to my dorm an hour ago. It was heavy, and the ribbon was real silk. I didn't have to guess

r I'll come put it on

t cost more than my car. It was a deep emerald green with a high neckline-perfect for hiding th

o the empty room. "I should jus

used his shadow and his money. If he said he would come here, he would. I c

y hair in a way that felt sophisticated, but I still felt like a fraud. I was just Elena, the girl

word; he just opened the door. Silas was sitting inside, looking like a

a," he said, reaching out to

m playing dress

kept his fingers interlaced with mine for the entire drive, his thumb tracing c

a. Men in expensive suits and women dripping in diamonds were everywhere. As soon as we walked in, heads

he whispered. "Most of th

guest, laughed at people's jokes, and made sure I always had a glass

my thigh. It wasn't a quick touch. He gripped my leg firmly, his palm hot against my dress. He didn't move it once. Every time a man

turning to me with a bright, publ

skin was tingling everywhere he touched me. "I th

ave to finish this conversation with Mr. Sterling. Why d

to the far side of the ballroom where the bar was tucked away in a

nd why did I still feel Alaric's voice in my head, or the memory of Killian's rough hands? It felt

utiful part

kind face and was wearing a suit that looked a bit too big

a normal conversation. "A

said, sticki

I'm off the clock now. You look l

"Is it th

ch. Would y

le. I didn't even have to turn around to know that Silas was standin

ilas's voice was smooth, but

st he almost tripped. "I was just... I was just lea

d without looking back. I turned

ly, Silas. You didn't hav

and unreadable. He reached out and grabbed my wrist, not rough

this conversa

lined with quiet offices and coat closets. He pushed open the door to a small, priv

ing?" I asked, m

lled out a long, silver silk tie. He stepped behind me, an

pered, though my body

the feeling of being bound made my head spin. He turned me around

a low, dark hum. "I don't like the way they look at you. I want to

hungry claim. With my hands tied behind me, I couldn't push him aw

ay that terrified me. I wanted him to keep going, and I wanted to run away at the same time. I le

ne. He looked at my bound wrists and then at my flushed face

out. "Please. Just take m

tion. He reached behind me and untied the silk, letting it fall to t

aid. "I'll t

like a monster. Was I a nympho? Was there something broken in my brain that made me enjoy being tied up by a man who tr

my dorm, Silas leaned

," he said. "I'll

e without l