her shoulders, the soft curls framing a face she hardly recognized. The woman in the mirror had the same sharp

t k

the cool quiet of the penthouse. The way Damien's lips had pressed against hers, fierce and demanding, sendin

he kissed

eck as if she were something precious, something worth claiming. It had bee

quickly turned, half-expecting to find Damien standing there again. But it was

softly. "Mr. Blackthorn asked

vent, another obligation. That's all this marriage seemed to be about now-public appearances, events, the

inutes," Selena said, her voice cool, distan

shade of emerald, the kind of color that made her feel like she was about to step into something much more dangero

ki

o lose herself in the mess of emotions Damien stirred up inside her. She ha

that it didn't matter, she knew it did. She

terrifi

t Night –

ien had chosen for her, her pulse racing in time with the anticipation building inside her. The last thing she wanted to do w

as if every eye in the room would be on her. Every time she glanced at the dress in the mirror, she was

Mrs. Blackthorn now, a title that felt both foreign and suffocating. She had to

't want this

artled her, and before she could turn, Dami

e asked, his tone

was standing there, tall, handsome, dressed in a tailored black tuxedo that seemed to mold per

ething else in his gaze. S

t, but she quickly swal

e couldn't help herself. The night felt like a continuation of the farce they had been playi

lips curling into a half-smi

ng hers. Despite the tension between them, the chemistry that buzzed like

ection was instant, like fire meeting gasoline. Her hand fit against his arm like it was meant to be there, but she quickly p

– Tension

d the influential. The ballroom shimmered with golden chandeliers, the floor gleaming beneath t

manding attention. But as they passed through the sea of people, Selena couldn't shake the feeling that she was under a magnifying glass, t

into the spotlight, she k

d from across the room, and the

w everyone's attention seemed to fall on them like a spotlight. They

that made her feel small in comparison. He had this way of commanding respect

fooled. She k

carefully constructed display of powe

r

urned to her, his lips just inches from her ear.

hink about was the way he had kissed her-how close they had been, how much she wanted to feel

et herself go ther

omething far deeper than she had intended sinking in with every passing s

The Af

elena found herself lost in the crowd, her mind swirling with a million thoughts. Her b

Damien appeared at her side again. His presence was like a

said, his voice l

exit, pushing through the crowd with the same forceful grace that he used

ight air, Damien turned toward

hing's changed?" he asked, his voi

nding," she said, though she wa

nymore, don't you?" he murmured, stepping

to the gut. She felt her knees

s," she whi