Page 13 of Captain's Claim

"You have no idea who you're dealing with."

"Maybe. But neither do you."

A hand brushes my forearm - Connor, passing by with his own mystery partner. He leans in slightly, murmuring, “Don’t get attached, you two. Those mask comes off at midnight.”

As if I don’t already know who she is.

Sophia tenses slightly at Connor’s words, her fingers flexing against my shoulder. The reminder that this is temporary. Thatwhen the dance ends, we’ll go back to fighting, to pretending we don’t feel this heat simmering between us.

But right now?

She’s mine.

And I’mneverletting her forget it.

The clock above the bar ticks down, each passing second coiling the tension tighter between us.

The longer I hold her, the harder it gets to ignore the way she fits against me. The way her body moves in sync with mine, like she was meant to be here, in my arms, nowhere else.

My fingers flex against the silk at her waist, fighting the instinct to hold tighter, to keep her herejusta little longer.

I shouldn’t want this.

Butfuck, do I ever.

Her breath is shallow now, her pulse hammering beneath my fingertips as my thumb brushes over the exposed dip of her spine, so damn close to the swell of her ass.

Soft. Smooth. Too fucking tempting.

The world narrows. The party fades. It’s just her, just me, lost in the pull of something neither of us should want as the clock ticks down.

Then—

Clink, clink, clink.

A glass taps against a bottle.

Big Mike’s voice rumbles over the music. “Alright, folks. Midnight’s here.”

A murmur rolls through the lounge. Laughter. Excitement. Anticipation.

Sophia’s fingers curl into my jacket, gripping it tight. Like she doesn't want this to end, like she's hanging on for more.

Big Mike grins. “Time for the reveal.”

Her eyes lock onto mine, searching, hesitant… like every fucking fiber of her alreadyknows.

I lift a hand to the tie at the back of my mask.

The silk loosens. The clock strikes midnight.

Her lips part, then…

"Alright, folks! Masks off!"

Chapter Four

Sophia

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