Page 70 of Royally Romanov
“Finley...” he forced himself to meet her gaze. How could he do this? How could he tell her that he suspected he’d been part of a hoax when he’d been inside her just hours ago? “I...”
Downstairs, a door opened and closed. “Bonjour, mes amis.”
Merde.
Finley’s eye widened. “Scott’s here.”
She leapt out of the bed and began throwing on her clothes.
Maxim had missed his moment.
His head ached, and his throat burned with the words he hadn’t been able to make himself say. “Does he always get here so early in the morning?”
“I’m not sure. He was pretty early yesterday morning, too. But I don’t exactly make a habit of spending the night here.” Finley stretched an arm over her head, twisting to reach the zipper on the back of her dress.
“Here, I’ve got it.” Maxim placed his hands on her waist and gently spun her around.
The lacy edge of her panties was barely visible. Maxim cleared his throat and somehow stopped himself from running his fingertips along the dainty fabric. He held his breath and concentrated on not getting aroused, but her silky dress was like water in his hands and when she peeked over her shoulder at him, he felt the heat of her gaze everywhere. Most notably, his groin.
“Everything okay back there?” The corner of Finley’s mouth lifted into a naughty grin.
Hell no.Nothingwas okay. “Fine.”
His hands shook as he moved the zipper upward, just slow enough for him to memorize every inch of her spine. Maxim wouldn’t have thought dressing a woman would be anywhere near as sexy as undressing her.
He would have been wrong. So very wrong.
“Finished,” he said through a clenched jaw.
“Thank you.” She smiled again.
Maxim nodded. He needed to leave. He couldn’t tell Finley the truth—not now—but that didn’t mean he could stand there and act as if he were the same man she’d made love with the night before.
“I should go,” he said. “Scott’s here, and I need to get to the hospital.”
“Also, Scott’s here.” She giggled.
“Exactly.” He pasted a smile on his face.
Scott would murder Maxim if he hurt Finley. Not that Maxim much cared what happened to himself at the moment.
Still, he couldn’t deal with Scott right now. Thoughts and memories were spinning around Maxim’s head at such dizzying speed, he could barely fake his way through a rational conversation with Finley. Her best friend would see right through him.
Finley slid her feet into her stilettos, one at a time. “I’ll see you back here tonight, Monsieur Romanov.”
Monsieur Romanov.
Maxim’s stomach turned.
He nodded. “Ce soir.”Tonight.
They’d agreed to hide at Shakespeare and Company until after the gala at the Louvre. Once the exhibition was safely underway, they could go back to normal life.
Normalfelt like a far-off fantasy right now, a place and time he’d never see again. It crept closer when Finley wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him good-bye. So close he could almost see it beyond the fog in his head. It beckoned to him until he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. Desperate.
Desperate to stay.
He straightened, determined to go while he still could.
