Page 37 of Reign

Brown eyes. Quick tongue. A pulse that keeps betraying her composure every time she looks at me. Beautiful in a way that doesn’t settle politely. Polished at the edges. Restless underneath.

The heels are the next thing I notice. Delicate straps, high enough to give her a few stolen inches. She still has to tip her face up to look at me, and judging by the defiant set of her shoulders, she resents that.

She’s small.

She fits too easily inside my reach.

Her fingers tighten around the edge of her plate. Her chin lifts another fraction.

But she waits for my answer.

I like that too.

“No,” I say. “Not yet.”

Her breath changes.

Quiet.

Almost nothing, but it’s enough.

“What’s your name?”

“Elena.” It slips out before she can make me work for it. Her brows twitch, annoyed with herself.

“Elena,” I repeat, taking my time with every syllable.

Her shoulders loosen. Her gaze drops to my mouth.

She likes her name on my tongue.

I file that away for later.

Her eyes shift to mine. She swallows, her tongue flicking out to wet her lips. “And yours?”

“Luciano.”

“Luciano,” she whispers.

I want my hand around her jaw and my name in her mouth again.

She clears her throat. “Are the empanadas any good?”

Subject change. Interesting.

“They haven’t disappointed me yet.”

Her mouth twitches.

She doesn’t want to smile.

Now I really want it.

She steps closer, reaching over me to grab an empanada her perfume soft, floral, sweet and expensive.

“You here alone?” she asks eyes flicking up to mine.

For a second, my mind goes quiet.