17. Phoenix #2
“On the way back to LA, he stopped in Hawaii to meet up with a couple buddies of his for a short surfing holiday. As the baby of the family, Roman is a daredevil. Mom and Dad let him get away with murder. Since he had four older brothers, he always felt the need to ten-up us. That character trait never subsided. Pe’ahi—located on the north shore of the island of Maui—is more commonly known as Jaws and got the threatening name due to the size and ferocity of the swells. ”
“That sounds frightening.”
I nod. “I don’t have balls big enough to take on Pe’ahi.”
“But Roman does?”
“It wasn’t Roman’s first time surfing there.” I swallow. “However, this time, things went horribly wrong. He got caught in one of those monster waves and almost died. His two friends didn’t make it.”
“Dear God.”
“Since Dad was recovering from a heart attack and was prohibited from flying, Slate, Wilder, and I made the trip to Maui. It was frightening to see Roman all battered and bruised. My baby brother was in a coma for ten days and he sustained life-threatening injuries, but he’s still with us.
Losing another family member would’ve destroyed us all. ”
She places a hand on my arm. “Mother Nature was having a bad day, Phoenix. You’re not responsible for Roman’s accident.”
Logically, I get. Most days.
I move away from a topic sure to bring down the mood. “About the honeymoon––”
“We’re going to have a honeymoon for a fake wedding?” Her eyebrows pinch together.
“Yes and no.”
“You lost me.”
“Dad is the one who attends the HEEA Europe Awards. It’s a prestigious hospitality industry award.
He had a checkup a couple days ago and although he’s recovering nicely, his doctors don’t think it’s wise for him to fly yet.
My brothers are booked to attend other important industry events, so I’ll be the one representing the company.
The awards take place next week in Paris.
I figured we’d kill two birds with one stone––the awards and our honeymoon. ”
“A fake honeymoon in the most romantic city in the world?” She shakes her head. “We might as well play out this plot to the hilt.”
“My sentiments exactly.”
Malice sparkles in her eyes. “Will we take selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower or should we Photoshop all our honeymoon photos?”
“Smart ass.”
“You have to admit, it’s pretty ironic. Paris is synonymous with love not merger-marriages.”
“I reckon you’d be surprised how many people hold hands for show. Your former stepmother is a great example.”
“The conniving bitch did a great job fooling us all.” She doesn’t hide her disdain.
“Now, for the last item on the agenda.” I veer the conversation. “The ring.”
“I stand my ground, a cubic zirconia would’ve been a safer bet.” Her lips curve in amusement.
“I play big and I win big, kitty cat.”
I pull a navy-blue box engraved with two iconic letters from my pocket.
She gasps. “I’m willing to bet that’s not a cubic zirconia.”
“I surely hope not because that is a lot of coin to drop on a synthetic stone.”
Her eyes bounce to mine, her excitement evident.
The moment is strangely intimate, considering her earlier jokes at the fake nature of the relationship. Dropping to one knee seems a bit much, so I play it down.
“You’re in luck. My contacts at Harry Winston had the cut you selected…” I crack open the lid on a 5.15 carat elongated cushion cut diamond ring set on a platinum band circled with small, brilliant diamonds.
Michaela’s mouth drops open.
“Oh, Phoenix…” She brings one hand to her chest. “It’s absolutely gorgeous. I know I selected it, but seeing it in real life, takes my breath away.” I can’t explain why pride floods my chest at her words. “Two carats would’ve been more than enough. You didn’t have to supersize it.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I say. “As for the size, a queen marrying a king deserves a ring that makes a statement. Expect the matching wedding band to be as queen-worthy.”
She giggles.
“If you keep spoiling me like this, I’m going to forget it’s pretend.”
Our gazes lock.
An awkward moment passes between us.
She can’t take back her words.
A flash of uncertainty glints from her eyes.
“Silly me.” She slaps her palm against her forehead. “It’s pretend—as fake as plastic.”
I reach for the diamond ring. “Let me make it official.”
She lets out a nervous laugh. “Okay.”
She extends her left hand. I take it and slip the ring on her finger.
She smiles down at the ring. “It sparkles like crazy and it takes a life of its own on my finger.”
“It’s feeding off your dragon fire.”
“Sweet talker.”
“It fits?”
Her eyes lift to mine. “It fits perfectly.”
Another awkward moment lingers between us.
“It’s beautiful, Phoenix,” she says. “Thank you.” That came out with a touch of shyness.
“No, thank you for agreeing to all of this.”
We exchange a warm smile.
“This dazzler should shut up naysayers,” she says, breaking the spell.
“ The wedding will shut them up.”
She exhales a long, shaky breath. “This feels so real.” She places one hand against her belly.
“Nervous?”
“Butterflies are flapping their wings in my belly,” she says. “If I’m this freaked out now, I can’t imagine how it’s going to be on the day of the wedding.”
“I have faith in you.”
“In that case, I guess I can’t let you down.”
“No, you can’t because we’re a team.”
She rewards me with a genuine smile.
“In case things get too overwhelming on our wedding day, we should practice that kiss again,” I say.
She shoots me a dubious side gaze.
“If we ace the kiss, that’s one less thing to worry about.”
We’re going to ace the damn kiss. This is totally self-serving.
“Okay, we’ll go with your twisted logic.”
“Please don’t sound so enthusiastic.”
With the hand adorned with a diamond, she reaches for the lapel of my jacket and tightens her grip. “Are you going to kiss me or not, Konig?”
A smug grin stretches my lips. “And you said you wouldn’t do it.”
She frowns.
“If it’s good enough, you’ll beg for it, kitten,” I say. “Seems like last night’s kiss left a lasting impression because you’re begging for more.”
She opens her mouth to respond, but I reach out, grab her by the back of her neck and pull her to me. I stifle her smart retort by crushing my lips against hers.
She moans and throws herself into the kiss, clutching at my jacket and pressing her body against mine.
The lovely floral scent I remember all too well wafts over me.
All coherent thoughts go flying out the window.
I fucking own her mouth, greedily taking it over and over again.
From the desperate way I’m kissing her, you’d never know I devoured her mouth like a glutton last night.
I agreed to her no sex stipulation, but since she didn’t say anything about kissing, there’s no way I’m putting on the brakes.
I’m unhinged.
Goddammit, I want more.
I tear my mouth from hers.
I pull back an inch so I can see her face.
“Tell me to stop.”
She says nothing. She stares at me, her chest heaving.
If I were a better man, I wouldn’t even need to ask. I’d respect her wish, but fuck, this woman…
“Tell me to stop, kitten.” Do I look as crazed as I feel and sound?
“Don’t stop.” Her voice is husky, not much louder than a whisper.
Two words.
A world of possibility opens up to us.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes. Forget everything I’ve said so far. Just kiss me.”
In a mad rush, I remove my suit jacket and fling it somewhere in my office.
“Come here,” I say, before lifting her from the sofa and dropping her on my lap.
Like a good girl, she straddles me.
“You make me fucking crazy, Michaela.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. I’m supposed to hate you.”
“You can hate me and still want me,” I say. “Based on last night, when we channel that hate-lust energy between us, it’s combustive.”
“This is so confusing.”
“Why waste time over-analyzing it?” I lift my hips, pushing my cock against her, and a groan slips from her lips.
Cradling her face in my hand, I devour her lips.
She tastes as sweet as the breakfast pastries she ate.
I skim my free hand from her knee, up her thigh, to the hem of her pretty dress.
She shifts on my lap, grinding down against my monster erection. I groan into her mouth as my tongue glides along hers.
This shouldn’t feel this good.
She places her hand against my chest and pushes away from me. Concerned eyes meet mine.
“What is it?”
“What if someone comes into your office and finds us like this? Is the door locked?”
All the doors on this floor lock automatically. Furthermore, they’re all equipped with a keyless touch-pad lock. It’s a bit Fort Knox, but no way am I going to get fooled again.
“Does it matter?”
“Good God.” She winces. She shifts off my lap, but I clamp hard hands on her hips, preventing her from climbing off me.
“My staff know better,” I say. “Even if I were to leave the door open, no one in their right mind would dare to walk in without knocking. Not even my brothers. They know better than to waltz in without my agreement.”
“What if Lydia hears us? She sits right outside your office.”
“She’s stuck in a meeting until lunchtime. There’s nothing stopping us, kitten.”
Her eyes bounce around before settling onto mine.
She lets out a low laugh. “You make me do reckless things, Phoenix Konig.”
“It’s the only way to live, Mrs. Konig.”
“I’m still Miss Knight.”
“Only for four more days.”
We exchange a complicit smile.
“Can I keep kissing the hell out of you?”
“I’m not going to stop you.”
Thank the fuck God.
I kiss her hard enough to bruise her pouty lips.
She doesn’t protest nor does she pull away. She meets my passion, tongue stroke for tongue stroke.
I take her hand and place it on my bulge. She whimpers into my mouth as her fingers cup my erection. My cock pulses and twitches at the contact.
“You do this to me, kitten.”
“God, that’s hot,” she says as she strokes my cock.
With my free hand, I unbutton the front of her dress, revealing a cock-hardening lavender lace bra.