Page 26 of Vicious Kingdom

Instead of leaving, I leaned into him. My body recognized Leo’s touch instantly, responding with a violent shudder that traveled from my spine to my core.

His hands slid from my waist to my hips, guiding me against him in a slow, deliberate rhythm that contradicted the frantic pace of the music. One large palm splayed over my stomach.

I desperately wanted it to trail lower.

That was messed up.

We were in public, and I was ready to slip his hand under my skirt.

Leo spun me around, pressing my chest against his. The hard length in his pants dug into my belly, making my pussy weep with wanting.

A flash of lights sent my head spinning.

But his strong hands tightened around me, steadying me.

His eyes darkened to obsidian, pupils blown wide with desire. The crowd around us faded into a blur of nameless faces and pulsing lights. My heart hammered against my ribcage as his grip tightened.

“You shouldn’t have teased me like that,” Leo murmured, his voice a dangerous caress.

I swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

His laugh was low and cruel. “Liar.”

Leo’s hand slid up my back, fingers tangling in my hair as he tugged—not hard enough to hurt, but with enough force to make my breath catch. My head tilted back involuntarily, exposing my throat to him. The predator had his prey exactly where he wanted her.

“Always lying, little one,” he growled. “I know one way to silence your viper’s tongue.”

He dipped his head, his breath hot against my skin. My eyelids fluttered as his free hand came up to capture my jaw, tilting my face upward. The grip was firm yet gentle, possessive in a way that made my knees weak. His touch burned against my skin, branding me.

“I’ve wanted to do this since I first saw you,” he murmured, his breath hot against my lips. “You make it so easy.”

I surrendered completely, closing my eyes.

The kiss never came.

Instead, a cold invaded my senses. The world tipped. My eyes snapped open as I stumbled forward. There was no longer a solid presence to lean on.

Leo was walking away.

I tried not to let it bother me. Refused to let the negative feelings take root in my chest. This wasn’t a huge setback. Leo came out to the club, after all. That was some kind of progress. Right? Clenching my fingers, I stepped over to the bar.

Don’t think about it. Don’t!

A shot was slid in my direction. I slung it back, not even tasting it in my haste to swallow. Fire crawled through my belly, mixing with the pizza grease. Just as I contemplated the wisdom of another, something caught my eye. A shadow moved in the corner. I looked but didn’t see a face.

“Great, now I’m seeinghim,” I muttered. The pest, the plague on my very existence, wasn’t actually here. Why would he be?

Someone could have texted him.He had lots of friends.

An eerie chill trickled down my spine. I looked again, searching for the Tormentor’s face in the crowd. But he was mercifully absent.

Good. Time to take another shot.

Chapter 11 – Leonardo

That was too close. A misstep. One stupid move in a dangerous game that would have ripped away everything if I’d given in. I nearly fell into her trap, lost myself, let the charged moment pull me under.

Annaliese was a deadly little enchantress, weaving a web that would catch a man’s soul in one swift stroke.