Page 50 of Corrupted Queen

I kiss Alexis with a deep hunger. I want to devour her, consume her entirely so that she is forever mine. I rub against her, my cock growing against her belly. Her fingers dig into my back, urging me closer. I deepen the kiss, exploring the softness of her mouth with my tongue, remembering the way my cock felt nestled between her lips. An inferno of passion roars in my belly. She is mine. Forever mine.

Knock knock knock.

I pause, lips still covering Alexis’.

“It’s Vito,” my consigliere calls through the door. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but something has come up.”

I sigh and push away from Alexis, running a hand through my hair. I consider telling Vito to fuck off, but whatever it is, it’s probably important. More important than fucking Alexis, anyway, though, in this moment it seems impossible that anything would be more important to that.

“Yeah, I’m coming,” I call back.

Alexis charges past me, heading out the door before I even have a chance to dismiss her. I get the feeling this conversation is far from over.

19

Alexis

I sit up straight, legs crossed primly, and smile so wide that my cheeks hurt. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it right.

Gabriel is beside me and seems a lot more relaxed than I am. Most relaxed of all, of course, is Harry, who doesn’t even notice the camera across from us and seems to think the man in the chair next to the sofa is his new best friend.

He’s not, of course. He’s Chip Galloway, a tanned lifestyle reporter whose teeth seem to glow in the midmorning light. His job is to get the scoop on Gabriel’s private life. My job is to make sure he only sees what Gabriel wants him to see.

“Gabriel,” Chip says, pausing to chuckle as Harry reaches toward him from Gabriel’s lap. I can only assume Harry thinks Chip is a life-sized Ken doll. That’s certainly what he looks like. “You have always been known as a very private individual. Our viewers have never gotten so much as a peek into your world outside of business, and your life has been the subject of much speculation. Now, all of a sudden, you have a family that you want to share with the world. Can you tell us why now?”

Gabriel’s arm comes around my shoulder. “Why not now?” he volleys. “I have a wonderful family and I’m proud of the person they have encouraged me to become. I’m turning over a new leaf for the company and for myself, and I think it’s important that I publicly demonstrate the kind of values that are going to be important for myself and Belluci Inc in the years to come.”

Chip nods sagely. “You say turn over a new leaf …” He trails off, grinning at me. “Alexis, can you shed some light on the kind of man this doting father was when you first met him?”

Oh boy do I want to. I picture myself airing Gabriel’s dirty laundry in front of the cameras, telling them about the filthy sex in the VIP booth when we first met, the cold dismissal, the arrogant way he didn’t even remember who I was when our paths crossed again two years later.

But, alas, we’re feeding a different kind of narrative.

“I had never met someone so devoted to their work,” I say, chuckling at the memory. “I remember wondering if he ever slept, or if he just plugged into the wall for a couple hours every day to boost his batteries.” I playfully dig an elbow into Gabriel’s side. “He checked his phone so many times during our first date that I walked out on him.”

This is at least partially true. The first date story is a lie, and of course, I am telling Chip this as a way to contrast the person Gabriel supposedly is now when in reality, he’s still a massive workaholic.

Chip laughs. “I hope he doesn’t still do that.”

“He works a lot, but he always makes time for us,” I answer.

Chip’s attention swings to Gabriel. “What turned it around for you?”

Gabriel looks over, clasping my hand and smiling warmly. “Well, the love of a good woman will always melt the hardest of hearts,” he says, and my chest tightens.

I fall headfirst into his gaze, letting his dreamy smile and the promise of his words carry me away even though I know it’s not real.

Gabriel looks down at Harry and I screech haltingly back to the present. “But what really changed me was this little guy right here.”

“I can see why.” Chip leans over, offering Harry his hand. Harry squeezes his fist around Chip’s index finger and tugs it toward his mouth, which elicits a delighted laugh from the reporter.

“He’s certainly a cheeky one,” Chip says, pulling his finger away. “No doubt he’s going to get into all sorts of trouble when he’s older.”

“With a mother like Alexis, it wouldn’t surprise me,” Gabriel ribs.

Chip grins approvingly. “You’re one happy little family, aren’t you?”

Gabriel looks at me again with the same warm encouragement as before. “We sure are.”

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