Page 33 of Then We Shatter

I should be relieved, but my lips flatten as she continues to preen herself. My Kitty is expert at masking her emotions, but she forgets I’ve burrowed deep into her soul. I see the guilt.

“A date with who?”

She avoids my glare by stroking my cock, paying particular attention to the crown. A pearl of precum appears as her thumb strokes across the slit, but for once, I’m still being ruled by my head. Or maybe my heart. But definitely not my dick. I thrust into her hand anyway.

“Answer me, Kitty.”

“You know who with. We have to keep up appearances, Killian. I’ve barely seen him since we got engaged and it’s been noticed. I have to keep my uncle happy, now more than ever.”

“And would today’s visit to the salon be about keeping me happy too? Am I supposed to be grateful for a quickie before you rush off for your little lunch date? With Duke,” I add because she hasn’t said his fucking name and someone has to. “Is the dress for him?”

Katarina’s gaze flicks up to my fury-riddled face and her hand stills. “Don’t turn this into something it’s not,” she says coldly. “I wanted to dress up for you.”

“But Duke gets the benefit.”

“I can promise you he sees no benefit in being involved with me right now.”

“He gets more than I do,” I growl. I’m not angry with Katarina, but I am angry. “He gets to take you to a fancy restaurant while I have to settle for sharing a packet of M and M’s with you.” I brought some with me. I like to make sure she has a little energy boost after our sessions, but it looks like someone else will be seeing to my woman’s needs.

“Killian, I don’t have time for this.”

I flip the condom away and grab her hips. “Because today is all about Duke. Right?” I spit.

Suddenly, I’m tempted to add another assassination to my list. I keep getting told Duke’s only motive is to help her escape. He doesn’t want her, but he still gets to see her whenever and wherever he pleases. This whole situation is fucked up. As is my ability to keep my insecurities from spiraling.

What if Malachy was right about her being planted to destabilize our family?

“Are you going to spend all afternoon together?” I ask. “Will he take you back to one of the Moncriefs’ hotels and give you a tour of everything he has to offer? Including his cock?”

Katarina isn’t one to back down from an argument, and I only realize how exposed I am when she takes my shaft in both hands and squeezes. “This is the only cock I want, and I’m not about to apologize for playing the dutiful fiancée. I’m only doing it so I can stay in the country long enough to get my fill of this,” she says, her grip tightening to the point of pain.

The heat of my anger battles with the inferno trapped inside my core. I’m throbbing against her palms and I’m one jerk away from coming all over her pretty dress. That thought almost makes me want to do it, but despite my raging jealously, I can’t have Danyl or Andrey asking questions. However fucked up my emotions, I would never put Katerina in danger. Not ever.

When she releases her hold, I grunt. I grunt again when she punches me in the gut, making me loosen my grip on her hips. She keeps her fist pressed into my abdomen as she leaps off my lap.

“Maybe I do have time for a hair appointment after all,” she says, fixing her dress. “I have a trusty vibrator at home that is far less troublesome than you.”

When she turns away, I leap out of the chair and rope an arm around her waist. Spinning us around, I pin her to the edge of the massage table, my chest to her rigid spine. I shove her dress back up to her waist and Katarina doesn’t fight me.

“Are you sure your silicone phallus is better than this?” I ask, dragging the head of my cock over her lower back and along the crack of her arse.

Her legs remain pressed tightly together. “It’s not your cock I have a problem with, Shorty. It’s the crap that comes out of your mouth.”

I slide a hand over her stomach towards her center. My fingers part her and I settle the pad of my middle finger against her throbbing clit, applying just enough pressure to tease her, not please her.

I lean harder against her back and Katarina hinges forward, placing her hands on the padded mattress. My cheek settles against her silken hair, close to her ear.

“I want to fuck you bare, lovely,” I whisper as my hand probes deeper and I slip two fingers inside her. “Tell me you’re on birth control.” Because even though I’m being a possessive arsehole, I won’t put a wee McConkey in her belly. That would bring a heap load of trouble neither of us need.

“I’m on birth control,” she says, trying to sound nonchalant, but I feel the pull of her desire rippling against my fingers.

“Then open your legs and ask me to fill you with my cum. Say you want it leaking out of you while you make small talk with that Scottish prick.”

When I tap her heels with my boots, she spreads her legs and I seat my cock at her entrance. We’re both panting in sync.

“Say you want it, Katarina.”

“You think I’d let you get this far if I didn’t, you crazy durak?” Idiot. “Yes, I want–”