Page 93 of Taming Seraphine

His gaze is so intense that it lands on my skin with a lingering caress. Warmth rises to my cheeks, and my steps falter. Frozen, I’m caught in his sight. Predator and prey. All my attention centered on him.

I want him to take me away from the crowd and back to our apartment. I want him to pull me into his bedroom and kiss me breathless. I want him to growl filthy words in my ear and taste me until I come apart on his tongue. Most of all, I want him by my side as we step over the bones of my enemies and rescue Gabriel.

The crowd parts as he stalks across the dance floor toward me. With each approaching step, my heart races harder, faster, until its vibrations reach my core. When he reaches me, I’m sure that I’ve stopped breathing because the edges of my vision blur and all that’s left is Leroi and the music.

He takes my hand, pulls me into his chest, and wraps an arm around my waist. I suck in a shuddering breath when he leans in, his lips a mere inch away from mine.

Instead of kissing me, he murmurs into my ear, “I saw what you did to that red-faced bastard. I’m so proud of you.”

My heart swells. I scramble for the right words, but nothing comes to mind.

“I thought you said you didn’t dance,” I say with a smile.

His deep chuckle tickles my skin. “I don’t.”

“Then what do you call this?”

He pulls back and gazes down with the tiniest hint of a smile. “A congratulatory hug.”

“In time to the music?”

He smirks. “I didn’t say I couldn’t dance. But I’ll make an exception for you.”

Enchanted, I stare into his fathomless eyes, my heartbeat drowning out the music. We continue swaying to the music, locked in a connection I never knew existed.

The worst part about my imprisonment was the absolute power they held over me when they took Gabriel hostage. As long as they hid where they were keeping my brother, I couldn’t see a future for either of us.

I certainly never saw myself dancing with a man like Leroi.

He doesn’t recoil from me for being a killer. Instead, he’s more concerned that I might get caught. He’s kind and strong and considerate. He’s the only man who’s ever shown me the true meaning of pleasure.

“Let’s go home,” he says.

Home. The word fills me with giddy warmth. When I nod, the arm around my waist slides toward my hand, and he intertwines our fingers.

I turn to say goodbye to Ember, but she’s already deep in conversation with an older man. They both look acquainted with each other, so I turn back to Leroi.

“Ready?” he asks.

“Let’s go.”

Leroi leads me to the edge of the dance floor. I take one last glance over my shoulder at Ember to wave goodbye, but she’s waving her arms at the man as though trying to make a point.

“What happened to that guy?” I ask as we walk to the cloakroom to collect our jackets.

He doesn’t reply.

“Leroi?” I place a hand on his bicep.

He stares straight ahead, a muscle in his jaw flexing.

My gaze drops to a glistening speck of liquid on his shoe. As he accepts our jackets, the light catches and I tilt my head, squinting to get a closer look. It’s thick, viscous, crimson.

It’s blood.

I straighten, my eyes widening, my mind putting together the clues.

Leroi’s narrow. “That man was a threat. He won’t be bothering anyone again.”

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