and unclasped my key necklace. I took his hand and turned it over. His skin was warm, rough. I gently placed my key into his palm, and when I did, his fingers curled around it.
With his other hand, he grasped my hip and tugged me flush against his body.
My fingers splayed across his chest, feeling the muscles beneath his tailored, crisp shirt.
“Let’s find Genevieve, aye?” he asked, his voice raspy with desire.
I nodded, unable to speak. He released me and then laced his fingers through mine. He stalked out of the library, his strides long and confident. I stumbled in an attempt to keep up with him. Hadrian had a purpose and he clearly wanted the business side of this arrangement dealt with.
Genevieve was standing in the corner of the ballroom, conversing with Annika. We approached them immediately.
Without a word, he showed my necklace to Genevieve.
“Eden?” she asked me, but without removing her eyes from Hadrian.
“I’d like to give my key to Hadrian,” I said.
“All right.” Genevieve’s gaze slid to mine. She waited for a moment to see if I was sure, and then nodded. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
Hadrian’s hand tightened ever so slightly on mine and he turned, all but dragging me away. I looked over my shoulder at Genevieve and Annika. Their eyes were trained on me.
I wasn’t able to hold their gazes long since the man who’d claimed me marched us from the room.
Nothing had been decided between us. What he liked. What he expected. I wore a rose gold key. I was a novice. He knew what the key’s patina meant…right?
“Where are we going?” I asked, breathless.
Hadrian looked at me and instantly slowed his trek. “Sorry. I forget that I’m a beast compared to you.”
I blinked. “A beast?”
He flashed an arrogant grin. “My size.”
“I—oh, you mean your stride.”
We walked through a long hallway until we came to a door. He turned the knob and suddenly we were outside underneath the stars. I gulped a breath, feeling my lungs expand.
Lit torches had been staked throughout the grounds to illuminate the garden pathway. Groomed and manicured bushes added to the pristine luxury of the estate.
“Why are we out here?” I asked. “Why aren’t we inside? There are plenty of rooms…”
He looked out over the gardens as he replied, “I wanted to take you someplace intimate.”
Hadrian’s head turned and the intensity of his eyes had me sucking in a breath.
I was lost in his gaze. My skin felt stretched too tight. I wanted to throw myself against him, beg him to make me forget why I was really here with him.
“Hadrian,” I whispered, an aching plea of acceptance.
His mouth sealed over mine as he dropped his hand to wrap it around my waist. He assaulted my senses. He pillaged my mouth like a conquering warrior sacking a city.
My heart leapt into my throat and my breathing turned shallow. I needed more of him.
I reached up to grasp the lapels of his jacket and dragged myself closer.
“Eden,” he murmured against my mouth.
The name of my persona on his lips reminded me that this wasn’t real. But I wanted him anyway.
I wanted to spend the night with Hadrian, circumstances be damned.
“Take me to bed, Hadrian,” I whispered back.
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“No. Say the words.”
“I’m sure.”
He slowly let me go and then took my hand again, leading me into a garden maze. We wandered through it in silence, his hand solid against mine adding to the charged air between us. He seemed to know where he was going but didn’t clue me in.
The maze opened into a large flat area to reveal a glass gazebo. Hadrian came to a halt and I sidled up next to him, looking at him with silent longing.
Though it was dark, the torches around the maze cast dim light into the gazebo.
I saw three shadowy figures moving on the other side of the glass, like dancers on a stage. They glided together. Arms twining around necks, fingers plowing into hair, heads thrown back in pleasure.
A sound escaped my throat, dragging Hadrian’s attention to me. His eyes glimmered with desire as he gently pulled me to stand in front of him. The heat of him was at my back and more warmth traveled through my body when Hadrian’s fingers splayed across my shoulder, rooting me in place.
My eyes had adjusted to the flickering light of the torches that illuminated the gazebo, and I watched the scene unfold.
Two men. One woman. They circled her like they were