Page 14 of Sapphire

I straightened, turning my back on his pathetic form.

Aria stepped forward. "Liam, be a dear and escort this piece of trash to the holding cells. I want him alive for the trials, to serve as an example to anyone else who might harbor thoughts of betrayal."

“Thank you Liam,” I said, knowing Aria was right in roving him from my sight before I really did kill him.

Liam nodded, his eyes glinting with a kind of feral approval. "With pleasure, Queen Kamilla."

I smiled, the title settling over me. I turned to the others. Seamus was there waiting for me, his eyes shining with a possessive joy that made my knees weak. He caught me up in his arms, and claimed my mouth in a kiss that flooded heat to my core.

"My queen," he rasped against my lips, his hands tangling in my hair, his body pressing close to mine. "My fucking queen, what I’d like to do to you know.”

I shivered, heat and want and the delicious ache of the memory. "Keep talking like that and I might just demand you get on your knees before the Russian Queen.”

He growled, low and deep in his chest, his hands tightening on my hips. "Is that a promise, my queen?"

I grinned. "Oh, it's more than a promise, Seamus. I can't think of any better way to celebrate.”

He laughed, the sound rich and warm. "Your wish is my command, your majesty. Your wish is my fucking command." Then he was sweeping me up into his arms and carrying me away from the crowd, away from the chaos and the carnage. A place I was hoping we had carved out for both of us.

Chapter 13: Seamus

Iwatched as Kamilla paced the length of her room, her steps quick and agitated, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. It had only been a day since she claimed the crown, but the weight of her new responsibilities, was pressing down on her like a physical thing.

"I can't believe it," she muttered, more to herself than to me. "I won but now what? Where do I start?”

"You're Kamilla Sokolova. The most brilliant, ballsy woman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. You now get to do anything you want."

She stopped pacing, turning to face me with a look that was equal parts exasperated and need. "You're biased, O'Malley. And possibly brain-damaged, if you think I'm any of those things."

I snorted, pushing off the wall I'd been leaning against and crossing the room to stand in front of her. "I'm a lot of things, Kamilla. But brain-damaged is not one of them. You know what you what to do, so be a queen and just do it.”

“You're just trying to get into my pants."

I grinned, and hooked my fingers into the waistband of her jeans, tugging her closer. "I'm already in your pants, love. Or did you forget about this morning's little celebration?"

She shivered, her eyes darkening with remembered pleasure. "As if I could forget. I'm still sore in all the right places, you smug bastard."

I chuckled, low and dirty, and leaned in to nip at her earlobe. "Mmm, I like you sore. Like knowing I've left my mark on you, inside and out. Like knowing that every time you move, every time you breathe, you feel me."

She whimpered, her hands coming up to fist in my shirt. "Fuck, Seamus. I'm trying to be serious, trying to think about the future and what the hell I'm going to do now that I'm the fucking queen of the Russian mafia."

I sobered, pulling back. "I know, sweetheart. I know it's a lot. But that's the thing, Kamilla. You're not alone. You have me, and Cara, and the entire might of the Irish mob at your back. We'll help you, in whatever way we can. In whatever way you need."

She stared at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine, and then, slowly, a smile started to curve her lips.

"Stay with me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Be my partner, Seamus. My right-hand man in all things."

I blinked. "Kamilla, are you asking me to marry you?"

Kamilla’s sapphire eyes widened.

"Fuck no, O'Malley. I've had a husband, remember? And look how well that turned out. No, I'm not asking for your ring or your name. I'm asking for you, for your strength and your loyalty and your unwavering support. I'm asking you to stand by my side, to help me rule the Russian kingdom. As my partner, my lover, in all the ways that matter."

I stared at her, my mind reeling, my heart pounding so fucking hard I thought it might crack a rib.

"Yes," I said, the word tearing out of me.

She smiled, the sight so fucking beautiful it stole the breath from my lungs, and then she was kissing me, hard and deep and desperate, like she was trying to crawl inside my skin and make a home there.

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