THREADED

of liquor and sat hunched

y-it felt more like a glor

c seemed too calculated. He even spotted

at to a party

tered over, not

at's up

on here?" Banks sho

iend already knew Banks wasn'

now me," Banks said. "My car's in

to football, and then to the secretary at his friend's office wh

xpecting when you sta

g female attention

cked on someone across the room.

backless dress, but the ease in her discom

e neckline of her gown revealed a delicate c

ss or her body that was sculpted t

d teased as he notic

ith his drink and the image of her etched into his mind. She disap

gh the party with

, she had to admit Seima had bee

a bubbly woman who turned out to be the daughter

s, and the woman had gus

ears, right?" the woman

nodde

in a few weeks-send me a catalog. I'd lo

is was more than just flatte

ared into the crowd,

m talking about

know wh

murmured, trying to

abe, that's a gateway to A-list vi

emfon said, takin

ed by the noise and ener

neede

e perfume-everything insi

to the back lawn, th

cold earth cool her soles. The moonlig

he night sky, when she caught the scent of

art sk

iven for priva

confident, and had a

, turning

ck pants and a wooden deep blue shirt, unbut

d two

ary, but her body language be

, offering her o

idn't

ns," he said wi

?" she asked, tryi

d simply. "Can

"That's exactly wha

aid with a small chuckle. To her o

needed air," he add

his whole event

don't seem like

m n

y are yo

d me out. Refused to t

a better vibe. So far, you're the m

er slightly. She

d mu

t ho

n silence

forta

ed, "So wha

signer. I own a b

ked in

n works for Kemmy

"Wait-Amara? T

scrolled through her phone

her," Ba

softly. "S

y. "Your designs are bold but elega

d down at

it. I wouldn'

my behalf," he murmu

, and the space between t

brushed the loop that held

shiv

r throat. She knew she

he di

e skin of her neck. His breath was war

. so good,"

orm of warning signs a

nd might be looking for me."

k you in,

ked side

he stairwell. Qing Madi's "Goosebumps" playe

op herself, she tur

ound her, pulling her into the kiss like he'd been waiting for it all

ame fo

eath ragged. She saw two g

r, eyes dazed, lip

e it had dropped, adjusted her dr

asked, reaching for her hand. "I could c

is was too much, too

she said, gently pul

he ascended the stairs and

r, the music louder, and the wo

-but it had already ch