Page 52 of Love to Defy You
But a knock at the door interrupts our moment. I pull away and stroke her throat, and when I look into her eyes, her pupils are blown wide with arousal. Her bosom swells with each ragged breath she takes.
“I’ll be right back,” I whisper.
I don’t even give Enzo the satisfaction of a glance as I stroll past him toward the foyer. His irritation is palpable in the thick air, and that alone eases the rage roiling inside me.
Mikhail and Josie are there when I open the door, and I quickly wave them in. I’m eager to return to Willow’s side.
“Mmm, it smells incredible.” Mikhail makes a show of sniffing the air.
Josie sets her purse on the entry table and glides into the kitchen. “Oh, Enzo, I didn’t realize you were coming.”
“Last-minute invitation,” he answers, staring at me.
“The more, the merrier.” Mikhail claps my shoulder. “What are we drinking?”
“I’ll get it.” Willow drops her whisk into the mixing bowl and abandons her task to find wineglasses. Josie follows her to assist.
Mikhail plops onto the barstool on Enzo’s other side. “So, any plans for the Christmas holiday?”
Enzo shrugs. “Just the usual. A quiet night in on Christmas Eve.”
“Tell me, Messina,” I say, unable to bite back a wicked grin, “does the Prince of Liechtenstein spend the Holy Night in his wife’s bed or your mother’s?”
Mikhail’s elbow slips off the counter, and he lets out a grunt when it bumps the sharp edge.
Enzo’s eyes darken. “Let’s not bring our mothers into this, Aleksandr.”
Mikhail rubs his elbow. “Alek hates his mother.”
It’s a poor attempt to lighten the tension, and it falls flat. Even the kitchen staff have stopped talking amongst themselves, and they keep their heads bowed over their cooking.
Willow and Josie rejoin our group and pass out glasses of red wine to each of us. When she’s done, I wrap my arm around Willow’s waist and hold her close at my side.
“So, Josie, are you coming to the chalet for New Year’s?” Willow asks.
Josie glances at Mikhail. “I hadn’t heard anything about it.”
“Oh, well, in that case, consider this your official invitation. Apparently, the chalet has plenty of room.” Willow rests her head on my shoulder, and I reward her by squeezing her ass.
“It sounds delightful,” Josie says in her posh accent. “Count me in.”
I don’t miss the way Mikhail avoids Josie’s gaze. It’s clear he doesn’t want her to come.
But it does give me an idea.
I slip my fingers beneath the hem of Willow’s shirt to caress her hip. “Say, Enzo, you should come too.”
Everyone grows quiet. Willow lifts her head off my shoulder to stare at me, and even though she doesn’t say it aloud, she’s communicatingWhat the fuck?with her eyes.
“That’s... a generous offer.” Even Enzo is disarmed. “I would be delighted to join you.”
He’s rather quick to accept my invitation into the viper den, but it confirms what I already suspect—he wants to worm his way into my and Willow’s life. I’m not sure why, but I plan to find out.
“Make sure to bring Birgitta,” I add. “I’ll put you two in my old bedroom. It has a romantic view of the sunset over the Alps. She’ll love it.”
It’s so small I almost miss it, but his eye twitches. “I’ll see if she’s available.”
I turn to Willow. “Why don’t you text her right now,malishka?We wouldn’t want her to make other plans before she receives our invitation.”
