Page 6 of The Aether

Unsure what he intended, but not truly concerned, she nodded.

His thumb brushed across her bottom lip, and the tingle it created went straight to her core, causing a rush of desire. Awed by his ability to get her juices flowing with a simple light touch, she shook her head.

Immediately, his brows dipped together, and he withdrew.

“I beg your pardon.”

“Oh, no! I didn’t mean for you to stop. I…” Vivian slapped her palm against her forehead and groaned. “I’m making a complete fool of myself.”

“How so?” he asked smoothly, almost curiously.

Again, she shook her head. “When we met, I felt connected to you. Yes, I was irritated by your arrogant dictate about the garden, but Mr. Drake explained why.” Unable to look away from his hypnotically beautiful face, she swallowed hard. “The truth is, from the second you touched me, I had the oddest sensation that I somehowknewyou.”

His mouth softened into a hint of a smile, but he remained silent as he watched her closely.

Licking her lips, she cast a longing glance at Alastair’s forgotten beverage.

Would it be gauche to guzzle it down and relieve her parched throat?

“Go on,” Damian urged.

For a whole three seconds, she thought he meant drink the booze. It belatedly registered he was indicating she should continue her confession.

“I’ve been obsessing for the last two months. Believing I saw interest. Wanting you to be interested.” Swallowing hard, she met his admiring eyes. “How do you do that? How do you seduce with a look or a touch?”

In a flash, his expression hardened, and the room’s temperature dropped a good ten degrees.

Goosebumps pickled her skin, and she rubbed her arms against the chill.

“What did I say wrong, Damian?”

“Go back to your young man, Miss Stephens. See if you can salvage your relationship,” he ordered in an awful voice. “I don’t have time for children’s games.”

“Games? What games?” Her sense of fairness prevented her from walking away without defending herself from whatever slight he’d imagined. “I asked you a legit question.”

“Do you know what true seduction is, Vivian?” he asked. The husky rasp was accompanied by a look so hungry and hot that had she been wearing underwear under her tight gala gown, it would’ve gone up in a poof of smoke. As it was, the unconscious shifting of her thighs caused the material to rustle, drawing his gaze downward as if he could see the beginning of her freakish arousal.

Who got turned on by a probing question?

Speaking of probes… her eyes traveled the length of his torso, pausing briefly on his crotch before she dragged them back up his body to meet his stare.

“I thought I did,” she replied when he seemed to expect an answer.

“Hmm. I wonder.”

Me, too.

“Are you attending the gala tonight?” Again, his gaze swept her body, heating her to the point of uncomfortable.

“I’d intended to, but now, I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”

“Because Drake will be there?”

“Yes. He’s presenting a check for some charity or other.”

“I see.” Shifting closer, Damian held out a hand. “It seems a shame so lovely a gown will go to waste. Will you dance with me, Vivian?”

How did she say no when he asked like he had? As if her agreement meant everything to him.

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