The bedroom was filled with the strong scents of sex and pricey cologne.

Sunlight streamed through the huge windows, lighting up the messy sheets and the two naked bodies sprawled out on the giant bed.

Maksim was lying on his back, one arm behind his head, smoke from his cigarette curling up toward the ceiling.

He looked calm and satisfied, like a predator that had just finished a good meal.

Selina curled against his side, her dark hair spilling over his chest, one leg draped over him like she owned the place.

But her mind was racing.

Now or never, she thought. Plant the seeds. Make him believe.

She shifted, propping herself up on one elbow and letting her fingers play over his scarred chest. "You seem tense," she said, lightly tracing an old bullet wound above his heart.

Maksim blew out a puff of smoke. "Just thinking."

"About what?"

"Alpha." The name came out like a bad word. "Something’s just not right with him. It’s been weird for weeks."

Selina’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept a worried look on her face. "What do you mean?"

Maksim put out his cigarette and turned to look at her. "He’s hiding things from me. Making moves without talking to me. Acting like we’re not a team."

"Maybe he’s just under stress," Selina suggested carefully. "The raid on HK’s tower was a disaster. He’s probably still recovering from that."

"Or he’s planning to stab me in the back the minute we take HK down," Maksim said flatly.

Selina’s eyes widened, a perfect mix of surprise and worry. "You really think he’d betray you?"

"I think Alpha would betray his own mother if it helped him," Maksim replied. "The question isn’t if, it’s when."

Selina sat up fully, the sheet slipping down to her waist, leaving her exposed from the waist up. She straddled Maksim’s hips, her hands resting on his chest, her dark eyes locked onto his.

"Then why keep him around?" she asked softly.

"Because I need him," Maksim admitted. "For now. He’s got the resources and connections I need. But once we take HK’s throne..." He didn’t finish the thought, but his eyes were icy. "Let’s just say Alpha won’t be around to enjoy the win."

Selina leaned down and planted a kiss on his chest, right over his heart. "Good. Because I don’t trust him either," she said.

Maksim’s hands moved to grip her hips. "Really?"

"Yeah." She kissed his collarbone, then his neck, tracing along his jawline.

"He looks at me like I’m just a thing, something to be used and tossed aside." Her lips brushed against his ear. "But you... you look at me like I matter."

It was all a lie, every word of it. But Maksim bought it.

His grip got tighter, protective. "You do matter. Once this is all over, you’ll be my queen. We’ll rule everything together."

Selina pulled back just enough to meet his eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise," Maksim said, completely convinced.

Selina smiled, sweet but totally fake, and kissed him deeply. Her tongue slid between his lips, coaxing them open. When he responded, she poured everything into the kiss, making him believe her.

Finally pulling back, Maksim was breathing heavily, his eyes dark with desire. "You’re dangerous," he said quietly.

"Only to your enemies," Selina replied, kissing her way down his chest. Lower. Lower.

She took her time, using every trick she’d learned, the touches that made him groan, the kisses that made him arch his back, and the suction that made him curse in different languages.

In no time, Maksim was coming hard, his name a broken prayer on his lips.

Selina swallowed, wiped her mouth delicately, and crawled back up to snuggle against his side.

Maksim pulled her close, still trying to catch his breath. "You’re gonna be the death of me, woman, you know that?"

"What a way to go," Selina purred.

They lay there in silence for a few minutes, Maksim’s breathing slowing down as he came back to reality. Finally, Selina spoke up. "I should get going. I’ve got... stuff to take care of."

Maksim tightened his arm around her. "Stay."

"I can’t." She kissed his chest apologetically. "I need to check in with some business contacts and keep up appearances. If I suddenly disappear from my normal life, people will wonder what’s up."

Maksim thought about it for a second and then nodded reluctantly. "Okay. But you’ve got to come back tonight."

"Of course," Selina smoothly lied. "I wouldn’t dream of being anywhere else."

She pulled away from him, gathered her clothes, and dressed quickly.

Maksim watched from the bed, keeping an eye on Selina as she moved around. "Selina?" he called out.

She stopped at the door. "Yeah?"

"Just be careful. If Alpha thinks you’re more loyal to me than him..."

"He won’t," Selina said confidently. "I’m great at pretending."

Truer words have never been spoken, she thought bitterly.

Blowing him a kiss, she left, her heels clicking on the marble floors as she made her getaway.

*****

As soon as Selina shut the door to her apartment, her mask fell away.

She ran straight to the kitchen, yanking open the cabinet where she kept her meds. Her hands were shaking as she grabbed the birth control pills, popping two into her mouth and swallowing them dry.

Can’t take any chances, she thought in a panic. Can’t risk having a kid in this mess.

Leaning against the counter, she breathed heavily, waiting for the nausea to go away.

Then, she stumbled into the bathroom, stripping off her clothes as she went, leaving a trail behind her.

She turned on the shower as hot as it could go, almost too hot, and climbed into the tub before it was even full.

The water rose around her as she grabbed the loofah and soap, scrubbing her skin as hard as she could.

Get it off. Get him off. Get all of them off. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

She scrubbed until her skin was red and stinging, and until she couldn’t tell if the wetness on her face was from the water or from crying.

Then the tears came in full force.