Page 23 of Power
I roll my eyes, sick of his smug face, his stupid games and his even stupider smirk. Sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. Of course, Enzo loves me. He wouldn’t have let me leave if he hadn’t.
I exhale, trying to keep my frustration in check. “Is there a reason you dragged me out here?”
Dario leans back slightly, smirking. “What, I can’t invite my favorite bestie/prisoner for a swim and a drink?”
I snort. “Oh, so this is some twisted version of ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’? Hate to break it to you, but we’re never going to be friends.”
“Cute. But I wasn’t planning on being your enemy either.” His eyes drag slowly over my body, lingering in a way that makes my breath hitch.
I swallow hard and force myself to stay still, refusing to let him see the way my pulse betrays me. My whole body screams at me to jump into the pool with him, to let him press me against the cool tiles and—Fuck. Muscle memory.
A sick joke my body still plays on me, like a dog returning to a master who only ever kicked it
I force out a laugh, trying to cover the way my skin feels too hot. “You must make a habit of messing with people.”
Dario tilts his head. “Not my first time.”
“Yeah, well, I’m not interested in whatever game you’re playing. So if you’re done, I’d like to go back to my room.”
His eyes lock onto mine, and the amusement vanishes from his face. “I don’t play games, princess. You should know that by now.”
“Is that so? Wouldn’t have guessed,” I reply sarcastically.
He laughs and licks his lips in that sinful way that has me questioning why I’m still standing here. He didn’t exactly tie me down, so why the fuck haven’t I stormed off yet?
“Vittoria Falco,” he says, letting my name linger for a beat. “You’re not exactly what you seem, are you?”
“You don’t know me well enough to start making assumptions.”
“Maybe. But I like to know who I’m dealing with.” He winks. “And I’m thinking you’re not as simple as you look.”
I say nothing for a moment, debating whether I should call out his bullshit or engage in this strange back-and-forth. Finally, I exhale in frustration and look him dead in the eye. “If you want something, just say it. I don’t have time for games.”
“Funny,” he says, still smirking. “I was going to say the same thing.”
I narrow my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re after, but I’m not afraid of you.”
“Oh, I know you’re not afraid,” he replies easily. “But you’re curious. And that’s enough for me.”
“Let me guess,” I say, my voice suddenly colder. “You think you can use me somehow. Against my husband.”
“Maybe,” he answers, his grin not quite reaching his eyes before he steps out of the pool. “Or maybe I just want to fuck you.”
My jaw tightens and I swallow.
My eyes trail over him now, taking in the way the water clings to his inked skin, the defined muscles of his chest, the hard lines of his abs leading down to the perfect V disappearing beneath the waistband of his soaked swim trunks. They cling to him, doing nothing to hide the heavy outline beneath.
He holds my stare for a moment before stepping closer, and suddenly, it’s hard to breathe.
“See something you like, princess?” His voice goes low with that twist that makes goosebumps rise on my skin. “Or are you the delusional one who refuses to acknowledge what’s happening here?”
I gulp. “Nothing is happening.”
He chuckles darkly. “You sure about that?”
He takes another step, and it’s like I can feel the heat radiating off his skin, pulling me in against my will.
“The way we look at each other.” His voice drops even lower. “How we both secretly wonder what it would be like. To give in to our desires. To kiss until we can’t breathe. To touch every inch of our bodies, to fuck like it’s the last day we have on this goddamn earth.”
