ped from hers, Gigi felt

on

ything about him had radiated wealth, power, and the kind of confidence that bordered on arrogance. She'd see

curve of his smile, or the way his gaze s

out of her thoughts. "Can you believe Ja

ripping with possessive delight, like a child pressing her face aga

champagne flute again. The bubbles fizzed ag

ically royalty in this city." She leaned in, eyes darting, voice lowering like she was imparting sacred knowl

tation coiling tight in her chest. "Noticed is one wo

That man doesn't even have to try. He walks into a room, and every woman in it

rs like nails on glass. She didn't answer, c

hing the entire exchange with a kind of resigned amusement. Jason wasn't mingling now, wasn't

tomach t

been quiet through the exchange. Isabella's golden hair gleamed under the cha

d, tilting her head.

he looks like. The kind of man I swore

ike?" Isabella pressed,

her insides stirred. "And I don't care how much money he has, or how many women

ezed her hand under the table, grounding her. "Then it's

la always had a way of cutting throug

You're being dramatic, Gigi. He's successful, not evil. And besides"-her gaze flicked toward Ja

rom something harder to name. Sultana's hunger was obvious,

athe. No. She wouldn't st

ight. N

conversed when it was polite, but her mind kept snagging on that single encounter. She reminded he

is presence pressed against her like a sha

, desperate for a breath of air. She moved toward the terrace, where cool night air drifted throu

closing her eyes for a moment. H

g away

es fle

but not far enough for comfort. The moonlight caught the e

ance," Gigi said, straightening. Her to

ected you'd stay long enough to enjoy bei

at what you say to every woman who

ment flickering. "No. Most

She turned back toward the city, refusing to g

ce cool, "then I suppose

er, heels clicking against the marble fl

her until she disappear

kseat of the car Isabella had arranged for th

city carrying them home. Sultana sat across, scrollin

her eyelids. The way he looked at her-as if she wasn't

d her hands

to herself, so softl

rest. She wouldn't let

than anyone, how much po

r unfurled in her chest: that no matter how hard

of her wasn't sure