Page 27 of Precious Hazard

“Girlfriend?” Drago narrows his eyes.

“For now. Soon, hopefully, much more than that.”

In a flash, my brother closes the distance between us. A menacing growl leaves his throat as he reaches past me and fists the front of DeVille’s shirt.

“Sljamu nalickani!” Drago snarls.

“Christ!” I throw the flowers to the side and wrap both my arms around one of Drago’s, trying to yank my brother off DeVille.

But Satan uses that to his advantage, shooting out his own arm to wrap his hand around Drago’s throat. “Get your fucking paws off me,” he hisses.

The two end up in a deadlock, holding each other at arm’s length. My head ping-pongs from my brother to my “boyfriend” and back. These guys have been silently waging a cold war ever since Arturo tried to meddle his way into Sienna’s marriage to Drago. Going by the murderous expressions on boththeir faces, that frigid conflict is seconds away from getting really, really hot.

“You’re doing this just to piss me off even more, aren’t you, you fuck?” Drago roars.

“Contrary to what you may believe, the world doesn’t revolve around you, Popov!” DeVille barks back.

“Oh, for the love of God!” I release Drago’s arm and slip between their massive bodies, turning to face my brother while I hook my arms on their anchored limbs. The result is me hanging off their strained forearms like a ragdoll, with my feet dangling several inches off the ground. “Stop this! Let go, both of you!” I yell, hoping my weight will make each of them drop their grip.

“No!” The two voices erupt simultaneously, rattling the rafters in the entry hall.

Shit.I have no choice but to spit out the words I’d rather choke on.

“Drago!” I shout. Then, when he looks at me, I continue, “Please, stop. I’m… um… in love with him.”

Acid practically floods my mouth.

My brother blinks. His gaze darts back to Arturo, then returns to me. “I don’t believe you.”

“What? Why?”

“You’re the worst liar I’ve ever met, Tara. Drop this fuckery, right now!”

“But I’m telling the truth!”

“Oh yeah? Until a few weeks ago, you were referring to this mofo as ‘that pretentious Italian asshat.’ And now, you’re suddenly all lovey-dovey with him?”

Well, crap.

I open my mouth. Close it. My brain kicks into overdrive, searching for a way to convince Drago. Meanwhile, he keeps on glaring at me.

He needs to believe this farce. Everything depends on my brother never suspecting that I’ve been forced into a relationship with Satan. There’s too much at stake. I won’t let my latest screwup endanger my family.Clean up your own messes, Tara. I repeat the mantra in my head.

“Yes, I am.” Abandoning my useless hold on the men’s forearms, I let go. When my feet hit the ground, I stay wedged between them, giving each a push apart. Not really expecting that my shove would do anything, I’m surprised when both drop their arms and take a step back.

Swallowing the lump lodged in my throat, I turn to face my nemesis. There is a wicked smirk dancing on his sexy lips as he meets my gaze. My legs are heavy as I draw closer and lift to my tippy-toes. I slide my hands upward over his chest and hook them behind his neck.

“I detest you,” I whisper. Then pull his head down and smash my mouth to his.

It was supposed to be a rough press of the lips. Just long enough to convince Drago that I was telling the truth, but not so long that I’d want to puke later. That’s the only outcome I could foresee after sharing such intimacy with Satan.

As always, though, my instincts and intentions prove shitty.

The moment our lips connect, my brain basically short-circuits, as if a hundred and ten volts zip straight through our touch. I’m reduced to nothing but nerve endings. Made to feel… everything.

Blitzed.

The spicy scent of his cologne is pulling me under. Its faint, earthy notes are driving me insane. Ravenous. Lustful. Maybe it’s because I didn’t expect a domineering man like him to have such soft lips. Or possibly because he thrusts his tongue into my mouth at that very same instant. Surely not because of his strong hands wrapping around my ass and lifting me to be crushed against his hard male body.