tina'

of crystal chandeliers, their light fracturing across the

lored tuxedos, heiresses dripping in diamonds, important gues

mportant w

entina, his fiancée, wo

private vintage collection, my late mother Graziella's friend-c

thigh, but my chest remains a mystery, a

perfect curls, crowned by a delicate tiara, a

y cheekbones, enhancing my eyes a

and tropical, my nails glinting as

mber eyes scanning the crowd like mi

ne, she had some connections with retir

s of water in his hand, his black

, narrowing as he register

ws I'm channeling Inanna, a goddes

ly associated with seduction, both physical and intellectual.

a flicker of heat in his gaz

ion padding silently, the

d to notice my pre

with something dangerous yet attractive. "A l

rve my lips, my nails stroking the lio

im in your garden-he's better than tho

in flattery, stroking his ego while I pr

my fingers, the way they move, and

, close enough for my scent to hit him. "The ti

ow?" I purr, my

. A woman who walked into the Underworld

cker of amusement in his stone-cold f

armth curling around him. "It's your gala, dar

I turn, lion in tow, an

our fake engagemen

tend my hand to an oil tycoon,

with a syrupy voice. "Your wife's found

now, I read the most fascinating article about Sumerian poetry l

s a key investor. He tries to pivot. "Valentina, Mr. A

cut in, waving a hand, my nail

s passion. Don't you

uite right, Miss Valentina. My wife

itation, half something hotter, so

, and he's starting to se

n lounging nearby, drawing gasps an

gardens, debate art with a tech mogul, and sidestep e

every step, my scent t

racing the slit of my dr

minico and Giuliana Ricchezza, Raffaele

eyes skeptical; Giuliana, in emer

ys, kissing Giuliana's chee

sweeping over me. "That gown is exq

e tiara's gems ca

a. It's an honor to wear it." I turn t

ghly of your legacy. Tell me, what's the

work, loyalty, and a sharp mind," he says with a gru

more curious about you. I hear you met Nonna

often. "You've do

," I reply, earnest. "Love like

a thrill at holding his world in my hands. A tech CEO

Sumerian reliefs?" I ask, guiding him awa

ing me aside as the lion yawns nearby. "Valentina," he h

ps curving. "I thought he looked bored. A

im, tracing the shimmer of my gown, the

us both. "I'm your fiancée, Raffaele. Charm

ng, and I feel him tense. "Unless y

etween fury and something h

llenge with my voice low and

ze burns, intense, like he's

I can see him wondering if h

rough the crowd like Inanna herself, m

ian star charts, charm someone important's wife with compli

rritation softening into

ing the lion's fur, my nails gl

d I raise my champagne

hed I stroked

said, daring

a whisper. "To Inanna," he says, the word hea

ink I'm not w

is ear, my scent enveloping him. "Oh, R

y firm waist. I could see his b

nt with a lazy smile. "He doesn't bite," I s

or man freezes as the li

nd a hand toward Raffaele, my fingers bec

honey voice, dangerously seductive. "