Page 40 of The Billionaires' Prize

“Thanks,” I say, but neither of us move. Holding her is exactly what I’ve been hungry for. She smells like a dream. Richand exotic and, at the same time, soft, almost delicate. There’s a hint of sweetness and spice, two words I’d use to describe her.

She watches me, an expectant look on her face. I should have figured she wouldn’t let it go. Gabe’s always saying how persistent she is. He used to act like he hated it, but I always knew that he admired her tenacity.

I lift a shoulder. “Think I’m going to have to let somebody go.”

“Oh, no.”

“Not the first time, but I can’t have people cutting corners.” This is not the career for that. Lives are on the line.

“Of course not.” She gives my leg a squeeze. She might as well strike a match and touch it to kindling. Before I can reach for her, she leans forward and grabs my plate. “May I?”

She’s too good to be true and only getting better as she comes out of her shell. “Help yourself.”

She picks up her train of thought and continues, “I mean, everyone’s human, but you can’t have your bodyguards being distracted.”

From her lips to his agents’ ears.

She plucks a piece of pepperoni and nibbles it. Seeing the slice of sausage slide between her lips makes my gut tighten. Damn, she’s pretty with that little smattering of barely there freckles.

Tucking her legs under her, she pivots sideways, practically in my lap. I cup the side of her knee, keeping her like this. Connected. In our own little bubble.

“I was distracted,” I admit, tugging her hair gently with my other hand.

She takes a bite and then offers the pizza to me. Holding her gaze, I take a bite. She watches me chew, and my heart flutters in my chest. I swear I feel her fingertips caressing my jaw, tracing down my throat.

“Couldn’t stop wondering if you were missing me the way I was you,” I whisper. “If you were thinking about last night. Wondering what you were doing. Who you were doing it with.”

Color rises in her cheeks as she nods and I know I was right. She and Kingston finally gave in to their chemistry.

I tug her hair again until her chin tips up and she shows me that smooth, creamy column of her neck.

“How was your shower?”

13

KATHERINE

“How was your shower?” Alex leans in close, and we’re alone, trapped in our lust bubble.

My body is on alert, utterly aware of Alex’s massive frame and just how alive I feel next to him.

Does he know what happened between me and Kingston? Can he tell how swollen my lips are?

I’m still hot from the shower, cheeks pink and slightly whisker-burned. All of which I love.

Alex’s attention flicks between me and Kingston. He stares at my best friend, those keen brown eyes taking in every detail.

I suck in a breath.

For a moment, I forgot how watchful he is. How observant.

“It was nice. Refreshing.”

He stares at my lips, and my stomach does a somersault.

“You look happy.” That seems to please him.

“I do?” Does he think about that?

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