Cradling the bottle with more care than he showed for his life, Dante turned to lean against the counter beside her, still too close. “Be my own fault, wouldn’t it?” He pulled the cork and took a swig. “Oh, that’s good.”
“I’d still have to live with the guilt and find a new bodyguard.” Alessa selected two lowball glasses and hopped off the counter. She gave him a pointed look. “They’re called drinking glasses.”
“Fascinating.” He held out the bottle, sighed when she didn’t take it from him, and put it on the table.
Alessa poured a bit for herself, then corked the bottle and held it close to her chest. A hostage. “Let’s play a game.”
“Eh?”
“A game.” A distraction from her social failure.
“What kind of game?”
“A drinking game.” She took a sip—like a lady—and let the challenge dangle.
He dropped into the chair, his elbows hitting the table with a thump. “I’m listening.”
“Truth or challenge. When it’s your turn, you choose for that round.”
Dante tipped his chair back, skepticism etched on his face. One of these days, he was going to fall on his ass, and she dearly hoped she was there to see it.
“If you don’t perform the challenge or answer the question, you take a drink.”
A slow smile spread across his face. “Works for me.”
“You’re just going to say no to everything, aren’t you?”
“Yep.” The front legs of his chair thumped down.
“No.” She clutched the bottle tighter. “I won’t pour unless you participate.”
He flicked his fingers for her to proceed. “Fine. But I’m not telling you my name.”
“It can’t be that bad.”
“I never said it was.”
“I’m going to get it out of you, one way or another. It has become my life’s mission. I’ll stop at nothing. Thumbscrews, the rack. Coming right up.”
“I’d love to see you try.”
“Are you ticklish?”
“Not a bit.”
“I bet you are. I bet you giggle like a schoolgirl.” Alessa gave him an arch look. “I’ll double your salary if you tell me.”
His eyes crinkled with amusement. “No payment could be more satisfying than besting you. I’ll take it to the grave.”
“Oh, come on.”
He considered. “Fine. I guess I could tell you on my deathbed.”
“Two things to look forward to, then.”
“Are we playing or not?”
Teasing him was fun, but she couldn’t risk him changing his mind. “I’ll start with an easy one. Most beautiful place you’ve ever seen?”
He pursed his lips slightly. “A little beach on the far side of the island.”
Her heart twisted. “What does it look like?”
He lifted his glass, let it plunk to the table, then did it again. “A beach.”
“What kind of beach?”
“The kind where the land meets the sea,” he drawled, reveling in her annoyance.
She shook the bottle with a wet slosh. “Humor me. I haven’t been on a beach in years.”
He cast his eyes to the ceiling. “High cliffs on both sides. A narrow path to get to it, so it’s not worth the effort for most. But the water…” He trailed off with a wistful smile. “I’ve never seen that color anywhere else.”
“It sounds perfect,” she said with a sigh. She rewarded him with a stingy pour and tucked the bottle between her thighs, the most secure place on earth. “What’s my question?”
“If you could do anything before Divorando, what would it be?”
“Easy. Control my power and stop killing people.”
“No, no. Games are meant to be fun. Pick something good.” Dante lifted his glass to his lips.
“Lose my virginity.”
Dante choked. Red-faced, tears in his eyes, he pounded his chest.
Alessa preened. “Better?”
“Much,” he croaked. “Challenge.”
“Hmm. Say something nice about Kaleb.”
“Nope.” He tipped his glass.
“Slow down,” she protested with a laugh. “The game will be over in five minutes if you drink that fast.”
“Nah. Iron constitution.” He patted his firm abdomen. “Ugh, Kaleb. Fitting he makes electricity.”
“How’s that?”
“Ever been near a lightning strike? Not fun.”