Page 9 of Stolen Temptation (Irish Kings #3)

Kiara

Lips swollen and mind dazed, I gaze up at my gorgeous rescuer and wonder if I’m lost in some hyper-realistic dream. Some sort of mental escape defense triggered by the stress of my current situation.

Yeah, no way. Not even my imagination could conjure a stranger this hot to pin me to the wall and kiss me until my insides lit up like a Christmas tree.

The only way to describe the way the man kisses is…

Explosive.

I read so many romances, yet none of them prepared me. I considered the intense, instant chemistry described in those stories to be total fantasy. Boy, was I wrong.

I’m stunned by how one man’s mouth on mine could light every nerve in my body on fire in the best way possible. So this is what it’s all about.

In the days leading up to my escape, I kept reminding myself that I want to live, finally live, for once. And I can’t lie…I’m feeling pretty damn alive right now.

It goes without saying that I’ve never had the opportunity to fall in love or even lust. Spending my days and nights trapped on the De Luca estate doesn’t exactly lend itself to a healthy romantic life. Or any romantic life.

That means I have no idea what to do with this…this being the fact that we’ve been staring at each other for at least twenty seconds, panting as though we both just finished a set of sprints.

I’m still reeling from the rush of hormones flooding my body.

“Leo’s gone. You’re safe.” His voice has gotten rougher now. Raspier. Almost as if he sandpapered his throat. He grants me half a smile, but it’s tinged with a hint of darkness. “For now.”

A slow drip of anxiety starts inside me.

Hell’s bells … Was trusting this guy to cover for me a bad call?

All at once, my brain goes back online and sends the order to unlock my arms from around his strong neck. He tries to hook me with his gaze, but I tear my eyes from his, studying my feet self-consciously as blood rushes to my cheeks.

I pluck at my shirt. Suddenly, despite the stagehand outfit I’m wearing, I’m anxious, awkward, and feel entirely too naked.

“Thank you for helping me,” I whisper. My heart continues hammering. Not because of the kiss, but because I still need to escape, and the longer I stand here, the harder that’s going to be.

Stupid, I know. I just met this guy. At a mafia auction, no less. I know nothing about him, and everyone here is kind of scary. I should want to flee as fast as I can.

My sense of self-preservation finally decides to re-emerge from hibernation, instilling within me the motivation to step around the handsome stranger. I nearly jump out of my skin when a fist clamps onto my forearm out of nowhere.

Terrified that I’ve been caught by Leo, my head snaps back, but it’s only him…

The man who just marked me with his mouth.

His grip rings my wrist like an iron cuff. That’s the moment when my alarm bells really begin to chime, and I realize that I’ve definitely made a mistake.

Leo personally invited every person in attendance tonight. And Leo doesn’t associate with a single man who isn’t a violent, dangerous criminal.

Ergo, I just kissed a violent, dangerous criminal.

Worse…I freaking liked it.

That anxiety drip inside me turns into a steady trickle of ice-cold fear.

“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on.” The roughness in this man’s voice has gotten sharper.

I tug my arm, but his grip is unyielding. He pulls me back until I’m standing in front of him like before, trapped under the hot, heavy spotlight of his inquisitive gaze.

“You heard me.” He gives my forearm a squeeze that tells me it would be nothing for him to break the bone beneath. “Why are you trying to escape?”

A lump the size of New York forms in my throat.

I can’t swallow. I can’t breathe. I can’t think.

I’m stupid. So, so stupid. Like, on a scale of zero to ten, this rates as a twenty.

There’s no way I can tell this man who I am or why I’m running, regardless of his intentions. If he learns the truth, he might drag me straight back to Leo.

Merde, Kiara, you’ve sure gone and done it…

Though futile, I inch away from him, my back connecting with the uneven stone wall behind me. The man only presses closer, re-entering my personal space while maintaining his iron hold on my wrist.

Butterflies swarm in my belly. My body did not get the memo that fun time is over.

A stream of security guards clad in black suits breaks the intensity of the moment by jogging past our alcove.

“The bitch isn’t in her room.” A gruff, gravelly voice curses. “When I find her, she’s going to wish she never learned how to run.”

I flinch. I’d recognize that horrible voice anywhere.

I peek around the stranger to see if I’m right, even though I already know I am.

I spy a buzz cut. And a serpent neck tattoo.

Both belong to the guard Leo regularly assigns to my detail.

I don’t have even a second to panic before the handsome, dangerous stranger drops my wrist and wraps his strong arms around me. He turns us deeper into the alcove, shielding me from view and blocking me from the guards’ sight with his body.

Engulfed by his massive physique, I can’t see or hear the guards anymore. I can’t hear anything over the galloping pace of my heart.

My entire awareness is eaten up by the fact that I’m in this man’s arms. He smells so amazing that despite the horrible predicament I’m in, I close my eyes and breathe him in. Something woodsy and expensive floats up my nose, infecting my brain with a momentary calm.

When he pulls back, I see him for the first time. His rectangular face, held up by a strong, devastating jawline, topped with light golden brown hair. Hazel eyes that glint in the faint glow of the open geode walls around and above us. A straight nose leading to that sensuous mouth…

A tremble originates from somewhere deep inside me.

He may be the most handsome man I’ve ever seen in real life.

Not that I’m an expert. I’m sure the number of total men I’ve interacted with in my entire life is a lot lower than most people my age.

Still, I stand by my evaluation. I simply can’t imagine there are that many men walking the earth who can physically compete with him.

And I just made out with him. On the worst night of my life.

The gravity of my situation pancakes me so hard, I’m dizzy as his arms release me. One of his big, warm palms takes my hand in an unshakable grip.

Without another word, he leads me in what I pray is the opposite direction of Leo and the security guards.

I don’t have much choice but to follow, nearly tripping over my own feet while trying to keep up with this man’s insanely lengthy strides.

I should thank him. Or at least ask for his name.

But honestly? I’m overwhelmed.

A few seconds ago, I was this close to Leo catching me, and now my guards know I’m missing. Plus, as scary as both things are, I just had my first kiss back there. And I can’t get over how incredible it was.

For a while, I started believing that I’d never get that experience.

What shocks me most about him, more than his stunning features, more than the breathtaking kiss straight out of a rom-com, is his eagerness to help.

I had no idea that a man this dangerous possessed any capacity for compassion. He was in my cousin’s VIP section, the area reserved for close, personal associates of the De Lucas. If he was there, then he and Leo must share history.

Which means he can’t be a good guy.

But despite that, his willingness to assist me in my moment of need still floors me. No man has ever cared for me.

No man, period.

I’ve never encountered one I could turn to for support or run to for aid.

I grew up understanding that men aren’t safe.

If I needed care or kindness or attention, I sought out a woman.

My mother, an old cook who eventually retired.

Mae. The idea of a man who helps on a whim, just because I asked? Laughable.

And yet something about this man makes me feel safe. A truly ridiculous notion.

I’m ridiculous.

I keep stealing glances at the guy, but I still don’t know what to think. Is he a good man in a bad place? Or a bad man in a bad place who also happens to be a skilled con artist?

My nerves jitter as he leads me down the dark corridors, but I do my best to ignore them.

Good women exist in the world. My mom and Mae are proof of that.

Is it really so farfetched to believe decent men exist too?

Not every man can be the equivalent of an Enzo, Matteo, or Leo. Otherwise known as Satan’s trifecta.

We veer sharply to the left and move through a long hall. Rock walls cocoon us. The dark stone is illuminated by tiki torches, their flames casting dancing shadows on the uneven surfaces.

This guy clearly knows where he’s going. I’m the one who’s lost.

His steps abruptly slow, and he turns back to me.

“Now, let’s try this again, sweetheart.” Without warning, he pushes me against the wall. “Who are you, really ?”

The demanding edge in his tone stabs blades of ice into my heart.

It’s a tone that’s been used on me many times in my life, and the subtext is always the same. Tell me what I want to know, or I’ll hurt you.

Alarm demolishes the lingering buzz from our kiss, like flames consuming oxygen. “I-I could ask you the same question.”

His dazzling yet unpleasant smile reveals perfect, white teeth. “Do you really think I’m here to play with you?”

Incredibly strong fingers bite into the bends of my elbows, locking me in place.

“I don’t know, are you? You sure seem to kiss well enough to be a player .” I spit the words at him as if I possess vast experience with players outside of books. Light flares in his eyes, like I’ve successfully provoked him.

“I know those guards were after you. Why?” He digs his fingers deeper into my flesh, a growl in his throat. “Tell me why you’re being hunted by the De Lucas during a private auction.”

“I…” My heart is flying in my chest. Somehow, I need to get away from this man. “I’ll tell you if you?—”

“If I what ?”

Think, Kiara. “If…if you kiss me again.”

His eyelids hood, like the same lust that consumed me took a bite out of him too.

Come on, come on. Take the bait.

The crazy thing is, even though I only said it to trick him, my body is practically quivering over the idea of another kiss.

What’s wrong with me?

Amazingly, my bluff seems to be working. This ridiculously handsome man presses in closer, our noses grazing like he has every intention of laying one on me.

When his mouth brushes mine, I drop all my weight onto his right foot. His hands fall from my arms as an audible grunt of surprise and pain escapes him, and I break free of his embrace, ready to sprint.

I’m only a few steps away before he grabs my bun and drags me backward.

Frantic, I clutch at his wrist, struggling to free myself. He seizes my arm again and yanks it behind my back.

“Wrong move, beautiful girl.” He releases my hair but not my arm. I try to twist around to face him, but he grabs my other arm and folds it back too.

I grimace as he proceeds to trap both of my wrists with one of his calloused palms.

Fear washes over me in waves.

I’m in so much trouble. Worse trouble than before.

Because now I’ve angered him. And angry men enjoy inflicting pain.

“Let me go.” I struggle against his grip, but that only compels him to tighten his hold. He steers me down the hallway, forcing me to walk in front of him. “Please, don’t…”

Don’t what? I don’t even know what he’s planning to do with me. I just know it’s not good. Not good at all.

Determination fights against the current of fear pulsing through my veins.

I did not escape Leo just to be taken hostage by another mafioso.

“ Let go .” I infuse acid into my voice, fighting his grip as much as possible without tripping. “I’m warning you. I’ll scream.”

A dark chuckle creeps over my shoulder, sending a shiver down my spine.

He pushes me forward a little harder as we march down the long, lonely corridor. “I’m your ticket out of here. Scream, and we both die.” I feel the heat of his breath when he lowers his head to my ear. “And you’ll be first .”