Page 77 of Plug and Claim

The change in subject caught Kira off guard, and she dropped her gaze self-consciously as she gave her head a small shake.

Victoria frowned. “Has he summoned you at all?”

“No.”

“Want me to talk to him for you?”

Kira’s eyes widened. “No. Definitely not.”

“Suit yourself. But you should talk to him.”

“Talk to who?” asked a familiar voice, making Kira flinch.

A cold breeze brushed her shoulder and she spun in her seat to stare at the tall figure who’d appeared beside her.

“Decided to join us, Prince Nathaniel?” Victoria teased.

“Maybe later,” he replied.

Kira startled as a cold drop of liquid fell onto her forearm. Nathaniel’s hair was dripping wet, and apart from a towel slung around his hips, he was naked. She had an unobstructed view of his chiselled body, each ab perfectly carved and gleaming with water. He moved slightly, and the firelight’s flickering shadows etched his abs deeper, the sight causing her throat to go dry and her insides to throb.

Holy hell…

Her breathing stopped, and she tried to tear her gaze away, succeeding only in moving her gaze to the sculpted muscles of his arms and chest instead.

I shouldn’t be staring.

Thanks to the armchair’s tall back, Nathaniel hadn’t spotted her yet, his focus on Victoria.

“And look who’s here,” the vampiress said, gesturing at Kira.

Her heart skipped a beat as Nathaniel glanced down to where she was sitting. His abs tensed, all eight of them, flexing in the firelight like a glorious attraction made just for her.

Time stopped.

Victoria gave a polite cough, breaking Kira’s trance. Her gaze snapped up to Nathaniel’s face, bracing herself for his smug smile, but mercifully, he didn’t look amused. If anything, he looked startled to see her, and there was something haunted about his gaze as his blue eyes drew her in.

“Kira,” he greeted.

She gave him a tiny nod of greeting, not trusting herself to speak.

He glanced down at the towel wrapped around his waist.

“I apologise for being underdressed. I’ve been swimming.”

“I didn’t ask,” Kira said, blinking furiously as she tried to keep her gaze from drifting back down to his chest. “But I guess I can finally put the rumours of an underground pool to rest.”

Nathaniel’s lip twitched. “Would you like a tour?”

Her eyes widened.

Yes? No?

Maybe?

Be bold.

“Yes,” she said, rising to her feet.