Page 151 of The Encore’s Crown

“Are you awake?”

“Shit,” I whisper.

Chapter 52

The Natalia Effect

Natalia

The knocking starts again.

“Nat!” Kasia calls through the suite door. “We’ve been trying to get ahold of you.”

Kiri and I stare at each other. Then we both launch out of bed.

“What time is it?” I whisper.

“I don't know. Shit. My phone’s in the other bedroom.”

“So are all your clothes.”

“Fuck.”

He bolts toward the doorway on the tips of his toes, completely naked, as though the lack of sound somehow makes the rest of him less obvious.

“Kiri, you forgot something.”

He looks back. I’m standing beside the bed just as naked as he is, hair everywhere, every inch of my body still warm from him. His eyes drop the same time mine do too. In that singularly catastrophic moment, neither of us remembers that my sister is outside. Kiri crosses back to me, catches my face, and kisses me. My hands immediately travel over his shoulders and down his chest, reaching for everything I already want again. His arm locks around my waist, pulling me against him until the familiar heat of his body makes my whole body go slack.

Kasia pounds harder.

“Anytime today, siostra.”

We rip apart.

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

“This is your fault.” he whispers back. “You were standing there naked.”

“So were you,” I protest.

Another knock rattles the door.

I shove him toward the first bedroom. Just before I shut the door, he reaches across the bed, snatches up my phone, and tosses it to me. I barely catch it.

“Get dressed, stay in there, and don’t make a sound.”

Then I close the door between us.

“Oh my God, siostra, I’m naked. Give me a chance to get dressed,” I call with theatrical outrage, snatching the fancy complimentary robe off the floor and wrapping it around myself. “I passed out and was finally getting some beauty rest. Do I have to leave? Is Stefan kicking me out? Is that why you’re waking me up like this?”

“No one is kicking you out. Open the door.”

I tighten the belt, sweep my hair forward to cover whatever evidence Kiri left on my neck, and hurry toward the entrance. I paste on a smile and open the door. Kasia stands there with worry written all over her face. Rafe is behind her, which I wasn’t expecting. I really wish I’d known before opening the door in nothing but a bathrobe, but it’s too late now. The sight of both of them makes my stomach drop.

I step aside and let them in.

“So, good morning to you too.” I look between their expressions. “You look like a puppy just died. A puppy didn’t just die, right?”