“So that’s my daughter,” Micah says to me before turning to his cousins. “She’s desperate for a cousin or seven, if any of you would like to get on that it would be very helpful.”
The group chuckles and cracks a few more jokes while I acclimate to a Nathan who doesn’t feel like The Prince of Darkness.
“I’m gonna finish saying hello to everyone,” he says, during a lull in conversation. “So Mina can meet the whole crew.”
We say our goodbyes and make our way around the room. He introduces me to so many people I’m dizzy with names and faces. Dinner is delicious, the cake is huge, and damn if the smile on Nathan’s face when he blows out the candles feels like sunshine. We sing. We eat. We help ourselves to cocktails from the bar.
And then, we dance.
Nathan’s arms are draped around my waist, his eyes locked on mine. I’d almost buy that he adored me if I didn’t know the truth. And if I’m being honest, I wouldn’t mind being adored by the man I met tonight. I don’t know which version of him is real. The grumpy rich asshole who charges obscene amounts of money for a favor? Or the man giving piggyback rides to his niece and making house calls to nervous students because he’s the guy who drops everything to save the world?
“You are uncomfortably good at this,” I say with a sigh.
“At what?”
“Pretending to like me.”
He cocks his head and grins like I said something to melt his heart. “I’ll admit, it’s taking more energy than I thought it would.”
Of course, then he says things like that and I remember everything about tonight is an illusion. Grumpy rich assholes can be good with kids and awful with everyone else.
Nathan’s hands slip lower on my back, almost brushing my ass for the third time since this song started playing.
“Touch my butt one more time. Go ahead. I dare you,” I say, pressing my cheek to his chest.
“It’s a great ass.”
“It’s an off-limits ass.”
“You didn’t have to wear a thong.”
I pull back, my brows lifted into twin stop signs. “I see. You’re one of those men.”
Nathan slides his hands a few inches towards safety. “And what kind of man do you think I am?”
“One who blames a woman’s clothing for his lack of self-control. A proud member of the ‘she asked for it’ crew.”
He stops in his tracks. “A man is responsible for his actions. Always.” His eyes are intense as they hold mine and there’s a flicker of something dancing in my belly.
Something that feels like we’re having a moment.
And I’m not interested in having moments with Nathan West.
So, I do the only reasonable thing. I slide myself back into his arms, press my body against his, then take both his butt cheeks in my hands and squeeze.
He jumps. Yelps. Then pulls back and now it’s his eyebrows reaching for his hairline. “What the hell are you doing?”
“Just in case what you said was bullshit, I thought you’d like a turn at feeling objectified.”
Nathan shakes his head and laughs lightly.
“What was that?” I ask, dropping my jaw in astonishment.
“What was what?”
“That sound you just made.”
“I didn’t make a sound.”
“You did. From anyone else, I’d say it was laughter, but I didn’t know The Prince of Darkness knew how to do that.”
“Very funny,” Nathan replies in a voice lacking the sarcastic edge I’ve come to know and hate.
“You should do that more. It’s, uh, well it’s very appealing.” A blush burns across my cheeks. Did I really say that? Out loud?
“I’ll take that under advisement.” His gaze slips over my shoulder, and when his eyes meet mine, there’s a spark of something I don’t have a name for. “My cousins are staring.”
“Good?”
“Just warning you what’s about to happen.” Nathan reaches for me, lightly drawing his finger down the side of my face and along my neckline. His touch is gentle yet electric, sending shockwaves through every inch of my body. His fingers whisper across my skin, lower, lower, until they rest just above the swell of my breasts.
I’m shocked.
I’m speechless.
I should be outraged, no, I am outraged but I’m hypnotized as he moves closer, then closer still. Our lips are almost touching. My senses captured. I’m surrounded by the scent of sandalwood and whisky and the musk of his skin. Surprisingly, I don’t hate it. I don’t hate it at all.
Eyes on my mouth, he tilts his head and thank God for small miracles, I snap out of whatever spell he’s cast on me before I allow him to do something we’ll both regret. I am so not ready to be kissed by The Prince of Darkness.
