Dangerously Yours.

aces like this to be noticed, sh

ersations softened by money. A pianist played something slow and seduc

portant, and untouchable. Arianna

doubting her authority, emails stacked like threats in her inbox. Tonight was supposed to be her rebe

, ending just above her knees. Her hair fell in dark wa

ring the curious glances drifting her way. She was used to those. They came

she murmured

" The voice came from her left, l

to dismiss whoever thought the

cost more than her monthly rent. Dark hair pushed back carelessly, as though perfection

de her pulse hesitate. They

eady decided she was the most

efore. They usually folded the

lly, turning back to her

don't look like someone w

around the stem of her glass. H

el the heat of him, the subtle gravity pul

. "Lines like that usually

ftly. "I don'

hat do

erva

ad up too far. She would not let him tower over

ou observed?" Sh

," he replied, gaze deliberate. "But you sat down lik

dry. It was dang

sed to impress

supposed to make you

ne, buying time. Men flirted with

ually flirt wit

ust good at gue

ning. "Or maybe I've been watc

n her spine. That shou

it igni

he arched her br

a bol

believ

confidence, the unhurried way he studied her,

being easy to read. Yet under hi

our name?

mes had power. Na

ian

ve of his mouth. "Arianna," he repeated,

he kind of man carved fr

nishing her drink, "it was..

nd, he shifted a

and too

to the solid warmth of him in front of her. One of his hands braced aga

lounge still buzzed behind them, ye

t surrou

ing already?

ermission," she shot back, t

"I just wanted a close

elegance, and some reckless part of her wanted to see

er women you jus

ook like they might

mouth. Heat pooled low in her st

ike this but the truth vibrated between them, sh

" she whispere

ered in Damien's expression,

quietly. "I was

e thic

lips would meet. If she lifted her

alanced on the edge of someth

ian

er name felt inti

Ye

to move,"

screamed at her to end this before it spira

he replied slowly, "y

swer. She saw the battle in him, the urg

back, the loss of his cl

time," he

willing her pulse to behave. "

a

don't co

slow, devastat

him like heat from asphal

eave before she did something foolish l

ed toward the e

sessive without ownership,

ngs expanding as though she had escaped something dangerous.

he whispere