck!” I jump out of bed, remembering what I have to do today.