Page 167 of Fall Before Her Throne

I grinned. “And what is that?”

“Come find out.”

I pulled the zipper down, revealing a shimmering gold dress within. A little gasp escaped my lips.

It was perfect.

The dress was a shimmery floor-length material. The neckline was in a loose cowl shape, with ruching across the bust that gathered higher on one strap than the other. It gave a very flattering shape that drew the eye upward, and would pair beautifully with the exposed neck and hairstyle I chose. As I ran my hands down the material, a slit appeared—one that went almost to the hips. It would be downright sexy with my leg peeking out.

A jeweled starburst brooch sat on the thinner shoulder strap. My fingers brushed down its shape, remembering the starburst necklace Max had given me at my birthday party. All those months ago. The pendant was a very similar design, though the color was different. If I still had it, it might have been the perfect accessory to tie the outfit together. But tonight, I’d wear Ryuji’s collar instead.

“When was the last time you wore a dress like this?”

“Not since my birthday party.”

I’d worn a fancy dress the night we infiltrated The Obsidian sex club in Philadelphia with Fallon and the girls, but this was different. This dress was true designer fashion. It was meant to draw attention, to highlight the curves of my body and make people turn their heads.

This was not a dress to blend in.

This was a dress to command the room.

It was armor of its own kind. But tonight, we wouldn’t be hiding. If all went according to it, this was our opportunity to show the city who to choose in the conflict ahead. Greco couldn’t just swoop in and take it from under our noses. We would make our own allies, whether through blackmail or by getting the few good people who ran this city on our side.

Max’s voice was full of emotion. “Want to put it on?”

“Yes.”

Together, we pulled the dress from the bag.

“Go sit down,” I said.

He smirked, gave me a full up and down look that had all my nerves tingling, and then took the garment bag with him back to the bedroom. I peeled off my robe and slipped into the dress. It fell over my body like tight silk. Snug and soft, hugging every part of my body but not uncomfortably. The ruching at the neckline made my boobs look even bigger and drew the eye toward the starburst pendant at the shoulder. The gold made my hair look even more fiery. Because of the slit, I had to move my thigh holster and its weapons to my other leg, but it was as sexy as it felt.

“How’s it going in there?” Max called while I did a little swish and inspection in the mirror.

The dress looked perfect, but there was just one part left.

When I walked back into the bedroom, he was sitting on the edge of the bed, facing the bathroom. His eyes went wide and his throat bobbed as he looked me up and down. When his mouth parted and absolutely nothing came out, speechless, I knew he loved it.

I sat on his lap, facing out. “Help me zip it up?”

His hands smoothed over my hips. “I’ll help you take it off.”

I laughed. “Come on. We’re going to be late.”

Hot kisses pressed all the way up the back of my neck, making me gasp and twist against the hardness in his lap as he dragged the zipper closed. Goosebumps prickled all down my arms while his hands brushed over the bare skin.

“You are so beautiful. You have always been so beautiful,” he whispered, lips pressed to my neck. I wiggled my ass, earning myself a groan of pleasure. His fingers drew across my neck, over my collarbone. “It feels so hollow to say this now, but back at your birthday party, I tried so hard not to show how badly I wished things were different. I gave you that necklace as a parting gift. I thought I’d never see you or Cas again.”

“Are you glad things have changed?”

“So glad. I was so fucking angry when you gave that necklace to Fallon Byrne, of all people, but it wasn’t at you. I was furious with myself.” His palm spread over my skin. “Speaking of which, I got you something.”

I shifted in his lap so I could watch him take a long, red leather jewelry box from inside his suit jacket. He handed it to me. “Open it.”

A gasp escaped my lips when I saw the bracelet inside. It was absolutely stunning. Set in white gold, there were countless diamonds cut in baguette, princess, and troidia shapes that encrusted the entire length. It sparkled with radiance and stole the breath from my lungs at the same time.

My fingers gently touched it. “How did you get this?”