Page 64 of Havoc
“You look beautiful,” he told me after he finished his conversation. “Stop fidgeting.”
Easy for him to say, he looked as natural in that tux as if he was born in it. I took the hand he held out to me and teetered a bit in my heels. I definitely wasn’t cut out for the extra three inches and unsteady base they provided.
Nico chuckled and paused so I could gain my balance. He tucked a loose strand of my hair behind my ear and leaned in. My eyes closed involuntarily as his lips brushed my skin. “You should have given yourself the name Grace.”
Dick!
I smacked my hand into his hard stomach, but I laughed along with him. It was weird to see him relaxed and joking around. When we’d first met, I’d have sworn his face would crack if he did anything more than give that aggravating half smile. Turns out he had a great sense of humor, when he let it show.
We walked into the building, checked our coats, and paused at the top of the stairs. Down below us hundreds of people milled around, talking, eating, and laughing. The energy was like a low hum in the air. It was so much bigger than I expected it to be.
“What do you think?” Nico asked from beside me as we started down the stairs.
“There’s so many people,” I told him, voice hushed even though it was unlikely anyone would hear me over the din of the crowd.
“New York’s finest.” I didn’t miss the sarcasm in his voice. “A bunch of snobs all gathered together to rub elbows and brag about their money.”
“And yet, we’re here.”
He glanced over at me in surprise. “You’re right,” he chuckled. “I guess for tonight we’ll join New York’s elite.”
I rolled my eyes at him. The man lived in a mansion and drove more cars that everyone in my family had ever owned—combined. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, he was one of those elites, every day. Maybe not a snob. He didn’t seem to really care about the money. The other day he’d handed me three credit cards and a pile of cash that had both my and Sam’s eyes bugging out of our heads.
Nico had just casually handed them over, like it was an afterthought. I’d squirreled the cash away in a safe place inside his closet. I hadn’t even been able to bring myself to count it, and I wouldn’t let Sam. She pouted for days, but finally gave up. I wasn’t here for Nico’s money. Hell, I wouldn’t have been here at all if he hadn’t... insisted.
He let go of me long enough to pick up two champagne glasses from a passing waiter. His eyes were perusing the room. The flash of humor in them was gone. He reminded me of a shark, alert and observing anyone who could make a fine meal. Someone caught his eye and his muscles bunched under his tux.
My blood ran molten in my veins. It didn’t seem to matter how much we had sex, I couldn’t keep my hands off him. He wasn’t any better about staying away from me and I was secretly grateful for that. I was always hungry for more. I wanted to touch him. He had an incredible body, hard and muscular. I took a sip of my drink and forced my mind off the things he’d done to me. The last thing I wanted was to be walking around this place with slick thighs. The dress was too tight and material too thin to wear underwear, so I was completely naked under it.
“I have to go speak to someone.”
I waved Nico off when he hesitated. Searching around, when he finally stalked off toward his prey, I found a secluded corner where I could people-watch. I stuck to small sips of the champagne. Being drunk in these heels was a terrible idea.
A woman caught my eye. She was sweeping around the room, laughing and chatting with various groups of people. Her red dress shimmered like flames under the light of the chandeliers. The way she was working the room made me think maybe she was the hostess.
She tossed her head back and her long dark hair cascaded further down her back. I wasn’t sure why she fascinated me, but there was something about her that was nagging at me.
“My sister is quite the social butterfly,” a deep, accented voice said near my elbow.
I turned quickly, startled since I hadn’t heard the man creep up near me. I towered over him by a few inches, but that wasn’t anything new. In these heels, I was taller than a good portion of the men here tonight. I only stood about an inch shorter than Nico in them. His eyes had flashed deep and hungry when I’d come down the stairs in them.
He’d murmured in my ear that he planned to fuck me in nothing but those heels later. Heat crept up my neck as my core clenched. Shoving the memory aside, I stared down at the man in front of me.
“She’s gorgeous.” Women weren’t really my thing, but even I could admit how beautiful she was.
He chuckled. “Rosario excels at being the center of attention and has a love affair with clothing and make-up.” He’d been watching her while I studied him. “I noticed you’re here with Nico Romano,” he said abruptly, changing the subject.
My hand tightened on my glass. If this guy thought I was going to be dishing any secrets out he was sorely mistaken. I gave him a polite smile in answer and started scanning the room to see how I could get away from him. “If you’ll excuse-”
His hand snaked out and gripped my upper arm, holding me in place as I tried to leave. I glanced down at it then let my eyes flick lazily up to his as though I didn’t have a care in the world.
“We’re not finished talking.” His voice was mild, but there was a hint of force behind it.
This was a man who was used to having things done his way. I was starting to know the type. He was also a man who needed to trim his fingernails. His claws were digging into my skin.
“Oh, we’re done,” I told him, ice forming in my words. I wasn’t going to leave any doubt in his mind that I didn’t like him. “Either you take your hand off of me or I’ll take your hand off—completely.”
“The lady told you to release her,” a low voice growled from nearby. I glanced over and found Luca standing there glaring at the other man.