Page 159 of The Villain We Tempt

I jolt when he grabs my wrist. I think Ishould beembarrassed that I was just reaching out totouch his mouth. But I shrug it off when he drops my hand.

“Nothing,” I mumble. “I—I’m looking for someone.”

Adrik cocks a single dark, heavy brow. “Fascinating.I am, too.”

Fuck, why does it sound so freakingsinisterwhen he says it?

I feel my brow furrow. “Have you seen Lochlan?”

Adrik frowns. “Kildare?”

“Yeaaaaah,” I grin. “Is he here??”

A malevolent expression flickers across his face. “Better not be,” Adrik growls.

“Weeeelll,” I exhale, “I’m looking for him. Can you callllll him?”

Adrik looks like he’s not sure if he’s amused or annoyed. Suddenly, a hand clamps down heavily on my shoulder.

When I turn, my face splits into a huge grin.

“ARI!” I squeal. “You’reheeeerrree!”

“In the flesh,” Arianna murmurs. Then her eyes drift past me, her brow creasing into a scowl when she sees who I’m talking to.

“Ariiii, this isAaaadrik. He’s the Prince of Darkness,” I say matter-of-factly.

Arianna looks past me, her face utterly impassive, before she turns her attention back to me. “We need to go?—”

“Wait-wait-wait!” I giggle. “I’m stilllooookingfor him!”

She frowns. “Looking for—” Her brows knit deeply as she glances past me at Adrik again. “I’m sorry, can Ihelp you?”

Adrik says nothing for a few moments, his dark, cool gaze leveled directly at Arianna before he casually lifts a shoulder. “I like your dress.”

“Great,” Ari says flatly as she gets my wrist in an iron grip. “Bye.”

I yelp as she abruptly drags me after her, almost tripping before I catch myself.

“Biggrump,” I giggle as I turn to playfully slap Ari’s shoulder. “He wasniiiice.”

“Uh-huh,” Ari says with zero emotion, still dragging me after her.

I glance behind us and giggle again.

“He’s still looking atyoooouu,” I tease. “I think heliiiikesyou.”

She sighs with exasperation and rolls her eyes when I dig in my heels and wriggle out of her grip.

“Ariiii!”

“What,” she groans, like I’m trying her patience.

“You’re hot.”

She snorts.

“No, I’m serious!” I insist. “Look, I know you dress down and you’re not, like, looking for male approval, but you’resexy, girl!”