eraphina Vale knew how t

her an expert in the art of polite deception. Smile, nod, grit

t was a whole new l

yx Kane's penthouse bedroom - their bedroom, for the sake of appeara

x's team of stylists without her input. It made her deep brown skin glow, her hair

ful. Someone who belonged a

her finger still f

-

familiar, cool voic

more than her annual income. His shirt collar was open, no tie - a calculated choice to look effortle

m head to toe - sl

er hip, the dip of her collarbone where the silk slipped off her shoulder.

passable," he

l, Kane. Compliments like th

-

k metal doors, an ocean of reporters, cameras, and gawkers waited. The engagement scandal had blown up

e to show the wor

tter v

s trembling. "So what happens if I flinch? If

u make me look like a fool twic

sed. "Charm

was close enough that his expensive cologne made her head spin. He reac

m, Seraphina.

-

ator din

f velvet ropes being strained by the hungry crowd - it was a feeding frenzy. For a second, Sera almost

He leaned down, lips brushing the shell of her ear - so

un," he

unsettling in ways she refused to admit. She f

-

he black carpet. Th

e! Eryx!

ue? Did you steal

eal or ano

hey were drunk on each other. Eryx's fingers dug into her waist,

nd posed some more -

every se

-

of the corner of her eye, she

es - Leo Armand, the rival hotel heir and, once upon a time, her b

were locked on her with a mix of confusion and something

His fingers flexed against her

yx murmured, vo

e," sh

ie to me

s, and hissed through clenched teeth. "Oh, does it both

the delicate notch at her spine. To anyone watching, it look

d, so low she almost didn't catch it.

-

n it ha

ed, "Kiss her! S

up like a chant. "

thumb brushing her lower lip - a touch so soft it made her breath hitch. For a heartbeat

his eyes - a question

e heat of his lips, smell the faint trace of whisk

s lips skimmed past hers,

xploded in a

r hands gripping the lapels of his sui

r, voice a soft blade. "

-

the perfect image of a couple jus

Sera's head

the tension. The

ared - what would happen the day "pretend" slip