ON MY KNEES FOR THE DON

ne's

have gone to

n't have

n't still feel him unde

ounter at Greystone Bistro,

as blurry, and my stomach felt tight and twisted. I didn't

s still rushing through my veins, and a long line of tired cu

nights of tossing and t

ds, his mouth, that slow, dangerous smirk-like

rted two n

Greystone Bistro when Lauren found me in th

usual routine, insiste

but she wouldn't ta

sed to come too, bu

questioned it. Mistaking me for Stephanie

If anyone had asked fo

tains inside like it was normal, luxury cars lined up outside li

ut Lauren was already halfway

pagne. Everyone looked like they were on display. A

De S

ost untoucha

y, while I found the bathroom, stared at myself in

auren was still out there somewhere

want to ruin her night by

ed a litt

heading back toward the ballroom, when I

tepf

fectly, with cold, sharp eyes like a demon, and a devilish grin that sent a w

urged in a

his hand ac

locked me a

ming shut, leaving

. The fear that kept m

it stole my breath. My chest tigh

ushed through the crowd. I didn't care where I w

rp in my throat. For a second, I thought I heard foot

it. I just kept running, faster and faste

door shut as quietly as I could. The space insi

h, heart pounding in my ears, chest ris

e. With or wi

't let h

or creaked o

nd the curtains in the far corner, a stupid move because the fabric was thin, the party lights from outside casting my shadow in pl

olding my breath as my hear

ted. The hem lif

en I s

t my ste

as D

already owned me. The air in the room grew thick, the space

sliding over me like velvet wrapped in steel, dangerous, deliberate, and with each pas

ose, his mouth claiming mine like it was his right, his hands gripping my waist, dragg

away. I should stop

t, the way his mouth moved like he kne

through my clothes and I wanted more, wanted it all, and thought spun away until there

catching, gasps and low groans filling the room as his touch grew rougher, claiming, and mine just as gr

ogether, breathless, my heart still ra

ar thought cut t

to be here. Not

, my stepfather was

hunt

ed up by the announcer, I caught my breath

wiping down tables with sore hands and a pounding h

him. That every brush of fabric agai

ann

ed me out of it. I ju

ere like an idiot

ed the counter to steady myself. M

gled over th

m my face and forcing the thousandth fake sm

caught. I

nt

ing had changed. Like th

tuck in my throat. Heat and

Same confident stride l

outh lifted, just slightly-as if he r

To disappear un

didn't

gain-I couldn't hear a thin

pposed to show up at your j

s, voice low, s

darling. M