Her mission required precision and caution. As she made her way out, her heart pounded in her chest. She reached a door and hesitated, taking a deep breath before pushing it open. Outside, she found Rowan laying on the bed, seemingly asleep. His eyes were shut, and his breathing was steady. He looked peaceful, a stark contrast to the intense, guarded man she had seen earlier.
Slowly, Amara walked towards him, her steps light and deliberate. She needed to make sure he was asleep, so she reached out and gently touched his arm, giving him a slight shake. Before she could react, Rowan’s eyes flew open, and he grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto the bed. In an instant, she found herself pinned beneath him, his weight pressing her into the mattress.
Panic surged through Amara as she struggled against his hold. “What are you doing?” she demanded, her voice a mixture of anger and fear.
“Shh,” Rowan replied, his voice low and husky. His dark, intense eyes bore into hers, sending a shiver down her spine.
“Let go,” she insisted, trying to push him off.
Rowan ignored her plea, his gaze softening as he traced his fingers along her face. He moved from her forehead to her eyes, down to her nose, and finally to her lips. Amara’s heart raced, and she continued to struggle, but his touch was gentle, almost tender. Before she could protest further, Rowan leaned down and kissed her, his lips capturing hers in a passionate, possessive kiss.
“Mmm,” Amara protested against his mouth, using all her strength to push him to the side. “I said let go!” she shouted, her voice filled with anger.
Rowan seemed to come to his senses as she pushed him. He rolled off her and sat up, looking at her with wide, innocent eyes, a stark contrast to the dark, predatory look he had worn moments before. “What happened?” he asked, confusion evident in his voice.
“You have the nerve to ask me?” Amara snapped, her eyes blazing with fury. “You kissed me, asshole!”
Rowan blinked, his expression bewildered. “I thought I was dreaming,” he said, his voice laced with innocence.
Amara gave him a death glare, her anger simmering just below the surface. She reached for a tissue from the side table and wiped her lips furiously, as if trying to erase the memory of his kiss. Rowan watched her, his eyes filled with amusement.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly, his tone sincere. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Save it,” Amara cut him off, her voice icy. “Just stay away from me.”
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heart still racing. She couldn’t afford to let herself be distracted, not when so much was at stake. She had to focus on her mission and keep her emotions in check. Rowan was an unexpected complication, one she couldn’t afford to deal with right now.
As she made her way back to the main area of the estate, Amara tried to calm her racing heart. She replayed the events in her mind, trying to make sense of Rowan’s behavior. Was he really dreaming, or was there something more to his actions? She couldn’t be sure, but one thing was certain: she had to be more careful around him.
Rejoining the party, Amara plastered a smile on her face and mingled with the guests. She needed to keep up appearances and not draw any more attention to herself.
Just then, Harvey walked over to her, his expression concerned. “Amara, where were you? I’ve been trying to find you,” he said, his eyes filled with worry.
Amara’s expression softened at the sight of his concerned eyes. She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “I was in washroom,” she explained, offering him a small, sincere smile.
Harvey relaxed slightly, his shoulders easing. “I’m glad you’re okay. I was worried something had happened,” he admitted.
Amara nodded, appreciating his concern. “Thank you, Harvey. It’s nice to know you care,” she said warmly.
“Of course I care,” Harvey replied, his tone earnest. “Come on, let’s get back to the party. Grandma will want to see you.”
As they walked back to the main area, Amara’s mind continued to race with thoughts of her mission. She had to stay focused, even as she navigated the complex web of emotions and relationships within the Falcone family. The evening was still young, and there was much work to be done.
Returning to the gathering, Amara made an effort to blend in, chatting with guests and accepting compliments on her dress. She kept an eye on Rowan, who seemed to be clearly watching her. She couldn’t afford to let her guard down around him.
Her attention was momentarily diverted when she noticed a girl about her age, with blonde hair, green eyes, and wearing a golden gown, walk towards Rowan. The girl asked him for a dance just as Antonio and Sophia finished their dance and were soon joined by Marco and Isabelle. Rowan didn’t seem to hear the girl, as his gaze was fixed on Amara. The girl leaned closer to his ear and repeated her request.
Rowan finally turned to look at her with cold eyes, a hidden threat in his expression that made the girl’s face go pale. Not wanting to witness anymore, Amara turned around and walked towards the dessert area. As she was wondering what to eat, she heard a cool voice by her ear, “I am sorry, okay?”
She turned and looked at him, “Stay away from me.”
“Please, my lady,” Rowan said, his tone softer.
Amara gave him a death glare, “Who’s your lady?”
Rowan pointed at her, “You.”
Amara’s eyes burned with anger, “I said leave me alone.”
Ignoring her warning, Rowan grabbed her hand and dragged her onto the dance floor, “Dance with me.”
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Amara snapped.
“I think we’re dancing,” Rowan replied, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
As they began to dance, Amara tried to maintain her cold demeanor, but Rowan’s persistent teasing made it difficult.
“You know, you look beautiful tonight,” Rowan said, leaning closer.
Amara scoffed, “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
“Not even a little smile?” Rowan tilted his head, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“You’re insufferable,” Amara muttered, trying to hide the slight twitch at the corner of her mouth.
“Only for you,” Rowan replied with a wink.
Amara rolled her eyes, “Do you always flirt with women you drag onto the dance floor?”
“Only the ones I find interesting,” Rowan said, spinning her around gracefully.
“I am not interested in your games, Rowan,” Amara stated firmly, though her heart was beating faster than usual.
“Who said anything about games?” Rowan countered, his voice serious for a moment. “I genuinely want to get to know you.”
Amara glanced at him, her eyes narrowing. “You have a funny way of showing it.”
Rowan smiled, “Well, I guess I’m not like most people.”
“I noticed,” Amara replied dryly, trying to pull away, but Rowan held her firmly.
“Don’t run away just yet,” he whispered. “Give me a chance.”
“A chance to do what?” Amara asked, exasperated.
“A chance to prove that I’m not the monster you think I am,” Rowan said, his tone sincere.
Amara looked at him, searching his eyes for any hint of deception. “And why should I believe you?”
“Because sometimes people are more than they seem,” Rowan replied. “Just like you.”
Amara’s expression softened slightly, but she quickly hardened her resolve. “I don’t trust you.”
“I wouldn’t expect you to,” Rowan said, his smile returning. “But maybe one day, you’ll see that I’m worth trusting.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” Amara retorted, though her tone lacked the sharp edge it had earlier.
Rowan chuckled, “I won’t. But I will keep trying.”
As the dance came to an end, Amara pulled away from Rowan, her emotions a swirling mix of confusion and frustration. She didn’t know what to make of him, but one thing was certain: he was determined to get under her skin.
Rowan bowed slightly, a playful glint in his eyes. “Thank you for the dance, my lady.”
Amara rolled her eyes again, but there was a faint smile on her lips. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re intriguing,” Rowan replied, watching her as she walked away.