“Isn’t there?” His finger traced the rim of his wineglass. “When I kissed you, Poppy, I felt you surrender. When I touched you—” his eyes flicked down to my hands, which had begun to tremble “—your body speaks a different language than your words.”
My breath caught. The air between us seemed to thicken. There was an electrical current running through it, and if I wasn’t careful, I’d be caught in the cross threads.
“Tonight, I make you a deal,” he said, closing the distance between us. “But first, we dine.”
“I’m not hungry,” I said quickly. There was no way I’d be able to sit here and eat with that thundercloud hanging over us.
Something dangerous sparked in his eye. “You’re famished, flower. But maybe not for food.”
Heat bloomed in my core, spreading outward until my skin felt feverish.
It had to be the wine. That was the only reason I opened my mouth to agree. “Okay, yeah, maybe I am a little hungry.”
Ivan smiled, feral and triumphant. He plucked my fingers from my lap, kissing the tips. I held my breath. He turned my palm outward and pressed another there. My heart thumped. He moved to my wrist, placing one above my pulse.
I gasped.
His answering grin said it all. Prying the wine glass from my clutches, he tugged my arms until I sat on his lap. Through the skirts, I felt the hard muscles of his thighs. They were powerful, strong limbs—and part of me wanted to feel them settled between mine.
“Ivan,” I whispered, my body betraying me as I melted against him.
His lips found the sensitive spot just below my ear, and a shiver ran through me. The hot press of his mouth against my skin sent lightning through my veins. My head tilted back of its own accord, offering more of myself to him.
“I’ve thought about this,” he murmured against my throat, his voice vibrating through me. “Every night since I saw you at the don’s ridiculous dinner party.”
I should have been offended, but his lips were trailing down the column of my neck, and coherent thought was becoming impossible. His teeth grazed my collarbone, and I gasped.
“Ivan,” I said again, this time more urgently. My fingers found their way to his hair, threading through the thick strands.
What was one night?
If I managed to escape, this would be a memory I took to my grave. Right now, he wasn’t my son’s father. He was the unconquerable force of nature who haunted my nights and occupied every spare thought during my days.
The mobster pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes bright black, dark enough to swallow the light from the candles.
“I’m going to need to hear you say it, little flower,” he rasped, voice thick with pent-up emotions.
He was barely holding back.
In a burst of madness, one thought took over. I wanted him to be unleashed. To come at me with every cord of power. Little flower, he called me? I was no delicate blossom with frail petals. I was born a mafia princess, and tonight, I felt like one.
He tempted me to come out of my shell. First with the appearance at Nosh, and now with this. I set aside the role of mother and homemaker. I embraced the role I’d been born into, the one I knew I could feel, restless, like a caged animal in my soul.
I wrapped my arms around the killer’s throat. “Do it.”
Ivan cocked a brow.
“Do whatever it is that you’re thinking, whatever it is that makes your face look like a hungry beast’s,” I said, my voice trailing to a whisper in the rush of anticipation.
Rising with careful precision, Ivan moved us across the space. My heart slammed against my ribcage as Ivan held me in his arms. The world tilted and spun, my ruby dress swirling around us like liquid fire.
This was madness. Pure, delicious madness.
The anticipation coiled inside me like a spring wound too tight. I could feel it building, threatening to snap with each passing second. My fingers trembled as they traced the hard line of his jaw, the slight stubble rough against my fingertips. I'd never wanted anything—anyone—with such fierce intensity.
“You’re shaking,” he murmured, his lips brushing against my ear.
“I’m not scared,” I whispered back, and it was true. This wasn't fear coursing through my veins.
