"Why did you really come here tonight?"
His question lingered between us.
For a moment, I forgot how to breathe.
I had prepared for questions about dancing.
Questions about my experience.
Questions about what kind of night I could offer him.
I hadn't prepared for Ezra to look directly into my eyes and ask the one question I couldn't answer honestly.
"I told you."
My voice came out softer than I intended.
"I wanted to impress you."
His eyes narrowed.
"That isn't the whole truth."
He was too perceptive.
I smiled anyway.
"Maybe you'll have to get to know me better to find out."
Something changed in his expression.
Interest.
Amusement.
Maybe even desire.
His hand was still beneath my chin.
His thumb moved slowly along my jaw.
The touch was gentle.
Far gentler than I expected from a vampire with his reputation.
"You enjoy provoking me."
"Maybe."
"That's dangerous."
"I've been told I'm dangerous."
He gave a quiet laugh.
"You have no idea what dangerous means."
I lifted my chin slightly.
"Then perhaps you should teach me."
The words escaped before I could stop them.
Silence.
Ezra stared at me.
I suddenly wondered if I'd pushed too far.
Then his eyes darkened.
He stepped closer.
My back met the edge of the stage.
He didn't touch me anywhere else.
He didn't need to.
The space between us felt hotter than any touch could have been.
"You should be careful what you ask for."
My heart pounded.
"Why?"
"Because I might give you exactly what you want."
I swallowed.
"And what makes you think you know what I want?"
His gaze dropped briefly to my lips.
Then returned to my eyes.
"Your heartbeat."
Damn.
I'd forgotten he could hear it.
"You really can hear everything, can't you?"
"Everything."
His answer was almost a whisper.
I looked away.
His fingers gently turned my face back toward him.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Look away from me."
My breath caught.
There was something about the command that made my stomach flutter.
I held his gaze.
Neither of us moved.
Then Ezra leaned closer.
Slowly.
Giving me every opportunity to step away.
I didn't.
His lips brushed the corner of my mouth.
Barely there.
A tease.
A question.
I turned my face slightly.
Our lips met.
Only for a moment.
But that moment was enough to send a rush through me.
He pulled back.
I stared at him.
"That's it?"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're impatient."
"I don't like unfinished things."
His smile widened.
"Neither do I."
He leaned in again.
This time, the kiss lasted longer.
Still restrained.
Still teasing.
But there was something unmistakable underneath it.
Heat.
Want.
Danger.
When he finally pulled away, I could barely remember what I had intended to say.
Ezra looked completely composed.
I hated him for it.
"You seem pleased with yourself," I whispered.
"Perhaps."
I crossed my arms.
"You know, for someone who was supposed to be de-stressing, you're doing an awful lot of talking."
His eyebrow lifted.
"And for someone who came here to impress me, you're doing an awful lot of challenging."
I smiled.
"Maybe I like a challenge."
His expression turned unreadable.
"Then you chose the wrong vampire."
Before I could respond, he leaned toward my ear.
"But perhaps…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"…the right one."
My smile disappeared.
For the first time that night, I wasn't thinking about my plan.
I wasn't thinking about Eliot.
I wasn't thinking about finding the vampire who had hurt my brother.
I was thinking about Ezra.
And that scared me more than anything.