In Bed With Her Shithead Boss (By Ellie Wynters) novel Chapter 312

"Well, I'm not everyone." Keira took a sip of her coffee. "And I don't do polite when someone's actively trying to undermine me."

"I noticed." Alexei leaned back in his chair, studying her. "You called her a fucking bitch to her face."

"She earned it." Keira shrugged. "Besides, you said your father values honesty. I was just being honest about what I thought of her behavior."

"True." His mouth twitched. "Though I suspect he had diplomatic honesty in mind, not quite so... colorful."

"Too late now." Keira reached for a piece of fruit from the platter. "She knows exactly where we stand."

"We?" Alexei's voice carried a note of satisfaction.

"Don't get smug." She pointed her fork at him. "I defended myself, not you. Though I suppose you benefited by association."

"Such romance," he said dryly. "My heart is all aflutter. I do remember you telling her to keep her hands off your man. You really should have been a redhead my little firecracker."

Keira found herself smiling. This was what she'd missed during all the formal palace interactions… their easy banter, the way they could needle each other without malice. Because it had never been mean… just pushing each other's buttons. Almost like their own form of foreplay. Because once they had finally hit the sack it had been explosive.

Keira laughed "I was the baby of the family that was bad enough."

Taking her hand and guiding it under the table to rest against his lap, letting her feel exactly how hard she'd made him. "It's a turn on… Don't touch what's yours huh? If I had time, I would put you on this table and fuck you."

Heat shot through Keira at his blunt words and the evidence of his arousal pressing against her palm. She glanced toward the breakfast room doors, suddenly very aware of where they were.

"Alexei," she whispered, though she didn't pull her hand away. "Anyone could walk in."

"Then you'd better keep your voice down when I do this." His fingers found the hem of her sundress under the table, sliding up her bare thigh slowly.

Keira's breath caught. "You wouldn't dare."

"Try me." His eyes held that dangerous glint she recognized, the one that usually preceded him doing exactly what he said he would. "You think telling Maria to keep her hands to herself and claiming me as yours wouldn't have consequences?"

"Good consequences or bad consequences?" she managed, her voice slightly breathless as his fingers traced higher.

"That depends entirely on how quiet you can stay." His thumb brushed against the edge of her panties, and she had to bite her lip to keep from making a sound.

"You're insane," she hissed, but her body was already responding, heat pooling low in her belly.

"And you love it." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to that register that made her knees weak and fired the blood through her body. "The way you defended us, claimed me... Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"

"Miss Warner? Your Highness?" Elena's voice called from just outside the doors.

Alexei withdrew his hand with maddening slowness, bringing his fingers to his lips and sucking them clean while maintaining eye contact with Keira. The gesture was so blatantly sexual it made her core clench with need. He had done this to her before but here… it was just so naughty.

"Come in, Elena," Alexei called out, his voice perfectly steady.

Elena entered with a small curtsy. "Forgive the interruption, Your Highness. I wanted to confirm the timing for Miss Warner's preparations this afternoon."

"Of course," Keira managed, hoping her voice sounded more controlled than she felt. "What time should I be ready?"

"Three o'clock, miss. The stylists will need several hours for your hair and makeup before the dinner."

"That's fine." Keira's legs were still trembling from Alexei's touch, her body aching for the release he'd brought her so close to.

Elena smiled and retreated, leaving them alone again.

"You're evil," Keira whispered once they were sure Elena was gone.

"And you're beautiful when you're frustrated." Alexei's eyes were dark with promise. "Don't worry, little firecracker. I'll finish what I started later. You can spend the rest of the day thinking about it."