Page 34 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

“Oh, Augustus, this is beautiful,” Louise said as she bent up and kissed him on the cheek. “Just perfect. Thank you.”

He clasped her hand. “I’m glad you like it.”

One of the band members wandered over to them to say hello and I took the opportunity to look over the balcony at the crashing ocean. I almost expected to see the Little Mermaid sitting on a rock.

I stiffened as I recognized one of the voices in a group that had just arrived. My heart, which had been steadily thumping, suddenly kicked into overdrive, its rapid beats echoing in my ears. A flush of heat crept up my neck, warming my cheeks as I slowly turned around.

My fingers trembled slightly as I smoothed down my dress, a nervous habit I couldn’t quite shake. I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself, but the air seemed to catch in my throat. The room suddenly felt too warm, too close.

As I completed my turn, my eyes searching for the source of that familiar voice, I felt a flutter in my stomach—a mix of anticipation and apprehension that left me slightly dizzy. My lips parted in a silent gasp as I finally laid eyes on Dimitri.

He looked devastatingly handsome in a tailored black suit that hugged his lean, muscular frame. The crisp white button-up shirt he had on underneath contrasted well withhis dark attire, emphasizing his pale, smooth skin. His raven black hair was deliberately tousled in a carefully disheveled style, a few unruly strands falling over his forehead, giving him an air of effortless charm and rebellion.

His chiseled jawline and high cheekbones, always noticeable, were particularly accentuated this evening by the soft glow of the lights, casting shadows that highlighted his striking features. I noticed again the way Dimitri’s eyes, a piercing shade of icy blue, always seemed to hold a mysterious depth, a hint of danger lurking behind his intense gaze. His lips were curved into his signature smirk, a mixture of arrogance and allure that was uniquely his own.

He moved with a predatory grace as he approached me, his every step exuding confidence and power, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. He extended his hand, offering me a glass of champagne, the bubbles dancing playfully in the soft light. I hesitated for a moment, my eyes locked with his, trying to decipher the intent behind his gesture.

“Champagne, Gianna?” he asked, his voice low and seductive, a hint of a challenge in his tone. “A little liquid courage for the evening ahead?”

I reached out, my fingers brushing against his as I accepted the champagne flute, the brief contact sending a jolt of electricity through my body. “Thank you, Dimitri,” I replied, my voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach. “But I assure you, I don’t need any courage to handle whatever the night may bring.”

I brought the glass to my lips, taking a slow, deliberatesip, the effervescent liquid dancing deliciously on my tongue. I held his gaze over the rim of the glass, a small, enigmatic smile curling my lips. “I’m quite capable of holding my own, as you’ll soon discover.”

Dimitri’s eyes sparkled with amusement and intrigue, his smirk widening at my bold response. “Is that so?” he murmured, leaning in closer, his breath warm in my ear. “I look forward to seeing that.”

He pulled back, raising his own glass in a toast, his eyes never leaving mine. I clinked my glass against his and took another sip, feeling a thrill of anticipation at the knowledge that the night would be a dance of wits and desire, a game of cat and mouse that I was determined to win.

“Will you do me a favor?” he asked as he looked over the rim of his champagne glass at me, his eyes smoldering with unspoken desire.

I tilted my head, giving him a curious look, my heart skipping a beat under the intensity of his gaze. “It depends on what it is. Why don’t you ask me and find out.”

He reached out, picking up my hand and bringing it to his lips. His warm breath ghosted over my skin as he dropped a whisper-soft kiss on my wrist, sending a river of shivers through me. “Will you do me the honor of giving me the first dance?”

My mouth ran dry at the sensation of his lips on my skin, and my pulse quickened beneath his touch. My brain would have said no, but my mouth had other plans, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. “Yes,” I breathed, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Good.” His eyes glinted with satisfaction as he released my hand. He walked away, his steps confident and purposeful, and went over to talk with Rose and Valentin, leaving me standing there, my skin still tingling from his touch.

“You should be wary of my son.”

I jumped, my heart beating wildly in my chest as I spun around to face him. “Petar. When did you get here?” I asked, my eyes wide with surprise.

“As your bodyguard, I was following right behind you.” His voice was gruff, his eyes scanning the room, always on alert.

I was about to ask how he got here when I spied the high priestess. Her presence sent a chill down my spine. “Did you come with her?” I asked, nodding my chin in her direction, my brow furrowing with unease.

“Since you left without me, I had to get here somehow. You shouldn’t have done that. Your brother wouldn’t like it if he heard you had. For all you know, the wolves could be here tonight, waiting for an opportunity to attack again.” His words were harsh, his tone unapologetic.

“Why did you have to say that? This is the first time I’ve felt halfway safe,” I whispered, clutching my champagne flute tightly, my voice trembling a little.

He shrugged, his expression indifferent. “Just doing my job.” But something in his voice told me that he had enjoyed scaring me. So did the hint of satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

That same cold fear seeped into my soul again, my stomach twisting into knots. I downed the champagne in onegulp, the liquid burning my throat as I tried to gain so of that liquid courage Dimitri had spoken about, desperate to chase away the shadows that threatened to engulf me even here at a party.

I caught Dimitri’s gaze from across the room, his eyes locked on mine, his expression unreadable. It made me wonder who he was preoccupied with—me or Petar? The thought sent a flurry of emotions through me, a mixture of excitement and trepidation, as I pondered the secrets that lay hidden behind those dark, dreamy blue eyes.

Chapter Twenty-One

Dimitri

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