Chapter 1 #2
He sighed heavily then turned to me fully, extending his hand. "Dance with me?"
My heart skipped a beat. I'd been rather hyperaware of him all day, standing beside Leo as best man, giving his toast, the way his eyes had found mine across the room as he'd spoke of his sister and those closest. We'd grown closer over the past month, between helping with the wedding stuff and just being more friendly since the night we'd conspired to get Meredith to Leo's proposal.
"I don't know if that's a good idea." I stared at his outstretched hand, battling with myself.
"Why not?" His hand remained extended, patient, waiting. "We're practically family now."
Family. I'd left my own family behind, turned my back on that world as best I could, and now I was falling back into it in a way. And here was Grayson Cassaro, deeply embedded in it through his connection to the Donatis, asking me to dance.
I knew something was there between us. I'd known it the moment we'd been attacked and he'd rushed me to the panic room, sheltering me with his body.
Some would say it was for his sister's benefit, that I was important to her. But our friendly banter over the years whenever I'd run into him, of how we'd kept contact and communicated when we needed to keep Meredith in the dark… there was more there.
And it couldn't happen. For so many different reasons.
Not to mention he was Meredith's brother.
Although that hadn't stopped her from doing something similar.
"I've had too many drinks," I finally said, and he snorted.
"You, too many drinks? I've seen you drink, Sof. A handful of glasses is nothing to you."
Well, he had me there. Bastard.
"Come on, just one dance. Let's not both sink into the misery of what this life entails. It's a night of celebration." His smile widened as he moved his outstretched hand closer.
He wasn't going to let this go, was he?
Then again, one dance wouldn't hurt. I knew the lines, and I'd make sure they weren't crossed.
I sighed, frowning at him but accepting his hand. His fingers closed around mine, warm and welcoming, as he led me to the dance floor.
The quartet had shifted to something slower, more intimate after the host had called for others to step onto the dance floor. Gray's hand settled on my waist, proper yet somehow burning through the material of my navy bridesmaid dress. I rested my free hand on his shoulder, too aware of every point of contact between us.
We moved together seamlessly, his hand warm around mine, like we'd done this a thousand times before.
"See, is this so bad?"
I rolled my eyes, and he smirked as we continued to move to the tempo.
"It's funny how life works out. Nothing like what you picture. But seeing her happy," he glanced over at Meredith, wrapped in Leo's arms as they danced, "It's all that matters. Our lives are never promised, not once we sink into the darkness of this world."
I found myself studying his face, the way his smile reached his eyes when he talked about Meredith's happiness.
Our lives are never promised.
How true those words were. Especially with the name I bore, the family I'd been born into.
Tomorrow was never promised.
So when he pulled me closer as the music slowed, I didn't resist. I didn't want to, not right now.
This moment felt too good, too real. Too pure. Something no name or past could take from me. Not this moment. I'd keep it, claim it for myself.
"You look beautiful tonight," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "I've thought about that night a lot. About what you said when you were patching me up."
Heat burned my cheeks as I glanced over at Mer, who was too focused on her new husband to notice us.
I'd not forgotten what I'd muttered to him in my ancestral tongue. I'd said it spur of the moment. "I was emotional. We all were."
"You told me to take better care of myself because you weren't done with me yet." His grip tightened fractionally, but it was enough to make my heart flutter. "I didn't ask back then, there was too much going on. But what did you mean, Sofia?"
The room suddenly felt too hot, and he was too close. I scanned the room, unease sweeping through me. Eyes were on us—the bride's brother and her best friend, dancing too intimately for mere family friends.
Why was he crossing this line? Why was I allowing it? Was it the alcohol?
No. It was what he'd said, reminding me how fragile life was. How I didn't need to constantly fight things that felt good.
"Gray..." I faltered as his hand on my waist moved to my lower back, holding me against him.
"Tell me you don't feel this," he murmured, his lips near my ear and making my skin burn. "Whatever this is between us."
I should have stepped back. Created distance. Reminded us both of all the reasons this couldn't happen—my past, his present, Meredith caught between us. Instead, I found myself leaning into him, drawn by something I'd been fighting since the moment Meredith had introduced us years ago.
Something both dangerous yet tempting.
"It doesn't matter what I feel," I whispered. "We live in different worlds."
"Do we?" His question hung between us as the music swelled. "Or are you just afraid to admit we don't?"
My throat tightened as his words rolled through my mind. I'd spent years convincing myself I'd escaped, that my medical degree and respectable life had erased my bloodline enough. The lives I'd helped save in the emergency room, the way I'd tried to repent for my sins. But watching Meredith these past months, seeing her accept both the man and the monster...
"I can't go back to the darkness, Gray," I finally said as I pulled back, but he didn't let go of me.
"Did you ever truly leave?" Gray's eyes held mine, making my heart begin to hammer.
Had I ever really left it?
The song ended, and I stepped out of his arms as soon as his grip loosened, breaking our connection. My skin tingled where he'd touched me, my pulse racing.
"I need another drink," I muttered, turning away from him and the heat of his gaze.
I made my way to the bar, my heart still hammering against my ribs. What was I doing? This was Grayson. Meredith's brother. Leo's right-hand man. A man who, despite his reluctance, had blood on his hands.
Just like I did. Just like my family did.
Was it really such a bad thing how I was drawn to him? I'd told myself there was so many reasons I couldn't, and yet…
The bartender handed me something stronger than champagne. I downed half of it in one swallow, the burn in my throat a welcome distraction from the heat Gray had ignited.
From across the room, I watched Meredith laugh at something Leo whispered in her ear. Her face glowed with happiness, with certainty. She'd made her choice and embraced it fully—the good, the bad, the dangerous. And now she had everything.
I felt Gray before I saw him, his presence at my side both wanted and frustrating.
"I didn't mean to upset you," he said quietly as he waved the bartender over.
"You didn't." I took another sip as the bartender slid him his drink. "You just... made me think."
"Dangerous waters there." His smile was gentle, teasing. "Especially for someone as smart as you."
I laughed despite myself. "Flattery won't work on me, Cassaro."
"It's just a fact, Sof." He leaned against the bar. "But why are you denying this?"
The loaded question made me purse my lips. I stared at him, at the man who'd all but hurled me into a panic room as soon as shit had hit the fan. He was devastatingly handsome, and I'd been aware of it for years.
And he cared about me more than either of us wanted to admit. As I cared about him too.
"Why bring it up now?" I asked, my brow furrowing. "Why tonight?"
He considered this, swirling his drink. "Maybe seeing my sister take her chance at happiness made me think about my own."
"And you think that's with me?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to maintain some semblance of control.
"I think there's something worth exploring between us." He stepped closer. "We have chemistry. We can just have some fun. No strings attached."
My breath caught. No strings attached. Just fun. Just tonight, maybe. No expectations, no pressure.
It was tempting, something to enjoy in the moment, to find pleasure in.
"I'm not sure Meredith would like that."
"Meredith doesn't need to know." He took a gulp of his own drink, those devilish eyes locking onto mine. "Besides, how is it any different from what she did?"
"So it's to get back at her?" I arched a brow, my mouth curling at the edge.
"No. I like you, Sof, always have. Besides, you are a part of this world already. Let's just have some fun. Sure, we've both had drinks, but tonight is a night of celebration. Why fight it?"
"I'm not sure it's a smart idea," I said, even as I felt myself wavering.
Grayson was a temptation I had done my best to ignore, but now… Maybe I could just shove all my thoughts and feelings aside. Enjoy some fun with a man that made my body respond already. It was bound to be exciting. Surely.
"Not all choices have to be smart, and as long as no one dies, there's nothing to worry about." He shrugged. "Let's enjoy ourselves. Unless you don't feel anything in return, Sof."
I looked past him to Meredith again, radiant in her happiness. She'd taken her chance. Leapt into the unknown, seized the moment.
Maybe I could do the same. Just for tonight. To have a little fun and let loose.
"No strings," I repeated, meeting his eyes.
"None," he agreed, but something in his gaze made me wonder if either of us truly believed that. There was more here, we both knew that.
But we could pretend there wasn’t.
I downed the last of my drink, a smile claiming my lips as he mirrored the expression.
"Just for tonight."