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“I never had a problem getting your cock hard.”
He dipped his head down, his lips soft and warm against mine. “I want you to meet some of my associates. They will keep you busy for the rest of the party.”
When the song ended, one of his “associates” materialized at our side. Drake Battle dressed in a black tuxedo that made him look like James Bond. He wore a red and black carnival mask with gold trim around the eyes. His irises were golden brown and as vibrant and colorful as honey. Beneath the mask, I could tell he was handsome, with a sharp jaw, high cheekbones, and full lips any woman would want to kiss.
Luca offered my hand to Drake, who brought it to his mouth and kissed my skin. “Pleasure is all mine, mi regina.”
My queen in Italian.
Drake Battle was the only son of tech billionaire Ethan Battle. They made their money from military contracts and artificial intelligence software. Given the Salvatores’ business, I assumed the Battles were the suppliers of their weapons and technology.
“Play nice,” Luca said with a grin, his words aimed at me. “Be careful, Drake. She’s pretty, but this kitty has claws.” He turned his intense gaze on me. “Isn’t that right, baby?”
Drake’s face lit up at the promise. “I would expect nothing less from our queen.”
Luca squeezed his shoulder. “Take good care of her.”
The second he turned his back on us, Drake swept me off my feet. For someone his size, he was graceful, which shocked me. He towered over me, his muscular body pressing into mine as his masculine scent filled my nostrils. Drake smelled good, like a mixture of cloves and fresh linen.
“You look like a fairy queen in this gown,” Drake said as he appraised me with hungry eyes. “Absolute perfection.”
“Thank you. Luca chose this dress.”
“As usual, he chose well.”
Drake spun me like a ballerina, and in this skimpy dress, the fabric barely covered my ass. He moved his hand to my lower back, lifting my heels from the floor as he attempted a fancy move that required me to stand on his shoes.
“You’re good at this,” I mused.
He gave me a mischievous smirk. “I’m full of surprises. Just hang on. I got you.”
I let Drake lead the way. He was good enough to be on Dancing with the Stars.
“How are you adjusting?” Drake said as the tempo slowed, whipping me across the floor.
“Still taking it all in.”
He set my feet on the floor, then took my hand and spun me in a circle. I almost lost my balance, but he grabbed me from behind, and I fell backward into his chest.
I released a deep breath, glancing up at the sexy hunk towering over me. “Wow. That was…”
Drake slid his arm behind my back in one fluid motion and turned me around so we were facing. “I can teach you.”
“I may take you up on that offer.”
“I’m at your beck and call.” He dipped his hand into his pocket and pressed his business card into my palm. “Call me anytime.”
“Hmm… I bet you’re a good time.”
His laughter shook through me. “You want to know, mi regina? Wait until Legare.”
What the hell is Legare?
Before I could ask, another man tapped Drake on the shoulder. “It’s my turn, Battle. Stop hogging our queen’s precious time.”
Drake kissed my hand and promised to see me soon. Then he slipped through the crowd, leaving me alone with a nameless stranger. Tall, dark, and gorgeous, the mystery man had spiky white-blond hair and a thin line of hair along his jaw. His lips were thinner than Drake’s but still kissable and red as if he drank blood.
I studied his mask for a long, hard second. He was one of the four men I’d spotted in the corner. One of The Serpents.
We danced in silence without exchanging a single word until the tempo changed. The sleeve of his jacket slid up, drawing my attention to the dark ink on his wrist. It looked like snake scales that dipped beneath his shirt and wrapped around his long fingers.
“What’s your name, stranger?”
His delicious lips curved into a crooked grin. “You know me.”
“Can’t say I do.”
“Shame,” he taunted with a cruel expression on his handsome face. “And here, I thought we’d made a lasting impression on you.” His warm breath rolled over my earlobe. “I know what you want, why you’re here.”
I gritted my teeth. “You don’t know shit.”
“You know where to find us.”
The River Styx.
As the song ended, his hands slid down my bare arms, and he whispered, “My friends call me Morpheus. See ya around, beautiful.”
Sonny led Alex by the hand through the great hall. He showed her to everyone in town like she was a prize he won. She laughed and smiled, covering her mouth with her hand every time Sonny cracked a joke. In a perfect world, she would marry a guy like Sonny. He had more freedom and control over his life. She could spend months on his yacht, sailing across the Atlantic Ocean, drinking and painting.
