Page 36 of Kiss of Blood and Sin

“Because, my dear,” I said, dipping her again, deeper this time, “whatever he’s planning, I doubt it’s as innocent as he claims. It never is with him.”

Intrigue flickered across her face. I lifted her back up slowly. Our lips were almost touching.

“Perhaps,” Gianna breathed, “we should continue this conversation somewhere more...private?”

As the last notes of the tango faded away, I became dimly aware of the crowd’s applause and Petar’s furious glare at us from across the room. But all that really mattered was the woman in my arms and the secrets she might reveal.

I offered Gianna my arm with a roguish grin. “After you, bella. The night is young, and it seems we have much to talk about.”

I led her over to the balcony, my hand resting possessively on the small of her back. The moonlight glistened on the ocean, the stars sparkling overhead like scattered diamonds. An ocean breeze swept over us, carrying the tang of salt and the sweet scent of Gianna’s perfume. It tousled her hair, sending a stray lock cascading across her flushed face.

Gianna’s chest rose and fell rapidly as she continuedcatching her breath from our dance. I could hear her heart racing, the sound as intoxicating as the finest bourbon. She looked up at me, her green eyes burning with curiosity and something more...primal.

“What did you want to ask me, Dimitri?” Her voice was breathy, inviting.

A million questions raced through my mind, each more pressing than the last. What was Petar up to? Had he talked to her about a magical object? Even as I opened my mouth to speak, I caught sight of dear old dad heading our way, his face a dark storm cloud of disapproval.

Oh no, you don’t, I thought. I wasn’t done with Gianna, not by a long shot. And suddenly, all my questions seemed...less important.

I tipped my head, drinking in the sight of her. My lips curled into a smile that had made so many women weak in the knees. “You know what, Gianna?” I purred, my voice low and husky. “I just realized I don’t want to ask you anything after all.”

Her eyebrow arched in surprise. “No?”

I drifted in closer, until I could feel the heat radiating from her skin. “No,” I murmured. “What I want,” I trailed a finger along her jawline, relishing her sharp intake of breath, “is to know what you taste like.”

I bent my head slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. Part of me—a very small part—hoped she would. It would be safer for her. Smarter too.

But Gianna didn’t back down. She stood perfectly still,her lips parted in invitation. The scent of her—jasmine, adrenaline, and desire—was intoxicating as any cocktail.

My lips captured hers, and for a moment, the entire world fell away. She melted into my arms with a soft moan that sent fire racing through my veins. I deepened the kiss, one hand tangling in her hair while the other pulled her body flush against mine.

I was vaguely aware of Petar’s approaching footsteps faltering, then retreating. Good. Let him stew. Right now, all that mattered was the woman in my arms.

As I reluctantly broke the kiss, I grinned. “Well,” I murmured. “That was...illuminating.”

Gianna’s eyes fluttered open, a mix of desire and wariness in their depths. “Dimitri,” she whispered, “what are we doing?”

I chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Oh, darling,” I said, my voice a low growl, “you know exactly what we’re doing. We’re courting disaster. The question is...are you ready to dance with the devil?”

Chapter Twenty-Two

Gianna

The waves crashed below, and the night was cold. Dimitri threaded his fingers through my hair, leaving me mesmerized. My skin prickled with heightened sensitivity, responding to the cool air and the heat of his fingers in equal measure. My mouth ran dry. I was breathless from the dance and the smiling devil in front of me had snared me. I swallowed hard, trying to regain some composure.

The wind blew his hair across his forehead. That smirk he always had. My heart pounded against my ribcage, a thunderous rhythm I was sure he could hear. My hands twitched at my sides, torn between pushing him away and pulling him closer. I should have pushed him away. Told him that I didn’t want to dance with the devil.

But that’s not what I said.

Something reckless rippled through me. Heat flooded my body, a molten desire coursing through my veins.

I leaned in, my lips mere inches from his. “I want to get burned.” My voice came out husky, barely above a whisper, but filled with undeniable longing.

Dimitri’s hand slid down to the small of my back, guiding me toward the bar.

The balcony bar glowed with soft amber light, a stark contrast to the inky darkness beyond the railing. Glasses clinked and muted conversations hummed around us, but all I could focus on was the warmth of Dimitri’s touch.

My skin tingled where his fingers rested, sending sparks of electricity through my body.

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