The Velvet Lie

rple by the time Sera re

s to see Domini

or rising, her pulse racing

ire driving her; i

Valecore. The

ns, and Dominic

ect was how much she wa

een her body and her purpo

-

penthouse. No assistant, n

laying softly from hidden speakers, and the scen

heard h

think you'd only s

sleeves rolled up, the top two buttons undone. He seemed relax

d onto her

she said calmly, walking toward him.

dn't

idn't lo

ink

ng dark and expensive into crystal glasses. He handed her one and stoo

y didn't you tell me you

w tigh

security transfers just before everything fell apart. Records, access co

remained

t she was doing the

breath and sat

's businesses," he said carefully

t," she replied,

"What exactly are y

Yet. But it's interesting, don't you think? The same woman whose firm cl

ckered in Dom

tion or

uldn't

rt of her - the part that wanted to press

surpris

right,"

ked. "Abo

ed in what happene

flinch as

a chill th

iquidate. She buried the records, silenced the internal watchdo

" Sera aske

any. That he cracked under pressure. That

between them,

ed. "And you let them

. "By the time I got involved, the press had bee

t. "You mean mor

a public trial. Your fathe

fr

od went

did yo

an pacing, running a

company's debt through illegal means. He got caught. Eloise didn't k

stood

hook. "You'

m n

art tw

Dominic Thorne had orchestrated her father's downf

no

ng her father w

cause of hi

hispered, b

wasn't a monster. He loved you. But he made choices that

t belie

ked, his voice suddenly rough.

mouth, but th

wanted to

nted to expo

eded to watc

xplained the heat

e in he

nting him even while she hat

closer, his eyes

mured, "that you

she said to

s fingers brushing

he kiss

-

sn't

sn't

stolen. His hands gripped her waist, pulling her close, and she melted -

back like it

meant ev

ttons scattering like confessions. He groaned -

ands tangled in her hair. S

as m

ntro

hey weren't su

't hesitate. Her legs wrapped around him intuitively. He kiss

y crossed that fina

on his chest, h

she wh

s breath heavy, his forehead ag

didn

coul

m his hold, breathing

air," sh

y to stop he

-

r feeling as if s

maybe

uth bu

iss b

her conviction was

her...

not the ma

. not the

ieces didn't

er did he

-

the window again, this time without a robe, w

k was s

no

f she was hunting

th was starti