Page 81 of Vicious Kingdom

His exhale was a long rumble in his chest.

“Your turn.” I pointed the bottle at him.

“Truth.”

“Why did you kiss me at the engagement party?” I asked, heart racing at my own boldness.

His jaw tightened. I could see the internal debate playing out behind those dark eyes. For a moment, I thought he’d reach for the bottle, but instead he leaned forward, elbows on his knees.

“Because I wanted to.” His voice was low, almost dangerous. “Because despite everything, I can’t seem to stop wanting to.”

The admission hung between us, heavy and electric. I fought to keep my expression neutral even as my pulse hammered in my throat.

“Your turn,” he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Dare.” The word left my lips before I could reconsider.

A slow smile spread across his face. “I dare you to tell me what you're really doing here.”

“That’s cheating,” I protested.

The corner of his mouth tipped in a sexy, half smile. A sight so rare, I could barely believe my eyes.

My panties melted.

I traced the rim of the bottle with my finger before putting it to my lips, not taking my eyes off his.

“Go,” I hissed, savoring the whiskey’s burn.

“Truth.”

“Do you want to kiss me now?”

The answer was instantaneous. “Yes.”

The muscles in my core clenched, and my blood buzzed with anticipation.

“Are you going to?” I breathed.

“You are exceptionally bad at this game,” he muttered. “Truth or dare, Anna.”

Feeling bold, I said, “Truth.”

“Did you love that idiot you were engaged to?”

There was only one way to answer that. “Not even a little.”

Not technically a whole truth. I simply omitted the part where I used another human as a means to my ends, and it resulted in his death.

“Truth or dare,” I cajoled, forcing myself to sound happier than I was.

“Dare.”

“I dare you to kiss me…”

Leo’s eyes sparked. He leaned forward, but I held up a finger.

“…to kiss mehere.”