sey

ris didn't feel like

a decompres

countryside blur into streaks of green an

suit I had left New York in. I had shed that

ad bought at a market years ago and hidden

thed. It felt like s

ad made myself. It was a jagged piec

ct. Sha

use

oked

nd eyes the color of warm whiskey. He was holding a violin c

break for it and land on your head,"

edge. Before I could even stand, he reached

dusting off his hand

my voice sounding f

id, offering a ha

sita

s. Randolph. I was a title first

I said finally

eet you, J

k. He didn't stare at my jewelry. He did

nteraction I had experienc

eted me w

xt month building something

Marais. White walls. Soaring ceilin

ench conversation. I stood in front of a mirror in the back

ed dif

because of a corset or social expectation, but because I wasn't

to the gallery,

ir was sucked o

n front of my cen

nn

s wearing a bespoke black suit that cost more than the rent for this e

ed and

my linen dress, my

ike a peasa

low, intimat

ou doing he

o collect

ot your

y personal space. "You are still a Randolph. You don't get to pl

, my heart hammeri

your mistres

cold, sharp sound,

ned up her mess. The gambling debts. The drama.

ean slate. I want

into his ja

tapped the screen, an

od ran

From our bedroom

ading in the specific, control

breath brushed my ear like a curse, "everyone in the art w

Bile rose i

the one thing I had built for myself-this frag

"Photos. Videos. I will burn this lit

k. Not from f

e a prob

eared be

corduroy jacket and holding two glasses of

sneered, looking Judd u

ck," Judd said. His voice was calm

laughe

lled out a velvet box. He tossed it onto the di

necklace. The collar he used

," Bennett ordered

at the

allery track lights-a di

looked

He just set his wine g

d up the

nd, weighing the heav

ed it back on

al thud next to a sculpture

ar costumes any

followed hit hard