Bound by deception

y is a nightmare in

ht reflecting off the champagne flutes clinking in celebration. The air is thick wi

fingers curled tightly around the delicate stem of t

ncée. Because in this room-where wealth and power weave toget

ades smirks, and commands the room with the ease of a man born t

toward me every now and th

on't

ot

game, and I have no i

in as he leans in, his l

Smi

soft, but it

en. "Don'

d rich and knowing. "You a

ng his gaze with a forc

on my waist. "Everything has a

s my skin prickle. Like it's no

back, a voice cuts

an! Is

s, a microphone in hand, cameras traili

wallo

or. The spotlight. The scrut

n't mean I ha

smile. "Tell us, how di

doesn't

nt I saw he

oke on my cha

s expression unreada

ulse hammering. He's

my head as if the memory is sweet

unexpected. But when it'

beautiful! And that kiss from earlier

tomach

, he

sharp beneath it. He already knows my answer do

inclair never

y waist, pulling me flush ag

mouth crash

ple through

hes explode l

fr

me like he owns me, like the ring on my fi

raction of a second, heat curls low in my sto

m away, my b

crowd

spers. The clin

of it m

aze, I see something dangerous

ethin

wasn't jus

at terri

e Wa

ballroom the fi

guests. Dodgin

le floors as I slip down a quiet

Space. Dista

gers to my lips,

id it f

n't go

away and yank my ph

e hea

picture

re l

otification

sage: UNK

omach t

ick it

before it'

Wh

skates dow

ss it, a voice drift

an's

fr

's not a

e is low,

actly where

pa

old c

no idea wha

reath

tighten aro

on't

n't br

ust l

oice sharp, unreadable. "She thinks she has choic

loods m

alking a

linking glass. A

ain, quieter th

contract. She be

back, my hea

, no

oving as fast as I can

to get ou

ow what Etha

ow one thi

n't tr