Page 81 of Brazen King

And my core clenches at the exhibitionist display. Arousal coats the inside of my thighs, making my clit throb at the reminder of my passionate encounter with Killian.

But the guilt that twists my gut overrides it.

I move quickly back through the event space, racing down the stairs until I’m in the ballroom once more.

My eyes meet Tatiana’s as soon as I walk through the door. And from the look on her face, I know she knows. And she’s disappointed in me. Because once again, I chose Killian over my family. Only this time, I didn’t even try to kill him.

I just let him have me.

And God, it was the best feeling in the world.

I sense him moments before I feel his shoulder brush mine. And then Killian’s beside me, steering me with his commanding presence.

“Dance with me, Miss Sokolov?” he requests, his tone light and formal—like a gentleman who’s only just approaching me for the first time.

My stomach quivers at the thought of being in his arms, of having our bodies pressed close together once more after what just happened. But in this public space, with countless people within earshot, I can’t refuse him without sounding blatantly offensive.

And seeing as it’s my parents’ charity ball, declining to dance with one of our guests would be nothing short of rude.

“Of course, Mr. King,” I say, my response coming out breathier than I would like.

Electricity jolts up my arm as his hand slips into mine so he can guide me onto the dance floor. No one else seems to notice anything out of the ordinary.

But I can sense Tatiana’s death glare on the back of my head, and I know she’s seriously debating murdering Killian right here and now—or perhaps telling our father everything. I glance nervously toward my parents, fearful that she’s leaning toward the latter.

They’re both caught up in a conversation with the governor, however, which means I have some time to fix the situation I find myself in.

“Marriage isn’t a death sentence, you know,” Killian says softly as his arms form a strong frame around me.

And he sweeps me around the dance floor.

My feet move from muscle memory, allowing my mind the freedom to assess just how I should handle the conversation he’s clearly not willing to let go.

“I never said it was,” I say stiffly, fighting the way my chest squeezes as he refuses to take no for an answer. Because as much as I wish he’d never mentioned the idea of marriage, now, I can’t get it out of my head.

And it fills me with such intense longing, it nearly knocks me off my feet.

“Then say yes,” he presses, his green eyes dancing as he baits me yet again.

“Killian, Ican’t.” And what hurts most is the realization that, if the world were without so many complications and rivalries, I might actually want to say yes.

Because, try as I might to fight it, my feelings for Killian are undeniable. I love the way he makes me feel. I love the person I am when I’m with him. And I don’t just yearn for him sexually. I want him by my side all the time. Because he makes me laugh. He leaves me giddy with excitement. And when he looks at me, I feel like I’m the only woman on earth.

“Youcan, Natasha. All you have to do is say yes. And I can see it in your eyes that you want to. You feel it too,” he presses, sending butterflies erupting in my stomach.

And despite myself, I feel my walls starting to crumble. I’ve never wanted something so badly for myself—to just let go and trust that Killian will fix this. But I don’t know that I have it in me to betray my family like that. And without a doubt, that’s how they would perceive it.

My father might never forgive me. Tatiana certainly wouldn’t. Not when marrying Killian would call into question all our hard-fought battles for independence as women in a man’s world.

And after everything my father has done to ensurewewill be the ones to rule when he steps down…it would be like spitting in his face.

“Killian…” I murmur, the knot in my throat making it hard to breathe. Because turning him down again is going to be the hardest thing I’ll ever do. And my greatest fear is that I’ll live to regret it.

I let the silence linger, savoring my last moments with him before I obliterate whatever this is between us. And in that peaceful quiet, I take in what a good dancer he is. How naturally we fit together as we move around the dance floor.

It’s terrifying how right this feels.

And for one fleeting moment, I can see the future Killian has in mind.

---