There was no reason for him to call her that in the privacy of their suite. Part of her wanted to scold him, maybe even tease him, but his proximity chased away her ability to speak.
She did as he’d commanded—trying to ignore how much shelikedtaking commands from him—and his eyes fell upon her mouth as he smoothed the creamy color across her lips.
His gentle attention was so different from the brutality she knew he was capable of. Such a contrast to the feral, caged beast lurking beneath his skin. She was certain he could hear her rapid heartbeat.
He placed the tube beside her, then pulled back to inspect his work, running a thumb beneath the swell of her lip to wipe away a smudge.
Their eyes connected and all the air sucked out of the room, a magnetic pulse flowing between them.
He leaned in closer. So close that all she’d have to do was inch upward, and their mouths would be touching.
She settled her hands on his hips, and a low growl scraped up his throat. His grip on her neck tightened.
He poked his tongue out to lick his lips and she swore she felt it on her own.
Her muscles tensed, half of her wanting to close the hairsbreadth of space between them, half of her screaming that it would complicate her assignment. Herlife.
Do it, her wolf whispered.
“Ronin,” she breathed out, pushing up, their mouths grazing?—
The quick knock at the door broke the spell.
Ronin closed his eyes and pulled back, a soft breath shuddering through his chest.
“Master Matakos? Mistress Valette?” the servant called out. “Master Otto is ready for you.”
Ronin helped Mireille off the vanity, chasing away his heated intensity with a familiar teasing smirk. His go-to tactic to hide his true feelings. Mireille recognized the play, one she often executed with icy indifference.
“Guess I shouldn’t mess up my handiwork,” he said as he opened the door.
She huffed a laugh, grateful for the eased tension, as she took his proffered arm.
And tried not to think about how much shewantedhim to make a complete and utter mess of her.
“How doyou know how to apply lipstick?” Mireille murmured to Ronin as the pair followed the servant down a hallway in the west wing.
“Twin sister, remember? Myonlysibling. We were each other’s sole entertainment.”
“And what’s with the suspenders?”
“Gotta keep up with our fashionable host.”
Her lips curled into a tiny grin, and he tried not to stare at the outfitshehad changed into. The outfit that had caused whatever madness had just transpired between them.
The glittery gold dress was practically painted on her, clinging to every tantalizing curve. From his vantage point, the scooping neckline offered an incredible view of her stunning cleavage, and the high slit down the front bared a shapely leg with every other step.
High Gods, what he wouldn’t do to kneel before her again, worship those legs. But maybe this time, he’d throw one over his shoulder, kiss and lick up that sculpted thigh, slow and teasing until she was begging him to put his mouth?—
“We’ve arrived,” the servant uttered, dissolving Ronin’s fantasy as they stopped before a pair of double doors carved into the shape of a curving snake.
He needed to clear his head andfocus. This dinner would be a test of wits. They’d need to learn all they could about Otto’s plans without giving any hint of their true intentions. Ronin would need his sharpest headspace to accomplish that. He couldn’t afford to have it tangled up with thoughts of the varied and numerous filthy things he wanted to do to his partner.
Hisfriend.
When was the last time he’d been justfriendswith a female? He honestly couldn’t remember.
The servant swung open the door into a cozy, candlelit room. Beyond the round black table in the center, Ronin spied the other side of that stained glass window, the one depicting the High God Stygios on his throne. The second pair of watchful, serpentine eyes that Ronin would have to contend with this evening.
