One strong finger tapped his chin, lifting his head until he was eye to eye with the king. The passionate light in his eyes made Kansas sure he was thinking of kissing him too. Yes.
“You’ve done the right thing, Kansas Frayne. Z is the most powerful wizard of this generation, so I’m sure he can arrange something. Eventually.”
“Eventually?” he echoed.
“There’s no hurry, is there? Is someone waiting for you back home?”
“No, I mean, no one’s waiting for me. I imagine eventually my uncle might worry if I don’t answer my phone…”
“Good. Then we have time.” The king lowered his head slowly. “I wish to learn more about this Eye-Oh-Wa. And you, Kansas. I must know everything about you.”
“There’s not much to know,” he murmured dazedly. “I’m not that interesting.”
“I beg to differ. But regardless, it is my duty to be thorough. It may take weeks to plum your depths and uncover your secrets. Until then you will be my…guest.”
Oh God, yes. I’ll show you what to uncover first.
Kansas licked his lower lip, imagining how the king would taste. His fingers itched to trace the muscles of his back, his abs. But a glimmer of movement out of the corner of his eye held him back.
The wizard.
He’d forgotten Z’s warning. Okay, he hadn’t forgotten, but he’d been giving it his best damn shot. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d wanted someone this badly. Not even Danny.
Shit. Danny. Don’t forget what that asshole did to you.
The thought of his ex broke Kansas out of his lust-induced haze. He had a proven track record of picking the wrong guy. A spoiled king from another world suddenly sounded like the same old same old.
Say no.
That was what Z had told him to do. If he wanted to get home, he had to deny the king. And himself in the process.
So, definitely not a dream.
“No.”
The shock emanating from the king’s powerful body was tangible. Kansas watched in fascination as the strong jaw dropped in stunned disbelief. “What did you say?”
Uh oh. Kansas took a step back, away from the king’s touch and temptation. “No? I mean, I appreciate your offer, but I can’t stay here for weeks. I don’t belong here, and I think it would be better for everyone if you sent me back as soon as possible.”
The wizard came forward, gaze intent on the king. “Your Majesty, I believe there is a spell that might work perfectly. I’ll take him to my—”
“Silence!”
Kansas flinched. He couldn’t help it. The man had changed from playful charmer to intimidating ruler in the blink of an eye. Shoulders back, nostrils flaring, he addressed the wizard, his attention never leaving Kansas. “It pleases me that you know how to send him back, and I’m sure the human is relieved as well. However, I have made my decision. As I said before, I’m determined that this man will be my guest until my curiosity is satisfied. Would you deny your king?”
The emphasis wasn’t lost on the wizard. “Of course not, Your Majesty.”
“I’ll deny you.”
What are you doing?
Kansas wasn’t sure, but he’d committed himself. Hopefully Z wasn’t full of shit and his chosen one wasn’t the kind of king who liked to make statements with severed heads.
Stop it with the heads already.
“Fenna, Lenard and your wizard have all praised you to the moon and back, and I’m sure it’s well deserved. I was taken from my home against my will—and it’s a place where there is no king, so I hope you’ll forgive me for being blunt—but this is my life we’re talking about. I need to get back to it.”
Kansas couldn’t believe he’d had the nerve. Neither, apparently, could the golden god standing in front of him. The one whose temple was starting to pulse as his whiskey eyes narrowed. Not in passion, but in anger.