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She rolls her eyes and smiles. It’s so easy and familiar. It shoots straight to the heart of me, branding me with the goodness that is Piper Quinn.
Agoodgirl. With a man like me. Who would have ever thought?
“No,” she continues. “I can’t believe I’m not having a panic attack. I mean…look at this room.”
There isn’t much to look at. One glance over my shoulder and I’ve seen all there is to say. Hell, I could stretch one arm back and be touching both walls. It’s microscopic.
Then it hits me.
“Oh, shit. You’re claustrophobic.”
“Unless I’m with you, I guess.” She shrugs.
“I’m honored.”
She immediately waves a finger at me. “No, no. Don’t do that. Don’t get a big head.”
“How can I not? My dick is the cure for claustrophobia.”
A laugh bursts from between pursed lips. She slaps a hand over her mouth to quiet herself. “That isnotwhat is happening here.”
“It’s definitely what’s happening here,” I say. “Are you part of a support group or something? Do you have any young, single women in the class who are desperate for a cure? It’s now my duty to spread this cure as wide and far as possible.”
Her brow arches dangerously, but she’s still smiling at me. “Wow. How selfless you are.”
“With great power,” I say, gesturing to my still-hard dick, “comes great responsibility.”
Piper slaps my chest, and I snatch her hand and press her fingers to my mouth. It’s a surprisingly intimate gesture, and she freezes. Her green eyes scan my face and where our hands are twined together.
Something is shifting between us. We both feel it.
I drop her hand like a hot coal and snatch her pants off the floor. She takes them gratefully and we slip back into a version of the roles we’ve been playing since we met.
Acquaintances. Reluctant employer and employee. Even more reluctant friends.
“Well, if you feel yourself growing panicked and need my assistance, I’m only a phone call away.”
Piper laughs, and now, I agree with her: I want to stay here forever, too. This bathroom is the only place in the world where we can be like this.
Whatever “this” is.
Then I hear footsteps, followed by the prim voice of a nurse. “Mr. Viktorov? Are you in there, sir?”
I should’ve guessed we’d be interrupted. I know better than most that fantasies don’t last.
The real world always comes knocking.
82
PIPER
The rehearsal dinner for the wedding feels like a dress rehearsal in more ways than one.
The dinner is being held in Timofey’s formal dining room with Akim serving food from the newly-remodeled kitchen. There won’t be any press, but this is still the first time I have to pretend to be Timofey’s girlfriend in front of other people who matter.
I’m not sure I’m ready.
I smooth my hands over the dress he chose for me and try to calm my nerves. That has been an impossible feat the last week. Ever since we stepped out of that hospital bathroom, something has been different.
