Page 103 of Run From Me

“Ouch,” said a feminine voice as I ran smack into a woman. “This is my hiding spot. Find your own.”

It was habit to look for the darkest corner, and almost never did I find someone there. Until today.

“There aren’t many hiding spots here, princess.”

She folded her arms over her chest, accentuating the low cut of the strapless gown that probably cost more than my bike.

“Do not call me princess, Prince Asshole. How do you like it?”

I leaned against the wall and smirked.

“Prince Asshole? It’s a first for me, but it’ll work just fine. But if you don’t want to be called princess, maybe ditch the thirty-thousand-dollar gown and the tiara.”

She cocked her head to the side and lifted the pretentious mask just a bit.

“Who are you and how did you get in?” she asked.

I shrugged.

“What does it matter, Cinderella? I’m here. I had the cash, and that was the only prerequisite.”

She pulled the mask up to her forehead and let it rest there as she reached for mine. I stepped away.

“Fine, don’t show me your face. It’s probably just as bad as all the other assholes here. Money isn’t everything you know.”

She pulled her mask down, but I’d already memorized exactly how she looked, from the soft curve of her nose to the way her eyes were set just far enough apart, and that she seemed to have nearly perfect symmetry. Fucking hell if my cock didn’t wake the fuck up and my heart didn’t beat a little faster. Not that I would show her that.

I could lie to myself and pretend all this was in reaction to my brothers being paired up, but none of that was true. There was something about this pretty little princess hiding from the party that had me wanting to get closer, so I did exactly what I shouldn’t have.

I shifted my stance and took a step closer, caging her between me and the wall.

“Tell me, my little raven, if you aren’t the princess, then are you the villain in this story?”

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