Page 94 of Tarnished Queen

God, he feels good, too. But between the soft cries of pleasure coming out of my mouth, I can’t find the words. I tug at the silky hair at the back of his head and arch back, working my body against him, grinding until I see stars.

“There you go,” Nikolai urges. His strong hands are wrapped around my shoulder blades, holding me up. “Take what you need, Belle.”

My thighs are shaking and the sounds coming out of me are more animal than human. When Nikolai holds my weight with one arm and slides his free hand between our bodies, I’m lost.

I moan a string of curses, repeating the same things again and again.

Nikolai, I’m coming.

So good.

I’m coming.

The pleasure is warm and comfortable, and I need it bottled up for later. Micro-doses of this feeling could bring about world peace, I’m convinced. Who could be hateful when they feel like this?

I’m still mumbling to myself, lost to my own oblivion, when Nikolai pumps into me and lets out a soft grunt. Then he’s coming, too.

“It will never be enough,” he whispers as it rips through him.

I couldn’t agree more.

When we’re done, Nikolai helps me clean up. He wipes me down and tucks stray bits of hair back into place.

“No one will ever know,” he whispers, bending to kiss the pulse in my neck.

I believe him. Right now, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world.

“Still, you should get out of here,” I tell him. “They’ll probably come looking for you any minute.”

Nikolai wrinkles his nose. “I doubt it. Everyone is pretty busy carrying out my surprise right now.”

I’m trying to push him towards the door when his words register. I stop and come around him, looking up into his face. “What surprise?”

His smile is mischievous. If I had panties on, they’d be dropping. “The one that should be knocking on the door in three, two, one…”

Part of me thinks he is teasing, but sure enough, a soft, tentative knock sounds from the door.

I stare up at him, suspicious. Nikolai just laughs. “Well, go get it. I didn’t distract you for nothing.”

“Is that what this was?” I ask, feigning offense.

“Well, actually, my job was to talk to you through the door to kill time, but one thing led to another and…” he shrugs. “You were distracted, so I think that means I did my job.”

“Nothing you’re saying makes any sense.”

He waves me on. “Open the door and it will.”

I run my hands over my hair again to smooth it down and swipe my finger under my lips. My lip stain is probably long gone, but otherwise, I feel mostly put together. So I walk across the room and open the door.

To see Elise standing in front of me.

She smiles and opens her arms for a hug, but it takes a few seconds for my body to catch up with my brain. When it does, I lunge forward and wrap my arms around her.

“What are you doing here? How did you—When did you—” I squeeze my eyes closed and hold her tighter. “It doesn’t matter. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“I’m here for your wedding,” Elise says, extracting herself from my crushing hug and holding me at arm’s length. “Nikolai and Howard got me here. As for when… well, right now. I would’ve been here sooner, but my flight was delayed. I think that answered all of your questions. Did I miss one?”

I swipe at my eyes, but it’s no use. So much for not ruining my makeup. Between Nikolai and now this, I’m a disaster.

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