Chapter 12
CEZAR
We stepped into a spacious room, and I finally let her go, putting a little distance between us. I didn’t know what was going through her head. I set the bloodied machete down and pulled off my mask. I wanted to see her, the real her, which was why I dragged us somewhere secluded.
She stood there, staring at me.
“Peta—”
“My name is Lina. Call me that. Why the hell do you keep calling me Petal?” Arms crossed. Voice fierce.
Let’s burn this fucking place down, Petal.
“All right, Lina. Is that a nickname?” I moved closer. I itched to rip that mask off her face, tear that ridiculous wig off her head. Even buried beneath all that nonsense, she still looked perfect.
“Does it matter. Why are we here, Cezar? What are you doing?” Her voice was flat, emotionless, hiding whatever storm was underneath it.
Earlier, she looked like she was about to panic once she heard the screams…
I kept quiet. Words weren’t going to cut it. So, I moved.
I slammed her against the nearest wall. She was fast, already drawing a dagger. I was faster. Her left arm ended up pinned above her head, dagger trapped in her fist as I held her there. My other hand landed near her neck, caging her in, giving her nowhere to run.
She smells so fucking good.
“I must admit, a bit disappointing how easy that was.” I smirked, licking my lips as I tightened my hold on her.
Instead of fighting me, she looked down.
I was hard but not pressed against her. Maybe she wanted to see.
Maybe she liked knowing what she did to me.
Naturally, I looked down with her, only to find another dagger pointed right at my crotch.
A grin split across my face, all teeth, eyes wide with the thrill of it.
“Are you trying to get me excited?” I didn’t wait for her answer; I pressed into it.
My suit pants were thick, yet I still heard a faint rip as the blade caught the fabric when I stepped closer, closing the gap until the danger felt cold against me.
I had never been more turned on in my life.
Lina’s pupils were blown wide as she stared up at me, holding steady. I sucked in a breath and pushed in farther, slow and deliberate, daring her to stand her ground. That was when she broke eye contact. The blade slipped from her fingers and clattered to the floor.
Hurt me, Lina.
I needed to be careful. The last thing I wanted was to scare her. Even I knew I could be too much. But what I saw in her eyes wasn’t fear. It was a glint closer to excitement. Or the nerves that came with the unknown. I wanted to know every thought running through her head.
I loosened my grip on her. She didn’t move away. Taking that as permission, I pulled her in, slow enough that she could resist if she wanted. She didn’t. One hand slid to her face as I removed the mask, then the wig, tossing it aside.
Her real hair fanned out like fire. I ran my fingers through it, feeling her body ease as I gathered a fistful and guided her head back so she was looking at me again.
Lina’s mouth parted; her brows raised. I didn’t know what I was going to say next, but she spoke first. “One more dance.”
Even though we were far from the ballroom, the music still drifted through the hall. A slower song now. I let go of her hair and moved my hands into place. She leaned against me. My fucking heart was beating so fast.
I didn’t want this night to end.
An eternity could have passed, and I wouldn’t have noticed. All I could do was take in every part of her—the way she smelled, the way she held on to me, the soft rise and fall of her chest. I was obsessed. What the hell was I supposed to do with myself?
The song ended, and we pulled apart, neither of us looking eager to do so. My dick throbbed. I needed her to ruin me. The words fell out before I could stop them. “I fuck better than I dance.”
And she smiled. Fuck, she really smiled.
She crossed the room, grabbed her wig, and fixed the mask back in place. Then she opened the door and looked at me over her shoulder, tilting her head just a little.
That was a fucking invite.
A wicked grin spread across my face. She turned away, and I couldn’t get my mask on fast enough. My pants were so damn tight it hurt to walk, but I was fucking running.