Page 55 of Red King

Iamdesperate.

“Paisley,” he growls against my mouth. Then he’s pulling my leg up. The one with the slit in my dress. His hand clasps my thigh and then my ass.

I think he mutters a curse against my mouth, but I’m too busy kissing, feeling…groaning to be sure of anything.

His mouth, his scent, him. I’m lost. I’m done.

When he puts his hand between my legs and strokes my clit softly through my panties, I groan again and pant out, “Yes…oh!”

I’m halfway to a damned orgasm, and he’s barely touching me.

“You’re wet,” he says against my mouth. “For me.”

“Yes.”

He strokes me again with just the right pressure. I think he’s using his thumb against my clit, which throbs. I rock against his hand. I want him to rip my underwear from my body. I want him to take me up against the wall. I just…I want him.

There is a hard knock at the door.

“Arctic! Are you in there?” someone snarls. I recognize the voice but can’t place it.

He pulls away from me, his eyes on mine; they’re hazy with desire.

“It’s me, Steel.” There’s another hard knock.

“I hear you,” Arctic says. “I’m trying to have a private conversation with my employee.” He lowers my leg, pulls down my dress, and sucks in a deep breath. “I need a minute,” he says in a softer tone, his eyes on me.

Arctic moves away, and thankfully, I stay standing upright. I don’t melt into a puddle.

“I’m sorry,” he tells me in a low voice. “Fuck! I’m sorry, Paisley. I shouldn’t have said those things. I shouldn’t have followed you or kissed you,” he whispers to me. “Maybe it’s better if you report to Thorn going forward.”

I feel instantly hurt. It’s stupid. I nod. “Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Go back to the party. Go back to her. It’s where you belong.” I hate saying the words.

His eyes are still blazing. His jaw is still tight. He nods his head once. “You’re right. I will.” Then he opens the door to the closet.

“Is it so hard to give me a few minutes of peace? I had to hole myself in a closet, for fuck’s sake,” he rasps as he leaves the small space. Then he turns back to me. “Will you make it back to your apartment okay, or do you need someone to escort you there?”

Really?

I have to work not to roll my eyes or to snort-laugh. So now it’s okay to send me to my apartment with an escort, but not before.

He’s a dick.

“I’ll be fine.”

He seems to relax. “Good night, Miss Reed.”

“Night.” There’s nothing good about it. “Nice to see you,” I say to Steel, who’s standing at the door.

“You too, Paisley.” He’s frowning deeply. Like he knows more went down than just a simple conversation, and I can’t say I blame him. We look guilty as hell. My cheeks are hot. My body is hot after that.

I force myself to walk away without looking back.

So, I’ll be reporting to Thorn going forward. Good! I’ve never been happier about anything in my life. Especially after I almost let Arctic have sex with me in a janitor’s closet up against the wall with a whole lot of guards outside.

What’s wrong with me?

I need to put it behind me. It’s done. I just wish I never had to see Arctic again.

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