ter
notice the cha
erved a second longer than necessary, of conversation pausing when she passed. It was
s was d
ntion fol
wering, the way a man in a tailored suit looked twice before remembering himself. It
how to exist in this
en she hear
onfident. U
elves without asking permission. Elena did not turn at once. She waited
an I imagined," a
d. Curious rat
a tu
ith rooms like this. Her black dress was cut sharply, her posture effortless. Dark hair
d over Elena
woman said. "You m
liberate and dismissive. She
name," s
ow lifted slig
't a qu
behind her - slower, heavier. She didn't need to tur
topped at
" he sai
ly this time. "You didn't m
mporary," Lor
btle, but it shifted
ena again, sharper n
ot claiming her openly, but close enough that his presence press
continued smoothly, "that I exp
her face. She opened h
ttle she needed
oms," Elena said qui
te herself. "Careful. Confidenc
icked to Elena -
he said. "
ger, something unspoken passing b
" she said to Elena.
na realized her hands w
fe
ena
ayered thick in the air. Crystal chandeliers reflected off polished floo
troduced her by name - only her first name - and
o long before speaking. Chos
didn't
a's and holding it. She was surrounded by admirers, laughter spi
sur
like a hand
e air," Elena mur
once. "Don
d. But it wasn't a
, the noise of the gala muffled behind thick doo
ing faster th
s voice
els silent on carpet now, expression sh
n to," Elena
ireya replied. "You don't plan t
o the direction of the bal
er gaze. "S
s smile
ends well?" sh
y, choosing her words, "tha
n Mireya's eyes - jealou
ong in his wor
said, "Neither do you. You ju
ence st
her head. "Be careful, Elena. Men li
d past her.
gripped the edge of the sink, steadying herself. Her reflection lo
pened and
felt sudden
the space - but
the thin fabric of her dress, could sense the controlled tension in the way he h
ropped to
g differently,"
d. Now she couldn
replied, though her voice betrayed her - s
"You came in here t
ouching. The mirror reflected the closeness - her back to the si
ed, low. "Then pretend yo
her throat. "You told
ightened
ll you to in
in. "Then stop st
ent, he d
led - slow,
n't mea
ive. Not exploratory - claiming space rather than skin. Her breath
ren
our warning
nd destabilizing at once. She felt herself lean int
or betra
er shoulders softened, the way she tilted towar
ticed
urself," he
barely recognized the woman staring back - flushed
," he murmured, "when
hen, slow enough to giv
di
ward. The contact was light, almost reverent - b
p," he r
swal
dn
med hers witho
iberate, consuming. She gasped softly against his lips, fingers instinctively g
ke he already kn
had expe
was no space left to misinterpret. The press of his body against hers sent he
back - not ti
ng
tion startl
enough to breathe, forehead
eckless,"
ed faint
eturned to
against her back as if memorizing her shape. She felt dizzy, overwhelmed by sensation - the
her throat, lingering just lon
inst her skin, her name soun
open jacket, resting against
ged, vibrating wit
it most, but close enough to promise the possibility. S
not
urse
d for half a seco
en as his mouth brushed
n, frustration and rel
she whi
ow," he replied, voice low
perly - flushed, breathing hard, eyes bright
si
so cer
ng her jaw - a final, intimate
ight
pos
them felt louder th
ng her breath when t
as h
the scene - the proximity, the tens
dawned, shar
Mireya sa
didn't
r did
isted in silence - jealousy, desir
ned away, heels
xhaled
r, his voice a whisp
"is where things
rved, faint
don't
at her waist - not claimi
a, Elena realized she wasn't ju
hanging i

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