Page 31 of Intrigue

His lips twitch, something salacious curling at the corners. “I know.”

I should walk away, or say something cutting, roll my eyes, pretend I don’t feel like my skin is on fire just from standing near him.

But I don’t.

Instead, I say, “I hate this place.”

His brows lift slightly. “Your house?”

“My prison.” I exhale sharply. “My father watches my every move. I can’t step outside without a guard. I can’t speak to a man without it being considered a strategy. And I certainly can’t be alone in the courtyard in the middle of the night with someone like you.”

He grins. “Someone like me?”

I narrow my eyes at him. “You know exactly what I mean.”

His slow-spreading smile deepens, and God help me, it’s unfair how good he looks when he does that. “I do. And yet, you’re still standing here.”Throwing my words back at me. Classic, Vescovi.

I scowl. “I like defying my father.”

“Careful, little Marconi.” He steps closer, dropping his voice even lower. “You say that too many times, you might actually mean it.”

Something shifts in the air between us.

The playful tension melts into something hotter, heavier. My breath catches.

His eyes drop to my mouth.

Slowly.

My pulse pounds. I’m not supposed to want this. To wanthim.

But I do.

God help me, I do.

His hand lifts, fingers skimming my jaw, tilting my chin up just slightly. Not forcing. Just testing.

I don’t pull away.

That’s all the confirmation he needs.

He leans in, gently, like he’s giving me a chance to stop him.

I don’t.

And then his lips brush against mine.

Soft at first, barely there, like he’s waiting for me to take the lead.

So I do.

I press forward, my hands curling into his shirt, tugging slightly. A quiet groan rumbles in his chest, and then his hands are on me, one at my waist, the other sliding into my hair, fingers tangling, tilting my head so he can kiss me deeper.

I feel him.

Not just the heat of his body, not just the way he tastes like something dark and forbidden, but the weight of it.

The way he’s been holding back.