Page 53 of Konstantin

And the scariest part? I’m starting to think I don’t want to.

KONSTANTIN

The elevator opens directly into the penthouse suite of the hotel, perched on the top floor with unobstructed skyline views. The space exudes sophistication: dark marble floors, black velvet accents, and gold-trimmed furniture.

But none of it compares to the woman stepping in beside me. Strong. Mysterious. Inescapably alluring. And apparently, she’s exactly what I’m looking for. Or so my heart tells me.

Life is a funny thing. One second, I was fine being alone. Then sheappeared, and suddenly, I could see it: waking up beside her, fighting for something more than vengeance and blood.

But love in my world? It’s no different than death. It costs you. Destroys you.

And if I claimed her, trulyclaimed her, things wouldn’t get easier. They’d get worse.

Still, I’ve never been one to flinch from fire.

And Tessa Monroe? She’s the most dangerous flame I’ve ever touched.

Her heels click against the floor as she walks in, her eyes taking in the space with a mix of awe and apprehension.

She doesn’t trust me. She’s smart not to.

But that doesn’t stop her eyes from drifting to me when she thinks I’m not looking. And I witness the battle within her. Like she’s despising herself for wanting something she knows is wrong.

But I see it. I see everything. That flicker of hunger she tries to bury beneath all that stubborn resolve.

She wants me. Maybe not with her mind, but her body knows what’s good for her.

That’s the unfortunate thing about attraction. It’s primal. Uncontrollable. It doesn’t ask for permission. And no matter how hard you fight it, once it takes hold, it drags you under.

My attention zeroes in on her, those tailored dress pants clinging to her curves like they were stitched with my hands in mind, just begging to be stripped off. But now isn’t the time to imagine all the ways I’ll have her on her knees. That will have to wait.

“Where’s my bedroom?”

I gesture toward the narrow corridor with a flick of my wrist, while my men roll in our luggage. “Let me show you.”

She follows close behind, but the second I open the door, she brushes past me like she can’t wait to get rid of me. I laugh to myself at the absurdity of it.

“Thanks. You can go now.” She pops an irritated brow.

I step in further, my finger trailing up the bare skin of her arm. “I would…” My lips twist. “But that’s going to be difficult…since this is my bedroom too.”

She stops cold, her eyes popping wide. “I’m sorry, what?”

I move in closer, our bodies aligned like puzzle pieces meant to break, my fingers curling around her nape with just enough pressure to remind her who’s in control. Her lips part, pupils flaring in response.

“Don’t worry, this bed’s big enough for the both of us. Though the last thing you’ll want is to get away from me, I promise.” With my other hand, I brush her cheek with my knuckles, enjoying the feeling of her soft skin too much.

It’s like I can’t stop touching her, like I’m a desperate man. She tries to mask the way I affect her, but the goose bumps racing across her skin speak the truth she refuses to voice.

“There’s absolutely no way I’m sleeping in the same bed as you. You’re my boss, and I’m your assistant. That’s all this is, and that’s all it’ll ever be.”

I laugh, low and dark, before grabbing a fistful of her hair and tugging her head back until her chest heaves.

“That’s exactly what you are. My assistant. Mine to command. So when I say we’re sharing a bed, that’s exactly what will happen. And if you don’t like it?” I lower my pitch to a dangerous whisper. “The door’s right there. Walk through it and lose the job you were begging me for. The choice is yours.”

She grits her teeth, her body coiling with her displeasure.

“Fine.” The word might as well be a curse with the way she said it.