Page 58 of Kings of Seduction

‘You are full of surprises. I never know what to expect from you. And yes, you are awful at times.’

‘Perhaps you’re right. I’m usually awfully determined to get what I want.’

‘Don’t I know it?’ I muttered, reminding myself of our past.

‘A Krug.’ He gestured to the waiter, trying to ignore my remark. He wasn’t going to let anything ruin our evening, including my big mouth.

‘I loved the flowers.’ I was extending an olive branch, trying to tune up to his mood. But my words only got him to stiffen like he had made an error and softened up too much. His sight just pointed to the stage where the piano recital was about to start. Chopin, The Preludes— the same classical music was playing in his house on the day of my first visit. Coincidence or not, it was sending me back down memory lane, only this time, we were writing a different destiny.

The ending of the concert seemed to have washed all questions away. The flowers were forgotten; at least that’s what I let him believe so he could relax back to his earlier state.

Dinner was served, along with a second bottle of French champagne. Though it wasn’t just dinner. It was something divine, making my taste buds explode with joy. He wasn’t kidding when he said the place was meant to serve the Elite because, judging by the chef’s skills, he could host any kind of royalty.

Deducing from the presence of the champagne, we were celebrating something.

Maybe the grand opening.

Or maybe not.

I liked to think we were celebratingus. Though I never asked, knowing that if that was the case, a question would only ruin everything.

Sometimes you don’t even need questions to know the answers.

His fingers intertwined with mine, remaining so for the rest of the evening, despite the distinguished clients that came to greet him.

Except for that night out of town, where the mission required it, I was becoming sure he didn’t usually display any kind of public affection. At least that’s what the stunned gazes of his guards were telling me. Maybe he had shown lust, sexual attraction, but no sentiments were ever involved.

To my utter surprise, he didn’t even show any kind of sexually charged gesture. No hand under the table, no naughty remark, not even the intention of a kiss.

I wasn’t even sure if I was pleased, shocked, or even a little angry that he was depriving me of any sign that would feed my womanly ego, but the new Brax was turning into a monk. Though not for long, I could bet all money on that. He couldn’t escape his old ways completely, and I wasn’t even sure I wanted him to. Not the glass wall room way, but the crashing attraction that was pounding in his veins.

The evening had an unusual vibe that was gradually sneaking into my soul. It was the first of what I hoped to be many, and most importantly, the first night when he was introducing me to his world. We weren’t hiding behind closed doors. On the contrary, we were the central pieces of attraction, and more strangely, I was becoming Queen Bea of the underworld. One may think I had grown used to it by then, but this step was bringing my life to a whole different level. I just needed to be ready for the challenges it would bring along— and the extra guards that would breathe on my neck for a very long while.

‘Let’s get you back home,’ he said after the crowd began to scatter, then led me back to the limousine.

I had no idea what that meant.

Did his words have a hidden threat, maybe even a promise? I hated myself for being extra anxious to find out. By some twisted magic, he was reversing the roles, and I was turning into him. My mouth was dry from peeping at the alluring way the fine Italian shirt had wrapped around his torso. And his pants. I could write a novel about how the fine lines were running to perfection and then disappearing up on his tantalizing posterior.

I couldn’t even get to describe the absinthe in his eyes as each time I tried, I was falling prey to them.

My heart jolted seeing him dismissing the limo driver and following me through the steps of the mansion, but I quickly remembered he was living there too.

My head was a mess.

I had won— or at least that’s what I assumed since I could never tell for sure when it came to Brax, and at the same time, I felt angry at myself for being unable to withstand that impossible attraction I felt towards him.

I kept counting the paces as we were heading down the lobby that would set our paths apart.

Though when we finally reached the crossroads, he didn’t stop, just walked forward with heavy steps breaking the silence.

Small beads of sweat were blooming on my skin at the thought ofhim and meand throwing away the key to my room.

I was a sinner, and he was the devil who would take me to a perfect hell.

At least that’s what I was hoping for, but by all means, I would never have asked.

We stopped.

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