Page 23 of Damiano De Luca (The Five Syndicates)
“How so?”
“Because you care enough to save me.”
“You didn’t need saving.”
“No.” I took that last step, moving her against the bricks. She could have left, but she didn’t even try, so I raised my hands to either side of her face until my palms touched the abrasive surface and caged her in. “But you did it anyway.”
“I’m the knight in shining armor, remember?” She could hide behind her bravado all she wanted. It didn’t fool me. Hell, her eyes dipped to my lips. Needy. Hungry. Impatient. I could rest easy knowing her desire for me would never waver.
I shook my head. “Don’t do that.”
Earlier today, I had been prepared to hate her. But she was here, and I saw the same girl I fell in love with. The fearless girl who had always had my back. I didn’t hate her. In fact, I couldn't help but want her.
She leaned into me, and I suspected she didn’t even realize what she’d done. “What?”
“Don’t make this a joke. It isn’t one.”
“You’re supposed to be mad at me.” Her brows furrowed, and those full lips parted.
I wanted to bite it.
But I glanced down at her hand, and that damned ring taunted me. “I am.”
“I’m supposed to go to bed with my ‘hands itching to pleasure myself to the memory of you.’ Remember?”
“You will.”
I leaned in and inhaled her vanilla scent. She still used the same shampoo. It made no sense, but it felt like victory, and I took the opportunity to memorize her scent all over again.
She tilted her chin up and met my eyes. “So, why are you so close I can feel your breath against my lips?”
Good question.
Two could play the evasion game.
“Are you going to tell me why you’re here?”
“In New York or this alley?”
“Both.”
“To represent—”
“Princess.”
She infuriated me, yet I still needed her. If it were lust, I could have walked away. It wasn’t. It was nearly a decade of repressed pain, a flash of history, and the future we never had because she’d run away. I couldn’t say no, because the second I saw her again, I knew I still cared.
Her calm façade began to crumble. “I’m here to represent the Vi—”
“Knight. Cut the bullshit.”
She closed her eyes, but I knew she couldn’t fight the memories, because I couldn’t either. They surrounded us, trapping us until we suffocated in our past. “Stop asking me these questions.”
“Just answer this one: why did you save me tonight?”
Say it, Ren. I can’t, so say it for me.
“I didn’t save you.” Her eyes flickered open, and I was met by amber. The sight was nearly enough to catch my hope as it sank to my stomach. “I have no doubt you could handle yourself. It’s them I worried for.”
