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Chris and I exchange a look and laugh.

“You two suck,” Anna grumbles as she stuffs more salad in her mouth.

After that, we are all quiet as we eat.

Kate finishes first. “Well, I’m exhausted. I’m going to go check in on my thesis stuff and then hit the sack.”

“I’ll walk with you. I’m pretty tired too,” I say to her, mostly because I can’t get enough of her. There’s something about her. It’s weirding me out a little. I don’t normally have deep conversations with women before I’m buried deep inside their pussies. But make no mistake, I will be buried deep inside her. I’m laying my claim now.

I follow her to her guest room. Jackie passes us in the hallway and gives Anna a hard look before heading into her room. So, Kate’s in trouble from our little sneak-out.

“Can I show you something?” I say to her deciding she needs to know about the secret corridors here. There aren’t as many as at the Royal Palace, but she can get out of here without letting her security know it.

“Uh, sure,” she says hesitantly as she opens the door and lets me inside.

I walk toward her wardrobe and open it. Inside, I press on the back panel and it opens into the passage that leads to the hall closet three doors down from my chamber. I explain this quietly to her.

“I just thought…well, I’m sorry if we got you in trouble with your security the other night,” I say to her.

“Can…we go in it now?” she asks, a mischievous look on her face. I decide she doesn’t need any more trouble.

“How about I go wait on the other side?” I ask her, motioning to her security’s adjoining rooms.

She nods. “OK,” she says, and I walk out and head toward the exit of the passage.

About two minutes later, the door panel in the wall opens and she peeks out into the hallway. She jumps when she sees me and hits her head on the doorframe.

“Ouch!” she squeaks as she rubs her head.

“You OK?” I ask as I approach her. I help her into the hall and run my hand over the back of her head.

She winces a little as I touch the spot that hit the doorframe. “Come on, let’s get you patched up,” I say to her as I take her hand and pull her toward my room.

Once inside, I walk over to my minibar and pull out some ice from my freezer. I place it on a towel and motion for her to sit on the bench at the foot of my bed. She complies, and I place the ice on her head. I let my arm brush against her thick, silky hair.

“You should be more careful,” I chide.

“I know,” she huffs. She looks up at me from beneath her lashes, and I swear I stop breathing. She’s so fucking perfect.

“Better?” I ask after a minute, realizing neither of us has spoken.

“I think so,” she answers, her voice breathy.

I slowly lower the ice. “Kate,” I start. Her face is so close to mine that I can see the flashes of green in her blue eyes. “I’m going to kiss you, now.” I bring my hand down to her cheek as I say this.

“OK,” she breathes as my lips caress over hers, testing.

Her lips are so unbelievably soft. I run my tongue over them, and she sighs, parting them in the process. That’s all the invitation I need. I angle her face and take control of the kiss. She tastes like Tessa’s sweet tea, and I want more. I fuck her mouth with my tongue, showing her exactly what I want to do with the rest of her body. My other hand finds her waist and then the underside of her breast. She trembles under my touch.

“How’s your hip now?” I ask her as I move my lips along her jaw.

“My hip?” Her voice is dazed, and I smirk.

“Your hip,” I repeat.

“Fine,” she says, her eyes still closed. I lift her and her eyes pop open as I place her on my bed.

“I’ve been wanting to explore every inch of you since I saw you at the hospital,” I admit to her as I look into her eyes.