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When Domenico’s lips parted, she unconsciously leaned forward, an undeniable part of her longing to hear whatever he had to say---or just his voice even.
“Domenico?” Ivory’s soft husky drawl saying his name stung Misty’s ears the same time Lysander gently touched her arm.
The spell broke.
Fuck! Domenico felt murderous the moment he saw Misty’s eyes widen in horror before quickly turning towards the younger man. He could feel the wolf inside him growling a low warning sound. Never had he been this close to losing his control, but now it was all he could do not to tear the other man’s throat just for daring to look at Misty.
“Domenico?”
Willing himself back in control, he forced his attention back to Ivory. “I’m sorry. Yes?”
“Would you like me to tour you around the realm tomorrow?”
Domenico turned to Misty.
Having heard every word of the brief exchange – which for some reason sounded laden with sexual innuendo to her admittedly jealous mind – Misty tried to pretend she was completely enamored with whatever Lysander was saying. She tried to ignore the way Domenico’s gaze bore through her but then she felt something.
Surely she was mistaken.
But---
Her toes curled.
No, it was impossible. He couldn’t---she wouldn’t---
When her ni**les actually started to poke through her dress, Misty immediately crossed her arms over her chest and turned to look at Domenico with a glare.
This time there was nothing charming about Domenico’s smile. Rather it was purely wicked and sinfully sexy, and that smile said it all. He really had been undressing her with his gaze, making love with his eyes, and she had known it! Even after everything he did, Misty still had this stupid connection with him.
His gaze deliberately dipped low, focusing on the expanse of skin that her low-cut dress exposed. She had never really worn something like this with him, but tonight she had felt like she had to look her best.
She tightened her hold over her chest. Misty glared harder. Stop looking at me like that!
His smile widened, as if saying, Then don’t wear something like that.
“Is there something you want?” she finally asked, knowing that she would never win a staring war with Domenico. He would just have her end up blushing and aroused.
“I’m wondering if you could take me around the realm tomorrow---”
“I’m busy---”
“---as I have questions about pertaining to its defense,” Domenico ended silkily.
Misty swallowed the rest of her protest. Whether Domenico was lying or not didn’t matter. Anything about the Alliance mattered too much. About to answer, she paused – and took the time to consider what she was about to say or do. This time, she tried to think like Domenico.
Finally, she said, “I think that’s a great idea.” Misty faced Lysander with a smile. “As Co-Ambassador, I think you should come, too.”
“I would love to, my pretty.”
She turned to Ivory. “I’m sure you have other more important matters to attend to, but if you---”
Ivory flashed Misty a lovely smile. “I would be honored to be of help.” She glanced at Domenico under her lashes afterwards, as if saying without words the other kind of help she would be willing to give.
Misty’s fingers curled back into a fist when Domenico returned the smile with one of his own. “We would be glad of your company.”
“Anything for the prince,” Ivory murmured, blushing.
She stood up, unable to bear hearing another sickening word. They were flirting – flirting in front of her! “I---”
But Domenico had suddenly come to his feet as well. “A dance, Misty? For old time’s sake?” Before Misty could answer, Domenico was already at her side, pulling her away and leading her to the dance floor.
Feeling all eyes on her, Misty knew struggling away from Domenico would cause a scandal. “I don’t want to dance with you,” she hissed under her breath.
“Too bad,” he answered readily, pulling her tightly against his hard body, causing her to gasp silently because of his heat – and the unmistakable evidence of his arousal. As they started to twirl around the dance floor, Domenico easily taking the lead, he murmured against her cheek, “Do you like him?”
She didn’t bother pretending not knowing who he was talking about since that had never been her style. “No.”
He was quiet for a long time, making Misty oddly restless. She almost jumped when he turned to face her, his lips grazing her cheeks. “You could have lied.”
“I know.” She remembered his letter – the words he gave her, and try as she might Misty couldn’t keep tears from pricking her eyes. “But I don’t want to…I’m not sure I can but if I could---”
Domenico couldn’t help tensing. “What?”
“I don’t want to risk hurting you,” she whispered.
He lost his step.
Never ever in his life had he done something so ungraceful, something so alien to who and what he was. But right now, he couldn’t even feel the need to be embarrassed of tripping on his own f**king feet in the middle of the dance floor, in front of thousands of Faeries no doubt keen to judge him at every turn.
Domenico was unable to breathe at Misty’s words. After everything that had happened, how could be she so goddamn selfless and still worry about hurting him? Perhaps the right thing was to give her up. God knew he didn’t deserve her – but he couldn’t. He just damn couldn’t.
He loved her too much.
Domenico roughly pulled her back to his arms, just to keep her close, not even bothering this time to pretend they were dancing. “Misty---even if you did have feelings for him, it wouldn’t stop me. You’re mine. Just like I’m---”
Those last words she couldn’t bear to hear, and she pulled away, tears making her gray eyes shine like silver. That he said she was his, Misty could bear hearing. Because it was true – and she feared it always would be true. But those last words?
Misty had a feeling they would always be a lie.
“I don’t understand what you want from me, Domenico, but I want you to stop it. I’ve given you everything so please---please stop this.” And just like before, she ran away from all the prying gazes of other guests at the ball, feeling humiliated once more.
Outside, Ivory listened patiently for Misty’s footfall. She had a pretty good idea that something big would happen tonight---it was impossible that nothing would happen with the way Lysander Allard seemed intent to bait the Moretti prince.
