A Kiss In The Dark

dy torn through half my closet. Dresses lay scattered across my bed and floor-some too short,

onto the growing pile. I didn't even know why I was trying so hard. He hadn't said much-just that there would be an event tonight. No dress

ves wouldn't

rd function? A charity

hewing the edge of my thumbna

k black car pulled up outs

to the door.

box, heavy and wrapped with a single white ribbon, resti

arried it inside. The weight alone wa

the ribbon and

yers of silk pape

ss, smooth as poured ink, with a high neckline and a subtle s

er heels-sleek, minimal.

lik

ully like a secret, was a black velvet envelope

my hands for

an V

bought m

rom disbelief. From something warmer, deeper. I held t

od... it fit the mood. It fit him. It fit so

ightened aro

dable, consuming man-had thought ab

at it made me

idn't h

knock echoe

d it, the wo

d to lethal perfection. A dark mask in one hand, h

dn't

oked

felt more than wor

ly, as if tracing the silhouette of the g

w flex

up well," h

I looked away, trying to hi

do y

ended

all

-

ring with soft lights and polished chandeliers. Golden sconces flickered along high

lked in, the atm

le t

ous glances followed us. The woman on his arm was unfamiliar. U

further into the ballroom. His body was calm. Sti

d. Shareholders. Executives. Mem

expect to see yo

iss it," he r

made. And yet, they looked at me with cautious int

't offer an

ither

ghts dimmed slightly, softening the corners of the hall. The ope

e, his voice low,

them something

n't a

second, I was alr

llroom, our footsteps echoing faintl

en we

ort

e this a thousa

ut being forceful. His other hand held mine-not l

he ballroom

e wat

see any of th

easured. Each turn felt like a secret whispered between our bodies. I could feel the warmth of his p

lted. I landed back against his ches

ural," he sai

ed this,"

amed. "Of co

er. His hand moved-just a little lower on my

his dance felt

nfession. Every step, every touch, w

rose around us. But the moment between us didn'

gently rele

I could br

-

glittering conversations, champagne glas

ust after

my brownstone was silent-but it wasn't empty.

up to my buildi

or the ride,

His voice came s

ai

me around to my side. Opened

ook

olted somethi

r, I fumbled with the

y place is nothing l

for a board me

e followed

ing else. Offer him w

ed, and he

y c

pinned me

brought you to tha

hy

top thinking about

us. His hand lifted, brushing

leave," he

idn

eane

st barely. A taste.

My body froze. My h

e again. Fi

hunger and restr

aist, pulling me gentl

issed h

ly around us-heady,

one who pull

now if thi

d rested ag

. "But it doesn't m

d in something neither

-slowly, reluctantly-I

er wa

, Aveline,

ight..

ithout an

ng, heart still racing, staring into th

s was-it had

't ready t