Chapter 23

Under Aiden’s massive arm, Anna was electrified. Her heart thumped quicker as they joined the well-dressed crowd. There was excitement in the air, and the hubbub increased as the guests approached the entrance of Madame Dumont’s elegant chateau. Scented with the flower-filled garden, a soft breeze, though warm, sent a chill through her. And also sent a dangling strand of dark hair skimming across one cheek. With teeth sinking into her lower lip, she pressed tighter into the side of his black silk tuxedo.

Another shiver rippled through her. No mere companion, not for that night. No, she was in full-on trophy wife-mode and the scanty outfit did nothing to keep her warm. Wide-eyed and pale, Rory had moaned under his breath as she’d dressed. It was something she’d never wear with him; she wouldn’t feel comfortable enough. But snuggled into Aiden’s towering solid form, she managed to smile at each ogling glance.

Of bright red satin, the backless halter dress left everything exposed but the centers of her swaying boobs beneath straining twin bands. Flirty and beyond short, its skirt flicked around her upper thighs. It also provided swift glimpses of the firm underswells of her butt—she’d checked in the mirror before leaving. With each click of the crimson stilettos wrapped high around her ankles as she ascended the front steps, her pulse rate climbed.

At the sudden tightening of his grip on her waist, a sigh slipped from her. “It’ll be fine, Aiden,” she whispered while glancing at his hand.

Although the ring was snug, it seemed much larger. Despite it appearing as an inert, if intricately carved circle of dark metal, its wispy orange flames and the faint glow of its etchings made her insides waver. But any time his skin touched hers, there was only ice. As if steel isolated him from her. For her own protection, he’d said both to her and...

When she peered past his barrel chest, her smile widened. Beneath his other arm, Eva, in a curve-hugging fuchsia wrap minidress, returned the grin. Her short, sleek-cut walnut-brown hair shone under the bright lights. Even as Anna nodded, she caught the hint of nerves behind the slender woman’s glimmering dark eyes. The shoulderless dress Eva wore highlighted the only adornment other than diamond stud earrings. A thin, shiny black leather band was tight around her neck. While it was unadorned, Anna noted it engendered more than a few sidelong glances.

“I know,” he responded with a firm squeeze that drew another sigh from her. “I’m more worried—”

“—about us,” Eva finished, while flashing her a wider smile.

Just as he nodded, they swept past the same doorman who’d waved them in before. With no expression, he only tracked them before moving to the next guests. As at the first soiree, servers flitted around on the smoky-gray tile in tiny gold lame outfits. Balanced on their hands were silver trays of champagne flutes or delicate hors d’oeuvres. Likewise, similar instrumental melodies played above the din of a thousand conversations.

At a loud burst of woman’s laughter, Anna glanced towards a cluster of guests far inside the main room. In their midst, wearing a long, form-fitting, sparkly silver gown that bared her toned shoulders, Madame Dumont sipped champagne. Before an ebon and snow leather couch, she stood, laughing once more while looking at her companion, a gray-haired, heavy-set man.

Even as she nudged Aiden with her elbow, he exhaled.

“That’s Dennis Hawthorne,” he whispered before latching onto two passing flutes and handing one to her, then Eva.

As she raised her glass, Anna nodded. At a second peal of laughter, she and Aiden both turned. Champagne bubbles and a shaky glass rim twinkling before her lips, the lithe hostess was examining them. Under the regal woman’s gliding scan, Anna’s heart hammered. But when her gaze shifted to Eva, Anna gulped at the abrupt change in demeanor. With a tremor, Madame Dumont averted her eyes to the ground. When Anna glanced at Eva, she’d pressed tighter to Aiden and was whispering in his ear.

“Really?” he said, with his eyebrows arching high.

At Eva’s swift nod, he grinned and gestured her forward before flashing Anna a smile and following. After a quick scan of the room, she trailed behind them, sipping champagne. As they moved closer to their host, the sips became gulps.

Once they’d reached the crowd surrounding Madame Dumont, Eva slowed, and Aiden halted alongside her. After stopping behind Aiden, Anna’s heart thumped. Although he’d turned to greet another couple, Eva’s gaze remained fixed over the rim of her glass on Madame Dumont. Each time the regal woman, glittering amidst her admirers, swept her eyes around the other guests, they paused on Eva. Only after lowering did they move to the next speaker. Predator and prey.

When the room wobbled, she settled her hand on Aiden’s wide back to steady herself. After turning to find her, his brows knitted. With a gulp, he leaned closer.

“Are you okay?” he whispered behind his glass. “I can get you outta here.”

“I’m fine.” She glanced at Eva, whose eyes bored into Madame Dumont. “It’s just that ... Wow! Is that the ring? Eva is ... She’s so like you. That expression. She knows she’s in control. It’s ... Uh, it’s mesmerizing.”

After swallowing a chuckle while glancing at Eva, he returned to her and smiled. Her pulse raced when his hand swept along her bare back to pull her into his chest. At the pounding of his heart against hers, a low whimper escaped her trembling lips.

“Mesmerizing?” He again looked at Eva and nodded. “Yes, I suppose so. And no, it’s not the ring. Not entirely. She’s a ... Well, she’s a natural. Of course, she had no idea. Nor did I. She’s like another woman I know. Quite happy and skilled at dominating others but submits to me.”

“Dominating, um, others?” slipped from Anna as her nails clawed at his tuxedo jacket.

“If I permit her, then, yes.” His warm, powerful hand pressed her tighter to him. Between her legs, his bulge thumped. “But you’re mine, sexy lady. Only mine. I’m not sharing. Not now. Not ever. And she knows that.”

“Not, uh, sharing?” she murmured as her heartbeat raced quicker.

Before he could reply, a murmur rose from the entrance. As his head lifted, she followed his stare. His eyes narrowed when a tall man strode through the doors. Broad-shouldered with thick, dark hair. Beneath a black suit, his shirt was polished gold. Its high collar was tight to a muscled neck. As he slashed through the crowd, a half cape bounced along his back. When his gaze swept over her, everything around him faltered and dimmed except for his bottomless inky pools.

They glistened.

They beckoned.

They promised.

“Blaine Hornsby,” Aiden whispered.

Just as Anna nodded, Eva turned from Madame Dumont, whose eyes had become saucers.

On Blaine’s arm was a diminutive, porcelain-skinned Asian woman. Glossy raven hair framed her narrow face. From beneath perfect bangs, black eyes glinted. Painted on her, a shimmering golden dress highlighted every slender curve. From its jaw-height collar to the middle of her well-formed thighs, it twinkled under the dimmest of lighting. When she stepped into the main room beside the dark man, she blazed like a tiny sun in his hulking shadow.

As Anna tracked the approaching couple, her breathing quaked. Although Aiden’s grip on her back loosened, the rest of his body remained tense. When she peeked at his hand, the ring had—shrunk. Icier and darker, it appeared as only a thin line of metal. Or wanted to appear thus. When she blinked and shook her head, the illusion faded. It was normal-sized, but there were no flames, and its silence was profound. A trickle of fear slipped into her.

Time meandered to a halt. Along with the rest of the hushed crowd, the three of them fell silent. Only the faint instrumental music and the rhythmic clacking of the tiny woman’s golden high-heeled sandals echoed in the room. Just as Blaine drifted his gaze over Aiden, the universe sped once more. For a brief second, the man paused in mid-step before continuing towards their host. His former lover.

Although he was aimed right for her, despite the tremors gripping Madame Dumont, she stood motionless, awaiting him. At a sudden bright flash, Anna shifted to his golden companion. After a sharp turn, the slight woman approached Aiden atop those clacking gilded heels. When she halted before him, her face was utterly neutral.