She strikes a deal with the devil - an alliance with Leo. A game of manipulation and revenge begins, fueled by a growing, undeniable desire.
...
The rain echoed like a thousand angry gods, mirroring the tempest brewing between Regina and Leo. Their marriage of convenience, a fragile truce, had reached a boiling point.
"You dare call me weak?" Regina spat, amber eyes flashing like lightning. Her designer dress, plastered to her curves, was a flimsy shield against the approaching storm - and Leo's possessive gaze.
He edged her back against the cool stone of the railing, his gaze like a predator stalking its prey. "Weak? You storm out like a child because I question your business dealings."
"My dealings are none of your concern," she hissed, her tone now laced with a tremor which infuriated and excited him.
"Everything is my concern," he growled, caging her with a single arm. Rain lashed their faces, mixing with the heat radiating off his body. "Especially you, defying me at every turn."
She wasn't one for backing down. "And you," she turned back on him, her voice husky, a challenge, "think you can control me like some sort of puppet?"
He bent his head, their lips a breath apart. "Maybe not with threats, Kukushka," he murmured, the endearment laced with a dark promise. "But perhaps with this."
Before she could react, his mouth was on hers, a searing brand that claimed and devoured. The rain was a distant roar, the only sound the ragged gasps escaping their lips. It was a clash of wills, a power struggle turning into a desperate exploration.
Suddenly, Regina realized she wasn't fighting him, instead her fingers tangled in his hair, urging him closer. The rain washed away the remnants of their argument, leaving behind a raw, primal hunger.All Rights Reserved