He smirked, running his tongue across his bottom lip slowly.
“Good…. Easy’s boring. I like a woman who makes me earn it.”
Kylee tilted her head, her tone teasing. “And what exactly are you trying to earn, Mr. Riot?”
Rio leaned in again, just a breath away, his lips curving wickedly. “You’ll know when you feel it.”
Kylee’s heart kicked in her chest, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she sipped her drink slowly and looked him right in the eye. “I’m still deciding if you’re worth the trouble.”
That made him grin a deep, dangerous thing that said he was all in.“I am,” he said simply.
She didn’t argue. But she didn’t agree, either. Instead, she turned to watch the rest of the party unfold, her body warm with daiquiris and something far more dangerous than alcohol.
Beside her, Rio stayed close, not touching, not rushing. Just waiting.The tension wasn’t breaking. It was building.
Kylee shifted in her seat, suddenly aware of movement on the far side of the lounge. Her eyes flicked toward the corner and widened. “Oh my …”
Rio followed her gaze and let out a low laugh. There, on a plush velvet loveseat, Kelly was full-on straddling the band’s drummer, her hands in his hair while his were very clearly not on her waist. Their kiss was anything but subtle. It was heated and messy Kylee choked on a laugh and covered her mouth.
“She moves fast,” Rio said, raising his eyebrows.
“She’s unhinged,” Kylee replied, half-horrified, half-impressed. “I leave her alone for ten minutes…”
“She’s living,” Rio said, his voice warm as he looked back at Kylee. “Maybe you should try it sometime.”
Kylee turned her attention back to him, the air between them pulsing with heat again. “Careful,” she said, her voice light but laced with warning. “You might just find out I’m not as restrained as I look.”
His gaze dropped to her lips for half a beat too long. “God, I hope so.”
Kylee took a slow sip of her drink, letting the strawberry tang coat her tongue while Rio watched her like she was some kind of unsolvable riddle he was dying to crack. She tilted her head, eyes glinting as the bass from the next track vibrated through the floor.
“You always stare this much,” she asked, lifting an eyebrow, “or am I just special?”
Rio leaned in, his voice low but edged with amusement. “I only stare when I see something I want.”
Kylee laughed, heat blooming in her chest. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know you sing every lyric to my songs,” he said, his smirk smug. “And I know you bite your lip when you’re trying not to smile.”
She immediately stopped mid-bite, narrowing her eyes. “That’s creepy.”
“That’s observant,” he countered, clearly enjoying her squirm.
“You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse. Kylee shook her head, turning her attention to the dance floor, where bodies moved like waves. Her skin buzzed with energy from the music, from the drinks, from Rio’s constant nearness. He didn’t touch her, but his presence wrapped around her like static electricity, charging the air between them.
“You’re dangerous,” she said without looking at him.
“Only if you’re trying to stay out of trouble.”
“And if I am?”
He leaned closer, voice brushing against her ear. “Then I’m your biggest problem.”
Kylee smirked, not quite pulling away. “Then maybe I’ll keep my distance.”
“You won’t,” he said simply.
