Page 87 of Hidden Empire

“This is so romantic,” she breathes, spinning around to take it all in another time.

It’s really not much. There will be much more lavish and romantic dates in our future, but I’ve done the best that I can with what we have on the island. There isn’t much you can do for a secret date when it’s past midnight on a secluded island with prying eyes.

“It’ll do,” I say, reaching for her. “You’re not hungry, are you?”

“Not even a little bit,” she answers, rising up on her toes.

Her arms surround the back of my neck, and mine surround her waist, pulling her into a tight embrace.

“I was worried about you yesterday,” I admit. “How are you feeling?”

“Guilty,” she answers with a wince. “I didn’t think about you before taking the gummy, and I should have. And then Ivan…”

“Don’t feel guilty,” I encourage, playing with the ends of her hair while we hug. “You don’t need to ask for permission, don’t think that I expect that of you. But?—”

“A warning would be nice,” she interrupts with a guess.

“Yes,” I agree. “A warning would help.”

Jade nods, her face brushing against my chest. “I’m sorry.”

I press my lips against her soft hair. “You don’t need to apologize, and even if you did, you’d already be forgiven, Krasotka.”

“So what are we doing on this date?” she asks, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

My hands surround her face, actively ending our embrace. “I thought I could teach you a different form of pain management.”

Her nose scrunches in the middle. “You’re going to give me Tylenol?”

“I was thinking about eating you out, but if you’d rather have a Tylen?—”

“Let’s go with your thing,” she cuts in, face split into a nervous smile.

“Yeah?” I ask, brushing her cheeks with my thumbs. “You want my mouth on you, baby?” One hand caressing down her face, I drag my fingers over Jade’s lips, causing her to shiver.

Her pupils widen, and she nods, mouth cracking open to let out a shaky breath. I feel it warm my fingertips and smirk.

“Is that why you stripped in front of me tonight, Krasotka?” I ask, humming. “Did you want to provoke me into keeping you naked?”

“Well, a bit,” she confesses, voice breathy and gentle.

“Naughty girl,” I tsk, lowering my mouth to her cheek. “Do it again for me.”

Her throat quivers with a gulp. “N-now?”

“Mmm,” I rumble, agreeing. “Now, baby.”

Her sweatshirt is discarded to the side with one hurried tug. She steps out of her shoes next, toeing off her socks and kicking them to the side. Jade isn’t overly confident when stripping for me, but she does so fucking good, watching me while clothes continue to fall off of her. Once she’s down to her underwear, I hold a hand up for her to stop.

I take a step forward, my fingers lifting the strap of her bra, gliding down the soft material. “This stays on.”

“You don’t want to see them?” she asks, lips quirking down.

“I can’t see them,” I amend, stopping her frown where it begins. “You have no idea how much power over me you have, do you?”

“I-I do?” she squeaks.

Absolutely precious.

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