**Prateria—Mattia Turzo**
He remained a statue under her as though afraid of his own will power. Like if he moved the wrong way, then he would snap and shatter before their very eyes.
But that was exactly what she wished for. For his will power to crumble before her, for his mask to crack all the way. He had already budged for her—giving her glimpses of the man underneath all that hard façade, yet she hungered for more.
She didn't just want a glimpse, she wanted it all.
When he did nothing but just remain immobile, his eyes like a frozen sea of stars etched to a dark sky, she leaned to kiss the tip of his nose.
The moment her lips brushed against it, his fingers gripped her waist through the black silk of the gown she wore. Yet she felt the chill of his flesh all the way through.
She smiled discreetly, then leaned down yet again to kiss him—but this time she aimed for his lips.
