Page 42 of Red King

“I’m going to guess that you haven’t even looked at another man, let alone dated one.”

I make a face because she’s right on the money.

Pathetic.

“That’s what I thought.” She wags a finger at me. “You’re waaaaaay past due. Now go out there and have a good time.”

“I’m working, Maggie.”

“At least be open to the possibility of meeting someone for a hook-up. You need to get back on the horse – or dragon, in this case – before your hoochie closes over.”

I choke out a laugh. “My hoochie closing over? Really? Yeah, that isn’t going to happen.”

“It might.” She levels me with a look. “You need sex…okay…I’m just gonna say it. You need to have plenty of good, uncomplicated, no-strings-attached sex. You’ll see the world a little differently after that, I promise you. You’ll eventually start to heal and move on.”

“You might be right.” Again, my mind goes straight to Arctic. Dammit! I can’t think of him in that way.

I just can’t!

“It’s no-strings sex, or you need to fall in love,” Maggie goes on.

“Oh, hell no!” I push out.

“Exactly.” Maggie giggles. “Some hot sex it is, then. I dare you.”

I laugh, my mind still in the gutter and firmly on Arctic.

It’s a good thing he’s a candidate and the king… Oh! And my boss, which makes him out-of-bounds, which is a good thing.

A great thing, or I might be tempted to do something stupid.

Arctic

I’m sure to get to the cocktail party early. I find my name tag and stick it onto my suit. I’m nervous, and I fucking hate it.

I straighten my tie for the hundredth time; my collared shirt feels a little too tight tonight. Is it hot in here despite the air-conditioning units? Or is it me?

“You look like you’re ready to run away,” Thorn says, a smile playing on his lips.

“It’s been a while, and this isn’t…it’s…unnatural. I don’t like it.”

“It’s normal that you’d be a little nervous, Si— Arctic.”

“If you say so.” I widen my eyes.

“I have no doubt that you’ll do just fine,” Thorn tells me.

“Hello.” Smoke walks over to us as soon as he sees me. “Hi…um…Arctic,” he says, going to pat me on the back and then thinking better of it.

“Treat me normally, as you would anyone else,” I instruct him.

“Yes, Si—”

“Treat me like you would anyone else.” I raise my voice a tad.

“Sure thing.” He gives a hard nod and then pulls at his collar. “I’m not used to wearing all this get-up.”

“You look good,” Thorn tells him.

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