Page 93 of Savage Empire

Being in such close proximity to him today, I feel almost like there’s been something building between us. Something that shouldn’t exist. We’re friends, but the tension that’s working its way around the kitchen as we pass dishes between ourselves, it feels more than friendly.

“Did you learn to wash dishes to impress your Bulgarian nanny too?” I ask, attempting to lighten the atmosphere.

Leon chuckles, a boyish smile lifting his lips. “Never going to live down that confession, am I?”

“I’m surprised you even let it slip,” I reply with a grin of my own. “Don’t you mafia folk tend to keep your cards close to your chest?”

“Maybe I just find it easy to talk to you,” he replies, voice going deep.

My throat tightens and I swallow. Leon’s gaze tracks the movement of my throat, and he exhales. His hands freeze on the plate he’s drying, and he looks up to my face, attempting to read my expression.

I don’t know what he sees, I don’t even know what I feel.

His eyes drag slowly down from my gaze, lingering on my mouth. I don’t move a muscle as Leon lifts a hand, softly tucking a bit of hair behind my ear, moving it out of my eyes. I shiver as my stomach flips, feeling the air seem to crack between us.There’s an unexpected and undeniable intensity building, and for a moment, I forget who we are.

I forget that Leon and I are friends, that there’s a million reasons we shouldn’t be standing so close, and a million more reasons why I shouldn’t enjoy how this feels.

For a second, neither of us moves, shallow breaths coming out bated and silent. I swear Leon begins to lean forward, his breath fanning my lips, and I can’t force myself to pull away until?—

“We’re back!” Yordan’s voice shatters the moment and Leon jumps back like he’s been burned.

“Fuck,” he mutters, shaking his head as if to pull himself out of a daze. “Rayna, I?—”

He’s going to apologize, to profess that he lost himself in the moment and didn’t mean to. I can see the shame creeping up on his face, and I understand without needing explanation. It has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the fact that he’s married.

“We’re okay,” I tell him quietly, picking up another soapy dish to rinse off. “Nothing happened, right?”

“Right,” he echoes, voice strained.

No matter how weak of a moment he just experienced, Leon doesn’t strike me as an adulterous man. Hell, if he was, I doubt he would have paused for so long before losing himself in the intensity that just occurred.

I don’t have time to dwell on it further as Yordan skips into the room, smiling broadly.

“Oh, hey Leon.” He beams. “You’re still here.”

“I’m here,” Leon agrees, mustering up a smile to shoot back at Yordan. “How was the ride?”

“Good,” he replies proudly. “Elio, Apollo, and I are going to have a drink on the balcony now.” He looks at me apprehensively. “If it’s still okay with you?”

“It’s fine,” I say quickly. “Go before I change my mind.”

“Still the best,” Yordan cheers, practically skipping out of the kitchen.

Leon takes the opportunity to grab my hand, pulling me away from the sink and into the pantry.

“I’m so?—”

“Leon, really, it’s fine?—”

We speak over each other, both whispering, both stopping when we realize.

“That’s never happened to me before,” he says quickly, looking down. “I didn’t mean for…I never expected.” He breathes out, trying to find the words as he looks back up at me. “I don’t cheat on my wife, Rayna. Ever. We’re married in name, really. But I’m still faithful.”

“I know you are,” I say sympathetically. “It was just a moment. It didn’t even happen, try not to be so hard on yourself, okay?”

“Easy for you to say,” he says, trying to lift his frown. “You wouldn’t have been the one committing adultery.”

“No, but it wouldn’t make me innocent either.” I smile sadly. “I’m not the kind of girl who often has moments with married men either, Leon. We’re both a bit lonely and got caught in a moment of chemistry. We don’t have to think about it again. Okay?”