Page 105 of The Devil Can Be Kind

Jesse was still engaged in discussions with Enzo and the other man, ‘Carlos’, leaving me to my own devices. The two other people at our table, a man and a woman, also interjected now and again in discussions, but otherwise kept to themselves. They looked to be newlyweds, and I often found myself looking away from their intense displays of affection.

“Going to the restroom,” I announced to Jesse once the music started morphing into a more modern piece and the food courses finally stopped coming.

My legs were stiff as I got up from the table and made my way through one of the white corridors that fed off the main hall. My heels audibly clicked against the hard stone as the music grew quieter.

I wasn’t surprised when I heard the shuffle of feet behind me and saw Alonso following me down the hall.

“I’m just going to the restroom. You don’t need to follow me.” I called gently to him.

He smirked but continued following, “I have orders, Ma’am.”

“How many times with the ‘Ma’am’, Alonso?” I muttered and I heard him chuckle gruffly behind me.

I heaved open the door to the toilet, but stopped when I saw Alonso also move in the direction of the door. “Don’t you fucking dare. You are not hearing me pee!”

He held his arms up innocently, “I’m just standing guard, Miss Adalyn.”

I sent him a look anyway and turned to face the elaborate marble room.

What is with these people and marble?I sighed, locking the door behind me.

I quickly went to the loo and flushed, but just as I was pulling my dress skirts back into place, the doorknob to the room turned and opened.

I shrieked in surprise about to yell at whoever had entered, but I faltered when I saw Marco slip through the door.

I thought I locked that!

“What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded, clutching a hand to my chest and trying to breathe normally. “I was peeing!”

It was like he didn’t even hear me. He leaned against the wall and allowed his eyes to rake over my body with an agonizing slowness that left me feeling all kinds of aching. I pushed away the feelings he was stirring, turning my back to him and walking to the sink. I lathered up my hands with the jasmine soap on the side and rinsed off the suds.

“You look gorgeous, Ada.” His voice came out thick and deep.

I observed his reflection in the mirror, trailing my eyes over his choice of outfit for the evening. He wore his trademark designer black suit, but his usual dark shirt had been replaced with a white cotton one which he wore buttoned up to the collar. A matching bowtie was around his neck and the glint of a gold Rolex hinted underneath the sleeve of his jacket.

Lord give me strength.

“And you look straight out of The Godfather,” I observed, causing him to chuckle. I retrieved a lipstick from my clutch and traced my lips with the vivid red stick, feeling his eyes watching me as seconds ticked away. “Are you having a nice time?”

“It’s alright.” Came his gruff answer.

“Not very talkative this evening, are you?” I observed, turning to face him. He smiled.

“Talking isn’t really what I want to do with you right now,” he remarked, pushing himself off the wall and stalking toward me with a slowness that felt equal parts dangerous and exciting.

A shiver ran up my spine.

He didn’t stop until he was a foot away, and he caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers, sending tingles racing along my skin. My gaze fluttered to his and I could see the longing I felt mirrored within them.

“That’s a shame because talking is all you’re gonna get from me right now.”

He smirked and lifted his head away from me dramatically.

“Fine.” He sighed, seeing the sternness of my expression. “Are you having a nice time tonight?”

“It’s alright.” I copied his earlier words, failing to find my own. “I don’t understand a word anyone is saying, but I’m pretty sure I don’t wanna know anyway.”

He laughed, flashing me that boyish smile I had come to love. “Smart girl.”

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