Page 20 of My Sweetest Temptation

Usually, a compliment like that would make my heart flutter, but there was something predatory about his charm. I looked at Tabi, who raised an eyebrow, a smirk dancing at the corners of her mouth as if she was enjoying the show.

“Maybe later,”I said, shooting him a smile, trying to soften the blow and hoping it would be enough for him to go away. The guy was seriously giving me creep vibes.

“Just one dance,” he countered. His voice, smooth as honey, should have been enticing, but it only made my skin crawl.

“I think I’ll stick with my friends for now,” I said, avoiding his gaze. “I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding another girl,” I added, glancing back at him. After all, he was handsome, and he seemed to know it too.

Preston chuckled, the sound low and sultry, and it sent another shiver coursing through me. “You’re right, but none are quite as fascinating as you.”

This guy was laying it on thick.

Before I could respond, an assertive male voice demanded our attention. “Preston.”

I turned slightly, my heart racing, as I saw who the voice belonged to. He was average height but there was something commanding about his presence. His natural tan contrasted sharply with his short black hair, which was side-parted and slicked back, and his rich brown eyes. As he rubbed his light scruff, recognition kicked in that he was one of the guys from the VIP section.

Without skipping a beat, Preston glanced back at me, his jaw visibly tense as he spoke. “Looks like you’re not mine tonight, beautiful.” He finished his drink in one swift motion and turned away, disappearing into the crowd.

One look from the other man had made Preston hesitate, almost as if he were afraid of him, yet there was an undercurrent of anger in the way he’d retreated, like he was pissed off or felt intimidated. I turned back to Tabi and Ana, who looked slightly alarmed.

“What just happened?” I asked, half-laughing and half-bewildered.

“Looks like you’ve caught the eye of the boss,” Ana explained, her grin fading as she leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper. “He doesn’t look at just anyone.”

A cold knot twisted in my stomach. “But why would he be interested in me? I’m no one.”

Before Ana could muster a reply, the man who made Preston disappear interjected, his voice smooth and confident, “Not to him, you’re not.”

I turned to face him, and our eyes met. His serious demeanor softened into a boyish grin. “I’m Luca,” he said, but his gaze flickered back to Tabi and Ana, who looked as afraid as I felt. “I’ll have to steal your friend here, but don’t worry; I’ll bring her back, or you can join her in the VIP section later on.”

Luca signaled the attention of a burly guard with a sweeping wave of his hand. My breath was stolen away when I shifted my eyes just a little to the left. The dark prince’s blue eyes were focused on me. Scantily clad women, gyrating to the seductive beats of the music, surrounded him, their eyes filled with hunger and desire as they tried to gain his attention.

Or maybe it was more like desperation, but the only person he was looking at is me.

My gaze shifted to the guard, severing our connection. The guard drew nearer, every stride exuding strength and control. His black suit barely contained the powerful muscles shifting underneath. His towering figure loomed over me, causing me to strain my neck uncomfortably, like being seated too close to the screen in a theater.

“This is Enzo,” Luca stated.

Enzo’s meticulously groomed beard perfectly complemented his chiseled jawline, and it all accentuated his intimidating presence. Enzo’s professionalism was evident, as his face remained stoic, his dark brown eyes revealing nothing.

“He’s going to escort you up to the VIP lounge,” Luca explained, looking behind me. But as his words sank in, I felt a jolt of panic.

“Why?” The single word escaped my lips, and one of my eyes began to twitch.

“You caught Nico’s attention.”

Tabi and Ana watch me with curiosity mingled with fear. I offered them a shaky smile, hoping to mask my growing dread, but their return smiles were strained.

“I’m not going anywhere with you,” I said, trying to sound confident despite my stomach doing the cha-cha.

Luca’s expression shifted instantly. “You wanna repeat that?” His voice was sharp. The boyish grin that had softened his features was gone, replaced by something colder, more menacing.

The intensity in his tone sent a shiver down my spine, and I had a strong urge to run. Yet my feet refused to move for some stupid reason, as if the ground compelled me to stay in place.

“I don’t know who you are or who your boss is, and I’m not comfortable going anywhere with strangers,” I managed to reply.

He chuckled, a low, unsettling sound, and flicked a glance over his shoulder toward the second level. When he turned back, his expression was cold, making the blood in my veins turn to ice.

Luca leaned in close, his mouth hovering near my ear. “Word of advice. Do as I say, and your friends won’t pay the price for your defiance. Trust me, Nico is not someone you want to piss off.” He pulled back and looked down at me, a twisted smile playing on his lips as if he hadn’t just issued a threat to me and my friends.

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