Page 114 of Made in Love and Blood

“I think I saw you more than anyone else tonight, though.”

He smirked. “Seen but not heard.”

He had kept a distance.

“Quite a knack you’ve got there.”

“Oh, for what?” he questioned.

“Bending the rules.”

“Yeah, that’s a real skill. Trust me.”

She reached for the heels, but he gave her a look.

“Seriously, what am I going to wear, then? Carina would kill me if I came back barefoot.”

“I’ll go get those silk flats you like from your room. It’s not hard. I’ll be gone a few minutes, max.”

She considered it.

He went in for the kill and closed the deal.

“I will be asking you to put the heels back on later. You know, when everybody’s gone.”

“Oh, yeah?”

Nico cleared the huskiness from his tone, murmuring, “Oh, babe. Yeah.”

“Get me the flats.”

He nodded, already turning around. When he did get back, a short while later like he promised, she wondered...

“How did you know where I was?” she asked as he picked her up and placed her on the vanity counter.

“I asked Carina where you went.”

“You haven’t stopped watching me, have you?”

“I had to.” He picked up the shoes from the floor and placed them on the counter under the mirror. The flats, he waved them at her. “Once my sister left, I mean.”

“At least they’re pink,” she said of the flats. “Kinda matches.”

“Looks, comfort. A constant battle.”

“You have no idea. She looked so happy to see you.”

He seemed to know exactly who she meant as he slipped the flats on her feet one at a time. “Yeah, me too. She stayed through the dinner, but...”

“Vanna took her home, right?”

Nico shrugged. “I’ll get more days soon enough.”

“Did you talk to your father?”

“Nope.” Nico stayed on bent knee, his hands flat against the silk covering her thighs. “Unless he calls on me, I don’t plan to.”

“Ever?”