gold leaf, velvet, and old money. The air was th

a black dress-backless, silk, with a slit that went up to her thigh. It was a dress Grant had bought her

he wore it

n old favor from the event coordinator to sl

shed, a blinding stroboscopic storm. Aimee hung on his arm, wearing a silver g

cusing on the crowd. She n

e a lot

ht behind her ear

standing there, too close. He smelled of scotch a

nt. Enjoyin

pupils dilated. "What are you wearing

Try not to read too

ace. He blocked her view of the room, boxing her in against the pil

lmly. "Something I couldn't do w

cretary. These people..." He gestured vague

best shark in the

ng. "Stop this. Come home. We can talk about a rai

go of

re making

the service corridor. It was a familiar move-him tak

lit hallway. The noise of the p

her against the wall. His body pr

s face inches from hers. "You belong to me,

't a kiss of affection; it was a brand. He wanted

ell of him, once comforting, now tri

d sharply. His lip

" she said, h

, his hand sliding down to h

nk. Her reaction

hand free from hi

AC

kbone. The sound echoed in the e

ooked at her, eyes wide with genuine shock. In seven y

vibrated with the

r voice shaking with rage. "I am not your

n his pale skin. He stared at her, and for a second, Daria

me," he w

gain if you touch

my g

e stood at the end of the hallway, flanked by tw

nting a manicured finger at Darian. "Did

d back into place. He looked from Dari

d coldly. "She's... emotional

under the bus

he man she had loved. T

e front of her dress. She looked at Aimee. "K

ialites. She walked back into the ballroom, her head

. But as she exited the gala, she knew