Page 19 of Bride By Coronation

The door flies open, and Kirill steps inside.

I leap off the counter. My voice cracks when I scold, "This is the women's room."

His lips twitch. He reaches for the lock and turns it, stating, "Sue me." He stares at me, and I must be losing it. It appears heated, but I have to be wrong.

I point at the door and blurt out, "Your girlfriend is right outside this door!"

Surprise fills his expression, but he doesn't move.

"You're going to have a lot of explaining to do to her when you leave this bathroom after intruding like this!"

His mouth curves, and he teases, "What should I tell her about what happened between us here?"

My core catches fire, and I hate myself for it.

I don't engage in cheating.

I don't engage in cheating.

I don't engage in cheating.

He lunges closer, puts his hands on both sides of my hips, and cages me between his body and the counter.

I inhale sharply, staring at the skin on his chest peeking out of his dress shirt. His scent flares around me, stronger than what's left on the cashmere scarf.

He tilts my chin up, pinning his gaze on me, asserting, "She's not my girlfriend."

My voice shakes as hard as my insides when I say, "Sorry. Your wife." It stings my heart as it comes out.

He slowly shakes his head. "Not that either."

"Mistress?" I offer, still unable to take a lungful of air.

He chuckles. "Nope. None of the above. And I don't pay for sex either, so don't ask if she's a prostitute."

I bite on my smile, trying to stop it from exploding into existence.

"Why are you here?" he asks.

"Why areyouhere?" I retort.

His eyes light hotter. "I asked first."

"I asked second," I push back.

"Ah, you've already forgotten it, Fiona," he murmurs.

I squeeze my legs together, wishing my body didn't throb every time he said my name, and wonder how he could have this effect on me. I barely get out, "What's that?"

His expression turns serious. "A queen obeys her king. You don't seem to be very good at following orders."

My heart races faster, and butterflies attack my stomach with full force. I grip the counter, taking shallow breaths.

He slides his thumb over my jaw, then slips his hand under the scarf, stroking my neck over my pulse.

Tingles race down my back. I shiver and gasp, closing my eyes, drowning in his ability to overload my senses. It's to the point I'm burning with something I've never felt before.

He moves his mouth to my ear. His hot breath creates more chaos within me, and he warns, "You're going to have to learn how to obey your king, little bird."

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