But following through with this alliance is more important to my family than whether I let Leo to touch me. All I know is that his fingers set my skin on fire, and suddenly, I can’t quite think straight.
“No,” I breathe, trying not to sound as flustered as I feel. “I fully intend to meet you at the altar.”
A flash of warning ignites in Leo’s eyes, and I gasp audibly as he wraps an arm around my waist, pulling me close as he cups my cheek with his free hand.
I can feel every rock-hard inch of him pressed against me, the chiseled muscles of his chest and abdomen, his straining bicep holding me with iron strength, and though I bring my palms up, arching back so he can’t steal a kiss, I’m in very real danger of wanting one.
“Leo,” I whisper, panic lacing my tone as I glance around once more.
The look on my father’s face says he is clearly displeased with how Leo’s touching me. But with a scowl, he deliberately looks away, and my heart starts to race at the silent but clear communication.
He’s not going to help me.
I need to extricate myself from this situation, and I need to do it without making a scene.
Unfortunately, it takes no time at all to realize I won’t be physically forcing distance between me and Leo.
He’s entirely too strong. And before I can insist that he let go of me, he’s talking.
“I warned you that you would regret it. Call it off before it’s too late, Princess,” he purrs, leaning closer until the scents of cypress and lemon make my pulse flutter.
Covering my whimper with a scoff, I do my best to lift my chin into an imperious expression. “Or what? You’ll kiss me?” I taunt, but I’m too breathless to make it sound like a challenge.
“I’ll ruin you,” Leo breathes, sending a shiver rippling down my spine.
Dragging in a sharp breath, I steel my nerves and glare right back into his dark eyes. “You don’t know me at all if you think you can intimidate me into backing out. I’m loyal to my family, and I will follow through with the agreement my father made if it will bring peace. Even if I have to marry you.”
“Don’t make me laugh. I know the Tanaka-kai well enough to realize they won’t be any more tolerable after the wedding. The peace won’t last, and if you think you can make a difference, then you’re even more naive than I thought.”
He leans in closer, his lips mere inches from mine, and his proximity makes it nearly impossible to form a coherent argument. Maybe he’s right. Maybe this alliance was doomed to fail from the start. But I won’t be the reason it falls apart.
“Your father agreed to this union,” I point out. “So, now who’s living in a fantasy? You know as well as I do that this wedding is going to happen whether we want it to or not.”
We’re well beyond the gray now in our public display, and I’m sure my father will be furious with me for allowing it to go this far—even if I can’t stop it.
My heart hammers as Leo leans over me, his body curving around mine until my weight is braced against his powerful arm, my palms uselessly trapped against his chest.
Attraction races through my veins like lightning, and the feeling is so completely unexpected, I don’t know how to fight it.
“You'd better hope it doesn’t,Cattiva,” he murmurs, dipping me farther back.
His eyes dip to my lips, his grin wicked, and for a split second, I’m sure he’s going to kiss me.
Then, without warning, he lets go, and I gasp at the sudden sense of weightlessness before frigid water swallows me whole.
4
LEO
The look of pure shock on Sora’s face makes me laugh as she topples backward into the fountain.
Whatever outcome she thought would come of our briefly intimate conversation, this was not it.
I know it was mean, an immature prank, but it was entirely worth it for the moment of satisfaction at seeing her perfect mask so completely obliterated.
And when she surfaces a moment later, her dark hair plastered to her head and water dripping from her, she’s the utter look of ruin I promised her.
What I didn’t consider before I chose to dunk her, however, was the way her white satin dress would turn nearly transparent.
