Prologue #3
My hands fumble against him, inexperienced and shaky, brushing along the planes of his chest, feeling the taut muscle beneath my fingers. His hands roam carefully, possessively, along my arms, my waist, sliding over the curve of my back, keeping me close.
It’s dizzying, intoxicating—every nerve alight, every breath stolen. I should pull away, I know I should, but the pull is magnetic, and I melt into the kiss despite my better judgment.
He tilts my head gently, deepening the kiss just enough to make my knees threaten to buckle entirely. My hands clutch at his shoulders, fingers digging in, heart racing like a drum in my chest.
Finally, he breaks away, just enough to let me breathe, his forehead resting against mine, lips still brushing mine with every heartbeat. His eyes, dark and unreadable behind the mask, hold me captive.
“Princess…” he murmurs again, teasing, dangerous, so certain of himself. “You’re… different. Fragile and fierce at the same time. And I want all of it.”
My chest heaves, my lips tingle from his touch, and I realize how much I’ve craved this—craved him —even if I didn’t know it until this very moment.
A noise from the street snaps me slightly back to reality—the distant hum of traffic, the faint echo of music from the club—but the heat between us refuses to dissipate.
I pull back a fraction, breathless, heart hammering, and he lets me, just holding me there, pressed against him, a tether I’m not ready to break.
“Stay with me,” he whispers, voice low and rough. “Just a little longer.”
And against every warning, every lesson from a lifetime of being watched and protected, I nod, because I want to.
Before I can melt entirely into him, a familiar, sharp voice cuts through the alley.
“Princess! Where are you?”
Maria’s waving frantically from the end of the alley, her grin bright and teasing. My stomach drops—oh no, she’s found me. Slowly, I pull back from Raphael, brushing my hands lightly against his chest, taking a breath to steady myself.
He watches me, every inch of him tense, his gaze dark and unreadable behind the mask. My lips still tingle from the kiss, my body humming with the memory, but I can’t— I shouldn’t —stay here.
“I—I have to go,” I stammer, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips, more for Maria than him.
Maria bounds toward me, looping her arm through mine. “Sorry to break up the party, but we need to get you home before you turn into a pumpkin!”
His hand hovers for a heartbeat, like he wants to stop me, to pull me back, but he doesn’t.
He just leans slightly closer, his voice low and dangerous. “Be careful, Princess,” he murmurs, letting the words linger like smoke. “This night doesn’t have to be over.”
I glance back at him once, catching the intensity in his gaze, feeling it burn straight through me. Then I force my attention back to Maria, trying to shake the dizzy warmth still clinging to my skin.
“Come on,” Maria says, tugging me along. “Let’s get some air before your Papa sends a search party.”
As we step further down the street, the club’s music fades behind us. Maria chatters on about some ridiculous costume mishap, her laughter is loud and infectious. I laugh along, but one eye never leaves the alley where he lingers, leaning casually against the wall.
Maria bumps my shoulder playfully. “Hey, Princess, you’re all quiet. Did we have a little Halloween adventure?”
I smile, shaking my head. “Yeah, I did.”
She winks. “Don’t forget—we’ve got more fun to get into. And tonight isn’t over yet. Your family’s party will still be going strong.”
A sudden movement catches my attention, and my heart skips. He steps closer, the dim streetlight flickering across his mask. He reaches out, brushing a loose strand of hair from my face.
“Princess…” His voice is low, intimate. “I need to know your name. And… maybe I could get your number?”
Heat blooms in my chest, and my pulse quickens. Every instinct in me is drawn to him, but Maria’s sharp elbow in my side snaps me out of my daze.
“Uh-uh, Princess,” Maria hisses, grabbing my hand and pulling me slightly back. “No names, no numbers. Not tonight.”
I glance at her, confused, but Maria’s expression is firm.
Raphael frowns, tilting his head, mask shadowing his face. “I understand…” His tone is almost disappointed, but there’s a promise hidden in it, something that makes my stomach twist in anticipation. “Another night, then?”
I can’t help the small, mischievous smile that slips across my lips. “Maybe…” I murmur, and Maria tugs me further down the street before I can say more.
“Come on, Princess,” Maria says again, her voice teasing but insistent. “Let’s leave Mr. Mysterious to his shadows and enjoy the rest of our night.”
I glance over my shoulder one last time, catching the way he watches me, the dark promise in his stance, and I shiver—not from the cool air, but from something far hotter.
As Maria pulls me toward the car, laughter and music surrounding us, I know one thing for certain: this Halloween has been my best yet.