better.
I know how much of an addict I can be.
But I also know one small taste of the past will be enough to help me through this night.
One release so powerful that I can cling to it when the time comes for our engagement to be announced.
Just for fun, I remind myself.
Just this once...
Fuck it.
What’s a girl to do when something so utterly tempting is just waiting there, begging for her to reach out and take it?
“I have to go.”
Ivy’s eyes snap to mine. “Now? But...”
She nudges her chin toward the house, and I glance over to see Gabriel Dane walking our direction.
Whatever. She acts like she doesn’t want to see him, but I know better. Ivy can’t help herself when it comes to Gabe.
Knowing she can take care of herself when it comes to him, I step away.
“Just ignore him. You’ll be fine. And I have a date upstairs.”
She stares at me like I’ve lost my mind, but then grins as I back away.
“Which one is it tonight?”
Laughter floats over my lips. “Why choose?”
“Both?” Her eyes widen with surprise. “At the same time?”
It won’t be the first time.
But it has to be the last.
“I only have so much freedom left. Might as well have fun.”
I turn to run along before she can say anything else, Gabriel’s eyes following me as I speed past him toward the house.
As soon as I walk inside, the air conditioning brushes over my heated skin, my eyes lifting to look up the grand staircase that is beckoning me toward disaster.
Not seeing Ezra, my brows tug together until my attention is caught by a beautiful brunette in an ombré gown descending quickly down the steps toward me.
Tanner is following after her, and I laugh to think his date finally figured out he’s an asshole and made the smart decision to run.
I take the first step as she moves past me, Tanner not even sparing me a glance as he chases her down.
Turning my head to watch them both approach the bar, I turn back and look up to see a man who stops me in my tracks.
There, just at the top of the stairs, stands Ezra.
I no longer have to be close enough to the twins to see the mark that distinguishes them from each other.
My heart somehow knows how to tell them apart.
I care about both of them, but Ezra...
Oh, God.
Ezra.
How many times in the past ten years has my heart been torn apart when I’ve allowed myself to think of him?
There’s just something about him that makes my pulse pound a little faster. That makes my knees that much weaker. That drags me into his powerful orbit until my shadow caresses him like the planets around the sun.
In many ways, he’s the spark that lit my fire, the first touch of warmth. The oxygen that ignites the blaze inside me until I burn as brightly as him.
Although, you wouldn’t know the fire that exists inside him now.
Not by looking at him, at least.
Among the glittering chandeliers and polished marble floors, among the sequined gowns and silver services trays, and among the glamour and elegance that surrounds us now, he stands like an inkblot stain.
Temperamental.
Fierce.
Predatory.
Feral.
The dark color of his suit matches the dark color of his hair, the absolute lack of light apparent where he stands staring down at me with his hands clasped behind his back.
He’s so still in place, but I know it means nothing.
That’s the thing with Ezra:
Even when you think he’s lazy and subdued, this man is always riding a violent edge.
It weakens me now as my fingers grip the skirt of my gown to lift it up so I won’t trip up the stairs. My legs are shaky, and I’m slightly off balance, but I slowly ascend regardless, my eyes locked to the way his eyes hold me captive and the corner of his mouth tugs up.
As usual, thoughts whisper inside my head, warnings about what he does to me and reminders of the problems that plagued our past.
I worry about the people who are standing around, know they’ll see me and wonder why the future Mrs. Mason Strom is walking off with one of the twins.
It’s enough to make me pause when I’m only halfway up the stairs, Ezra’s brow arching in question, his mouth curling more.
He knows what I’m thinking.
That I’ll run.
That I’ll talk myself out of having anything to do with him.
And he’s not wrong.
This is stupid.
So freaking wrong that I change my mind before reaching