portion of the mansion, my shoulders rounded and posture straight because once we can be seen, we’re to be in character.
Our families would love nothing more than for Ivy and me to be brainless socialites like our mothers, but beneath our masks are the truth of us.
Ivy, while educated and much tougher than me, is a force to be reckoned with. And even though I’m not as agile or devious as her, I’m perfectly happy being a hidden wild child.
We all have our secrets, and mine is that I enjoy tasting the areas of life that most respectable people don’t discuss in polite society.
I think that’s why I enjoyed Europe so much. They were much more open when it comes to sex, their shoulders free of the American pearl-clutching and delicate sensibilities.
We’re heading toward the back doors when I remember I’ll need gallons of alcohol to make it through the night, but before I can grab Ivy to pull her to the bar, Paul Rollings steps up to start a conversation with her.
He’s the last person I want to talk to, so I take that as my cue to step away and go in search of something much stronger than the champagne being passed around on silver serving trays.
Smiling as I see a group of my parents’ friends, I head in the direction of the bar, only to have my arm grabbed as I pass a service hall.
I’m yanked right before I can turn to see who grabbed me, my back impacting a wall as I’m caged in place by a presence that still has the ability to weaken my knees.
Amber eyes stare down at me, that feral gaze even more beautiful than I remembered.
“Good to see you again, killer.” Ezra’s fingers softly brush over the exposed skin of my shoulder. “Miss me?”
How do you tell somebody they hold a piece of your heart?
What are the best words to admit that there’s a part of your soul missing that can only be filled by them?
How do you lie and tell them you haven’t missed them at all because the truth is far too painful?
“I may have thought about you once or twice,” I say with a grin, praying that he doesn’t hear the way my voice shakes to hold the rest of my thoughts inside.
Killer.
It was always Ezra’s nickname for me, while Damon was partial to calling me Red.
At my response, one corner of Ezra’s mouth curls enough for a dimple to indent his cheek, and when that amber stare dips down to my mouth, I lose the ability to breathe.
His head tilts just slightly to the side before dipping down to fill my vision. He always makes sure that all I can see is him whenever he’s close by.
“I missed you,” he whispers. “And you’ve been pissing me off for the last ten years. I think you should know that. I don’t appreciate being ignored.”
He runs the tip of his nose along my jaw, his scent seducing me, a dark spice weaved through masculine musk, the very feel of it forbidden.
Mouth against my ear, he says, “We have an engagement present for you. But we can’t give it to you yet. Meet us upstairs in an hour.”
I wonder if he can feel my pulse racing beneath my skin, or if he can hear the indecision that’s screaming in my head.
They always do this to me.
Always...
Although it’s Ezra that calls to me the most.
“You know I can’t,” I begin to argue, but he presses his thumb against my lips in a silent reminder of the past.
“You told us a long time ago you’d wear black for this night. And we promised you we’d make it all better.”
Amber eyes meet mine when he turns his head. “Don’t make us liars.”
My body trembles in memory of what we were doing when that particular promise was made. I feel sweaty and oh so deliciously dirty just thinking about it.
“Just like before?” I ask, my gaze tangling with his in a way that is far too dangerous.
He nods.
“Just for fun?”
Another nod.
Damn it, I shouldn’t be tempting myself with this.
My heart thumps once and then twice, each beat painful before he whispers the rest of a joke we often said in high school.
“Just this once.”
No.
I should say no.
Fuck! Why can’t my lips form that one simple syllable?
“Just this once,” I repeat, my voice breathless.
His grin widens before he presses a soft kiss to my temple.
“That’s my girl. We’ll see you in an hour.”
Ezra winks and