Owned by Night

of the city itself. I tugged at the hem of my dress – too short, too tight – and glanced at Lila. Her

usual scene. Velvet shadows, flashing gold lights, and the kind of atmosphere that felt heavy with secrets and sedu

the crowded floor. "You've been a stressed-out hermit for weeks. This is

her words to sink in. Maybe she was right. Maybe I needed

tool. The surface was cool beneath my bare thighs. Lila ordered

le laughed too loudly, hands touching too freely. The

en I s

e owned the place. Sharp suit, dark hair, and eyes that gleamed like steel under the low lights. He didn't

locking on like he'd caugh

yes away as heat crept

Lila leaned in, smirking know

quickly. "Just...

unimpressed. "That

d. "You

e's... well, let's jus

etails, but the word lingered

whispered. "Guys like him ch

't worry. I'm not look

ard Damien Blackwell, he was watching m

erceptible smirk t

hing for the drink Lil

d myself. One drink, one g

n had oth

-

eside me, his presence as unmistakable as the heavy

e said smoothly, voice low enough

ell was even more devastating. Chiseled jaw, eyes tha

just fine," I repli

re ly

tain, made me bristle. "An

"I know the look of someone who's trying to convinc

de the way my pulse quickened under his gaze

reed. But he d

eyes traced the curve of my bare shoulders, of t

he said, as if I d

Sincl

va." He tested my name on his tongue

I should've smiled politely

en said, his gaze dipping to t

ead. "I alrea

d to the bartender.

"I didn't s

ll li

ening, but something ab

. I lifted it to my lips hesitantly, tasting the smoky swe

his gaze fixed on

," I a

tween us, the club fading i

me like that," Damien

ed. "Li

want me to

and I looked away

her

y, and I hated how mu

htly over the side of my arm. The touch was brief but enough to le

. "I'm not looki

le's looki

t, his body – it all pressed against

hispered, more to

my wrist before I

pulled away.

-

sophisticated, and cold, with floor-to-ceiling windows

bered the ride over, only the feeling of Damien's

tossing his jacket ov

d, my mouth su

his presence like a shadow

his voice a dangerous whisper against my ea

led sh

t to leave?

d to fa

" I

between us. I barely registered the sensation of his hands sliding down the length

n growled, his breath

ould care.

ight, I