Michaela crosses one leg over the other.
The flash of skin is enough to awaken my cock.
She unfolds her legs and crosses them again.
Tease.
It’s almost as if she can read my thoughts, and she’s determined to test my resolve.
A surge of lust shocks my veins, and my cock throbs.
Fuck. Me.
Every inch of me wants to dive in the warmth between those toned legs.
I gawk, not bothering to hide my appreciation.
Our eyes meet.
Palpable heat snaps the air between us, searing and hot.
After last night’s kiss, I’m not sure how we’re going to survive a sexless, yearlong marriage. I guess I should speak for myself. I’m still unable to read her.
Her pink lips stretch into a knowing smile. “You’re staring.”
“So are you.”
She laughs.
It wouldn’t be hard to keep admiring her like this for the rest of the day, but that’s not why we’re here.
I grab the iPad and hand it to Michaela.
“Look at this. Payne changed his tune.”
“‘HAIL TO THE KING: KING KÖNIG SOON TO TURN HIS HOTEL HEIRESS FIANCÉE INTO A BONA FIDE QUEEN’”Michaela reads the headline out loud. “Wow. What a departure from the article he published a couple days ago.”
“Thanks to you.” I point at her.
She beams.
“Since we also played things up for the cameras as we were leaving the restaurant, we struck gold. There are a few other notable articles on us stepping out last night. All good, but nothing compared to Payne’s article, which has gone viral.”
“This is great news, Phoenix. You were worried the media might not buy our story, and they’d take malicious pleasure in poking holes into our romance. It seems they bought it, hook, line, and sinker.”
“I’m relieved they did,” I say. “The publicist is ecstatic. Instead of putting out an official statement with our side of the story, she’s going to let the good publicity do its thing. The less we say, the better.”
“I agree,” she says. “That’s a win for us.”
“It’s a major win because the plan is for us to get married this Sunday.”
Her jaw drops.
Her long eyelashes flutter like crazy.
She opens her mouth to say something, but nothing comes out.
Her shoulders slump.
