Tonight, the glitterati gathered under the pretense of charity, but the real currency exchanged was power and influence.
Kaal’s plan involved Saba accompanying Mak to the event.
Although uneasy about it, the move made the most sense, regardless of the security risks. His wife on his arm would give him more legitimacy.
However, the reason for the night out wasn’t purely social.
They were there to quietly scope out the head of Phantom Codex, a major sponsor of the night.
As they dressed in their private suite onboardThe Lancefor the evening, Mak couldn’t help but steal glances at his woman.
She stood before the full-length mirror, her slender figure draped in a diamond-studded champagne gown.
The fabric hugged her curves in all the right places, glimmering with each subtle shift of her body, capturing the golden light that spilled into the room.
The way it shimmered made her seem cloaked in stars; each step she took was like a ripple of liquid light.
Her dark, abundant, glossy hair fell in waves down her back, a perfect contrast to the lightness of her dress.
The tresses swept past her face, cascading past her shoulders, and illuminated her with an ethereal glow. His eyes locked on her as she swept a hand over her tresses, ensuring every wave was in place.
Her makeup was subtle yet captivating. Her skin had a warm luminosity, the slightest hint of blush on her cheeks.
She wore a rich, seductive shade of caramel on her lips that had him thinking of how and when he’d kiss them.
Her eyes, framed by thick lashes, glimmered with an intensity that matched the diamonds on her gown.
He clenched his jaw, trying to bury her pull on him, that gnawing attraction that made it harder to keep his emotions in check.
He’d spent years building walls, weeks keeping her at a distance. Denying that she was anything more than an unwanted fixture in his life. Now, he struggled to find a way to express his growing need and admiration for her.
Fokk, he was close to nervous, hiding it under his cool, calm, controlled mask.
Even tonight, she reminded him she had an undeniable presence no matter how much he fought it.
He had to force himself to glance away and refocus because of how she appeared. Impossibly radiant, dripping in elegance and allure, it was almost too overwhelming to bear.
Her eyes met his in the mirror for a beat as he straightened his formal cravat. His heart thudded in his chest with a dangerous, wild burn.
For her. With an inhale, he refocused, willing his cock to calm down.
This night was about Phantom Codex and the man he needed to stake without raising suspicion.
‘Ready?’ he asked, his voice neutral as he adjusted the cufflinks on his sleeves.
She nodded, catching his gaze for a moment. ‘As I’ll ever be.’
‘Before we leave, I promised you something.’
Her brow rose as he crossed the room with a flat box.
He turned her to the mirror and slid out the prize from the velvet setting.
The exquisite diamond pendant necklace featured a pear-shaped gem attached to a more diminutive round jewel.
A simple white gold chain completed the look of this masterpiece.
‘I said you’d be dripping in diamonds.’
