I try to swallow, to steady my racing heart, but my body betrays me, arching slightly into his touch, responding to every brush of his hands, every inch of heat pressing into mine. My mind screams caution, yet something inside me trembles with reckless curiosity.
He leans just slightly closer, eyes locked on mine, voice dropping to a near growl. “Princess, don’t look away from me. Not now.”
Biting my lip, I’m torn between warning myself to flee and the raw, thrilling pull that won’t let me.
He leans closer, my pulse is deafening, my breath shallow, and I know he can feel it through the brush of his body against mine.
Then, he closes the distance. His lips touch mine—softly at first, a whisper that makes my knees weaken and my stomach flip. I freeze, unsure what to do, my hands clutching at his chest, heart hammering against my ribs.
“Princess…” His voice is rough, low, and the way he says my nickname sends shivers straight through me.
His mouth presses harder, confident, insistent, and I finally respond—not fully, not with skill, but with curiosity and instinct. My lips part, and his tongue traces mine gently, exploring, coaxing, and I gasp at the sensation, overwhelmed by how foreign and… thrilling it feels.
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, IknowI 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—cravedhim—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 Iwantto.
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.”
