Page 226 of Midnights
I can’t decide if I want to push him away or drag him closer by that stupidly perfect shirt of his.
“Careful,Kane.”I let my voice drop a little lower. “I’d hate for you to bite off more than you can chew. Wouldn’t want you choking.”
His lips twitch into a smile that promises all kinds of trouble. The kind that sends warmth flooding through my chest and leaves my thoughts scrambling for coherence. I shift in my seat, pretending to adjust my dress, desperate for a moment to breathe.
I look over at the band in the corner, letting the soothing melody of their music distract me from whatever the hell Kane is trying to do. The tune shifts, and the melody begins to shift into a song I know all too well.
He clearly designed tonight to test my self-control, and it’s really not looking good for me.
The familiar notes wind through the room, wrapping themselves around me like a spell. My eyes snap back to Kane, and my heart stutters when I find him staring at me.
He doesn't look away. Instead, he stands and the chair scrapes softly against the floor. The sound is barely audible over the music, but it feels deafening. He extends his hand, waiting for me to take it. His expression is unreadable but his intent is crystal clear.
“Dance with me.”
His voice is a little rough, and it sends a thrill curling down my spine. I blink up at him and my heart skips another beat. At this rate, I should probably go see a doctor.
“Right now?”
My voice slips out softer than I meant. To me, it sounds like I just squeaked. Great. Exactly the vibe I was going for.
“Always.” There’s something in the way he says it that unravels me completely, making it impossible to say no.
I swallow, placing my hand in his. “Fine. But don’t step on my toes.”
His smile alone could probably level me if I wasn’t already halfway there. “I’ll do my best, Princess.”
The warmth of his palm against mine sends an involuntary shiver through my body. Any chance I had at holding onto my anger about him lying to me, is quickly dissolving.
He helps me to my feet with a gentleness that feels out of place against his usual sharp-edged confidence. It’s disarming, and it sets every nerve in my body on alert as he leads me toward the open space.What is he up to?
I drag in a deep breath, silently reminding myself that this is just a dance. It's just one night. I’ve faced life-or-death situations, a ball, and some psycho who elbowed me in the face, just this week alone. So dancing with Kane shouldn’t be that hard. Right?
He draws me closer, anchoring me with one hand low at my back, and the other wraps firmly around mine. This feels more dangerous than anything else.
“Relax.” His breath brushes my ear. “You look like you’re gearing up for battle.”
It takes everything I have not to laugh out loud. He’s not entirely wrong, my fight-or-flight instincts are on high alert.
The romantic notes ofEnchantedweave through the air, and for a second, I let myself be pulled into the moment. This feels different than the night of the ball. There’s power in the way he moves, and it feels entirely too intoxicating for my own good.
When I look up, his eyes are dark with a heat that threatens to burn straight through me. “Hi, I'm Kane.” His tone is playful, like I don’t already know exactly who he is and what he’s capable of doing to me.
I roll my eyes, but a giggle slips out before I can stop it. “Raven. Welcome to my nightmare.”
“Raven huh?” His voice dips, threaded with a quiet chuckle. “It's enchanting to meet you.”
The laugh that bubbles out of me is unrestrained. “You’re ridiculous.”
His grip tightens, dragging me in until there’s barely an inch of space between us. His hand drops to my waist, firm and unapologetically possessive. “Welcome to my house.”
I raise an eyebrow, trying to ignore the warning bells going off in my head. “You must be delusional,” I laugh, “because only someone who actually lives here would call this a house and not a castle.”
My gaze sweeps over the ballroom, taking in the grand, intricate details of the space. He chuckles, before spinning me around effortlessly. A laughescapes me, and it feels like I’ve shed a weight I didn’t even realize I was carrying.
Our movements slow into a soft, unhurried sway. His hand remains steady on my waist, and I can feel the heat of his touch through my dress. My heart feels like it’s caught in a free fall, spiraling somewhere between panic and desire.
“Tell me, Raven,” he murmurs, keeping his voice soft, but somehow commanding at the same time. “How are ye liking Scotland so far?”
