Page 21 of Savage Princess

“I was going to say–never have I ever slept with a woman.” I grin cheekily at him, and he rolls his eyes.

“Jesus, Elena, you’ve got to stop with the layups, or I’m going to stop drinking for them. Ofcourse,you haven’t, and of course, I have.You’rea—”

He breaks off suddenly, looking at me with a flicker of heat in those blue eyes that sends a shiver through me. I know exactly how hard he tries not to think of that night, or what we did much more recently, but he’s thinking of it now. How in detail, I don’t know—but I know he’s thinking about it, and it sends a thrill through me.

Levin clears his throat, taking another drink out of turn. “Never have I ever–owned a house,” he says finally. “Just apartment living and hotels.”

It doesn’t escape me that he’s starting to offer a little more information with every answer, either.Is it because he’s getting drunk? I wonder, and I hope that if it is, that he keeps drinking. I’m learning more about him than I ever have, and it’s fascinating.

“Never have I ever–had sex with more than one person. At once,” I amend quickly, and Levin frowns.

“Are you just trying to get details about my sex life, Elena?”

I shrug. “Maybe I’m curious.”

“Do you really want to know?” He looks at me with a sudden caution, his demeanor a little more sober than a moment before. “I would think you’d be jealous.”

A strange thrill goes through me. Iamjealous at the idea of him being with other women, but the idea thathethinks I should be jealous implies that he does know there’s something between us. If there was nothing, then he wouldn’t even think about it.

I’m overthinking this. I’m drunk, and—

“Are you drinking or not?” I blurt out, wanting to cut off my current train of thought. “Because if you have—”

Levin narrows his eyes at me, but he tips his beer back. “Happy?” he asks, and there’s an edge to his voice that wasn’t there before, as if we’ve crossed over into some territory that he’s not entirely comfortable with.

“Okay, let’s play something different. Truth or dare,” I suggest, and Levin frowns.

“Maybe it’s time to get some rest—”

“I’m not sleepy.”

“You did say that drinking was going to make you sleepy—”

He looks at me, and we face off for a moment. “Fine,” I tell him, shrugging. “I made that up so we could have a fun night.”

Levin frowns. “You can’t lie to me, Elena. Not in a situation like this—”

“It wasn’t anything important.” I huff out a sigh. “I’m just trying to make all of this a little less—”

“Alright.” Levin shakes his head. “I get it. We’ll play your game a little longer.”

“Good.” I flash him a brilliant smile. “Truth or dare?”

“Truth,” Levin says immediately, and I shake my head at him.

“Boring choice, but fine. How many people have you killed?”

“Different truth.” Levin’s voice sharpens, and I smirk at him. I’d known he wouldn’t answer.

“If you don’t answer, then it’s a dare.”

“Elena, I swear to god—”

“I don’t make the rules.” I smile at him, tipping back another sip of my beer just because, and I can see him struggling with his patience. I think for a minute that he’s going to tell me that we’re done, and then he shrugs.

“Dare, then.”

I feel my heart leap into my throat. I know what I want to say, but I’m suddenly very afraid to try. I don’t know if I can take it if he rejects me.

---