Page 183 of The Encore’s Crown

“That sounds like hell honestly.”

“It was very efficient.”

I smile despite myself. Her fingers play with the hair at the back of my neck.

“But,” she says, quieter now, “if we’re talking official…”

I wait.

“You’ll be the first too.”

Something in my chest gives hard enough to make me grab her. My hands close around her waist, slide over the curve of her back, down to her ass, then up her spine before I crush her against me. She makes a startled little sound and laughs into my shoulder.

“Okay, okay, Misiu.” Her arms tighten around my neck. “You giant teddy bear. Your eyes went all glowy at that.”

“They didn't.”

“They definitely did.”

“Don’t be stupid.”

“Very glowy.”

“You’re making shit up.”

She draws back just enough to look at me, smiling like she’s caught me doing something embarrassingly tender. Then she kisses me again. I hold her tighter, one hand spread between her shoulder blades, the other firm at her waist. Here, with my arms around her, I forget about the time. Forget about the shirt. Forget about the house waiting for us and the man inside it who can still turn my stomach from across a room.

There’s only Natalia’s mouth against mine, her fingers in my hair, and the fact that she knows what waits for me in that house and still wants to stand beside me.

Chapter 63

Jasmine

Natalia

The house is nicer than I expected.

I didn't imagine some crumbling horror-movie mansion with broken bottles on the lawn, but after everything Kiri told me, I pictured something darker. Meaner. A place that looks like it knows what happens inside it.

Instead, we pull up in front of a neat two-story house in a decent suburban neighborhood, with pale siding, trimmed hedges and a row of flowers planted along the walkway. There's even a small wooden welcome sign beside the door. The grass is cut so evenly it looks measured. There isn’t a single thing out of place.

Kiri turns off the engine but doesn’t move. His hands stay on the steering wheel. I slip mine over one of them.

“We can sit here for a minute.”

He looks at me, then shakes his head.

“If I sit here, I’ll keep sitting.”

A car pulls in behind us before I can answer. Rithy climbs out wearing black jeans, sunglasses and a button-down covered in tiny gold flowers. He takes one look through Kiri’s windshield and stops. Then he grins.

“Oh, shit. You actually brought her.”

Kiri gets out and slams the door.

“What did you think I was doing?”

“Lying to placate me.”