Page 3 of Assassin's Mark
Chapter Two
He kept ahold of me, merely lifting our joined hands over Candy’s and Renee’s heads. Was he afraid to let go, afraid I might run away? But no, a man like this wouldn’t feel fear. Could he sense my own? Was my palm clammy? God, please don’t let me make the biggest fool of myself ever.
An actual smile tugged at my lips.
“What?” he asked.
Had he been watching me that closelythen? “Just…” I clamped my lips shut over the words. No one needed access to my insecurities but me. “Thank you for asking me to dance.”
Surprise softened his smile. “My pleasure.”
The music changed as we reached the dance floor, from the latest pop single to a slow, sultry song. Levi raised his arm and twirled me beneath it. On the second spin his body blocked mine, plastering me against thehard muscles beneath his black shirt and jeans. Hard and hot—his body seared mine, as if I’d carry the impression of him on my skin for the rest of my life. And maybe I would. I certainly wanted to. Everything feminine in me flared to painful life, urging me to rub against him like a cat, roll myself in his scent, his heat. The rough, tanned skin of his throat was right in front of me, a delicioussprinkle of dark stubble guiding my eyes down to the collar of his button-down where a hint of a tattoo peeked out. This man was nothing like any other I’d known—hard-edged, powerful. Dangerous. And yet his arms surrounding my body made me feel utterly safe.
He ducked his head beside mine and inhaled, taking in my scent. Like an animal.
Don’t faint, Abby. Just don’t.
I didn’t, but I did tightenmy grip. My heeled boots brought me high enough that my head settled in the hollow vee beside his collarbone. I did my own inhaling. At my shiver, a hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Levi’s mouth. That smile fascinated me, made me want to forget the whole world and just focus right there, right now, shutting out everything but this moment. No worries, no pain, nobut this is only… Just Leviand now. Just this song. Just—
“So…is this your first time here?”
I jerked my head up so fast I almost clipped his chin. “How did you know that?”
Amusement lightened his gray eyes to silver. “Because I’ve never seen you here before.”
So he was a regular. “I don’t get out much.”
God, had I really said that? Before I could cover my awkwardness—with what, I didn’t know—Levi threw his head backand laughed. I couldn’t tell which caused more goose bumps, the throaty, rich sound of his amusement or the strong lines of his neck, begging me to explore them with tongue and teeth and lips and…
Levi’s amusement darkened quickly, turning into something that left me breathless, especially when that stare settled on my mouth. “I find that a little hard to believe.”
The heat in my cheeks returned.“I’m glad I decided to venture out tonight, at least,” I finally said.
Levi’s grip tightened the slightest bit as he turned me. One thigh slid between mine, and there was no mistaking the feel of his arousal against my belly. “I’m glad you did too.”
The phone in my back pocket vibrated. My father again. I ignored the buzz against my butt cheek and burrowed deeper into the male presence surroundingme.
Levi didn’t chatter—another way he was different from the men I normally met. Polite conversation was a given among the rich and socially entitled. I’d learned the art to survive, not because I enjoyed it. Here, now, without the distraction of desperately searching for the right clever thing to say, I basked in Levi’s heat, the fluid way his body moved, the exciting brush of his chest againstmy aching nipples and his hard erection against my belly, leaving very little doubt that he was enjoying having me in his arms. I lapped up every moment, let it fill the emptiness that had opened like a black hole inside me earlier tonight.
My buzzing phone refused to respect my need, however. I didn’t have to be in the room with him to know my father was becoming livid—the constant vibrationsagainst my ass told me that well enough. This was one instance where an aide wouldn’t be texting me. Dad wouldn’t want anyone to know his only child had run off rather than put in an appearance at the dinner where he planned to announce his gubernatorial candidacy. Not that Derrick Roslyn’s political ambitions had spooked me into running off.
No, it had been the announcement of my arranged marriagethat did that.
Levi’s fingers skimmed down my side to grasp my hip, fingers so close to the curves that craved his touch. “Shouldn’t you answer that before someone blows a gasket?”
“What?”
I glanced up, meeting the same understanding amusement as before. Not cruel or taunting, as I’d so often encountered. Just genuine enjoyment of the moment. “Your phone.” He lowered his head until his mouthbrushed my ear. “I don’t mind vibrators, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind.”
I flushed so hot even the tips of my ears burned; surely Levi could feel it against his lips. A stutter fumbled my words before I managed to push something intelligible out. “He’ll give up soon.”
“He?”
“My father.”
Levi drew back enough to look at me. “Family can be a bitch.”
Or bastard. Since my mother haddied when I was a toddler, my father was all the family I had.
