Page 81 of Reign of a Billionaire

“Where?” I blurted. Heat rushed to my cheeks, and every inch of me grew hot, realizing I just admitted my love for dirty romance novels.

His eyes fell to my cheeks, and then he laughed. It was an easy sound, one that I didn’t think he was accustomed to making.

Warmth curled low in my stomach.

He ran a hand through his dark hair, and before I knew what was happening, he closed the distance between us. His hand wrapped around my nape, and I waited with bated breath. I didn’t know what I was waiting for, but something told me I was about to find out.

Kingston’s mouth found mine, and I shivered. His kiss was intense, stealing my oxygen and emptying my mind from rational thought. My curves molded to his hard body, burning everywhere he touched me.

He angled my head back, ravishing my mouth with an intensity and hunger that matched my own. It was as if he couldn’t stop, and with every heartbeat, we lost ourselves to the sheer insanity of it.

Until he pulled away, leaving me unsteady on my shaky knees. His dark gaze clashed with mine as a storm brewed around us, and I knew he’d just altered the course of our lives.

“Enjoy your books,” was all he said as he walked backward away from me, away from the puddle he’d just reduced me to.

Chapter 41

Kingston

Something had shifted—altogether steadily and slowly—over the past week. Or maybe I could pinpoint it to when I first saw Liana saving those women from the shipping container in D.C. Either way, it was confronting.

Liana Volkov had me in knots. I ached for her. I craved her presence all the fucking time, and that was unacceptable. Maybe this—whatever this was—was an ingredient for a happy life.

She wasn’t supposed to be the one for me, but for whatever reason, I couldn’t even go an hour without seeking her out. Our paths had converged, and we’d both been left fighting this sizzling attraction. If I wasn’t sure before, I certainly was now. Our little foray across enemy lines just about set the fucking island on fire.

It was wrong; I knew that. But damn had it felt good.

I took a deep breath and took a seat in my office, staring out at the ripples in the sparkling water. Louisa always dreamed of a secluded place, somewhere warm with a beach all to ourselves. She never got it, but her twin did.

It wasn’t fair, but I had neither the energy nor the courage to fight it anymore.

My phone buzzed and I flicked a glance at the screen. “Hello, Winston,” I said into the speaker.

“You doing okay?”

“Shouldn’t I be?” I retorted dryly.

“Consider this a heads-up.” My shoulders tensed. “Illias Konstantin reached out to Byron. Apparently the Thorns of Omertà want your location.”

“Who specifically?” I gritted. The underworld could always get in contact with me, but they never could locate me. It was by design—trust was a bitch that got you killed.

“Enrico Marchetti.” Fuck, I knew he wouldn’t let it go. The moment he learned Sofia had a daughter, he wanted to get his paws on her and make her pay for the torture his wife had endured.

Yes, I worked alongside the Omertà. Yes, I killed with them and for them. But I wouldn’t allow them anywhere near Liana.

She was mine and mine alone.

“Tell him you have no way of getting in touch with me,” I deadpanned.

“You got it.” I could almost hear the smirk in his voice “How’s my plane?”

“I had to take it apart.”

“What?”

“I’ll have it in shape before it’s returned.” Obviously I knew she’d never be able to fly a plane, but I wanted her to see for herself how futile working alone would be. And maybe I wanted to teach her a lesson at the same time, sue me.

“She’s quite the woman, huh?”