In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 273

Heat flared through her despite everything. But reality pressed in around the edges of desire. "Alexei."

He sighed, releasing her reluctantly. "I know."

They sat across from each other at her small kitchen table, mugs of coffee cooling between them. She wasn't sure what they needed to say to each other but she needed something before he left.

"What happens now?" she asked.

"I go home. Deal with my father. I'll be back before you know it." His fingers drummed against the table. "And you?"

"I guess I look for a new job." She managed a weak smile. "Since my boss fired me."

"About that." Alexei reached across the table, covering her hand with his. "I meant what I said. Not the firing part. The part about wanting you as more than my assistant. You can keep your job if you want to still work for me."

Keira's pulse quickened, he wanted her around when he got back. "It wasn't more than a quick fling." The question slipped out before she could stop it.

His eyes darkened. "After last night, you're really asking me that?"

Heat crept up her neck at the memory. The way he'd taken control, the way her body had responded to his commands, the complete trust she'd given him. It had been unlike anything she'd ever known.

"Last night was..." She searched for words, "More than I have ever experienced before." Needing to be honest with him.

"It's rare for it to be that intense or that good." He lifted their joined hands, pressing his lips to her knuckles. "I know I don't have a great track record, but I want you and I want us."

Her heart hammered against her ribs. "You want us?"

"I want to see where this goes." His thumb traced circles on her palm. "I want to come back to you, not just to New York."

The honesty in his voice made her chest tight. "But you're a prince, Alexei. With responsibilities and expectations… I'm just me."

"And you're worried I'll choose duty over you." He leaned forward. "What if I told you I'm tired of living my life according to other people's plans?"

Before she could respond, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it and his expression darkened.

Alexei's arm shot out, pulling Keira behind him as he shielded her from the cameras. His entire demeanor shifted in an instant from the man who'd just been kissing her senseless to the composed royal who could handle any crisis.

"No comment," he said firmly, his voice carrying the authority of centuries of royal breeding.

But the reporters pressed closer, microphones thrust in their direction. Keira caught a glimpse of herself in a camera lens… her hair was a mess, wearing only a short robe, looking exactly like a woman who'd just been thoroughly fucked by a prince.

"Prince Alexei, are you confirming a relationship with your assistant?"

"How long has this been going on?"

"Miss Warner, did romance bloom during your captivity?"

Keira's face burned with humiliation. This was her worst nightmare, reduced to tabloid fodder. She could already see the headlines: "Royal Plaything," "Prince's Latest Conquest," "From Assistant to Bed Warmer."

Alexei pushed the door closed and locked it as Keira stood there stunned.