Asmo doesn’t respond, but Marik stiffens on my left side. August looks at Koa and whispers something in his ear, but my ears pick it up. “Chill.”
Asmo chuckles beside me but doesn’t say anything else. I look at him, but his eyes are still locked on Koa’s. Although he’s leaning back, I can feel how tense he is, like he’s ready to strike.
“Back to individual dates then,” I mutter.
“I like your idea for next week,” August says to me. “I’d love to show you my court if that could be arranged.”
“There’s a murderer on the loose, and you expect her to leave the safety of her court?” Asmo scoffs. “Have you no regard for her safety?”
Once again, I have had enough. I stand back up, excusing myself. I head to the pool house, passing Elle and Holly on the way in. Once inside, I suck in deep breaths, just needing a moment away from the testosterone. I check my makeup in the gold-framed mirror, fixing a smudge of mascara before heading back out. The pool house is dark when I step out of the bathroom.
A tall figure stands by the doors, blocking my exit.
My magic flares, ready to fight for my life or to scream for help. I spread my feet and shift my weight to the balls of my feet, ready to take off if I need to. The figure shifts, allowing more light to filter in, and I realize it’s just Asmo.
“Asmo,” I say, letting out a sigh of relief. “You scared the hell out of me.”
“I’m sorry.” He’s silent for a moment before walking closer to me and repeating more quietly, “I’m sorry, Mae.”
When he repeats the apology, I realize it’s not an apology for scaring me, but an apology for last night. For everything. For the way we’vebothbeen biting and clawing at each other at every chance.
We stand there for another moment, looking at each other before he inches closer. I don’t say anything. I don’t move.
I stand frozen in place, feeling like he reallyisa predator now, and I’m the prey, trapped by his unyielding stare. My eyes stay locked on his.
Even though he just apologized, this still feels like a challenge, another one of his games, and I won’t back away. Not when he’s looking at me with a fire and a sorrow in his eyes.
He continues to move closer to me at an agonizingly slow pace. My body buzzes at the proximity.
He’s inches away from me now, our eyes still locked. He’s the tallest of the princes, the top of my head reaching the base of his neck. He reaches his right hand up slowly, giving me time to pull away.
I don’t.
He cups the back of my neck, his touch feeling possessive and dominant. He has full control right now, and he knows it. My body instantly reacts, white-hot fire racing down my spine. His thumb slowly caresses the shallow dip at the edge of my hairline. My breathing hitches, and I break eye contact now, instead opting to look down at his chest, watching as it rises and falls.
“Mae.” His voice is deep. “Look at me,” he says, his voice soft but commanding and full of power.
Something inside of me thrills at it. I tilt my head up to fully meet his gaze. The pressure on the back of my neck eases as his hand slowly drifts to my throat. He could choke me if he wanted to.
But maybe it’s me that wants him to.
“Mae,” he repeats, my name on his lips like a prayer. “You drive me insane,” he whispers. “I meant what I said last night. I do find you intriguing. I find you intriguing because you constantly push back at me. You constantly challenge me. I’m used to people submitting to me, but you refuse to.”
My knees go weak as I think about submitting to him. I can’t help but imagine him leaning over me, caging my body with his arms. I can’t help but think about the way he could utterly dominate me. I focus on controlling my breathing, refusing to give away the way he makes me feel.
“I’ve never thought about someone so much. You infiltrate every thought, and it drives meinsane. I don’t know how to act around you,” he says, his mouth only inches from mine.
I swallow as his thumb strokes the hollow at the base of my neck. My pulse is erratic at his touch, my skin burning with every stroke.
He leans down, places his mouth beside my ear, and whispers, “Can we try again? Will you please have dinner with me? This time, I’ll be a gentleman. Or I can be the Prince of Darkness I imagine you secretly long for.”
My back arches at the words, and I force myself to think through the throbbing in my veins that’s slowly spreading throughout my body.
“Why should I let you?” I ask. My voice comes out rough.
“Tell me you don’t want me,” he whispers in my ear.
My pulse quickens at the thought of how badly Idowant him. “I don’t,” I say, forcing my pulse to calm and my words to come out even.
