Page 39 of Reign

She stops.

The obedience is immediate. Accidental.

Far too satisfying.

A breath later, her eyes narrow as she realizes what she’s done.

“Excuse me?”

“It’s cold,” I say.

An eyebrow arches. “And yet, you let me pick it up.”

“I wanted to see if you would make a decent decision.”

“And?”

“I’m disappointed.”

She stares at me. Then she smiles, slow and unwilling.

That smile.

Small, but freely given. Enough to make something in my chest tighten again, and this time I don’t have the patience to pretend I don’t notice.

“You’re arrogant,” she says.

“No.”

“No?”

“I’m observant.”

“That’s what arrogant men call themselves when they’re trying to sound educated.”

A laugh slips out before I decide whether to give it to her.

Her eyes brighten at the sound. She looks pleased with herself.

I like it.

“Careful, Elena.”

Her name lands between us differently this time.

Lower.

A warning. She hears it. I watch her hear it.

Her throat moves, but she doesn’t step back.

“Or what?” she asks.

There it is.

The challenge. A question with teeth.

I lean in just enough for the space between us to become a decision. “Or I’ll stop pretending you crossed this room for the appetizers.”