Page 55 of Stars in Umbra
The slinky fabric shimmered under the pendant lights, the deep neckline daring, the cut tailored to perfection.
She moved like a woman who owned her power, the heat of eyes on her the moment she entered the room.
People turned, as she passed, taking her in, but she didn’t break her stride.
Then, a hand curled around her bicep.
It was warm, calloused, and possessive.
She inhaled as she was spun into the firm wall of Mo’s chest.
A hint of leather and smoke clung to him, his scent a primal mix that spoke of strength and danger.
His very essence was dominant, dangerous, and so freakin’ divine it made her head spin.
He loomed above her, his gaze dark as obsidian, his voice a rough and sensual rasp.
‘With me,mikaya.’
Her stomach flipped, a giddy, dizzying sensation.
He didn’t wait for her answer; he just led her, his palm warm and solid on the small of her back.
He guided her up a restricted stairwell along the edge ofThe Osirian’s main floor to a gallery loft.
The private sitting area featured two tables and a curved viewing rail that overlooked the restaurant below.
The floors were made of black crystal, and the lounge chairs were plush, upholstered in storm-gray velvet.
Crystalline sculptures gleamed in alcoves.
Holo screens blinked behind one-way tinted walls, displaying curated galaxies in a slow, twinkling drift.
The view through the glass wall offered a full sweep of the bar and dining crowd downstairs, but up here, it was like another world.
One that was private, serene, with a luxurious hush in the air.
The vibe here was sumptuous, intimate, and a welcome relief from the crowds.
‘I love this,’ she breathed, settling into one of the chairs. ‘It’s exquisite.’
‘We aim to please,’ Mo growled.
He waved down a server, murmuring an order.
He returned to her, sinking into the opposite lounge with that effortless sprawl of his.
Thick thighs relaxed, his arm draped along the backrest, his eyes never leaving her.
‘You look beautiful,’ he rasped.
Just like that, no flirting, not even a smirk.
Just his truth, raw and real.
The simple statement that hit her with the force of a tidal wave.
Rina’s heart flipped.
