We shared a brief moment of amusement, the tension and awkwardness evaporating the more we drank.
He finished his glass, and the bottle was empty now.
I rose from my seat and reached for his glass, but his hand met mine, and I flinched away.
His eyes flicked from the glass to me, a slow grin playing on his lips at my reaction.
“Are you scared of me?”
“No.”
He grabbed my wrist. “You’re trembling.”
“Iron deficiency.”
“Is that so?” Arkady stood suddenly, pulling me close. He leaned down to speak into my ear. “You are like a bird, ready to fly as soon as the cage is open.”
“Should I consider fleeing, Mr. Kamenev?” I looked up; he was closer than I thought. His tall, lean body was pressed against mine, leaving barely room enough to turn around. He loomed, like he was waiting for something. Expecting.
“I guess it makes sense for such a frail thing.” He didn’t answer my question. “Maybe you will wither away before you are able to fly.”
“Already comfortable enough for insults, are we?” I swayed, and his grip on my wrist tightened.
“Oh, no, I promise I say it endearingly.” He rolled his eyes.
“What areyourunning from, stranger?” I asked, playing with the collar of his shirt. “Debt? Bad habits? Escaping your first family? Murder—”
The pads of his fingers cut me off when they dug into the sides of my neck. My throat bobbed against his palm, my eyes only able to focus on him. My wineglass tipped, shattering under my palm, the shards hot as they threatened to pierce the skin.
If my eyes opened any wider, they might fall from my skull. The grip on my neck was firm, steady, completely secure. His eyes were cold, fixated.
This was when I realized my previous inclinations were correct. I suppose I should have known better. The most dangerous man is an unassuming one.
He smirked, leaning in so that his face hovered over mine. The flickering of the candle dancing around his features.
“No, keep going, I want to hear it,” he whispered.
“I knew you would be no different,” I spat.
“Different than whom?” He cocked his head, his eyes dark, but I could still see them wander to my lips. “You’ve got a sharp tongue for a faileddollar princess.”
“And you are the fool who fell for it,” I scoffed. “Did you really think a family like mine would welcome someone like you without strings attached? You are simply the first needy fool they stumbled upon. Just another man.”
“Someone like you,” he repeated, a cruel smirk pulling at the corners of his lips, his free hand moving a stray piece of hair from my face. The gentle touch was more jarring than the slight grip on my throat. He leaned in to kiss my cheek delicately. “My dear, you are going to learnvery quickly that I am most certainly worse than any man you know. Take comfort that you have such a force on your side.”
“For your sake, I hope that is true,” I whispered, my head feeling a bit light. “I was wondering when you’d take off the mask.”
“I didn’t think your father would appreciate such a personality.” He sighed, his heavy hand on my hip, fingertips pressing into the skirts. “Rest assured, I’m good at keeping up appearances—as will you be, if you know what’s good for you.”
A laugh burst from my throat, almost joyous at his proclamation. “Aren’t I the one who’s better for you? Given that you have no wealth of your own?”
“Will it matter at the end of the day?” He dragged his thumb over my lip, smearing it past the corner, glaring as if to dare me to do something.
“It will.” I picked up one leg, trailing my heel up the back of his thigh. “Because if I’m stuck with you”—I hooked my leg behind his, jolting him toward me—“you have to remember that you’re also stuck withme.”
His grip on my neck softened, letting me lean into him, but the closer I got, the more he leaned away. Such a gesture brought me joy, to scare even the most callous of men. How foolish of him to think he could just walk in here and claim what he wanted.
“Aren’t you going to do it? To force me? Make my poor little frail body submit to whatever power you feel entitled to?” I mocked. “You were so eager to get your hands on me. Why stop?”
