Page 173 of Lethal King

“Who has time for shit like that?”

When I first saw Rozalia tonight, my chest was on fire. I was pissed off and frustrated beyond belief. But every step I took towards her calmed me, if even just a little bit.

By the time I sat down at this table, I felt like a new man. Cool. Collected. Curious.

But now my heart has started racing again.

This time, though, it’s from excitement.

“A virgin,” I smile. Grabbing a steak skewer, I dig in.

“You wish,” Rozalia snaps back. Rolling her eyes, she hesitantly takes a fresh palmier.

“Don’t be shy, angel. I’m popping your date cherry, aren’t I?”

“You have a real knack for ruining the moment,” she mumbles, swallowing her first bite.

The second the crab hits her tongue, her green eyes light up like Christmas decorations.

“Good?” I ask, reveling in her reaction.

Rozalia doesn’t slow down for long enough to respond. All I get is a quick nod as she fills her pretty lips up with more food.

I finish another skewer, then I just watch.

The pace at which she eats is impressive… then almost concerning. What kind of grown-up eats like this? Even before Rozalia stole Gabriel’s inheritance, she was a successful criminal. So, why is she eating like a ravenous orphan?

I guess some habits die hard.

“Slow down, angel,” I insist, pulling one of her plates back across the table. “You’re going to choke.”

“Wouldn’t you like that?” she mutters, her words muffled by a full mouth.

“No. I’m the only thing that’s allowed to choke you.”

That momentarily pauses her feeding frenzy. Those green eyes flash with fire. Her pale cheeks fill with a pink blush.

I can see her struggle over how to respond.

In the end, though, she decides to ignore it. There’s more food to stuff her face with, after all.

“Why don’t you start?” she offers, in-between bites. “While I take advantage of your generous offer, tell me something you’ve never told anyone before.

“I asked first,” I recall.

“And I answered,” Rozalia notes. “Do you think I’d ever told anyone that I’d never been on a date before?”

“Good point,” I admit. “But that’s not exactly what I had in mind.”

“I’m sure. But that doesn’t matter. If you want me to play along, then I’m going to need something from you too.”

“And what do you want to hear?”

“What you promised. The truth.”

Rozalia finishes off the bruschetta and moves on to what’s left of the steak skewers. Something deep inside of me wants to give her exactly what she wants.

“Alright. I’ll tell you something I’ve never told anyone before,” I agree.