Page 44 of Decoy

I didn’t realize how closely I’d leaned until he next spoke. “You’re much too close. You’re not going to kiss me…are you?”

For once his words didn’t sound like a challenge, rather a rare display of panic from the direction this new game of ours was rapidly spiraling. Yet I seized hold of the mischievous idea. Fake flirting was one tactic; akisswas on another level entirely.

The man was good-looking enough it likely wouldn’t be thoroughly unpleasant. It’d definitely be worth sacrificing my first kiss for the sake of our game, one I became more desperate to win the longer I spent with him, no matter the cost.

I slowly entwined my arms around his neck.“Challenge accepted.”

His eyes bulged in delicious surprise as too late he realized my scheme. “Wait, you’re not really going to—this is too far, you can’t—”

Before I could talk myself out of my current insanity, I stood on tiptoe and caressed my lips with his. I truly meant for it to be a simple kiss, considering I possessed no genuine affection for the aggravating man; a single brush of the lips was all that would be required to emerge conquerer.

A wave of foreign emotions assaulted me. We both stood rigid, shock at my own daring and how far I’d actually gone rendering me still. I meant to pull away with some paltry excuse to explain my inexplicable actions…but to my surprise, he suddenly kissed me back.

Heat filled his lips along with his touch cradling my cheek, urging me closer, and I found myself fully submitting to the mess I’d created. Rather than it being a tender kiss, instead we used it to try to best one another as we explored the unexpected passion tingling between us.

I never imagined my first kiss would be with my enemy, but with the sensations stirring from his lips pressed gently against mine, that was the last thing he seemed. I’d mistakenly believed myself in charge, but I’d never been any less in control than I was in this moment.Whatever game we’d been playing didn’t feel like one any longer as I explored the strong draw between us until our kiss had stripped away the last of my defenses.

After what felt like several eternities had passed—during which I savored this unexpected turn of events and wondered what on earth I’d do once we emerged on the other side—the kiss finally ended. Breathless, we pulled only inches away to stare at one another for a stunned moment.

He pushed me away with a curse. “You little minx.” He determinedly avoided my eyes and burrowed his fingers in his hair, while my own fingers grazed my lips in amazement. To think I’d gone so drastically far. What was worse, I didn’t even regret it.

He took several steadying breaths, but though he eventually regained his composure enough to straighten with his usual confidence, his hold on it appeared shaky. “So that’s the technique of seduction. I must say…it’s quite effective.”

“It appears so.” My hand still hovered over my mouth, as if to suppress the shadow of the kiss taunting me with its far-too-pleasant memory.

He raised an eyebrow. “Despite your skill, you appear almost…surprised. Was I your first target?”

Heat flushed my cheeks as I defiantly lifted my chin. “Certainly not. I’ve employed such a tactic many times.”

He studied me a moment before the corner of his mouth lifted. “Then it appears we’re evenly matched in this particular skill.”

Despite his teasing glint, a strange swell of envy filled me at the thought of him seducing another woman.“I doubt a man of your skillset would need to rely on such lowly tactics.”

He shrugged. “An effective assassin uses whatever means necessary to achieve his mission.” He tilted his head. “Was I truly your first?”

“Of course not.” But my voice hitched, betraying the lie…which only widened his triumphant grin. It seemed he’d once again seized my elusive control.

“Lying is another skill I suggest you work on. Considering your apparent inexperience with both that and kissing, if you ever feel the need to practice either…”

I scoffed. “Should I ever require further study, I’ll choose someone worth kissing.”

“You can’t deny you enjoyed the experience, which only proves my success in seducing you.”

That was the problem. Despite my best efforts, everything about him drew me in. My gaze flickered to his lips against my will, causing the memory of the feel of them against mine to return in a rush. Drat it all, I wanted to kiss him again.

I gave my head a rigid shake.Never. I’d only won this round through the element of surprise; it wouldn’t do to use the same tactic twice. Then why did I want to forget about our game and instead explore the unexpected feelings our kiss had created within me?

This assassin was proving far more dangerous than I could have ever anticipated.Even now, I could still feel the shadow of his kiss on my lips. It was warm and tingly…a bittootingly. My entire mouth burned. I slapped my hand over it, as if to suppress the escalating pain.

“Princess?” A gasp robbed him of his momentary confusion and he lurched forward. “The poisoned tea!”

“What do you mean?” It was a struggle to form the inquiry when breathing had suddenly grown difficult, for once not because of him.

“I drank the tainted tea earlier. While I’ve developed an immunity, you on the other hand—”

With a bitter curse, he scooped me into his arms and carried me in a rush through the corridors, moving more quickly than should be possible, as if we were part of the shadows themselves…but that might have just been my sudden state of wooziness confusing me.

This was the last scenario I wanted at the hands of my enemy. I immediately tried to wriggle free, a futile effort with the weakness suddenly weighing down my limbs.

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