ing o

der her widow's peak. While she waved and winked at the guests like her father taught he

mpelled her to look to her left. The Fate's can be cruel, and when she refused their co

begged to claim what belonged to her until her father's voice overrode them. He chuckled against

grew stronger. The prickly tickle of eyes teased her skin, and she did

matchmaking ball how she thought the idea of mates to be archaic and silly. Th

prey, and a thrilling sensation of fear and anticipat

ed from her own convictions, Tessa sipped a drink of water and placed the gl

held her hand in his smoothly manicured fingers. "Let me show

lipped grin spread across her mo

th. "Jasper Mason, it's my honor to meet you at last." The tall, black-haired man held out his hand and o

returned his phony expression. "Mr. Idrissi. Welcome to Savannah.

t as he smiled down at her. "This must be Tessa. She's

dged her closer. "Tess, this is Mr. Omar Idrissi; h

him and kissed the back. "It is a pleasure to meet s

gave him a quick grin. The warnings from her father about intimidation not forgotten, Tessa gathered her c

down through her nerves as Omar pulled her to his table. "I'd like to introduce

gh Tessa as her eyes met Rafik's. Dark brown eyes captivated her as he stepped around

Rafik as if he was giving him the keys to a whole new world. The spark from his tou

sun-kissed tawny face and black, curly hair. Plump lips that reminded her of a mug of h

c accent she ever had the pleasure of hearing, Rafik's m

ack her hand and grin to disguise her thoughts, but the bre

the one that left her speechless and frozen at that moment. With an ex

ulder as he came to her rescue. "Well, I promised the birthday girl a dance, so if you'll excuse us.

. If the teenagers' chemistry was a sign of things to come, his hopes for a truce were p

music as an offended scoff shot from her throat. "Don't

rested it on his hand and gazed at her. "Oh, I don't know, Tess. Don

straighten his tie as he made his way to them. "Sugar, these things are

werful allies when you take over, and the Idrissi family has a lot of power; don't turn your nose up at it. We

father's grasp, and she closed her eyes before hissing through

moved across the back of her neck. "M

ke his place, Jasper put his hand on his shoulder and

while his other traveled down her arm, and she melted with his touch despite her mind's warning. He wrappe

bashful smile while she glanced down

r face and pulled her closer to his chest when the old

ed the most beautiful shade of golden-pink as her icy

lmost like someone else spoke through her the way the truth fell from her habitu

s dripped from his perfect mouth like the most tempting poison ever concocted

snared her, and every argument sh

would forever haunt her as he adored his beloved and fell deeper und