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Impulsiveness drowns out reason as I raise a hand to her face and push her hair behind her ear. “Dance with me, Raya. I dare you to.”
The way she smiles makes a crack appear in the icy fortress that surrounds my heart, and I’m concerned it’s but the first of many. I never wanted to feel this way again, yet I can’t help myself as I pull her closer, one hand threading through herhair. “Damn it,” I groan, something akin to helplessness rushing through me. “Why do you fit against me so perfectly?”
She giggles and wraps her arms around my neck, her perfume invading my senses. She smells like honey and flowers — fucking delicious. Raya moves her body against mine, andfuck. I’ve never found dancing particularly erotic, but it is when it’s with her. I’ve never experienced anything like this — being in a crowded room with someone yet feeling like we’re the only ones here. Raya has me under some kind of spell, I’m sure of it.
“My turn,” she says, rising to her tiptoes to speak into my ear. Her breath feels hot against my skin, and I tighten my grip on her, my hips involuntarily pushing into her. “Truth or dare?”
“Dare,” I’m quick to say. I’ve lost count of the amount of rounds we’ve played, and against my better judgment, I hope she has too. Six doesn’t seem like nearly enough anymore.
Raya grins up at me mischievously, looking so fucking adorable that I just know I won’t be able to deny whatever request is about to leave those sexy lips. “Lift me up like they do inDirty Dancing. It’s my mom’s favorite movie, and I know it’s crazy, but I’ve always wanted to do that particular move.” Her words are spoken in a rush, her eyes trailing down to my arms appreciatively. “You look like you might actually be able to do it.”
Once again, she makes me grin in a far more genuine way than I’m used to. “Testing me, are you?” I ask as I grab her hips, loving the feel of her. “Joke’s on you, Raya. I have a romance obsessed little sister who happens to love that movie. Though it’s been years, this isn’t the first time I’ve been told to perform this move. You are, however, far nicer about it than that little tyrant ever was.”
She gasps when I tighten my grip on her and lift her up effortlessly, not even asking her to run up to me so I can use the momentum to perform the move the way it’s supposed to be. Raya giggles when I have her up in the air and spin heraround slowly, our eyes on each other the entire time. She has no idea that my security team cleared most of the floor around us, allowing us to move freely.
Her face is lit up with joy when I carefully tilt her body back down, holding her up against me with my arms pressed against the back her thighs. “I can’t believe this,” she says, her eyes wide with giddiness.Fuck, she’s so fucking adorable. Everything about her seems so genuine, but it’s near impossible to suppress that little voice in my head that warns me this must be an act she’s putting on.
Raya’s hands wrap around my shoulders as I slowly slide her down my body, enjoying the feel of her against me. She looks up at me when her feet hit the ground, and I smile back at her as I hold her close, keeping my arms around her. “It’s my turn, isn’t it? Truth or dare, Raya?”
She looks into my eyes, and the way she gives me her full attention is fucking intoxicating. This isn’t good at all — I wasn’t supposed to be so taken with her after one single meeting. “Dare.”
Her fingers brush over the back of my neck, making my heart race. I’m high on her, not thinking clearly — that must be why the following words leave my lips. “I want to dance with you somewhere in private, Raya. I dare you to go somewhere a little quieter with me, some place where we don’t struggle to hear each other’s words.”
For a moment, I’m certain she’ll tell me no, but then she gives me the slightest little nod, and relief washes over me even as doubt continues to creep in. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I can’t make myself pull back either.
Five
Lex
Raya’s smile dims when I hold open the passenger door to my car, and unease runs down my spine when I walk around the car to join her. Raya’s gaze roams over the interior inquisitively as she puts on her seatbelt, and when she looks at me, her dark eyes are filled with confusion.
“This is a WM Diana, and it’s customized,” she says, her tone cautious. “Customizations like these aren’t offered for this car.”
Her tone is sharp, accusatory. Something shifts in her body language, and she wraps her arms around herself defensively, the gears in her mind clearly turning.
What was I thinking, leaving with her? Iwasn’t, and that’s the problem. I should’ve called it a night and gone home, my identity safe and my curiosity satisfied. Instead, I complicated this situation beyond measure.
“How do you know that?” I ask as I start my car and put it in self-drive mode, not bothering to hide my surprise. Very few people would’ve noticed the subtle customizations — the slightly different shade of cream leather that isn’t offered normally, theconvertible roof that’s built in so well it’s barely changed the interior. Her eyes pause on each little tweak I made, and unease washes over me. Did she figure out who I am?
Raya looks into my eyes, his gaze hard. “I just happen to know a lot about cars,” she says, her voice soft. “Electric cars specifically.”
I smile wryly. “And here I thought you couldn’t get more perfect,” I tell her, feigning ignorance, like I don’t have a file at home detailing every little thing about her, right down to her penchant for forsaking going out in favor of helping her father in his lab. I’m well aware how much she knows about cars, but I’m surprised how much she knows aboutthisspecific one. Her knowledge about my work makes me uneasy, suspicious.
She turns to look out the window, her chest rising and falling a little faster than before. “Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” she says, her voice faltering. “I don’t really know you, and I’ve never done anything like this before. I’m not sure… I don’t think… this probably isn’t safe.”
I frown, unsure what to make of that look in her eyes. I can’t tell if she’s pretending not to realize who I am, or if she’s genuinely concerned. I hesitate for a moment before grabbing my wallet and handing it to her, curious to see whether this is all an act.
She stares at it in confusion, and I smile tightly. “My ID, bank cards, and several other forms of identification are in there,” I tell her, my voice soft. “You’re welcome to send that to your friends so they know who you’re with, but if you prefer, I can just take you home. I have no intention of doing anything that’d make you feel uncomfortable, Raya. I just want to spend a little more time with you. Maybe play a few more rounds of Truth or Dare, uncover a secret or two.”
She stares at my wallet, and resignation washes over me. My surname always changes everything, turns the purest of peopleinto opportunists. If she truly doesn’t realize who I am, this’ll change everything.
Raya flips my wallet open, and my eyes run over her face. A small part of me silently begs her not to disappoint me as I carefully scrutinize her expression. I’d like to think that my grandmother vetted her thoroughly, but a person’s character is hard to judge from a distance. It’s why I’m here with her now, trying to get a glimpse of the real her before it’s too late.
“Lexington Windsor,” she reads out, her face blanching. When she glances back at me, her eyes are wide with genuine shock, and I exhale shakily, relief warring with resentment. I hate that I feel the need to do this at all, but I suppose this’ll be a good opportunity to see if she’ll change me any differently.
Her gaze darts between the picture on my driver’s license and me, almost like she’s verifying it truly is me. “Oh God, I guess that shirt is real after all,” she whispers, sounding horrified.
My eyes widen in surprise, and her embarrassed expression evokes a startled laugh. “It’s not funny, Lex,” she says, her cheeks bright red. Raya turns in her seat and grabs my hand, entwining our fingers before bringing our joined hands to her chest. “I’m begging you — don’t tell Raven about this. Do you have any idea how embarrassed I am? I accused aWindsorof wearing fake Raven Windsor Couture!”
