Page 58 of A Dark Mafia Christmas

Nana Rose comes back in, a slight squeal leaving her lips. “You brought flowers!” I hand them to Nana Rose as Gwen peeks at the bouquet with a smug smile.

“Pink?” Gwen questions.

“You said no red,” I counter.

“And they are beautiful!” Nana Rose smacks Gwen’s arm, narrowing her eyes at her before smiling at me. “I am going to put these in water.”

As Nana Rose walks away, Gwen steps forward. The scent of coconuts and jasmine invades my senses. I swallow dryly, my eyes roaming over her now that she is in front of me. “Are you going to answer my question?” I arch my eyebrow, looking down at her. “You said that your snooping was the consequence for keeping you waiting, so I asked, are there always consequences with you?”

“Only when earned.” I wink. She gives me a mischievous smirk, taking another step forward.

“Did I earn one?” she whispers breathlessly.

“I don’t know, can you follow directions?” Gwen raises an eyebrow, challenging me.

“Youcan follow directions; thank you for thepinkroses.” Her lips pop on the letter p in pink as she wiggles her eyebrows.

“I follow directions very well,” I purr, pushing a curl behind her ear, watching the blush rise to her cheeks. “That’s why I rarely have consequences, but the question was: can you follow directions?”

She shrugs, giving me her faux innocent eyes. “Depends on the direction.”Oh, so my little hell cat wants to play a game of chicken.

I lick my lips. “Spin for me.”

“What?” Her eyes widen, and she looks around the room.

“You said you would dance for me privately.” I lean over to whisper in her ear, “So do it.”

“I am not dancing for you with my nana in the other room.” Her voice and eyes are firm as she pushes back, but when she places her right hand on her hip, my smugness reappears.

“I am not asking for my dance yet.” I bend over so I am at eye-level with the scowl she dawns on her lips. “Just a taste, or don’t tell me,” I almost brush my lips against hers, whispering, “you’re a brat who can’t take directions.”

Gwen’s nostrils flare, but her eyes dart to the doorway her grandmother walked down in excitement. She takes a small breath, and I lean back, watching as she crosses one of her strappy black heels in front of the other and quickly turns. When she looks at me again, she pulls her lips into a smug grin. “There. Are you happy?”

“No.” Her brows furrow, but before she can protest, I whisper, “Slower.”

“Nikolai!” she huffs.

“Call me Nik.” I take a step back to see her whole body easily. “And I said slower.”

Gwen bites her lip nervously, looking at the doorway again, but when her eyes land on me, they sparkle with determination. She crosses her heel over the other again, turning slowly, and I smirk, admiring how beautiful she looks tonight.

She’s stunning in that tight strapless sparkle long dress, the slight slit in the back teasing at what lies beneath. Her big black curls tumble down her back, framing her face in a way that makes me want to mess them up. Those pink glossy lips, smoky eyes—everything about her is intoxicating.

Her eyes cautiously make contact with mine again, and she crosses her arms behind her back, accentuating her chest, as she sways from side to side. “So?”