Page 24 of Vicious Kingdom

“Hey! Where’s your stud muffin cousin?” Kevin bumped my elbow. “Haven’t seen him at the clubs inweeks.”

A knot formed between my eyes. That was news.

“He’sssooocute,” Kennedy gushed, drunkenly swaggering over in her skyscraper heels.

I flapped my hand in a dismissive gesture. “Probably playing video games with his friends. Uncle Jon said he’s really gotten into a new PC game.”

It wasn’t like we went out together often. We weren’t sibling-level close.

“I havegggoootttto get online,” Kevin pouted.

“There are plenty of other guys here, Kevin,” I said with a reassuring smile.

Besides, I wasn’t sure my cousin was into men. But if he was, that was an interesting development. One I wouldn’t particularly mind. And of course, my parents and uncle would be thrilled either way. So long as there was a wedding and another little heir produced for the media empire, it didn’t matter what kind of relationship my cousin was in.

Time to change the subject, Anna.I gave myself a hard shake and dismissed that trail of thought.

“Annaliese! Why aren’t we dancing?” Callah crooned.

“In a minute!” I shouted over the music, taking another sip of my drink to calm my nerves.

Kevin pouted but turned his attention to a nearby group of dancers.

That was when the atmosphere shifted.

The drink burned down my windpipe as I turned too fast, drawn to the magnetic pull. Leo stalked through the crowd like he ruled the scene—which, given his status, wealth, and connections, he did.

My body reacted before my brain could catch up. My nipples tightened painfully against the thin fabric of my dress, and mybreath caught in a way that had nothing to do with the stuffy club air.

Damn me…I had it bad for that man.

Leo moved like a predator, all controlled power beneath that tailored black suit. His dark eyes scanned the room, commanding attention without saying a word. The crowd parted instinctively, like animals sensing a beast of prey in their midst.

He was the lion, come down to the watering hole to drink.

The only thing we could do was stand and watch.

“Holy shit,” Callah whispered, following my gaze. “Is that—”

My voice came out hoarse. “Yes.”

I took a desperate gulp of my cocktail, draining the glass.

His dark suit was impeccably tailored, clinging to broad shoulders that tapered to a narrow waist. The top buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a tantalizing glimpse of tanned skin and the whisp of black hair that I knew stretched across his chest, down his cut abs, and curledlower.

My mouth went dry. The empty glass in my hand suddenly felt too heavy as heat pooled between my thighs, my body responding to his presence with embarrassing immediacy. I pressed my legs together, trying to fight the reaction.

Right now wasn’t the time to do something stupid like throwing myself at him.

The lion needed to come to me.

But the harder I clenched the muscles, the more the ache pulsed.

Kristy stepped out from our group to meet him. Elegant and graceful, she put herself in front of the beast.

A small gazelle, beckoning the monster to taste.

This will be good.