13. Chapter 13
Prince Damini
The crew was still setting up the main lighting rigs on the penthouse balcony, dragging the equipment across the glass tile while the sky bled out into a bruised pink hue. The wind blew cool off the skyline, but standing anywhere near Adanna felt like standing next to an open furnace.
She was standing near the edge of the glass railing, adjusting the thin strap of that dark blue velvet dress.
The fabric cut ridiculously low in the back, showing off every line of her spine, hugging the heavy curve of her hips in a way that made a man's hands itch just looking at her.
I noticed her eyes tracking every security guard on the perimeter as if she was counting exit routes.
Nonetheless, I couldn't take my eyes off her.
I didn't even try to hide it. My arms were crossed over my chest as my gaze dragged down the exposed length of her throat, over the swell of her chest, and right back up to those lips.
Adanna didn't look over right away, but she let me stare for a solid minute, letting the tension build while the assistants fussed with her hair. When they finally stepped back, she turned her head, locking her brown eyes onto mine.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" she asked.
I didn't answer right away. I straightened up my clothes, taking my sweet time as I closed the distance between us. I stepped closer, stopping only when the toes of my boots brushed the front of her heels.
I bent down, sliding my hand around the back of her neck before I leaned into her ear. My chest brushed the swell of her breasts.
"I'm trying to find another reason to kiss you," I rumbled into her ear.
I pulled back, keeping my face inches from hers. I watched her closely, watching for the cracks in her mask.
Right on cue, the corner of her lips twitched, twisting up into a faint curve that vanished almost as fast as it appeared. It was subtle, but I caught every detail.
I smirked, my eyes dropping down to her mouth before sliding back up to hers. "Is that your version of smiling?"
Adanna held my gaze. "Yeah," she admitted. "The closest thing to it."
"Good to know." My hand trailed down the open back of her dress. "Because I intend on seeing it a lot more."
"Alright! We are set!" the photographer shouted. "Let's get the main shot for the syndicates! Remember—power, dominance, and connection! We want to see it! Turn around Queen! Face me, thank you!"
I locked my left hand around her, yanking her against my chest. The camera clicked, and the bright white strobe washed over us, illuminating the contrast between her and I.
"Don't get too comfortable," Danni teased under her breath. "You're pressing your luck, Dame."
"I don't play, Killer," I murmured straight into her neck, tightening my grip on her waist until there was zero space left between us. "I play for keeps. And right now, you're pinned against me, letting me handle you in front of forty people."
"Look at the camera! Perfect!" the photographer yelled, the shutter clicking furiously over the glare of the lights. "The contrast is insane! Hold that pose! Yes!”
"I'm letting you exist," she corrected, not flinching an inch. "There's a difference."
"Keep telling yourself that," I growled, my hand sliding low over the curve of her hip.
"You're a dangerous man, Damini," she whispered, her voice stripped bare, thick with heat.
She felt me go hard right against her lower back, my manhood pressed into her dress. She knew damn well what she was doing to me. I reached up and wrapped my fingers tight around her throat, forcing her head around to face me.
My fingers tightened on her throat.
I locked my lips over hers and pulled her in deep, taking her in front of the small crowd. The room dissolved into a rapid-fire strobe of blinding white light, shutter clicks going frantic around us, but all I felt was her wild pulse hammering under my thumb.
I pulled back, dragging my lips across her jawline to press one hard, lingering kiss into her cheek before turning my face straight back toward the lens.
For a second, she stood frozen. She arched back, rolling her hips back into me, feeling every inch of how hard I was pressed into her lower back.
"You're so easy," she breathed, barely audible over the flashbulbs.
I kept my eyes locked on the camera as the room exploded in light.
"I'm not the only one, Princess."