g, Damien was a

s that required every ounce of his focus. But today, nothing felt as sharp as it

e slid under his skin like silk laced with barbed wire. He didn't

she was-an uns

rolled around, he

said, leaning back

Jordan, blinked

ous. "Find out where she lives and sen

"The charity event? It's

amien cut in, his tone

r a moment, then no

presence, but Aria wasn't like anyone else. He wanted to see he

rrived by courie

y, my lips curving upward w

ou to join him at the Blackwell Foun

but laugh softly

window. I'd expected this. From the moment I saw the hunge

o

ed him

dialed the number he'd

ame appeared on the screen, Dami

oothly, answering

me an invitati

er I come pick

ould almost picture her

waste tim

something I wa

tone was soft, teasing, but someth

smiling faintly. "Come toni

d at my phone for a long moment

o be fun," I whi

dy knew

the reason

gown that clung to my figure like liquid shadow. I traced a li

d me in

d play t

rs when Damien arrived, but his attention wasn't on

stepped through the do

ound her curves like it had been made just for her. Her hair was pinned up, exposing the gr

ly, her gaze catching

t, he couldn't lo

ched, her tone smooth, polite, but her

ps over her knuckles, never breaking eye contact. "Y

ad. "That's a str

ot mean

lances. Damien introduced her to people-business moguls, politicians, socialit

one saw it. But he want

r

t was served, I'd

walked into every room like

nd not having all of

d be his

rim of the glass, watching the subtle tensio

ht," he said sudden

replied. "Your worl

e not afra

" I asked, sm

curved.

close, Damien walked

aid softly, "but this

you again?

d, pretending t

ne, and for a second, I saw the fire in his eye

I sm

n," I said, slipp

off, but Damien stood there for a

mystery anymore.

no intentio

dow, I leaned back against the leather

ispered to myself.

him was another step t