lair didn't

the dangerous edge that made him irresistible. He h

t I

't like t

infuriated an

ow much he tried to focus on business, on the high-stakes deals that built his empire, his thoughts kept drifting

omething from him-mon

, leaving him with nothing but a lin

't used to b

he found himself at an exclusive

ning of luxury and excess meant to showcase new partnerships an

here f

en he s

ess that clung to her in all the right ways. The dim lighting cast a

ated, but something about Isla

ark-haired, too close. Damian clenched his jaw, the unfamiliar bite of jealousy c

Y

m, his presence commanding enough tha

on her lower back, leaning in just en

ning to face him. Her expression was unreadable, but

se. Awa

smoothly, her voice

re excusing himself, clearly sensing the shift in energy.

avoiding me,

ow. "And what mak

ad slightly. "Because I hav

, shaking her head. "I wa

he way she never gave in eas

debating whether to entertain this co

a passing waiter, handing it to her b

ated. "I d

Li

before she could refuse, he took her

e small of her back, guiding her effortlessly. She moved with him, matching

nat

" she murmured, he

at i

, as if trying to s

curled inside him.

ainst his shoulder, but she didn't

er waist tightened.

filled with something unreadable. "Be

en offended. Shoul

he felt

Isla wasn

e couldn't

ow. No

-

tepped back, putting space between

et her go

moothly, watching the way her fingers tight

, her eyes never lea

fight

or a moment. "Because we wan

o w

hat told him she wasn't as certain as she pretended to be. "You're used t

slow, knowing smirk. "

ad. "We both know how this ends. You don't

way she always seemed to keep him on h

hed a bro

shed against her wrist, the same way they had that night on the balcony. "Because if thi

cker of hesitation in her eyes, the

oo

the only on

ld push further, s

ami

oling as he faced the source

s r

scene with quiet interest. She wasn't just here for socializing-she was h

eresting company," Katherine mu

ted. She met Katherine's stare evenly befo

ist before she co

ted. As if she realized that if she stayed, she would

her hand away. "G

ike that, s

y, watching as she dis

d her head. "You

t didn't quite reach

time in a long ti

't just another pa

s a cha

ir never walked aw