53. Kristina

53

KRISTINA

It was the crown.

I’d been staring at the table. As I made my decision and lifted my head to look at Belliani, I felt its weight pressing down on me. I suddenly knew why they made it so heavy.

It was to remind you that you were The Queen.

I stood up. “President Belliani. If you think that I will spread my legs for you to—”

Belliani interrupted with smooth confidence. “Your Majesty! You are mistaken. I would never presume to—”

“I HADN’T. FINISHED. SPEAKING.”

The room went utterly silent. I’d done the Queen voice for the very first time. It had been inside me all along. All the color drained from Belliani’s face. “You will allow my troops to pass. You will allow me to save my people. You will do this without any sordid deal. Or you will make me into something you don’t want: an enemy. ”

Belliani had to swallow three times before he could work up enough saliva to speak. “Of course, Your Majesty,” he croaked. “It would be my honor. I apologize for the misunderstanding.”

I glanced at Garrett and froze. The look on his face scalded my cheeks and sent a hot throb sinking down to my groin, where it detonated. Oh my God….

All of those rules and traditions, everything that had seemed so important, even his past: it had all just been overridden. He’d always seen me as a princess. He’d just seen me as a queen.

I had to get Belliani out of that room. I had to get him out now.

I walked around the table towards Belliani. He got up so fast, he knocked his chair over. “I’m sorry,” he mumbled. He bumped into Garrett and then shrank back from his furious expression. When he looked at me, though, he looked even more scared. He backed through the door as if not daring to turn his back. “Sorry,” he kept repeating. “Thank you, sorry.”

I nodded coldly and pushed the door closed behind him. I just had time to turn around—

Garrett pinned me to the door with his kiss.