This book is not for you if you can’t handle sex, sex and more sex. Roe Horvat writes amazing stories, some don’t have much heat and others, like this one, are absolutely sizzling. He has described Hedonist: King’s Heat as romantic erotica because “everything in the story revolves around sex.” Boy, did he get that right.

I read and enjoy books with heat levels from sweet to scorching (some might say smut) and this book is some of the finest erotica I’ve read. The blurb really tells you everything you need to know. I want to warn you that you might need to keep a fan and/or something cold to drink nearby while you’re reading this one.

I enjoyed the developing relationship between King Sebastian and Jonah and I can’t wait for the conclusion to their story coming in May.

Reviews for Roe Horvat

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Excerpt (NSFW)
Poor Jonah looks furious.

“Why the scowl? Most people consider it an honor to receive an invitation to the palace,” I say mildly.

“I have work to do, Your Majesty. Instead, I spent two hours idling.”

I smile. “Idling? I rather like the result of your idleness.” I peruse him up and down again. The white linen shirt is open halfway down his chest, revealing his powerful pectorals. He’s shaven, his hair combed and braided, his nails short and clean, and the skin on his powerful arms and legs gleams with a thin sheen of oil. “Didn’t you like my boys taking care of you?”

“You instructed them to tease me, Your Majesty,” he says, disgruntled.

I laugh. He’s right. I wanted him aroused and unsatisfied when he came to me. The plan worked superbly. His huge shaft lifts the front of his loose pants, half-hard. I want to see it again fully erect.

“Why am I here?” His jaw ticks. He’s impatient.

“You prefer candor, don’t you?”

“I don’t like games.”

“I’ll be direct then. I’ll go into heat soon, and I want you to breed me.”

He sucks in a breath and coughs. His reaction is almost ridiculously shocked. “Breed you?” he rasps.

“Yes. I’ve been looking for an alpha worthy to father my heir. I’ve chosen you.”

Jonah’s eyes brighten, and he laughs a deep belly laugh. “Me? I muck out your stalls!”

I put my hands on my hips, waiting for his merriment to subside. “I don’t appreciate being laughed at, Jonah.”

“Forgive me, Your Majesty. Your words have surprised me.”

“Do you want to know why I chose you?”

He squints at me with his clever eyes as if deciding whether I’m sane. I can’t blame him. My request is unusual, to say the least. After a moment of silence, he nods stiffly.

“I could have asked one of my guards,” I say. “Then he’d be distinguished among his brothers in arms and stand above them. I could have asked several and let them fill my womb with so much seed no one would ever know who the father is.” A flush spreads on Jonah’s face. “Even so, the few who’d be allowed to breed me would become superior to the rest in their own minds. Their bond to me would become different. I don’t want that. Most importantly, even though I love them all, none of them stands out to me as the father of the future king.”

“And I do?” He scoffs. He’s so rude. Why on Earth do I find it entertaining?

“Will you let your king finish?”

Immediately, his face turns serious. He bends his head in silent apology.

“I could point at any nobleman in the city, and he’d do it. He’d expect me to marry him, and he’d demand a place at the court. He’d want to raise the future king himself and plant his ideals in my son’s head. And I don’t want that.”

Jonah waits, searching my face. Maybe he’s beginning to understand?

“You’re strong, the strongest of all the men I know. You’re clever, independent, and proud, and a man of integrity. You work hard and treat others how you want to be treated. You have a gift of superior understanding of animal nature, and I suspect, of human nature as well. If my son grows up to resemble you, I’ll be delighted. I’ll teach him manners myself, so he’ll have none of your insolence. Yes, you are worthy to father the future king.” I smirk at his amazed expression. “I don’t care whether you muck out stalls or clean the sewers—as long as you bathe before you touch me.”

At first, he looks stunned. Then he frowns, deep in thought. When he finally speaks, he’s solemn. “Your Majesty, I feel privileged by your request. It’s the greatest compliment I’ll ever receive. I know the rules that you yourself have enacted; no man can be forced to touch another. That’s why I assume you’re giving me an offer and not an order.”

It’s my turn to squint at him. I don’t like the turn of our conversation. “Yes, of course. What’s your answer?”

“I can’t do it.”

I’d suspected some persuasion would be necessary, but he’s testing my patience. I descend the stairs and stand just one step above him. Our eyes are level, and I can scrutinize his for lies and fears. They’re wary but honest.

“Don’t you want me?”

He gives me a self-deprecating smile. “I don’t think there’s a man in the entire world, alpha or omega, who wouldn’t want you, Your Majesty.”

“Because I am the king?”

“No one can compare to you in beauty and scent. And you don’t need my compliments because you are very well aware of your appeal.” His eyes flick between mine, and the unmistakable heat in them makes my heart thump faster. He does want me. And the answer he’s given me cost him a great deal of self-restraint. Why then?

“You’ve hurt my feelings and thwarted my plans. I want to know why. Explain, Jonah.”

He’s indeed clever. I like the depth in his gaze, the spark of mischief, and the palpable wisdom. Yet he makes me unsettled—he’s the first man to disobey me and ignore my wishes, and it seems I want him even more because of it. That’s very inconvenient.

“If I breed you,” he begins slowly, “and you give birth to your heir, who will I be to him? You don’t want a nobleman or one of your soldiers to father your firstborn because you don’t want any man to gain even an illusion of power over you. You wish to be the only one to raise your child and decide his future. You choose me because, in your eyes, I’m so inferior to you that I won’t dare to make a claim on our son.”

It’s an unpleasant feeling to be outsmarted by an uneducated commoner. The irritation must show on my face because Jonah’s eyes fill with sadness. He’s right. Except he doesn’t know about my other reason—I want him.

“I don’t think I can do it, Your Majesty. When I have a child, I want to be his father. I want to be there when he takes his first steps, teach him what I know, and love him. I won’t watch him grow up from afar, unable to kiss his forehead goodnight.”

He has a very romanticized image of fatherhood for an alpha. Most alphas don’t pay any attention to children until their sons grow up enough to carry a sword and a conversation. Yet I notice what he’s said: I don’t think I can do it. First, he stated he wouldn’t, but he’s softened his refusal already.

“What you’re saying is perfectly reasonable. I mistakenly assumed you wouldn’t care. The alpha nature isn’t particularly nurturing.”

“Not all men are the same, Your Majesty.”

I chuckle. “No, they aren’t. Thank heavens for that.”

He gives me a small smile and looks away. He’s uncomfortable because of my closeness—that much is obvious. My scent is stronger, my heat only days away. He clenches his fists. I lean closer, standing on the very edge of the first step. His breath fans my throat when he exhales.

“What can I do to persuade you, Jonah? What kind of promise can I give you so you’d knot me and spill your cum into my womb?” I deliberately choose those words to stir his desire. His nostrils flare, and he still won’t look at me.

“Whatever promise you can give me, it won’t be the family I want for myself one day.” His voice wavers, his control cracking. The sight makes me wet in a flash. My cock pushes at the thin loincloth I wear. He must smell my arousal.

“Maybe there is a compromise we can achieve? Do you want some time to think about it?”

He shakes his head, squeezing his eyes shut.

“Jonah.”

No answer. His chest heaves with rapid breaths. He can step away, but he doesn’t.

Maybe I can’t convince him with words, but I have other weapons at my disposal. I reach under my robe and dip my fingers into my crease. They glisten with slick when I raise my hand.

With a smile, I smear the liquid over Jonah’s parted lips.

He gasps and shudders, and his expression becomes pained. His tongue darts out to catch a taste, so I slide my fingers past his lips. With a rumbling moan, he draws them into his mouth and swirls his tongue around them.

“I want you, too. Just seeing you struggle makes me wet. There is no reason for us to deny ourselves now. I’m not in heat yet. You can fuck me.”

Hedonist Duet Series

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