Page 56 of An Heir to Blood and Power

Nicolai’s arm behind my back lifted me as his mouth crashed down on mine, our tongues tangling, my breath escaping into his mouth.

His other hand slid up my arm and into my hair, cupping the back of my neck and cradling my skull as he kissed me and held me suspended midair.

Like I was flying.

The jangling coins and bells of the casino fell away.

My heartbeat thundered in my ears.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, holding on, clutching him because it felt, just for a moment, like I was starving for what he offered.

Nicolai straightened a little, dragging me with him but holding me closer, pressing me through our clothes against his hard body but still kissing me.

I’d slipped my hand up his face and into his hair, the soft silk tangling around my fingers.

His warm cologne still clung to his skin,subtle scents that seemed woodsy with smoke, a forest fire contained in a man. His lips and mouth on mine tasted like wine and subtle mint.

Nicolai broke off the kiss with the slightest of gasps, gazing at me with half-hooded eyes. He was breathing hard, his body a bellows stoking a flame, and his hands clenched into fists, grasping my hair and the heavy silk of my dress.

He was searching my eyes, searching for something, as stunned as I was.

I was so dazed that I couldn’t tell what he wanted and didn’t know what to say.

His thumb grazed my cheekbone, a caress. After that kiss, the crowd would probably think a touch like that was overkill.

Crowd?

Nicolai’s eyes darted to the hushed crowd huddling around us.

And Jimmy and that other woman had front-row seats to the show.

The kiss hadn’t been lewd, just startlingly passionate, considering that there were maybe a hundred people staring at us.

Nicolai’s blue eyes met mine, and his sheepish smile wascute.

How did the otherworldly handsome man becomecute? Thatwas the magic.

He lifted his head, looking around like he hadn’t known exactly what kind of attention he was attracting.

Wow, Nicolai could not only act, but he was aham.He’d hammed it up and upstaged an entire casino’s worth of jangling slot machines and yelling card dealers in one hot second.

He straightened us to standing.

Trembles fluttered through my skin and every limp muscle in my body.

Nicolai’s projecting bass voice could have filled a theater. “Sorry, folks! Got carried away.” He juggled me in his arms and lifted his left hand from behind my back, waggling his new gold and platinum band on his wedding-ring finger. “We just got married last night, and I couldn’t help myself.” His eyes found mine again. “My wife iseverythingto me.”

Our connected gaze felt electric, like truth traveling between us, but Nicolai broke it off first to rotate his hand in another dismissive wave, letting Jimmy see his left hand and his wedding ring, too.

Everyone applauded.

And hooted. It was a little gross.

Jimmy was slapping his hands together with slow, sarcastic claps, a scowl twisting his handsome face.

Though as I looked, Jimmy’s jawline was looser than I remembered, and his nose was a little off-center.

But I shouldn’t be comparing Jimmy to Nicolai.