The music swelled around us, and I guided her across the floor, weaving between other couples who blurred into nothing. There was only Selena. The warmth of her hand in mine. The way her body moved with mine like we’d been dancing together for centuries instead of minutes.
“Why did you really come tonight, Rocco?” Her voice was soft, but her eyes were sharp. Searching. “And don’t say it’s just because Angelo asked.”
I should lie. I was good at lying—had been doing it all night. But looking into those dark eyes, with her scent filling my lungs and her warmth so close I could taste it, I couldn't.
“I don’t know,” I admitted. And it was the most honest thing I’d said in two years.
Her expression softened. Her hand slid from my shoulder to the back of my neck, fingers brushing against my hair. The touch sent electricity racing down my spine.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered. So quiet I almost didn’t hear it.
The words gutted me.
She’d missed me. After everything I’d done—rejecting her, calling her a disgrace, disappearing without a word—she’d missed me.
I didn’t deserve her.
I didn’t deserve any of this.
But I held her tighter anyway, tucking her head beneath my chin, and let myself have this moment. Just this one moment of pretending I was the man she thought I was.
The song ended too soon. The last notes faded into applause, and reality came crashing back.
Chapter Ten
Selena
Rocco had me.
Those dark eyes. That slow smile. The way he moved—confident, graceful, like dancing with me was the most natural thing in the world. It was as if he was weaving a spell into my heart with every step, every touch, every breath against my skin.
Oh, wait. He’d already done that. Two years ago. And no amount of distance or heartbreak had managed to undo it.
No matter how much he’d hurt me—no matter how many times I’d told myself to move on—no guy had ever measured up to him. Not even close. I’d tried dating. Tried to forget. But every time someone else held me, all I could think about was how wrong it felt. How they weren’thim.
And now he was here, his hand warm around mine, his scent still clinging to my skin.
I was so screwed.
He led me off the dance floor, weaving through the crowd, back to our table. My heart was still racing, my skin still tingling everywhere he’d touched me. I reached for my glass of ChosenBlood and took a long sip, letting the warmth settle through me. Rocco downed the rest of his whiskey in one swallow and set the empty glass on the table.
After I finished my drink, he gestured to my empty glass. “Would you like another drink?”
I brushed a hair off my face. “Yes. Please. Another glass of Chosen Blood, please.”
“Sure.” He headed through the dance floor, his broad shoulders parting the dancers.
“Well, well.” Rose slid up next to me, a glass of Chosen Blood in her hand. “Here with Rocco. I have to admit, I didn’t see that coming.”
Her long blonde hair was crimped into soft waves, and she wore simple black onyx earrings that matched her elegant black dress. That was Rose—never flashy, never pretentious. She didn’t need to be. Her power spoke for itself.
I scanned the dance floor. “Where’s Valentin?”
Rose’s smile tightened. “In the corner. Trying to keep Dante from killing his brother.”
I followed her gaze across the ballroom.
Dante looked like a bull ready to charge, pawing at the ground. His fists were clenched at his sides, his whole body vibrating with barely contained rage. Guess his mother’s warning hadn’t lasted long.
