ay, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. The black satin dress she wore clung to her like second skin, a reminder of how unfamiliar this

a throne. His suit was tailored to perfection, the top buttons of his shirt undone, revealin

said, voice smooth as ve

ught in the act.

re ne

surrounded by guards with g

his lips. "You're no

tepping closer. "A guest? A ba

esence was magnetic, commanding. When he stopped inches away, the ai

y protection,"

not an

y one you nee

e impossibly dark eyes-burned in

g a strand of hair from her face. The gesture was gentle,

at a cost. Loyalty, pain... blood. But you-you'r

ret bringin

eek. "I regret that you saw t

something dangerously close to desire. The way he looked at her, as though he

ck to my room,"

htly closer, "or you could stay...

His words were a chal

. is to feel safe. To feel like I'm no

. "Then I'll make sure y

ied no arrogan

storm in her chest. She didn't look back,

she collapsed agains

gravity of a man like Alessandro wasn

d tonight. Not just betw

s no longer afraid of heat. And A