Page 345 of Reign

“You’ve been staring at me since we arrived,” I whisper.

“I’ve been staring at you since this morning.”

“Because you love me?”

His eyes lift to mine.

“Yes.”

The answer still hits too hard.

“You keep saying it like it’s easy.”

“It is.”

“For you.”

“For me, loving you is the simplest part of this.”

“I hate when you’re grossly romantic.”

“Liar.”

“Unfortunately.”

His mouth brushes mine once.

Then he guides me backward until the backs of my knees touch the chaise.

“Sit.”

I obey.

Luciano steps between my thighs and places the bottle beside me. His fingers find the zipper at the back of my dress and lower it only far enough to loosen the fabric around my body.

I glance over my shoulder. “Are you taking it off already?”

“Not yet.”

“I spent a long time choosing this.”

“And it served its purpose.”

“What purpose?”

“Making me want to remove it.”

The dress remains in place, but the loosened fabric shifts against my skin with every breath.

His eyes move over me without hurry. I resist the urge to adjust the neckline. The way he looks at me feels too intimate now.

Before, he wanted me. Now, he loves me and wants me. Somehow, that is infinitely more dangerous.

Luciano reaches for the bottle. I watch him remove the stopper.

“What exactly are you planning to do?”

Luciano places one hand behind my neck and gently tips my head back.