Marisa Chenery: Mate for a King

Realizing she was still naked on the couch with her legs spread open, Lexi took a deep breath to calm her nerves then stood. Unable to resist, she ran her hand across Raed's hard chest. "I thought we were doing quite well here."

Raed brought his hand up and covered hers. "Yes, but isn't there a saying about it being so much better for those who wait?"

"But what if I'm not the patient type?"

"I can make it worth your while to try to be."

From the determined look on Raed's face, Lexi knew there would be no changing his mind. She sighed with disappointment as he picked up his shirt and pulled it on.

She gathered her discarded clothes and dressed. She still didn't understand why Raed had abruptly decided to take her back to his place, but she wasn't about to say no.

Once she got her purse, Raed ushered her outside. He helped her into his Mercedes and then they were off. Lexi watched some of the scenery go by before she turned to look at Raed. "So are you going to tell me why we have to suddenly go back to your place? Or are you going to leave me in the dark?"

He gave her a quick smile before he returned his attention to the road. "I just thought I would be better able to make things up to you for last night there instead of at your flat."

"Okay, but I still think we were doing fine at my flat."

He glanced over at her with a heated stare. "I intend to finish what I started. This brief encounter only whetted my appetite. I'm going to put the rest of the afternoon, and part of the evening, to good use. That being the case, I should at least cook you supper. I’ll feel more comfortable doing that at my place."

The temperature inside the car seemed to suddenly spike. The thought of spending hours in bed with Raed made her feel boneless. If the oral sex had been any indication, she was in for a wild ride. She suddenly wished Raed would drive faster.

She cleared her throat. "You're going to cook for me?"

"Don't worry, I can cook."

"To be honest, your ability to cook or not doesn't worry me in the slightest. I've just never had a guy make a meal for me before."

"I'm glad I can be your first."

Lexi looked out the window to see Raed had pulled onto the graveled surface of a long driveway leading to a large manor house. The lawns and flowerbeds appeared to be professionally landscaped; in fact everything about the property screamed extremely well-to-do. She had known Raed had money, but she hadn't realized he was this rich.

No wonder he wanted to come here instead of staying at her place. Her entire flat would probably fit inside one room of the manor.

Raed parked the Mercedes in front of a large, detached garage. After he turned off the ignition he shifted in his seat until he faced her. "I guess I should probably warn you I don't live alone."

"You still live with your parents?" There went her fantasy of having hot, wild monkey sex with Raed.

He shook his head and chuckled. "No, I don't live with my parents. I guess you could sort of call them roommates, but my men are more than that. They're more like family. The only ones I have left."

"Your men?" Lexi asked slowly. Was Raed so rich he required bodyguards?

Raed took hold of her chin and gave her a hard kiss. As if he had known what she had been thinking, he said, "I call them my men, but they really more like part of my family."

Lexi swallowed. "Oh."

He released her chin and stroked the back of his hand down her cheek. "Let's go inside."

Raed took Lexi's hand as he led her up to the entrance to the manor. He pushed open the door and stepped aside for her to enter first. Lexi looked around the large, open-concept foyer. The floor had been done in light-blonde hardwood. The walls had been painted just a shade darker than the floor. A heavy oak banister wound all the way up the curved flight of stairs to the second floor. A crystal chandelier hung from the center of the high ceiling. This was definitely a rich person's house.

Lexi turned to face Raed. "You have a nice place."

"Thanks. I'm glad you like it. Come on, I'll introduce you to my men. Just a word of warning, Garrick gets a kick out of making people feel uncomfortable. Ignore him if he starts in on you. Not that I expect him to, but just in case."

"Okay. I've been forewarned."

Raed placed his hand on the small of her back as he walked her across the foyer and down the hall. Lexi heard the sound of a blaring television before they came to the entrance of the large living room. A huge, wide-screen HD television hung on the back wall, broadcasting a game of soccer. Two large couches were placed not too far from the television, one directly opposite the TV, the other against the wall, kitty-corner to it.

Seated on the couches were five of the largest men Lexi had ever seen.

Leaning in, Raed whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, they don't bite."

Lexi doubted his words, especially when a couple of them started to yell at the TV, cursing up a storm. Another one chucked popcorn at the screen. "Are you sure?"

"Positive. When they watch football, they tend to really get into the game."

It took Lexi a few seconds to remember the British called soccer 'football'. "So I see."

Raed started across the room. Lexi let her gaze run over his men. All five of them had the same large, muscular build as Raed. Each had a face that would drive women wild. Lexi figured there was enough testosterone in the room to choke a horse.

Raed's men didn't take too long to notice them.

"Well, well what do we have here?" One of the men flashed Lexi a sexy grin as he stood. He shook his shaggy, light brown hair out of his eyes as he looked her up and down. He stood about an inch taller than Raed, meaning she had to crane her neck to look him in the face as well.

Raed put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her up against his side. "Lexi, this is Garrick."

Lexi stuck out her hand. "Nice to meet you, Garrick." If Raed hadn't already told her to watch out for the man, she would have known he was a bit of a trouble maker anyway. He had a glint in his brown eyes that said he found this a perfect opportunity to stir up things.

Before Garrick could take her hand, Raed made a low rumbling sound in his chest. Garrick gave her a cocky smile and nodded once in her direction.

The football game forgotten, the rest of Raed's men stood and gathered around them. If Lexi didn't know better, she would think this was the first time Raed had brought a woman home. Most of them seemed eager to meet her.

"Are you going to introduce the rest of us, Raed?" asked the man standing next to Garrick. He was a couple of inches shorter than Garrick, had collar-length brown hair and friendly looking hazel eyes. He gave her a genuine smile.

"I guess I don't have much choice in the matter with all of you crowded around us. Lexi, meet Algar. Beside him is Wulfric, then Brand and lastly, Dolf."

Lexi smiled at each man. Wulfric, the tallest of the men, had to be at least six foot seven. He had straight, light blond hair that reached the top of his shoulders and emerald green eyes. He also gave the impression you wouldn't want to be trapped in a dark alley somewhere alone with him. Then he smiled and his face lit up, chasing his frightening demeanor away. "Lexi."

She looked over at Brand next. He'd be about six foot five, she estimated. His straight, black hair fell past his shoulders and his dark blue eyes gave the impression he was bored. Brand may not have been the tallest, but he appeared to be the biggest, muscle-wise. He didn't smile as he grunted a hello. Obviously a man of very few words.

Lexi moved on to Dolf. Just as tall as Brand, he had short, wavy, reddish-brown hair and brown eyes so dark they almost appeared black. He gave her a lopsided grin.