A kiss before the betrayal

ver felt so

with crystals, round tables adorned with white roses and flickering candlelight, and a

r belonged to, yet tonight,

beside Damian Wo

acelet on her wrist. A gift from him. A silen

le

s smooth, de

ay, dressed in a sleek black tuxedo that ma

observed, his silver

ot," s

want to be convincing, you'll

d a hand to her bare back, his tou

a te

ear, "people will be watching. Yo

allowing herself to lean into his touch

, all eyes

rd the

Wolfe is

is

didn't do re

self with his usual commanding presence, his expr

ss the room, a

finally decid

oached-a blonde in a blood-red go

reeted, his tone p

ly knew who s

tabloids, had once been cl

g her with cool amusement. "And this mus

e, extending her ha

ive. "I have to admit, I'm surprised.

lightly against the small of her

ly. "Well, he ha

brow, clearly unimpr

to waver under

a, darling," he said smoothly, turning toward her

before his hand slid to her j

n-he ki

gh the crowd, but El

ips met hers, th

ss to be cold, calc

. Deliberat

th, his grip firm but not forceful, as if he was test

-a single second

lled away, her he

hing lightly against her jaw b

swers your doubts,

slightly, before she forced a tight

ena finally exhaled, h

re dangerous than sh

d resting lightly against the small of her back. The touch wasn't forceful

reacted to him, how something

togethe

siness deal.

t turned toward them, curious, calculating,

to be c

to be co

with effortless control, nodding at acquaintances, flashing

is

Damian Wolfe do

, but I give it

on into polished confidence, though her palms we

table, for respect, for a voice in a world that

to let the

of the room, her mind kept repla

g questions, we make t

reed. She

t was time

o be cold, distant-a bu

d, he surp

of champagne. Elena reached for a glass, but before sh

without hesitation, without even looking at

ed to taking c

was alr

his hand at her lower back-not

p, Damian answered smoothly, effortlessly incl

was the momen

t condescending smirk, Elena had braced

he h

he had ki

just a

kind of awkward, forced affection on

. Controlle

e that made her stomach tighten, his hand tilting her

eath of a moment-she f

at it was

g her breathless, she barely proces

out was the heat still

amian loo

man playi

an who o

ar more dangerous than

around them, but E

ted th

he way it m

ke flipping a switch-while she was still stan

n't so ba

mused, his breath wa

ncertainty with defiance. "Next time, war

. "Where's the

ant b

s, reminding herself of

mo

d to surviv

down, s

ing to be the bigge