for a moment, Isabel stood in the hallway l

aughter, the clink of glass-and yet it all felt oddly distant.

around her middle and

ith me to m

till echoed

tted Jenna near the bar, mid-conversation with one of the other girls. She wore confidence like a crown

bel approaching,

rabbing Isabel by the wris

quickly, pulling her close.

ted. "Go with hi

el n

s pent

in turned sly. "The m

. Her teeth pressed

she said quiet

her head. "Bu

even know

t but not mocking. "M

oulder, heart still poundi

e on, Izzy. You've been stuck in that good girl box your whole life. Y

weight. Her shoes suddenly felt

ke you," sh

t maybe he saw that too. And maybe he wants you, n

l bli

loosened i

u'll be okay

e bartender who was already sliding a

ared at Isabel's side then

id. "Your rid

ispered, "If he murder

I'm already murdered? Y

op a quick voice

b, back through winding hallways and toward a private entrance. The farther they walked, the quieter i

the curb. Its windows tinted, its e

k door

, though the streetlight carve

tated at

lifted

wor

nspoken i

go

way into the night with silent precision. Her heart

onger Isabel

toni

usually sur

ing until they got to the high c

er a while and they walked int

stood beside him, hyper-aware of the space between them. Every flicker of the soft

udded, loud

open to his penthous

.. brea

th marble floors gleamed beneath her boots. The air smelled lik

the background. It felt like a sanctuary for someone who didn't

speaking, tossing his jacke

not trusti

glasses and handed one to her. Th

ip. It burne

aid. "You'll g

said, but laughed qu

is glass. "

glasses. A mo

it with a kind of practiced weariness, and she sat at the op

this before," he

. "What giv

lub. But then you danced lik

bottom lip.

head. "Did y

not s

wn. "You didn't tel

obvi

t smirk. "'Belle'

led. "It

like he a

between them-thick

king her limbs loose, her words

y n

I don't

slow and delibera

e reached up and brushed a strand of hair f

eath h

n he ki

His hand cupped the back of her neck as her mouth opened beneath

ssed h

racked open

highs straddling his legs, her hands clutching his shoulder

, fingertips sliding under her s

d against

hips shifted. He exhaled sharply, one hand gripping her waist

buckled at

hock of cool air on hot skin, the way h

and kissed down her neck, along h

hem of his shirt. He

skin. Hea

. She leaned in, pressing her lips to the corner of his

med-slow, rev

er perked nipples into his mouth, and sucked, her

sliding past the waistband of her panties

pau

ed. Her cheeks flu

ed, swallowing.

lled. He loo

. Not mocking.

he said quietly.

yes w

... slowly. But she di

gainst his, heart thundering, puls

go," she

once but d

won't lay a finger

n order rather

gentler this time. Li

." Sh

p, pulling her dress over fl

atching her. That unreada

to the bathroom?" h

hesi

he said.

ed to th

d her like velvet