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His lips curled up in a sensual smile. He leaned close, his mouth brushing against the shell of my ear as he whispered, “Perhaps.”
“He hates me even though he says he loves me, Alek. I don’t know what to do.”
“If you’re asking for advice, I don’t have any. But I will say this. I know that I’ve not found my way into your heart yet, and that’s okay because you still allow me in your orbit. You are that man’s sun, and yet you refuse him any of your warmth. Shine for him, Sunny. See what happens when you give a dying man hope like you give me hope.”
I closed my eyes against the overwhelming wave of rightness I couldn’t deny when he was so close to me. Opening my mouth to respond, I stopped at the scent of bergamot and the pull of my heart toward Noah. I hadn’t even seen the man, but I knew he was there. I opened my eyes, and sure enough, Noah stood at our side, gaze soft and expectant all at the same time.
“Mind if I cut in, Viking?” His smooth voice flowed over me, blanketing me in pure happiness.
Alek ran his warm palm down my spine, giving my ass a cheeky squeeze before letting me go. “Not at all. She’s just as much yours as she is mine, after all.”
I expected Noah to deny it, but all he did was roll his eyes and offer me his hand. “Shall we, darling?”
“Are we allowed to?”
He swept me into his arms. “Who the bloody hell cares?”
My gaze traveled across the room until it landed on Callie, clad in a gown cut so low I could see her navel. Her mask was white feathers, tall enough she looked more like a stork than a woman. I chuckled. “Your bird.”
“I only have one bird, dove. And she’s in my arms right now.”
Callie stared daggers at me, her lip curing up in a sneer as she stomped across the floor and headed straight for Kingston. Noah pulled me into a smooth waltz, leading me effortlessly around as though this was second nature to him.
“You look absolutely fucking edible right now,” he whispered, his cheek pressed against mine. “Do you have any idea the things I want to do to you, seeing my thorns collar your beautiful throat?”
“Yours?”
“Yes. Those are Blackthorne jewels you’re wearing.”
My stomach flipped. Moira, you saucy little minx. I wondered if she knew exactly who I was supposed to choose, and instead of telling me, she'd been trying to show me all this time.
“How is it possible you’re still this good-looking even when you’re wearing a mask?” He was dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo, his dark hair slicked back, a plain white leather mask on half of his face. “You look kind of like the phantom of the opera, actually.”
He twirled me around and then reeled me in so our bodies molded together. “Perhaps I’m here to lure you into the darkness where I plan to hold you captive and do unspeakable things to you.”
And now I was so aroused I couldn’t see straight. “If you’re trying to get me to sneak off with you, it's working.”
“Well, then. I’m never one to miss out on a perfect opportunity. How about you and I sneak off to the garden so I can ravish you properly.”
“But, what if we get caught? I’ll be ruined,” I teased.
“Then I guess I’ll just have to marry you and make an honest woman out of you,” he said, utterly serious.
My breath caught in my throat. “Noah.”
He dipped his head again, his smooth, smoky voice temptation itself as he whispered in my ear, “I’m ready if you are, Sunday. Meet me in the garden.”
Then he released me and walked away, glancing back once as he left the ballroom. My heart thundered in my ears, possibility, desire, fear, and need all jumbled up inside me. I pressed a hand to my chest, willing myself to breathe and not chase after Noah then and there.
I scanned the dance floor, jealousy shooting through the happy glow both Alek and Noah had wrapped me in. Kingston was dancing... with Callie fucking Donoghue.
I knew exactly what he was doing. And why. The only time he ever seemed to get my attention was when he did something to make me jealous. Well, it wouldn’t work. Not this time. If he wanted that plastic bitch’s hands on him, he was welcome to her. I wasn’t playing this game with him. Not anymore. One of us needed to break the cycle.
I met his gaze and gave him a slow shake of my head, letting him know that I saw straight through him. I knew it made me a hypocrite to be angry at him when I was with Noah, flirting with Alek, and fantasizing about Caleb, but here we were. So I walked straight up to them and said, “Enjoy your night, Kingston.”
Then I spun on my heel and followed after Noah. I was late for a ravishing.
