In that time, Leo hasn’t said more than three words to me, an invisible wall rising between us now that we have a table stopping him from touching me, and a sliver of fresh doubt works its way into the back of my mind.
Maybe his desire for me was momentary, a fleeting need created because tonight is the last night he could want what he can’t have.
The Chiaroscuro brothers join their father in the foyer to send their guests off for the night, and as I filter past, the don gives me a polite nod, his younger sons doing the same.
As I pass Leo, he barely glances at me in acknowledgment, and my heart sinks as I realize I’ve let my attraction to him run away with me again.
Then a jolt of electricity races from my fingertips and up my arm as he catches my fingers in a light grasp, stopping me from leaving.
I turn, my breath catching in my throat as I meet Leo’s molten chocolate eyes, and I sense more than see my family pause beside me, my brother bristling silently.
“Enjoy your last night of freedom, Miss Tanaka,” Leo says when the tension reaches its breaking point. “I’ll see you at the altar.”
It almost sounds more like a question than a promise, and he holds my gaze pointedly as he lifts my knuckles to his lips like some proper gentleman from the English court.
They brush across my skin so softly, a shiver ripples up my spine, and that same heat that flooded me in the bathroom with him pools deep in my belly once again.
“I’ll see you at the altar,” I confirm, infusing my voice with as much conviction as I can when I feel so completely breathless.
He releases my hand, and I practically snatch it back as I turn to retreat to our car, my pulse roaring in my ears.
I seriously can’t find my balance around that man. He’s rude and uncouth and infuriating.
Half the time, I think he loathes me just for existing, but whenever he touches me, it does things to my body that I can’t quite explain.
I hate that he affects me the way he does. It feels self-destructive when most of the time, he seems so indifferent to me.
But whenever he gets close, I can’t seem to think straight.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been sheltered by my family my entire life.
After all, Leo’s the only man who’s ever even dared to touch me.
I just wish I had more self-control around him, but I can’t deny that Leo is gorgeous, and even when he’s being a jerk, he touches me in ways that make my heart flutter.
“I don’t like that you’re dressed like one of his sluts tonight,” my father says as soon as the limo door shuts behind us.
“Should I have refused Leo’s gift, then?” I counter mildly, snapping out of my revere as my cheeks burn.
“We have better manners than that. But if the Chiaroscuros weren’t known for being so vulgar, I’d almost think he did it intentionally to toy with us.”
“And don’t think we didn’t notice your little disappearing act tonight,” Kenji piles on. “You'd better not be giving the milk away for free before we’ve sold the cow.”
It takes everything I have not to voice my scathing retort, but I know what will happen if I talk back, and it will be my fault, too, if my skin isn’t flawless for tomorrow’s ceremony.
So I bite my tongue and force my face into a passive expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I state calmly, then I turn to look out the window so they won’t see the lie in my eyes.
Because they can’t know just how close I came to doing exactly that tonight.
I don’t know how far Leo would have taken it if I’d allowed him to kiss me, but just thinking about it makes my skin heat and my stomach flutter.
“Leave her alone, Kenji,” my mother says. “It will all be over after tomorrow. Sora did well tonight.”
I’m mildly surprised that my mother would speak up for me. She doesn’t often, but when she does, it means a lot.
The rest of the car ride is silent, and when we get home, I head to my room at the back of the house to get ready for bed and perform my nightly skincare routine that will leave my face soft and glowing for tomorrow.
