Page 58 of Kissing the Villain

“I’m not exactly on speaking terms with Blair. And I don’t want her title.”

“It’s the natural order,” he informed me.

“One thing at a time,” I said to shut down the conversation. “My brain is on overload with everything. I’m still adjusting to my situation.”

Drake spun me in a circle. I almost lost my balance, but he grabbed me from behind, and I fell backward into his chest.

I released a deep breath, glancing up at the sexy hunk towering over me. “Wow. That was…”

Drake slid his arm behind my back in one fluid motion and turned me around. “I can teach you.”

“I may take you up on that offer.”

“I’m at your beck and call.” He dipped his hand into his pocket and pressed his business card into my palm. “Call me anytime.”

With my hand on his chest, I felt his heart race beneath my fingers as I gathered my thoughts, trying to still my racing heart. “Hmm… I bet you’re a good time.”

His laughter shook through me. “Wait untilLegare.”

What the hell is Legare?

Before I could ask, another man tapped Drake on the shoulder. “It’s my turn, Battle. Stop hogging our queen’s precious time.”

Drake kissed my hand and promised to see me soon. Then he slipped through the crowd, leaving me with a nameless stranger. Tall, dark, and gorgeous, the mystery man had spiky white-blond hair and a thin line of hair along his jaw. His lips were thinner than Drake’s but still kissable and red as if he’d drank blood.

I studied his mask for a long, hard second. He was one of the four men I’d spotted in the corner—one of The Serpents.

We danced silently, without exchanging a single word until the tempo changed. The sleeve of his jacket slid up, drawing my attention to the dark ink on his wrist. It looked like snake scales that dipped beneath his sleeve and wrapped around his long fingers.

“What’s your name, stranger?”

His delicious lips curved into a crooked grin. “You know me.”

“Can’t say I do.”

“Shame,” he taunted with a cruel expression on his handsome face. “And here, I thought we’d made a lasting impression on you.” His warm breath rolled over my earlobe. “I know what you want, why you’re here.”

I gritted my teeth. “You don’t know shit.”

“You know where to find us. My friends call me Morpheus. See ya around, beautiful.”

25

LUCA

Sonny ledAlex by the hand through the great hall. He showed her to everyone in town like she was a prize he had won. She laughed and smiled, covering her mouth with her hand whenever Sonny cracked a joke.

In a perfect world, she would marry a guy like Sonny. He had more freedom and control over his life. She could spend months on his yacht, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, drinking, and painting.

But she was a Wellington.

And she was mine.

I moved to my father’s vacant chair at the front of the ballroom and tapped Marcello’s arm. “What are you and Cormac up to?”

He rolled his eyes. “Nothing.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped. “If either of you fuck with my plans, I’ll slit your throats and paint the town with your blood.”

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