“That’s totally a yes,” Naomi snickers.
“Which means you’re totally fucking him,” Milena grins.
My face burns hotly. “I am not!”
Not yet, anyway.
We walk down the little hallway and onto the dimly lit, empty stage.
“Is he old?” Naomi asks.
“He’s…older?”
She grins. “Well, whether you’re screwing him or not, we definitely need to meet this fiancé of yours.”
“That could be arranged.”
Naomi shrieks and the three of us jump, whirling at the sound of the deep, rough, baritone voice. Kratos materializes like smoke out of the darkness of the wings as he steps onto the dimly lit stage. My pulse roars as his eyes lock onto mine, that same animalistic, feral look in them that I saw the other night at the engagement dinner.
When he beat the shit out of Grisha.
And then kissed me for the first time.
It’s not like I hadn’t noticed that Kratos hadn’t ever kissed me before. But in my head, I guess I’d just assumed kissing wasn’t something he did. At least, not as part of the dark games we’d been playing.
Kissing isn’t necessarily a given when you’re being chased around an abandoned church, pinned down, and made to scream in vicious pleasure.
But I never realized how much I wanted Kratos to kiss me until he did, the same way he does everything when it comes to me: violently. All-consumingly. Like a conqueror.
It was everything. It was madness and bliss. Heaven and damnation.
It was the hottest kiss of my life, with a man who scares me as much as he turns me on.
Out of the corner of my eye, I watch my friends’ shocked faces as Kratos strides across the stage toward us. I mean, he’s already an enormous human…
Everywhere, I think with a fierce blush.
But with the footlights from the edge of the stage shining up his back, Kratos looks even larger than life as he comes to a stop right in front of us.
“Uh…hi?” I blurt, swallowing nervously. I realize I’m staring up into his stupidly handsome face, and that he’s staring right down into mine. One of his big hands comes up, and one of his thick fingers brushes a wayward lock of hair back behind my ear.
“What…” I shiver. “What are you doing here?”
“My grandmother wanted us to come see her.”
“Oh…okay,” I say. I clear my throat. “Uh, these are my friends, Naomi and Milena.”
Kratos’ brow furrows. “Milena Kalishnik, if I’m not mistaken?”
Her face turns beet red as she smiles bashfully, staring at him with wide, starry eyes. “Uh-huh,” she whispers.
“I’ve done business with your father.”
“That’s so awesome,” Milena breathes, still moony-eyed.
“I’mNotInTheMafia,” Naomi blurts rapidly.
“That’s probably a good thing,” Kratos rumbles.
Naomi and Milena both laugh like it’s the funniest joke in the world. Oh my God.
“Anyway,” I mutter, clearing my throat. “We should go, yeah?”
Kratos nods. “Indeed. Best never to keep Dimitra Drakos waiting.” He turns and bows a little bit to my two blushing friends. “Lovely to meet you, ladies.”
“Totally,” Milena gushes.
“Any time!” Naomi squeaks.
Kratos walks to the front of the stage. I turn to glare at my friends.
“What the fuck is wrong with you two?” I hiss under my breath.
“Sorry!” Naomi mouths, looking panicky. “He’s just SO fucking hot.” She swoons, fanning herself.
I roll my eyes. “Thirsty much?”
“For that?” Milena grins. “Parched.”
