Her laugh seemed genuine, her hand floating in front of her mouth.
I took the opportunity to take the glass out of her hand, easing both on one of the tables before pulling her into my arms. For this, there didn’t need to be any pretense. I held her firmly, her breasts crushed against my chest. As I whisked her around the patio, she kept a perfect rhythm, one hand wrapped around my neck and the other planted in my hand. Being this close to her was much more of an aphrodisiac than I should allow.
She could certainly break down my defenses if I chose to allow her.
“Is it too forward of me to ask your name?” I lowered my head, breathing in her scent once again. Every part of me was on fire, a blazing hunger billowing that I hadn’t experienced in some time.
Willow shuddered in my arms, her fingers digging into my skin. The pressure was intense and wonderful, stimulating every cell in my body.
“You can call me Roxy,” she whispered into my ear, allowing her hot breath to cascade across my neck.
“Roxy.” I merely growled her name, my reward another quiver of her body. A reaction that couldn’t be faked.
Any more than her knowledge of my hard and aching cock.
“And yours?” she asked after a few seconds.
“Aleksei.” There was no reason to lie. The game of cat and mouse would come to a head soon enough.
“Delicious, just like the man.”
We remained quiet as the dance continued, my mother’s insistence on taking ballroom dancing lessons finally coming in handy. I could feel Willow’s body relaxing even as her breathing became shallow, and her scent was now mixed with her feminine wiles, longing taking over. I needed to learn exactly why I was on her hit list and who was next.
Was Peter Church stupid enough to believe he could take out more than one mafia leader? He had to know any knowledge of what he was preparing to do leaking out would mean his death warrant.
When the song ended, we continued to dance even though the only noise was from the cheering crowd.
“Who are you, Aleksei? Why are you here? Are you a supporter of the mayor?”
“Not in the least. The pompous ass couldn’t lead a team of rats out of the underground.”
“Bold words for such a handsome man.”
“I call it like I see it. He is treacherous in manners that will one day cost him everything. I hate liars and cheats, those pretending to be something they’re not.” I said the words with enough truth behind them that she seemed surprised.
“Isn’t that we all do? Pretend, I mean? We all long to be something we’re not, allowing obligations to stand in our way of happiness.” She looked away, sighing heavily. “While dreams are squashed, and the necessities of life take over.”
The sadness in her tone was almost bewildering, especially for an assassin.
“You sound like a lonely woman, Roxy.” I cupped the back of her neck, pulling her attention back to me and allowing my fingers to caress her skin.
She closed her eyes briefly, her lips pursed. “Perhaps.”
There was no denying our extreme attraction, the soaring electricity we shared, a connection that could very well break one or both of us. Did I dare take a chance at tempting fate, all for the few precious hours we could spend? Every part of me was on alert much like every muscle in my body remained tense.
But I wanted her.
Craved her.
Taking her.
Fucking her.
I growled again, jerking her even closer until our lips were mere centimeters apart.
Gasping, she pressed both hands against my arms, wiggling back and forth, her cries of exclamation becoming moans of raw passion.
I crushed her mouth with mine as stars floated in front of my eyes. I was wild with desire, wanting to control and dominate every aspect of her. If only for a single night. The kiss was barbaric, my savage needs roaring to the surface.
She wrapped one leg around mine, her hands now stroking my arms and neck, roaming up and down my back as the kiss continued. There was no fight as I slammed my tongue against hers, taking full control. She simply arched her back, acquiescing in the manner I always required. She seemed to sense my needs, her fingers crawling down my chest, sliding between us. The moment her hand wrapped around my cock, I could no longer breathe from the dazzling sensations rocketing through me.
Everything about this was utterly wrong, but she would soon learn who was in charge.
And what kind of man she shouldn’t play with unless she enjoyed the sear of fire.
I was prepared to take her right there, in the moment, no concern of people seeing what nastiness was being played out on the private terrace. I rolled my hand over her shoulder, easing the strap of her dress halfway down her arm as she moaned into the kiss, still grinding against me.
Still awakening the beast.
And I would take her savagely.
I broke the kiss, nibbling on her earlobe as I tipped her back, the move exposing her breast. The look of rapture on her face was further fueling, creating another rush of intense heat.
“Oh… Yes…”
I adored the sound of her voice, so melodic in nature. I licked down the side of her neck, rubbing my lips against her shoulder blade.
She arched her back as her hands gripped my arms, her long hair dangling in the breeze. Unable to resist, I lowered my head, swirling my tongue around the tip of her already hardened nipple. Dear God, the taste of her was sweet, driving me to the point of near madness. The adrenaline rush was surreal, almost as perfect as the woman.