Page 35 of The Heir

Pressing through the crowd atop trembling legs, I don't stop until I'm in front of the painting I lied about. A wide slash of abstract purple, it would look absolutely ridiculous in Fabian's restaurant. I stare straight ahead as the painting blurs then refocuses before blurring again. King's other hand comes up to rest over my hand where it lays on his forearm, but we both stay silent while I desperately try to process everything.

I'm ashamed to say my heart races for far more than the fact Christopher may be cheating.

"Hey! There you are! We thought we'd lost you!" I hear Brittany's bright, cheery voice enter my consciousness and I plaster a fake smile on my face and turn, seeing it's not just her, but her husband and Tiffany and her spouse as well.

Brittany holds out her hand to King and smiles broadly. "How are you? I'm Brittany, and this is my husband. Nice tie! What a happy coincidence!" Brittany gushes, giving me such a kind smile that it almost breaks my resolve.

King smiles in that charming way of his, instantly covering up the concern as he takes in my friend group. I get the sense he doesn't like for others to see him appear weak. "Hendrix King," he introduces himself. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

I settle. King's smooth voice does much to make me feel better as he leans forward and takes all their hands in turn, and it's only when his jacket falls open that I see the lining of his suit is also the same color of my dress. It stuns me out of my sadness. Shocked, I keep my eyes locked on it, even tilting my head to keep staring as he steps back into place beside me.

"Sooo, where's Christopher?" Brittany asks, her gaze flickers between the two of us curiously.

"He's with Anna," King states simply, saving me from having to talk.

Brittany blinks and then her eyes fall to mine, where I see it. The glimmer of recognition of something that they all knew.

"Yeah…" King says slowly, seeing I'm still not speaking. "We're just walking around, trying to find ideas for Fabian's new restaurant. Has Isobel told you about her landing him as a client? She is so incredibly talented, keeps me on my toes." At their confused look he grins widely. "We're partners, I'm the architect on the build." King looks down at me proudly, and I blush, trying to bite back a smile.

I hate to admit it but his praise of me pushes Christopher and Anna further into the back of my mind.

"Yes she's so insanely talented," Tiffany says. "Well, it's nice to meet you, Mr. King. We're going to keep going, they're about to open up adance floor!" Tiffany does a little hop, and her husband grabs her hand, hauling her away.

As the group breaks off, I can't help but look around and see Anna in her red dress, staring at a painting. Christopher is next to her but they are a decent length away, and he's pointing at something while she nods. I heave out a sigh, thinking I've completely almost blew the night accusing him of cheating when it probably isn't even true.

I turn to look up at King and smile, feeling better.

"So,green,huh? You like that color?" I tease. Maybe the night's just full of coincidences.

King chuckles. "I do like it, onyouespecially." His eyes are intense as they stare down at me, and my breath quickens as my heart begins to race. My smile quivers as I rock my torso a little, sashaying my dress playfully.

"Well, thank you. That's very kind."

Just then the music begins and it's not dance music, rather beautiful instrumental versions of today's popular songs. I step forward to make my way over to another painting when King grabs my hand to halt me, making me pause and look down between us. Our fingers intertwine and he squeezes, rubbing his thumb slowly over my knuckles.

"Dance with me," he says quietly, pulling me further into him. The three words cause my pussy to clench hard, and I stumble, placing a hand against his chest to steady myself.

Surprised, my eyes flicker between his. "I can't…I shouldn't!Christopher is-"

"Indisposed at the moment," King takes another step into me. His minty breath flutters across my cheeks and I wet my lips as his fingers grip mine harder. "I'll make a scene if you don't say yes," he teases, leaning into my ear. "I'll scream the place down, Isobel."

I burst out giggling. "Ohhh, you had better not, King.Behave!"

Pulling back from my ear he maintains our close distance, staring deep into my eyes. Heat crawls up my neck. "I'll behave only if you dance with me."

I roll my eyes, letting him lead me to the makeshift wooden dance floor. "Only one." I laugh, letting him tug me to him.

But something happens that I wasn't expecting; King's eyes darken the closer I get to him. His chest expands, and his face flushes just slightly darker. Do I imagine one of his hand trembling against mine as his other settles gently on my lower back? Almost too low to be proper?

My breath hitches again as he suddenly presses harder, pulling me more flush against him, and then we begin to sway.

And I feel every hard inch of him pressing into me.

I swallow nervously, keeping my eyes on his chin and keeping my gaze averted from his. I've never felt intimacy like this before. As King twirls me, he bends down, running his nose alongside the vulnerable skin of my neck, causing me to break out into goosebumps.

"You're stunning, Isobel." His lips graze my ear. "The most beautiful woman here, you know that?" Before I can reply he catches a groan in his chest, the sound so sexual that I stumble, inhaling raggedly as he tightens his hold on me, pressing me even somehowmoreflush against him. It's indecent.

As we turn, I see Tiffany looking over her husband's shoulder, blatantly staring at us. Her mouth is open, and her eyebrows are scrunched together in a 'what the fuck' look. My head tilts back, and as I feel his thumb beginning to rub circles against my lower back I part my lips. "King.I am with someone."

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