Page 54

I took a ragged breath. I’d been in Iosif’s shoes once upon a time. Burying family left a scar that time never healed. But how he acted could—and should!—change. I was going to have to work on him.

A pop song with a sultry undertone came over the speakers. It was like a switch flipped. Serena stopped whatever she was saying, her eyes fluttered closed, and her head tipped back. Watching her body come alive with that spark was magnificent. The waiter brought the cheese platter, but she didn’t even open her eyes. Didn’t move a muscle as she soaked up the sounds.

Stuffing a few bites in her maw, Evangelia tugged Serena’s wrist, and with a reluctant side eye, she stood.

Her body swayed as she moved to the dance floor. Only a few patrons danced, but that didn’t stop the girls. Evangelia was spastic, like a bunny took a dip of crack cocaine. I’d seen her dance before. Iosif’s groan of dismay confirmed that he was having a conniption over his sister’s antics.

In contrast, my little goddess was grace incarnate.

That body pulled the music into her veins, making her limbs bend and dip with the ease and beauty of a willow. A pulse of heat shot straight to my groin. I needed to know what it was like to put my hands on her curves. That smooth, sun-tanned skin beckoned.

I took a step.

And then another.

Summoned by her siren’s call, I stole up behind her. When she spun, I caught her hand. Serena gasped. Her mouth parting in a perfect O shape. She didn’t resist when I flicked my wrist and effortlessly tugged her into my body. Under the constellations, the heavenly light concealed my features well enough.

But she knew who held her.

“Always hiding from me,” she mused.

I twisted her out and drew her in, painfully aware that too many sets of eyes were focused on her. “I like the dark.”

“Spoken like a true vampire,” she laughed. “I can’t believe you let me come out tonight.”

“You’ve worked hard. Everyone deserves to let loose.”

She did a double take. “I didn’t think you paid attention to someone as irrelevant as me.”

Irrelevant? How did she figure that? Didn’t she know she was the object of damn near every straight male’s fantasy right now? I had to consciously relax my grip so as not to bruise her. Irrelevant—they stared at her.Istared at her!

“I noticeeverythingabout you, prinkípissa.”

She looked quickly away. Her confident steps faltered. I kept my hands tight on her, not letting her fall.

Fuck me, how did I not see it before? She was bitter about the way we’d left things after the incident at the Skorpios family’s mansion. I behaved badly that day, too consumed with my own problems. And in the days that passed between, I hadn’t been around to make amends.

That stopped now.

Before I could demand an answer, the song ended. I never wanted to kill someone as badly as I wanted to slaughter the artist. How dare he compose something so short? That song should have no ending. I wanted it to continue; how else would I exorcise the desire to touch this beauty?

Serena pulled away. “Sorry, Markos. It’s girls’ night.”

Head held high, she moved away.

Not fucking happening.

She didn’t get to just walk away.

I took two quick steps, yanked her around, and pulled her against me as I slipped to the edge of the room and away from prying eyes. My lips crashed into hers. There was a soft smilewaiting there for me. It wasn’t surprise playing on her lips, but the smirk of triumph.

Serena entwined her arms around my neck. She tugged me close. Her mouth was ravenous, her kiss just as eager, and she held me tight.

I pressed my tongue against the seam of her lips, demanding entrance. After a heartbeat, she gave it, and my tongue dipped into her mouth. Hers flicked back in greeting. A rough groan churned in my chest. Fucking magnificent. This woman tasted...divine.

Serena sucked before catching it with her teeth. My inhale was sharp. But just as fast, she let me go. I didn’t move back, instead sinking my teeth into her bottom lip, giving the pillowy flesh a warning tug before releasing her.

Serena pulled back and gazed up into my eyes. “I’ve been wondering what it would take to make you kiss me one more time, pirate.”