Page 66 of Hate Mates

“Just come with me,” he said as he pulled me into the elevator as soon as the door opened. Just when I thought he would tell me what was going on, a few hotel guests hurried inside. We moved to the far corner, then Kingston lowered his head to my bare shoulder. “You smell so damn good tonight.”

I didn’t know if that was simple small talk because others were crammed into the small space with us or not, but the way his lips skated over my flesh left goosebumps in their wake. I could do nothing more than stand there and let him have his way. A shudder passed over me as I thought about the ways he’d claimed to want me. He’d already mentioned a few in the car. I should’ve never even entertained a single one in my head, but he’d been right. For as much as I hated him and his family, his mere presence did things to me, things that even I couldn’t deny.

I froze as he covered the same breast he’d touched earlier with his hand again. This time, he didn’t pull it from the dress, but I still felt the heat from his palms through the material. My body betrayed me once more as my nipples hardened again.

As soon as I started to relax, the elevator came to a stop, and he pushed me out. Once in the hallway, I whirled around at him. “Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on?”

“Soon,” he told me before he grabbed my hand and dragged me down the hallway. I was nearly out of breath trying to keep up with him, and his next words when he stopped in front of the last door, knocked all that was left in me out. “I want you to become my wife.”

“What?” I sputtered. “You can’t be serious.”

“I’m very serious. I’d never kid about something like this.”

My nerves were going haywire. “But, why? I don’t under?—”

My words were cut off the moment his mouth came crashing down on mine. I couldn’t breathe anything in but him, so I clung to Kingston as he pressed me between his hard body and the door. I became even more lightheaded the longer he kissed me.His lips slanted ever so slightly as he plunged his tongue into my mouth. I wanted to push him away to make him explain, but the more I searched for any resistance, the less I found. Finally, I succumbed to him as probably so many others before me had. As if he knew the realization I’d just reached, I felt his lips move as he smiled against mine before finally pulling his head away.

Kingston said nothing though, instead having stopped to press his forehead to mine. Seconds later, there was a sharp sting and pull as he released the clips holding my hair up. They tumbled to the carpeted hallway, then he tangled his hand in my hair with one hand. There was still time to end this. I opened my mouth to try, but as he raised one of my legs with his other hand, I couldn’t form the words.

He tugged hard on my hair again, this time sending pain shooting from my scalp to my toes which started to curl in my heels when he moved his other hand between my leg. He had no problem pushing my panties aside, and all I could do was remind myself to breathe as he thrust two fingers into me.

It'd been several months since something other than my fingers or toys penetrated me. Every second of that time came rushing back as his thumb found my clit. He let out a growl as he pressed and rubbed furiously on it. This man whose very brother I had slain was going to make me come in this hallway, and the scary thing was that I was doing nothing to stop him.

Until now.

“Kingston, I can’t do this with you.”

“It’s either me or Aram.”

Anger returned, but he slipped a third finger inside of me. “Yebat'sya,” I cursed when he found my spot. “We need to stop this.”

“Stop fighting the inevitable,” he murmured as he buried his head in my neck, then started to kiss his way over my shoulder again, picking up where he had left off in the elevator. “It’seither agree to my proposal, or get dragged back to Armenia where you’ll be broken for your defiance, then left to wallow in unsatisfied celibacy.”

“I don’t want to get married. I... fucking hell, can you please still those wicked fingers of yours?” I could barely concentrate as he would drive me right to the brink, then stop, before repeating himself. The man was maddening, just as the things he did were, too. The last thing I wanted to do was come on his hand, but he’d already ignited a fire only an orgasm could put out. I was now sweating as my dress clung tightly to me, and my hair was plastered to my neck and face.

“One word is all I need from you, Ekaterina.”

“No,” I told him as I began to thrash my head from side to side to get away from him. I even began to push at his chest, but there was little room between his and mine, so it was futile. A fourth finger was added, and I released an agonizing cry. So close, I was just about to orgasm, when those fingers of his stilled once more. “I hate you.”

“And I hate you too,” he rasped against my ear before he bit down on it. “Together, we can live hatefully ever after.”

“But I can’t. Isn’t there anyone?—”

“No,” he snapped, and this time it made my entire body tense. “It has to beyou.”

“Why?” I cried out.

Was this because of Princeton?

Was this some sick sort of justice on his part?

“Why me?”

“Because there’s no one my grandfather would disapprove more of than you, Ekaterina.”

“Your grandfather. What does he have to do with this?”

SEVEN

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