Adrian watched her go, every instinct in his body urging him to follow.
Valeria .
She was trouble wrapped in silk and shadows, and he was walking straight into her trap.
Or maybe—just maybe—he was the one setting the trap.
He let a slow smirk play on his lips as he followed her through the casino, keeping his pace measured, controlled. He wasn't the kind of man who chased, but she had already challenged him. And Adrian DeLuca never turned down a challenge.
Valeria didn't rush. She moved through the sea of wealthy elites with an effortless grace, her sleek black dress hugging her curves as she slipped past high-rollers and desperate gamblers alike.
Then, as if she had expected him all along, she turned.
Their eyes met.
She stopped beside a high-stakes poker table, her fingers lightly skimming the green felt.
Adrian caught up in two strides, stepping into her space without hesitation. He could feel the warmth of her body, the scent of her perfume—a mixture of dark roses and something wicked—curling in the air between them.
"Are you following me, Adrian?" she asked, her lips curling.
Adrian let his gaze drop to her mouth for half a second before meeting her eyes again. "You walked away before our conversation was finished."
"Was it?" she mused, tapping a manicured finger against the table's edge. "I thought we had reached an understanding."
Adrian exhaled a quiet chuckle. "Not quite."
His gaze flicked to the dealer, then to the empty seat at the table. The air was thick with unspoken tension as he pulled out the chair and sat, motioning for the dealer to deal the cards.
Valeria arched a delicate brow.
"A game?" she asked.
Adrian leaned back, resting an arm over the chair. "You seem to enjoy winning," he murmured, blue eyes dark with challenge. "Let's see how good you really are."
Valeria let out a soft hum, considering him.
She already knew this wasn't about the cards. It was about control.
He wanted to test her.
See how she handled pressure.
See if she would break.
So she gave him a slow, sultry smile before sliding into the seat across from him. "I do like a good game," she admitted. "But are you sure you can keep up?"
Adrian's smirk deepened. "Try me."
★★★
The dealer shuffled the deck, the rhythmic sound of cards brushing against one another filling the space between them. The other players at the table were inconsequential—nothing more than background noise in this private war between two predators.
The first few hands were simple.
Valeria played cautiously, letting Adrian win just enough to feed his ego.
He was good. Calculated. Every move precise, every glance a study in control.
But Valeria had been playing games like this long before she ever stepped into a casino.
She knew when to fold. When to bluff. When to bait him into thinking he had the upper hand.
The next round began, and Adrian's fingers tapped lightly against his chips as he studied her.
"Tell me," he said casually, as if the game wasn't razor-sharp between them. "Do you rely on luck or skill?"
Valeria smirked, twirling a poker chip between her fingers. "Both."
He let out a quiet chuckle. "A dangerous combination."
She leaned in slightly, letting the slit of her dress fall open just enough to reveal the smooth curve of her thigh. "So I've been told."
Adrian's jaw ticked.
She saw it—the way his fingers flexed slightly, the way his eyes darkened just a fraction.
Good.
She placed her bet, pushing a neat stack of chips forward. Adrian matched it without hesitation.
The dealer revealed the next set of cards.
Valeria's hand was good. Not perfect, but good.
Adrian's was better.
She let her brows furrow slightly, a flash of frustration crossing her face before she schooled it into something softer.
Adrian tilted his head. "You almost had me there."
Valeria exhaled a slow breath, shaking her head as she reached for her drink. "You're better than I expected."
Adrian watched her, his blue eyes sharp. "You're better than you let on."
She met his gaze over the rim of her glass, taking a slow sip before setting it down. "Am I?"
Adrian's lips quirked. "You tell me, printsessa."
She smirked. "I don't like to reveal all my secrets so soon."
The next hand was dealt.
Valeria shifted slightly in her seat, letting her bare leg brush against his beneath the table—just a whisper of contact, but enough to make his fingers tighten around his cards.
His reaction was slight. Almost imperceptible.
But she noticed.
She always noticed.
The game continued, a dance of strategy and seduction.
Valeria let Adrian win just enough to keep him entertained, keep him thinking he was unraveling her piece by piece.
But in reality?
She was the one leading.
And when the final hand was dealt, when Adrian pushed forward his chips with that quiet, lethal confidence, Valeria hesitated.
Just for a second.
Just enough to make him wonder.
Then, she called his bet.
The cards were revealed.
Adrian won.
Valeria exhaled, letting a flicker of frustration cross her features—just enough to be believable.
Adrian didn't gloat. Didn't smirk. He simply picked up his drink, his gaze never leaving hers as he took a slow sip.
"You play well," he said at last.
Valeria tilted her head, her lips curving. "So do you."
Adrian leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping. "But you let me win."
She smirked. "Did I?"
Adrian studied her for a long moment.
Then, finally, he chuckled—a low, knowing sound.
"Be careful, Valeria," he murmured, voice edged with something dark. "You might just make me believe you're a worthy opponent."
She leaned down, letting her breath ghost over his ear.
"Oh, Adrian," she whispered, "I'm more than worthy."
She moved toward her seat but remained standing.
Adrian leaned in slightly, his voice quiet but edged with certainty. "You like playing games, don't you?"
Valeria mirrored his movement, just enough for their breaths to mingle, the scent of whiskey and dark roses intertwining. "Only when the stakes are high."
His lips curled into a slow smirk. "Then we should raise them."
The tension held, neither looking away, neither breaking first. The game wasn't over. If anything, it had only just begun.