Solace, just

wallpaper, soaked into the carpet, pooling beneath Jasmine's bare feet like wine spilled from a cracked decanter. The furt

wet moan smothered by velvet cushions. But Jasmine had left all

t her eye. A dark mouth. A darker gaze. No jewels tonight. No flowers pinned to her hair. Just the silk of her robe whi

eady waiti

was all Madam Elora needed. That was all Jasmine needed. Names had a wa

ipped

erything was designed to smother and seduce. No windows. Just one lamp burning low in the corner, casting everything

it far too polished for this place. Not a rogue noble, no. Something

voice low and clipped l

ing aged and expensive. She poured two glasses, slow enough that he had to turn to watch

ed him t

rred, folding herself onto the chai

looked for weakness disguised as charm. Who measured power in how still a woman could sit. Jasmine let

here," he said,

nswered, unfazed. "And

ion. Approval? Amusement

asmine felt every step in her spine. He stopped in front of her, towering, gla

imagin

with one finger, t

oved to he

. Her pulse beat steady in her thro

rmured, thumb trailing up

then. Slow. Swe

me me," she said, rising slowly to her

om cra

n hunger. In challenge. A hand cur

s belt, not to unbuckle it, but to feel the way his stomach tensed beneath expensive

en she slipped her wrist free and whisp

bli

se grazing the li

omeone who

his jawline. Not hard enough to brea

eath c

His hand slid to her throat, holding-not choking. Testing. She ar

ered. The air

below his ear. When his knees hit the edge of the mattress, he

dn't l

e inside of one thigh, high and pale, soft and deliberate. She pinned hi

ong here?" s

t her like she was a fire he'd

lip and pulled until he groaned. And when he tried

ot strong

e. But he did

s when she said it...... like

smine danced the edge between submission and dominance, never staying in one long enough to be caught. And

red lips leaving a mark l

she

er hair. Looked down at him lik

said softly, "c

Velvet Room wit