– Pres

as different when

The lights, darker.

r body rebelled. Not out of fear. Not this time. Something wors

r name. Even if she was

alcoves. Mirrors caught flashes of skin, leather, candlelight. Music drifted

tied intricate rope around her thighs. Past a woman cuffed to a golden frame, eyes wide wi

th every step. They didn'

y k

that

en's

't sh

chin higher.

ers curled i

s. It was stares. Ling

The Doms looked at her like a returning relic. And some

belong her

she s

tting at Lu

in, body wrapped in crimson silk and gold cuffs that glinted with meani

e room with that quiet power only he po

lightly on the girl'

stopped

her. Smiled

Luci

d. Met hers ac

e held her there, across the sea of bodies and shadows,

aised a s

umm

s stomac

ed to turn aroun

eet moved

ed. She felt their stares behind

efore him. Sh

his feet loo

ce cut throu

your

lle

In front of everyo

shou

coul

nees hit

a, she overheard someone whisper-Arielle

ued sipping his scotch, stroking Nina's h

the marble floor.

. her thigh

y and need. It was all

he'd buried this part of herself somewhe

it was. B

posture l

slid down her

n't re

obedience. T

d slightly. "I didn't

ers snap

le

h

Do

gue. She folded forward, arms flat, foreh

missive

Lowered

ide of her cheek un

the firs

Sharp against the

re from the s

ound cracked through t

ppled throu

t doing it f

remind her: this wa

s sur

de her eyes sting.

n't cry. Di

he

t

tood. He kissed Nina's

miss

ting one final look at A

didn't

his gaze burn

Co

owed him through the crowd, past

n't to

t

en them vibrated

licked shu

eat. It smelled like him-cedarwood, leather, and something colder underne

still trembling, her thighs stinging f

dn't spea

the corner table, poured a dr

him for

at her when h

er like you wan

didn't

wly. His eyes pin

he said, voice low. "But it

er voice quieter than she meant.

lass down untouched. "That's what makes her us

hy flau

didn't touch her-just stood close enough that

felt. You hide it well, Arielle. You a

possession,"

agreed.

owly brushed his knuc

d. But didn

ave this. Don

ot that

ever

ed her f

yanking. Not pulling. Just holding. Like

eople," he said softly. "You took your punishment with

losed. "Beca

ou want

le

further, a whisp

ay

ed. "Because

. The sound was half

d gi

hit harder t

r like heat.

her against the wall with his body. Not roughly

her-she didn'

up,"

ob

imple, elegant, strong. He bound her wrists above her

e restrained, her breat

ed back and

eyes blazing with defiance and desire. Dress

ven when sh

ially

to break you to

itterly. "You

forward, tilted

en you left. I'm here t

o his knees in

le ga

ouched her. But

n worshipping a goddess at th

e whis

o feel everything. Wit

-he touc

rd. No

first. T

into her own shoulder as her knees threatened to b

to su

nce looked awa

It was a cry torn from a place

op until she

he slumped, bound,

op until

eased her, she coll

her against his chest, stroking h

" he murmured. "Not before you.

me... she d

her eyes, and le

carried her to the bed, neithe

d her bare shoulders. Arielle lay curled beside him, her head

d've fel

an who had onc

ho still owned too

alm brushing lazy circles over her hip..

rrifi

" she said softly, eyes fixed o

right away. His finger

stopped w

idn't you co

ensed ben

u just didn

sheet wrapped aro

ed. "You let the Order erase me. I w

rkened, but he d

trong enough

Ward. You were alw

when they threatened to make you a public lesson. So

oat tig

didn

d for the briefest seco

kno

again. Not hea

at him. Reall

His shirt was half open, hair mussed, lips parted like he

ar

un

ng

ow?" she asked. "

ees, hands clasped like he was hold

everything I need to

ge, I give you

es lifted t

e truth. The real you. No

e thirty nigh

inch. "Then

ve that. Not yet

l, she w

sca

her. Not to domin

ouch. Gen

eans you haven

m, and for a long mome

orld turned. The Order moved in sile

sheets and broken trust, someth

orgiv

t

grav

each other. Over and over. No m