Moonlight Kingdom

Chapter 6

Everywhere.

That was where Ray could feel the kiss. It was everywhere.

This was not the first kiss Ray had every experienced—she had a whole slew of men she would have fun with—but this was the first time a kiss made her feel so alive. She could feel her body tingle all the way down to her toes, and she could feel the heat rise in both her belly and in her cheeks. His mouth was warm and comforting, for it tasted like cotton candy. His tongue caressed hers in a way that let Ray know Dakota knew what he was doing. She also noticed that despite his gentleness, there was a sort of force in the way he held and kissed her. He was kissing her as if it were both the first and last time he would ever get a chance.

As Ray finally came to, she realized that it was the first and last time Dakota would ever kiss her. Despite her entire body becoming weak in his arms, she found herself snapping out of her dream-like state. After all, she realized that she was in a real place with a very real man, and he had no right to put his hands, body, and mouth—no matter how wonderful—on hers.

Before overthinking, she slapped Dakota across the face.

Dakota staggered back a step before his dark eyes gazed down at Ray. She could tell that he was pissed, but she knew he had no right to kiss her. Even if it did make her body feel all types of things that she's never felt before.

Dakota knew that he deserved to be slapped, but he couldn't let her leave without kissing her. He couldn't say goodbye forever without giving the most beautiful human he had ever seen a farewell gift. There was something about Ray, whether it was her dark eyes or her medium skin or her long hair or her pouty lips, that just affected Dakota. He was a man, and she was a woman, and he felt as if the gods were against him. He wanted nothing more than to ask her to stay the night in his own room, but he knew he would get more than a slap if he even suggested it.

"You shouldn't have done that," Ray muttered as she stood there. Although she was yelling at him before he kissed her, she was unsure about what to do now. There was something in that kiss—neither one of them could deny it—and she couldn't find enough strength in her to continue the argument. It were as if his mouth sucked the spunk right out of her.

"I know. I just knew that if I didn't do it, I would regret it for the rest of my life." With that, Dakota left Ray standing there. He couldn't look at her any longer, for he wanted nothing more in the world than her. From the moment he saw her carrying the pizzas, he wanted to know more about her. Now that he had been around her for one whole night, he wanted more of her. In fact, he wanted all of her. He wanted to taste her lips once again, he wanted to taste her body, he wanted to feel her body . . .

However, he knew that was never going to happen. He got the kiss he desired so much, and he had to leave. He had to leave her because he knew he would never forget that moment the two of them shared. Even though she slapped him, she had kissed him back at first. Dakota had thought that since she responded to his kiss that she might want to stay here with him, but who was he trying to fool? She had a life, she had a job, she had friends, and she didn't need Dakota. Even if she did enjoy the kiss, she didn't need him. After all, he didn't keep any close relationships because he knew that there was no one out there that needed him. The closest friend he had was Tally, and Tally was his driver.

He returned to his room only to walk out onto his balcony. As he stepped out onto the stone ledge, he rested his elbows on the stone barrier that separated him from the ground below. He placed his face in his hands and sighed. He didn't think he needed anything else. Ever since he was a child, he knew that Moonlight Kingdom was his dream. He built it from the ground up as he introduced electricity, modern technology, things his people here didn't have before. He thought if he gave the Scambrasions things they never experienced that they would accept him. It wasn't as if they had something against half-breeds or human and Scambrasion, but they wanted their king to be entirely their blood. Although his parents promised him that the people would never find out, the word still spread. His people trusted him—as much as people without souls could—so they accepted it because they had to. He was a good king, what could they complain about?