Page 31 of Scorching Sienna

“Bye, Si. Stay in touch, okay?” I don’t get a chance to respond before the door is closed behind him.

“Do not kill my son.” Lady Chatman’s words are delivered jokingly, but her gaze locks onto Damon with something deeper—like shegenuinely wonders if he might actually murder Brad. Thankfully, a few seconds later, she breaks the tension, her earlier smile returning to light up her beautiful face.

“My son does not stay for my parties. That would be too awkward. At least now I can join in the fun. So…” Lady Chatman claps her hands together, her eyes drifting between me and Damon.

“Shall we?” She seems almost giddy, and given that she doesn’t like her son staying for the event, I wonder what we will be walking into.

Damon’s hand doesn’t stray from my lower back as we follow Lady Chatman up one of the sweeping double stairways leading up to the mansion’s second floor. It was straight out of a movie.

“I know you must be shocked, Sienna. The last time you saw me, my prospects were looking rather bleak. But then I met my late husband, bless his beautiful soul. Owner of the largest tech company in the world. NewTech. Pays for all this.” Her hand sweeps the large room we are walking through, the marble floor and gold trimmings, a theme throughout the house, attesting to its extravagance.

I have never seen such wealth before. It is utterly unbelievable.

“He also introduced me to a side of myself I didn’t know even existed. Much the same as Damon is, I assume.” She glances over her shoulder, and her words make me blush as memories of everything new I’ve experienced since meeting Damon flood my mind.

At the same time, his hand travels down, grazing the top of my ass. I don’t dare look at him, scared I will combust into a million pieces. This is how he makes me feel. On the edge of existence. One look, one touch, breaking me into a million tiny pieces that want to be here and everywhere all at once. If exhilarating could be defined, this is it.

As we progress through the mansion, a distinct change in the lighting occurs. While the entrance was well-lit, the lighting becomes dim and sensual, a red glow adding to the latter.

“Did Damon tell you about my parties?” Lady Chatman asks, stopping just before an archway. The noise behind her tells us that we have reached our destination.

I look at Damon, his expression giving nothing away as his dark chocolate eyes meet mine.

Shaking my head draws a chuckle from Lady Chatman.

“Naughty boy.” Lady Chatman admonishes Damon, who shrugs his shoulders indifferently.

“Well, you are lucky, then. This one is tame compared to the norm.”

Lady Chatman enters the room, and as I am about to follow, Damon grabs my hand, halting me.

“I got you something.” In his hand is a small black box. Indiscernible.

My gaze meets his, his once again scorching my skin and leaving me feeling burned. I lift the lid off the box, revealing a delicate gold bracelet featuring a stone similar to the one on the necklace I am wearing—the necklace from my secret admirer.

Damon’s fingers easily unclip the clasp, and he holds the ends open. I turn my wrist and hold it out. My eyes remain on his face as he clasps the bracelet, his thumb caressing the vein on my wrist as he does. No doubt, alluding to my inner state as it pulses erratically. Why is every interaction with him so intense? Does he feel the same way?

He doesn’t let go of my hand. Instead, his fingers intertwine with mine as the bracelet lightly shifts against my skin.

I imagine this must be what being born is like—to feel everything intensely as it happens. Life dulls us down until, finally, someone awakens your soul, your body, and every molecule. You start feeling everything again—even the minute things.

We walk into the room, a massive hall with a large dance floor. In the front is a huge rectangular stage where a band is playing. The singerlooks familiar, though I can't place her, as is the song she sings. It is sensual and slow, with couples already on the dance floor swaying to the music.

Scattered around the room are couches, with some tables and chairs dotted in between. Comfortable and intimate rather than the formal setup I was expecting. In the corner of a room, surrounded by even more couches, are two stripper poles, though currently, they are unused.

Another thing I notice is how plush the carpet is. It is like walking on the carpeting inSin'sback offices.

Damon and I head to the bar, where he orders me a glass of champagne and their finest whiskey. However, I could tell by the slight pinch of his mouth that it wasn’t to his taste.

“Missing your usual?” I ask him, pointing to the drink he holds.

“I am a creature of habit.” Was he? I never took him for that.

He leads us to a table in a secluded section close to the back of the hall.

Two other couples are seated across from us, a tip of their heads and a smile the only interaction.

The music here isn’t too loud, which makes talking somewhat easier.

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