The Velvet Trap

e city outside my window was still buzzing lights flickering, horns blari

d. It had been one of those long days where everything blurs together, and a

he one thing I

showed up after a run-in with Ken. He had this way of getting under my skin. Intense one

d the window when my ph

ame. Something in my chest told m

-night calls usually business stuff.

fferent. I don't kn

cked

there was something else in it something sh

t to the point.

nd cool. Like my heart hadn't just picked up pace. "We've alw

There was a flicker of amusement in his voice. "I'm ask

looked different now blurred, like it w

ure. But no walls, either. No sui

like a man try

a man who needed

" I said quietly. My voice was steady

said. "You know where I

he hu

like

it might change. I hadn't said yes. Not

I was walking through it

anding in the lobb

tings, but never like this. N

inside. The place smelled like money and control. Eve

oor ticked down the space between us. I told mys

thing out of a magazine sleek, dark, expensive. But i

like everything insid

t watching me too closely. Like he wasn

Just nodded toward

ss, steel, shadows, and a view of Lag

," I asked, "or j

uncorking wine. "So

nst my legs as I moved, and I felt the sh

ed me for dinner, I expe

r people I don't

but only a little.

ses. "You're not s

m n

" He

"Because you don't believe in generosity wi

studying me. "What

ly. "I like be

ne of them

ave a light smile "I

d like he cooked it himself. We ate slowly. Quietly. Every bi

"Did you lov

e paused

ickly, but I sa

ted him,"

not what

le

Not after I saw w

t wa

the answer. "Hungry. Always. For pow

ttle. My pulse w

er destroyed mine. Everything a

ng in Ken's voice...

il

t can be

t like him

or a long time. "

me here to talk. No

pa

I regret th

u're sti

lked to the win

I could see our faint reflections in the

know me," I

But I know w

ught. "And w

s lightly against my cheek. Just o

ou