beautiful gold writing shone in the soft lighting on the envelope that she still had in her hand. The celebra

er to go. When he requested earlier, she had heard his voice clearly; his tone was strong but tinged with something else she

. Though none of them looked as dazzling as the world Alex lived in, the lights of the

looked at the screen

mooth and assured, but there was a slight sharpne

swallowed hard. "Yes," she said, pushing the w

rld was become more obvious, and the idea of it made her shiver. This was a preview of the

aughter and talk wafting in the air like perfume filled the huge hall

e that momentarily rested on her made her feel heavy. Alex had ensured she was

ding her past groups of well-dressed people. His contact made her feel warm and s

aused close to a table brimming with gour

nk you," she replied, but she couldn't help but thin

ive. "You belong here, Melissa," he continued, h

, forcing her to turn away. Despite herself, s

sing her to shudder. "You belong in my world, Melissa," he said aga

ought to maintain the barricades, she

grin fading into place, before sh

hing far more hazardous was developing between t

nds, speak words, and deftly manage several talks at once. Everyone in the room was obviously respectful of him. But what really cau

e event's hum. It was Alex, not the people or the glittering decorations that caught her eye. He

inst hers, a short contact, but it was enough to send a thrill through he

all had changed. She looked up to him, eyes locking with his. His

voice silky smooth yet his gaze fixed on hers wi

eak, nodded. Certainl

grin. It's all included in t

ast as the moment passed. But the touch, the words,

wer she really had. Alex's world was a hurricane sweeping e

k. Standing close to the magnificent marble columns, Melissa attempted to take in the event's beauty, but her mind kept retur

il he was next to her, his words slici

ng, his gaze was fixated on the throng yet sometimes flickered back to her. He seemed as polished

"Yes, it's... remarkable," she said, struggling to find the

m out of place here. His smile was leisurely, almost amused, as if he were se

rigid. I

e is not the guy he seems to be. His frigid surface conceals something

ere unsettling, she couldn't stop her

et's say, if he's playing a game with you. His speech was a quiet whisper as

f his enigmatic remarks. Though the remaining feeling of

d raced with each interaction seeming more oppressive than the last. She required a time to think

"Melissa," he murmured playfully, as though he had all the time i

ttle squeeze that seemed nearly possessive. "I'm not sure I get it," she said,

ould assist you. You need not be a pawn in Alex's game. Should you separate your

power and control she could not deny. She was not naive. She understood what it was to be at the mercy

interest me, she answered, at

t her skin, he said, "You're not as immune to it as you think." All you hav

her own uncertainty. Did she desire power or anything more? Something

of something darker in Dalton's gaze, she brok

grin. Certainly. You don't have to

aught between two guys, each promising a different sort of