Page 61 of Red King

“You have him by the balls. Just you wait and see. He wants you so badly it’s eating at him.”

That would make two of us.

No!

“Even if you’re right – and I don’t think you are, just for the record…”

“Want to bet?” Maggie gets this wicked glint in her eyes.

“No, I don’t want to bet.” I laugh, taking another sip of my wine and realizing I have almost finished my glass. “I can’t sleep with him.” I shake my head.

“You can and you should.”

“He’s my—”

“Boss and the king. Blah…blah…blah. So what? If you’re as attracted to him as you say you are, you should totally go there.”

“I could lose my job.”

“So what? You’ll get another job. Besides, he’s the king; his say would be final, and if he’s boning you, he won’t let them fire you. It’s that simple.”

“Boning, Maggie? Really?” I laugh.

“Yes. Have some fun. Live a little. Be a little wild and a little reckless for once in your life.”

“It would be wrong.”

“Not really. As long as you both want to and lay down the rules upfront so that no one ends up getting hurt. You should totally go for it. You want him, don’t you?”

I don’t answer because I do indeed want him, but I’m not admitting that openly.

“Do you want him, Paisley? Be honest, if not with me, then with yourself.”

I sigh. “Fine, yes, I want him,” I groan and cover my face for a second.

She grins. “Then you should go for it. In fact…” She grabs my phone, and her fingers fly over the screen. “There!” She hands it back.

I gasp. “What did you just do?”

I’ll be there.

I groan again, louder this time.

“Find out what he wants, and then come and talk to me before making any kind of decision.”

“So that you can convince me to do the wrong thing?” I laugh.

A cheeky grin spreads across her whole face. “Exactly.” She nods.

16

Paisley

I feel sick to my stomach as I enter the Royal Offices.

“Morning.” I barely get the word out, I’m so nervous. My hands are shaking. I feel cold right to my bones, and it has nothing to do with the air-conditioning throughout the castle. I was unable to eat breakfast this morning. I could barely get a cup of coffee down. After all the tossing and turning I did last night, the coffee was a must. I forced myself to drink it.

Sally smiles, glances at the clock, and then looks back at me. “You can go straight in. He’s waiting for you.”

---