“You’re right,” I murmur. “I would like to know.”
Stella keeps her chin held high as my gaze drifts over her face, tracing every detail and curve of perfection. She doesn’t flinch under the weight of it, but the subtle movement of her throat gives her away. It’s plain to see that I’m not the only one affected by this encounter, which only fuels my desire more.
“Red looks good on you,” I say softly, twirling a strand of her hair around my finger.
“I think I look better in black.”
My cock hardens to the point of pain at the comparison. Red might be Stella’s color, but black has always been mine—a fact this gorgeous temptress has clearly noticed, and one she’s more than happy to use to taunt me.
“Yes, I bet you do.” I drag my lower lip between my teeth and run my knuckles over her cheek just to feel the softness of her skin. “I wonder what else would look good on you.”
“Is that a proposal?”
“Consider it an invitation.”
“An invitation?” She laughs in amusement while my hand softly glides from her cheek towards her neck.
“Yes,milaya. Consider it an open invitation.”
“And what kind of invitation are you offering?” She breathes out when my hand clutches around her throat.
“Trouble.”
When the word lights up her eyes, my entire body tightens with need. Need to push us both over the edge, until she forgets who we are supposed to be to one another—rivals.
Most women would be scared right about now to have a stranger’s hand engulfing their neck, with promises of chaos. But not Stella. She’s practically beaming with excitement. I haven’t been this captivated by a woman I know nothing about in all my twenty-six years.
“I see my offer amuses you.”
“And what if it does?” She arches a manicured brow. “Doesn’t mean I’ll be taking you up on it.”
“Ah,printsessa, we both know it’s only a matter of time before you do.” A slow grin tugs at my mouth, all heat and challenge.
“First of all, I’m no princess. And second, I wouldn’t sound so sure of yourself if I were you.”
She scowls, clearly uncomfortable with how easily I can read her. Or maybe it’s theprintsessathat tanked her playful mood. Either way, we both know I’ve got more than one reason to be cocky—her still not taking my hand off her throat, for one.
“Are you sure?” When her luscious lips thin into a fine line, I know my time is up. “Very well,” I say, stepping back and pulling my hand away from the slender curve of her neck. “Apologies if I was wrong. I thought you’d be up for the challenge. My mistake.”
Before I can turn around and leave her, it’s Stella’s turn to catch my wrist and keep me rooted to my spot.
“What challenge?”
I keep my triumphant smile in check as I lean close to her ear and whisper, “That maybe you’d like to cause a bit of trouble of your own.”
She holds my gaze, defiant. The air between us hums, thick and charged, her warmth ghosting over my lips. I want to close the gap between us, just to taste the defiance on her tongue. But I don’t. Not yet. Not until she begs for it. And Stella Romano will beg. Even if it’s the last thing I do.
I start to pull back, forcing space to come between us once again, when her hand shoots up and curls around my throat. My breath stalls as her fingers burn my skin. She inches closer, her lips hovering just shy of mine, her eyes glinting with pure challenge.
“I’ll keep your offer in mind,” she murmurs, voice low and amused. “See you around,Kill.”
Then she lets go and waltzes back into the ballroom, without a care in the world, all curves and long legs. I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face as I watch her strut back into her domain—owning every step of it.
Ah, Stella…sooner or later, you will be in my bed. That’s a certainty.
My fantasies of corrupting the fiery vixen are cut short by the obnoxious ring of my phone. One look at Misha’s name on the screen and it’s like a bucket of ice straight into my libido.
“Any news?” he asks, in lieu of a greeting.
