Page 25 of Love to Defy You (The Dark Love #2)

Willow

The next morning, I wake up with a pounding headache. I reach for Alek, but his spot is empty, and the sheets are cold. I stumble out of bed and find my robe before heading downstairs to look for him.

When I reach the balcony, I find a flurry of activity downstairs in the living room. A bartender is setting up his station in the corner, and the staff are building an elaborate buffet table on one wall. There’s even a DJ booth near the Christmas tree, complete with gobo lights and a dance floor.

The sun reflects off the snowy white mountains through the window, and I raise my arm to shield my eyes from the bright onslaught. Alek is sitting on the sofa in the middle of the chaos with his phone pressed to his ear.

When I take the seat opposite him, he says something in Russian, then hangs up the phone. With a groan, he leans back against the sofa and rubs his eyes.

“Who was that?” My voice is raspy from sleep.

“My mother.” He makes a face like he just swallowed something bitter. “I’ve been avoiding her calls all week, so I just got an earful.”

“You told her Ana was here?”

“Yes,” he says with a weary sigh. “And she made me promise to send her home with her virginity still intact.”

I recoil. “Ew, seriously?”

“The Dubai suitor won’t take Ana otherwise.” He shakes his head. “But I told her I’ll increase her allowance if she calls off the engagement.”

“And?”

“She said she’ll consider it and let me know.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “But don’t say anything to Ana yet. I don’t want to get her hopes up.”

I nod. “Sure.”

Every time Alek talks with his mother, he leaves the conversation looking haggard or angry.

I had a great relationship with my mother before she died, and even though things were rocky with my father for a long time, we finally got to a good place.

But Alek has never had a parent who put him before their own selfish needs.

To his father, he was simply a vessel to inherit his legacy, and to his mother, he’s nothing more than an ATM.

“This looks like it’s going to be some party.” I glance around the room. “Is this all for us?”

“I invited a few people. Just the usual suspects who holiday in St. Moritz every year. After being stuck in a chalet with their families for a week, they’re itching for some fun.”

I arch my eyebrows. “I thought the jet-set crowd didn’t want anything to do with your family anymore?”

“Well, none of them are Russian.” He lets out a hollow laugh. “And besides, even the wealthy have a hard time turning down free booze.” Alek pats his lap. “Come here, malishka .”

I stand up and come around the coffee table, and when I take a seat on his lap, he wraps his arms around my waist.

He burrows his face against my chest and inhales my scent. “I practically had to carry you to bed last night.”

I smooth my hand over his hair. “I don’t remember going to bed. I wanted to finish what we started yesterday.”

He chuckles. “Me too, but you were passed-out drunk.”

“Such a gentleman.” I run my finger down his chest.

“You and I both know I’m no gentleman.” Alek growls and nips at my breast over my robe, making me yelp. “Why don’t I take you upstairs right now and show you how despicable I can be?”

I rub the spot where he bit me. “As fun as that sounds, I need coffee and a super greasy breakfast in the next five minutes or I’m going to puke all over the drapes.”

“In that case, let’s get you fed.” He pats my ass to get me to stand up. “But tonight, your pussy is mine.”

Birgitta, Josie, Anastasia, and Prisha get ready for the New Year’s Eve party in my room. I’m rather sluggish the rest of the day thanks to my wine hangover, so everyone else finishes their hair and makeup before me.

“We’ll wait for you,” Prisha says.

“No, no, you guys go ahead. I’ll be down in, like, twenty minutes.”

They leave and close the door behind them, leaving me with my mild headache for company.

I chug down the rest of my water bottle, take another Excedrin, and get to work on my hair.

When I’m done, I drag my ass into the closet and change into my black sequin mini dress with long sleeves.

However, when I try to reach around to zip it up, I can’t get the angle of my arms right.

“Need some help?”

I gasp and spin around. Enzo stands in the doorway of the closet, blocking my path.

“I didn’t mean to startle you.” He hikes his thumb over his shoulder. “The door was unlocked.”

He’s wearing a royal-blue suit that fits snug against his broad chest. His build is similar to Alek’s, and as much as I hate to admit it, Enzo also looks good in a suit.

“My eyes are up here.” Enzo chuckles softly.

I drag my gaze from his chest to his deep, brown eyes. “Do you make a habit of walking into unlocked rooms?”

He leans against the doorframe and runs his hand over his chiseled jawline. “Only if there are pretty girls inside.”

“Sounds creepy.”

He shrugs. “Then at least let me be useful.” He twirls his finger in the air for me to turn around.

Obeying his command, I swivel to face the mirror, exposing my back to him. I watch him in the mirror as he stalks forward, his gaze openly roving over me.

He stops behind me, so close I can feel the heat radiating off him. His hands find my waist, and it sends a shudder through me, although I’m not sure if it’s fear or excitement. Maybe a little of both.

But he crossed a line when he threatened Alek’s life, and it reminded me how dangerous he is.

However, Alek is just as dangerous, and I’ve always been drawn to that dark side of him. That same darkness is reflected in Enzo’s gaze now as he admires my body.

He drags his fingers to my zipper, lingering on the bare skin of my back. “Are you sure you want me to zip it up? I’d rather rip it off.” He leans closer to whisper in my ear. “And judging by the goosebumps on your skin, I’d say you agree.”

I can’t resist the urge to roll my eyes. “I’m cold because my back is exposed. Zip me up or get out.”

“If you say so.” He takes his time dragging the zipper up the length of my back. His other hand rests on the curve of my ass, holding the bottom of the zipper taut. “There. You look stunning.”

Enzo meets my gaze in the mirror, and for a long moment, we just stare at each other, neither of us saying a word. I’m not sure if it’s fear that’s keeping me rooted to the spot, and I don’t want to be the first one to speak.

He caresses his knuckles down the length of my arm. “Willow—“ he rasps.

“We should go. We’re already late.” I step around him and get out of the closet as fast as I can without running, but still, my heart races from the interaction.

I like Enzo’s eyes on me, and I feel them raking over my ass as he follows me out of the bedroom. What I wouldn’t do to have his eyes on me while Alek fucks me, to be the sole focus of his attention, lusting after me when he knows he can never have me.

But I don’t want his touch. I want his obsession.

When I reach the staircase, Birgitta is down below on the sofa with Josie, drinking champagne and laughing that bubbly giggle of hers.

And while a small pang of guilt hits me, I also get off on the idea that Enzo would betray his girlfriend just for a shot with me, even though I’ll never give in to him.

The leader of the most dangerous society on campus is on his knees, begging for my attention. That’s the power I hold over Enzo Messina, and fuck if it doesn’t make me feel like a goddamn queen as he follows me down the stairs.

That power is leverage that will keep Alek and me alive. And if I have to string Enzo along to maintain that leverage, then I’ll do it, no matter how dangerous the game is.

The party is in full swing. Strangers mingle in the crowded living room beneath sultry blue and purple lights as EDM blasts from the speakers. Bodies press against each other on the dance floor, swaying in time with the music.

I leave Enzo and approach the buffet table, but before I can grab a canapé, someone wraps their arm around my waist and pulls me against them.

“Why are you with Enzo?” Alek’s voice is lethal against my ear.

And if I don’t de-escalate this, one of them is leaving in a body bag tonight.

“We ran into each other in the hall,” I answer. “That’s all.”

Alek snakes his hand lower until he reaches under my dress. There isn’t much distance between my hem and my lady parts, and when he traces his finger over my bare slit, he groans. “This is mine. And I’ll make sure he knows that before the night is over.”

He smacks my ass and releases me. When I turn around, he’s already disappeared into the crowd.

And now, thanks to Alek, my unsatisfied, needy pussy is throbbing in time with the music.

I peruse the buffet table and fill a small plate with finger food, then join Birgitta and Josie. The sofas are pushed against the walls to make room for the dance floor, forming little intimate pockets for small groups to chat.

“Where’s Prisha?” I ask.

Birgitta gives me a conspiratorial grin and nods toward the corner. “Over there.”

I turn to find Prisha pressed against the wall, her arms wrapped around Henri’s neck as he shoves his tongue down her throat.

“YEAH!” I catcall at her. “YOU GO, GIRL!”

Prisha breaks away from Henri, glasses askew, and gives me a guilty look as if she were caught with her hand in the cookie jar. I wave my hand to keep going, and she gives me a shy smile before turning back to Henri.

“At least someone’s getting laid tonight.” Josie sits cross-legged with her elbow resting on her knee in a contemplative pose, shoulders hunched.

“What do you mean?” I follow the direction of her wistful gaze.

Then I see what she sees. There, on top of a coffee table, Anastasia sways her hips in a sensual dance, running one hand along her body and holding a bottle of vodka in the other. A group of guys is gathered around her, cheering her on as she starts to slide her dress up her leg.

“Is she drunk already?” I ask.