VELVET CHAINS

ala was a masq

d hadn't burned last year. Waitstaff glided like ghosts, careful not to be seen. And up high, in a golden bal

he sa

in of velvet-stood a woman who didn't belong. Not beca

roses. Her curves weren't filtered or fragile; they were full, womanly, sensual. Her dark hair w

aze locked on h

ace piece tied with black satin-barely covered anything. He could still see the tension in her thro

t on the

supposed

didn'

d laughter parting around him. She didn't notice him unt

e you belong to thi

fr

ht the flicker of panic before she

oice was low, husky, unsure. And fu

enough for her to feel

you belong to

them. She stared up at him-deep br

pered. "I'm just..

o idea who she

m. But there was something about her-something sharp beneath the softness. She wasn't tryin

ity. Fire

made hi

ending a hand. "And I don't

is hand like it

ter of a hotel maid and an absent father. Just Bella-s

hand and d

ith me,"

w how," she

l le

, the other laced through hers. Her breath hitched as her chest brushed his

er scent-jasmine and something wild-wrapped

murmured, brushing hi

d," she l

ead lower, lips grazing the

felt it, the way her body tightened

lean

ll the invitat

ain-closer this time, her thigh grazing

ere," she said, h

ould I," he

the spell to break-he led her of

d the

loors. Floor-to-ceiling windows that captured the city like a

he door, hands tre

hould

tell him

that look-like he wanted to ruin he

anted to

closer. She

," he sai

flin

elong," he added. "But

e kiss

sn't

is mouth, and he took advantage, sliding his tongue a

me

her gloves away, then slid his hands under her gown, up

gs around him, moa

, laying her down like sh

looked

o stop," h

di

nd the clasp of the borrowed gown, and le

ky nipples and t

raint sh

cross her chest, sucking one nipple u

ngry, reverent. Her skin was sof

panties down, gasping when h

e growled, sliding

-" she w

issing her again, deeper.

ach, settling between h

ever-" s

up. "They'

he devo

stroking in rhythm until she writhed un

r whole body shaking, his na

h it, slower now, co

way, and she rea

r slamm

n, what

orway, heels clicking,

ne Lan

si

rld st

the blanket, but t

's eyes

o love this," sh

hing hard, shirt hal

t the f

was alre

chest, trembling-not from the

I done?" sh

looked

time that night-