The Billionaires’ Prize (The Heiress Merger #2)

22. Katherine

22

KATHERINE

“Thanks for doing this,” I say to Roman as the elevator soars skyward to my apartment.

“Not a problem.”

I’m eager to get out of this suit and into something more comfortable. Something that doesn’t make me feel confined, like a cog in a dirty wheel.

Ding.

The car levels off, the doors open, and I wait in the foyer for Roman to give me the all-clear. He moves through my apartment like water around stones, easy and effortless. There’s an indistinct murmur of masculine voices from my bedroom, and then he returns, giving me a nod.

“I’ll message you when we’re ready,” I say, stepping out of my shoes.

I drop my bag off in my office and make a beeline to my closet.

Kingston’s exiting my bathroom, utterly lickable in a Polo and slacks with loafers. God. He makes me wet just looking at him.

“Wildfire.” His smile is immediate and radiant as he sweeps me into a hug.

Arms around his shoulders, I sink against him, letting my shoes drop to the floor behind him.

Lifting me off my feet, he spins me around.

I laugh, clinging to him as my feet dangle. “I’d say you’re in a good mood, but you’re always in a good mood.”

“I’m in a great mood. You’re home from work. We’re having dinner with my parents. I went shopping today.”

He’s so joyful. It’s impossible to be upset with him about the way he outed my toy collection to Gabe last night. There’s not a malicious bone in his honed body. He just wanted to share the fun because that’s who he is. And sometimes, he lacks a filter.

We talked it out last night, which was almost as embarrassing as him telling Gabe in the first place. King promised he hadn’t been snooping when he found them.

I believe him.

Even so, it was hard to wrap my mind around. Even now, the back of my neck is hot.

He knew about my vibrators. I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect one, so it’s quite the collection.

Did he touch them?

I shake the worry away because this is Kingston. He’s bought me tampons before and held my hair back after one too many flutes of champagne.

“For someone who doesn’t care for money, you sure do have a shopping addiction,” I tease.

He’s actually a minimalist when it comes to himself. With me. . . not so much. Half the shoes in my closet are thanks to him and his adventures in Europe.

“I got you a present.”

“Does it come in a cereal box?”

His laugh is husky and delights my nerve endings. “No.”

He puts my feet back on the ground and turns me toward the bathroom. There’s something on the vanity.

I close the distance, trepidation twisting my stomach. “You got me a vibrator?”

It’s dark pink, velvety soft, and sort of C-shaped. Like part of it will go inside, and the other part will tease my clit.

As I’m turning it over in my hand, it starts to buzz. Startled, I almost drop it.

“What’d I touch?” I don’t see any buttons.

King slides his phone across the counter and there’s a big round button in the middle of the screen, lit up in green. There’s a slider across the top with a wavy line.

“It’s remote-controlled. Or Bluetooth, I guess.”

He peers over my shoulder, his heat surrounding me.

Excitement fizzes through my veins. But just as quickly, it clashes with uncertainty.

I’m oh-so-aware that I have nothing like this in my collection. Why would I? I’ve never had someone in my life that I’d trust to turn me on in public like this.

He presses the green button, and it turns red. The vibe quiets.

“I didn’t know if you had one of these, but I’ve been fantasizing about driving you wild from afar.” He kisses my shoulder, then tugs my hair back, exposing my neck. “Watching your mouth drop open.” His words are just as drugging as the kiss he presses beneath my ear. “Seeing you squirm, unsure if you should ease away or let it make you come. God, I’m hard just thinking about it.”

I glance up at him over my shoulder, my body warring with itself. It’s like there are two women inside me. One wants to shed the tight reins of control and embrace every new experience King can throw at her. But the other one was raised with so many rules and expectations. She trembles with unease, terrified of the potential backlash.

What if it fell out?

What if someone hears?

What if the signal gets crossed and it won’t turn off?

What if I come in public?

He slides a hand across my lower back, hooking it around my hip. “I can see your wheels turning.”

I put the toy down.

“Of course they’re turning.” My voice is sharper than I mean it to be. I instantly regret it and press up to kiss his chin. “Sorry. You know how I am about. . .” I wave my hand.

I’ve already been the focus of the media this week. The last thing I need is a nip slip or, god forbid, a vibrator to fall out in a crowded restaurant.

“I do.” He’s so freaking solid. Just rock steady. This man knows me. Understands my hangups.

That’s so sexy.

“What are you worried about, Wildfire?” He brushes my hair back and cups my cheek, making me meet his gaze.

I rattle off my list of worries, my tummy swarming with ticklish butterflies.

“Can you let me worry about all that? Do you trust me to take care of you?” His voice is so soft and calm, and I’m instantly soothed. But there’s also a firmness there. A take-charge attitude that lets me relax.

My soul sings, eager for him to take over. To lean on him.

And that voice. Those words.

“Where’ve you been hiding this side of you?”

He’s silent for long moments, just staring into my eyes. “Locked away.”

I wrap my arms around his waist. His heart thumps against my ear, and I close my eyes. “Oh, King.”

We’ve both been hiding.

It makes me ache to think that he hasn’t been living life to the fullest. Being who he truly is. But I’m seeing now that we’ve both been harboring feelings for each other that we couldn’t act on till now.

I nod up at him. “I trust you.”

I expect him to smile. To tease me. Because that’s him to a T. But he stares at me, his expression unreadable.

Hands on my hips, he turns me toward him. “Good,” he says against my hair.

He’s a study in intensity as he strips me out of my work attire. Jerky movements, precise and quick, reveal me to his hungry eyes and questing fingers.

I hold on to his shoulders as he peels off my thigh highs, kissing my knees. Then he stands again, an almost stern expression on his face. I glance down and see his erection pressing against the front of his slacks.

Where did the gregarious man from last night go? And who is this delicious stranger in my bathroom?

He hooks my chin with the tip of his finger, tipping my face up to his. The dominance in his gorgeous green eyes makes my tummy tingle in the very best way.

He enjoys taking care of me like this. I like it too. My pussy is slick, begging for his attention.

“Don’t move.” He drops a kiss on my lips, then bends down to gather my things before disappearing into my closet. There’s a gentle scrape of a hanger along a rod, so I guess he’s hanging up my skirt and top.

That’s incredibly sweet.

When he returns, I swallow at the predatory way he moves, like a jungle cat with its eyes locked on its prey.

Holy smokes.

I’m the bunny he wants to devour.

My nipples harden beneath the soft cups of my bra, and his gaze immediately narrows on them. The tug of his lips does crazy things to my insides.

I could strip down right here and let him have his way with me. Bent over the counter, up against the wall, I don’t really have a preference so long as his skin is against mine.

Having him waiting for me at the end of a long day is just one of the many fantasies I’ve had about him. About us. I should have known that reality with him would be better than any fantasy. He puts my freaking clothes away so they won’t get ruined.

He stalks forward, dropping a kiss on my lips, but doesn’t linger. No. He’s a man on a mission. Raining more kisses along my jaw and down my chest, he drops to one knee. I grip his shoulders, and he pulls my panties down, steadying me as I step out of them.

“I just had you last night, and I already want you again.” His voice is a low rumble, and it makes my pussy clench. She wants that, too.

I lean back against the icy counter, thankful for the support because he’s making my knees turn into limp noodles. All it takes is those incredible hands sliding up and down my thighs like he’s trying to warm my skin.

Then he leans in, his hot breath fanning over my folds. I shudder with need and excitement. His golden head looks amazing between my legs.

“So fucking perfect,” he utters.

He’s teased me before about being perfect, but I always thought he meant my clothing, my appearance, my rigidly planned life. And there’s so much warmth and desire in his words.

I run my fingers through his hair, still in awe that I can touch him like this and that he’s about to eat me out on my bathroom vanity.

“You really mean that, don’t you?”

He swipes my clit with his tongue, humming an affirmative. Then he delves deeper, tonguing me until I fall back, legs spreading, muscles quivering. I’m so exposed. The bathroom lights leave nothing to the imagination. My god, Roman could walk in here. He will if I make too much noise.

But when King lifts my left foot, propping my heel on the counter, and smirks up at me, something flips inside me. It’s a deep fundamental change, so pure and so bright that it steals my breath and scrambles my brain.

“That’s it, Wildfire. Come on my tongue.”

His voice sounds far away. But I like the way he thinks. An orgasm after a long day in the office. Sign me up . A gorgeous man, on his knees, worshipping me. Here for it .

My hands clamp over the edge of the counter, and I hold on tight. Every cell in my body tells me to buck against that sinful mouth and make myself come. But I also don’t want to fall off the polished marble counter.

I swear he hears my thoughts. A chuckle rumbles from his chest just as he slides a finger deep. I bear down on it, whimpering my need.

“More.”

“Oh, love, I’m gonna give you so much more.”

He curls his finger, gliding it up and down the wall of my pussy until I’m panting. My eyes are closed, but I’m pretty sure they’ve crossed. And then he does it. That little trick with the tip of his tongue dancing around my clit. Teasing me just right.

“So close.”

Another hum.

“Don’t stop.”

My muscles tighten, and the pleasure is right there, so close I can reach out and touch it. Need sweeps me up the mountain and carries me to the top on a tidal wave.

He sucks ever so gently on my clit, and a harsh breath explodes from my lips. My back bows.

I’m a goner. Shattering on his tongue. He licks at my arousal, greedy for every drop. We moan together.

When I finally come down, he pulls his finger free.

“Gorgeous.”

I open my eyes and watch him suck the digit into his mouth, licking off my essence.

I swallow at the look in his eyes. Possession.

He rises to his feet, leaning over me, and wipes his face with the back of his hand. “Think you could get used to this, Wildfire? Your own private happy hour?”

I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling sexier than I ever have before. It’s like he poured his confidence into me.

“Absolutely.”

“Good.”

He presses a lingering kiss, and I taste myself on his lips. His tongue darts between mine, and I parry right back. I still feel like I owe him one after last night. Or half a dozen, actually.

He pulls back, staring down at me like he has something he wants to say but can’t put it into words. I tighten my grip on his shoulders.

“You can say it.”

He closes his eyes and drops his forehead against mine. “I’ve always thought you were perfect. The way you held yourself when you were young. Took care of Ford. You had so much fucking poise. I was in awe of you.”

My heart expands in my chest, feeling too big for my ribs.

“I still am.”

Apparently, when he gets all sweet and sappy, it makes me sappy, too.

“I’ve always been in awe of you, too.”

Something cool slides down my stomach, and I drop my chin to find him sliding the vibrator over my mound.

“I want to make you shatter. Over and over again. The same way I’ve been shattering over you.”

His confession makes me gasp. It’s so raw and unexpected, thick with longing.

The vibe’s smooth head glides between my pussy lips, eased along by my wetness. It nudges my opening, and I suck in a breath. This is crazy intimate and so hot I worry my skin might legitimately catch flame any second.

“We’ll test it out before we leave. Make sure it fits just right.”

“King—”

“Yes, love?”

I melt at the endearment.

I shake my head, unable to form words. This is wildly erotic. I’m in nothing but my lacy bra while he cages me against my bathroom vanity, sliding a vibrator into my slick pussy. A wearable vibe at that.

My skin feels like there’s electricity zinging along just beneath the surface. Unstoppable. Untamable.

When King presses the vibe home and the outer part nestled against my clit, I moan. The material heats quickly, so it doesn’t feel foreign for long. No. It feels right. He feels right.

“How’s that?”

There’s an ache in my chest that makes me tremble. A single word fills my mind. Perfect. This is all so perfect. I’m terrified that it’s all going to crash down around my ears.

So I give him a nod while I try to hold all the wild feelings at bay.

“Shall we give it a try, love?” He reaches for his cell phone.