TAMING THE ICE KING

xurious. Silk-charmeuse imported from Lyon. Custom beading. A bolt of hand-dyed tulle that shimmered like frost under light.

ver had roo

ketch Roman had handed her wasn't just familiar-it was hers. One she'd uploaded to a forgotten onli

it? How long had

ht away. She didn't

was in

days to learn how to act like a billionaire's fiancée. Fo

er tiny studio became a cocoon of chaos. Swatches fluttered like snowdrifts, and pins gli

the dress took shape-

sane. But she'd m

n't bac

-

't speak as he opened the door and handed her an envelope containing a simple diamond necklace, press creden

was alre

the penthouse j

hedral ceilings, and a view of Manhattan that made her feel like th

came the voice

a study in lethal elegance. His hair was slicked back,

aid, stepping into the foyer,

ely, but thoroughly, like she was a pr

broug

deadlines," sh

ow

illed out like starlight-black silk with a gradient shimmer that bled into silver, hand-sewn

ticked. Ju

than I expect

ected me

who'd crumble under

ms. "You're not easy

I appreciate precision. You e

sketch," sh

to hers. "And now

her more than sh

-

suite the size of her entire apartment. It felt like stepping into a high-fa

od in front of a full-le

petals catching the light with every movement. Her hair was pulled into a sleek

ful," the styl

barely h

an had ente

ed in th

er across his face-hesitation, maybe. Or so

o," he sa

d. "Try agai

ou look..." He paused

ed her more-that he said it

-

thing but steel bones and arrogance. Glittering chandeliers hung like galaxies above the elite of

r felt so expo

her unnecessarily-just the occasional hand on the small of her back, the subtle

surrounded

r as his future wife, and Amara smiled until her cheeks burned. She laughed when she ne

let his guard

laughed, it

iled, it never

wonder if a

-

ara escaped to the balcony for air. Her feet ached. Her mind buzzed. Th

he glass railing, watchin

well tonight," came Ro

almost sounded l

wind tugging at the open collar of his

"Did you enjoy prete

"I don't enjoy pretendin

in his voice

two people suspended in the

rost a

y not someone with connections? A mode

t her for a

from me," he said finally. "But when you loo

she said. "

act

e reached out-slowly, deliberately-and bru

gers we

eath c

his is still a contract. Don't

't," s

efore he saw the