I inhale sharply, trying to ignore the heat curling low in my stomach. “That depends.”

He raises a brow. “On what?”

I lean in just slightly, letting my voice go soft and teasing. “On whether or not you can keep up.”

For a second, he looks caught off guard. Then, his grin spreads slow and wicked, like I just issued the most irresistible challenge.

“Oh, Sweetheart,” Theo murmurs, his eyes darkening with dangerous intent. “You have no idea what you just started.”

15

Theo

Selene has no idea what she’s started.

She thinks she’s teasing, thinks she’s setting the pace, but she doesn’t realize just how much I enjoy a challenge. And when she leans in, all soft confidence and quiet fire, telling me I need to keep up—yeah, I feel that hit somewhere deep, somewhere reckless.

So I take my time.

I watch her, lingering in the tension, letting the air between us tighten like a wire pulled taut. She’s still leaning in, waiting for my response, and I let my gaze flick to her lips for just a second before meeting her eyes again.

“You really think I’m the one who needs to keep up?” I murmur, just low enough to make her breath catch.

Her pupils dilate—just a little—but I catch it.

She recovers fast, tilting her head, considering me like she’s debating her next move in a game I didn’t realize we were playing. “I don’t know,” she says, voice smooth as silk. “Guess we’ll find out.”

Damn.

I grin, closing the distance another inch, just enough to feel the warmth of her body, to make sure she’s completely aware of how little space is left between us. “I like a little mystery,” I admit, letting my fingers skim the edge of the counter beside her. “But just so you know, I don’t play games I don’t intend to win.”

She exhales a laugh, shaking her head. “Oh, Sweetheart, you have no idea what you just started.”

It’s the exact thing I said to her minutes ago, and hearing it thrown back at me in that sweetly taunting voice makes my chest tighten with emotion.

I should kiss her.

I reach out, slow and deliberate, brushing my fingers against hers where they rest on the counter. She inhales sharply but doesn’t move away, staring into my eyes. Her head tilts up as I trail the tips of my fingers across her jaw. Once she’s at the perfect angle I close the distance between us, slowly lowering my mouth to hers.

Then I—

BANG

The front door slams open so hard it ricochets off the wall.

“Marco!”

I jerk back like I’ve been electrocuted, my heart still racing for an entirely different reason.

Selene lets out a long, very frustrated sigh, her eyes snapping shut. “Polo” she practically growls, her voice flat.