Page 167 of Priceless

“Seems like I need to invest in more clothes I can destroy when it comes to you.”

“Or,” I slid my hands up his lapels and straightened his tie, “you can think of it as me presenting you with a pretty package for you to unwrap. Slowly.”

I used the word presenting on purpose. My own double entendre.

“Careful, sweetheart, or I’ll have you presenting right in the middle of this ballroom.”

“I don’t think that’s the kind of show we’re trying to put on tonight.”

Cam sighed and kissed me lightly, so as not to mess up my lipstick. “You’re right. I’ll have to suffer.”

I was going to tell him he was looking forward to this gala as much as I was, but I was distracted by Micah and Everett coming in. Now I was surrounded by hotness, and I savored their attention on me.

“Your first guests are here,” Micah said, but neither of them could stop looking at me.

I smirked as I passed them, going to meet Trinity and Isolde. They watched me leave, and the fire burning in all three of our bonds nearly had me perfuming.

“Holy shit, Ocean.” Trinity gasped. “You look incredible.”

“Thank you.”

I twirled again just in time for Isolde to step inside and see me. Her pack followed her. “You’re finally wearing it. Fuck yes.”

Faking a curtsy, I pulled them both into a hug. “It honestly feels really good. And I can’t wait for the rest of it.”

“Oh, I am so ready for the show,” Trinity said with a grin. “I can’t wait.”

Back in the ballroom, my husbands and Isolde’s pack introduced themselves. I’d spoken about them on our honeymoon and over the last few days while we planned everything. It was good to see them mingling, because if I had my way, we would all be seeing a lot of each other.

Isolde nudged my shoulder with hers. “Happiness looks good on you, you know.”

“Right back at you.”

Even I could admit I looked different when I looked at myself in the mirror. Happiness and peace were the only things that had ever made me feel that way. And tonight, I hoped a taste of revenge would do the same.

I heard the front door open once more outside of the ballroom and smiled. “Here goes nothing.”

The party was a complete success. Raina and her pack were here, along with other friends of my husbands. More people than I knew, but many of them I recognized from our wedding. It didn’t matter because I was walking on clouds.

Until I saw Jason. The man who I’d danced with at the first gala. I would thank him for providing my husbands an easy entrance, but I now knew they were always going to come for me.

I approached him at the drinks table. “You’re Jason, right?”

He grinned, full of arrogance. “I am. Nice to see you again, Ocean. You look fantastic. Change your mind about letting me take you home?”

The urge to roll my eyes was so strong it was painful. “I’m married now. And bonded. Surely you knew that if you came here?”

“Yeah, but…” he shrugged. “It’s all for show, right?”

“It is very much not for show.”

That only made him smile deeper. “I knew it.”

“Knew what?”

“That you were a freak. You must have had something to trap them into this. Or they’re the freaks, just like me. Or,” he leaned closer. “You’re lying, it is all for show, and your husbands are cheating on you with women they actually find attractive, in which case, I’m still very willing to take you home.”

Rage filled me, both at the implication that I wasn’t good enough, but also at the idea that they would do something like that.

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