Her chest burned, betrayal burning deep. They are both in it, she thought as she backed away, heart pounding and her gown snagging the wall. They're liars. She hit the bar, gripping the counter, clutch trembling as the anonymous text flashed in her eyes, she needed those logs but Julian's control and Elias's secret barred her.
A figure loomed; tall, blond, leather jacket over a crisp suit, his blue eyes glinted, smile sharp and dangerous. "Elena Marquez?" He said, voice smooth but laced with mischief. "Damian Reed. You're turning heads, wanna turn mine?
Her pulse spiked, his rugged charm a jolt. Julian's rival and he knows something. "Depends, Reed", she said, voice steady and defiant. "What's your game?" Heat stirred, unbidden, her body betraying her mission. He's trouble, and I'm tempted.
Damian stepped closer, whiskey and smoke scent enveloping her. "My game? Power, freedom, no cages," he said, voice a rough drawl, dripping want. "Reed innovations needs your fire and the job's yours, real stakes, no leash." His gaze raked her, lingering on her lips, bold and hungry.
Her core tightened, ambition and lust colliding. A job? His tech could crack Phoenix. "Big words," she said, eyes narrowing. "I don't jump for promises". Her skin flushed, his confidence pulling, guilt clawing for Mateo. Julian's fire, Elias's warmth, now this?
"Promises?" Damian laughed, low, gritty, leaning in, breath teasing her ear. "I'm offering a throne, Elena. You are too bright for this crowd". His fingers brushed her wrist, sparking her skin, nipples hardening under the gown.
Her breath caught, wet heat pooling between her thighs. "I don't need your throne", she snapped, masking desire. "I am building my own, Reed", her eyes challenged, defiance burning.
Julian appeared, suit carved to his muscular frame, gray eyes blazing. "Reed", he growled, voice sharp, a blade in silk. "Back off, she's my fiancée". His hand grazed Elena's back, possessive, staking a claim, his cedar and spice scent enveloping her.
Damian's brow arched, grin widening, surprise flickering. "Fiancée?" he said, voice teasing, eyes flicking to Elena. "Didn't peg you for the settling type, Marquez. Cross keeping you on a leash?" His tone was light, but underneath screamed a challenge, probing her loyalty.
Her pulse raced, caught in their life. Julian's claiming me, Damian's testing me. "No leash," she snapped, voice hard, stepping forward, breaking Julian's touch. "I play my own game, Reed". Desire for both burned, guilt twisting.
Julian's jaw clenched, eyes darkening, jealousy raw. "Your game?" he said, voice low and possessive. "Play it with me, Ms. Marquez, not him". His tone was smooth, but it screamed ownership, his hand hovering, itching to reclaim her.
Damian laughed, eyes on Elena, undeterred. "Quite a claim, Cross", he said in a rough and daring voice. "She's got more fire than your empire. My offer still stands, Marquez, no strings." He winked, a taunt, stepping back, giving her space but not relenting.
Her core throbbed, ambition and lust warring. "I'll think about it," she said, voice cool, dodging the heat. "Don't wait up, Reed". I'm defying them both. Her eyes flicked to Julian, challenging his jealousy, power surging.
The music turned sultry, a heavy beat pulsing through the roof top. Damian offered his hand, eyes devouring her. "Dance with me, Marquez. Come, show me your moves."
Julian's grip tightened on his glass; eyes stormy. "Elena", he growled, voice low, a warning. "Don't".
Her defiance flared, Julian's possessiveness a chain she'd break. "Watch me," she said, voice sharp, taking Damian's hand, leading him to the dance floor. Whispers erupted—Cross's fiancée with Reed? Scandal. Elias's gown clung to her, his warmth a distant ache, his brown eyes watching from the bar, tense and longing.
Damian pulled her close, hand low on her waist, guiding her with raw swagger. "Didn't know you were spoken for," he murmured, voice rough, hot against her ear. "You don't act like it, Cross looks ready to kill. You're fucking fearless" His thigh pressed hers, deliberate, sparking heat, her body aching.
Her breath hitched; his touch electric. I'm defying Julian, and I want this. "Spoken for?" she said, voice sultry, meeting his gaze. "I am not here to play safe, I am here for me". Her pulse pounded, Julian's pounded, Julian's jealous stare burning her back, fueling her.
He spun her, pressing tighter, lips grazing her neck, breath scorching. "For you? I'd give you everything," he growled, voice husky, hand sliding lower, teasing her hip. "You're fire, Marquez, and I'm burning". His touch ignited her, wet heat surging, her hips swaying closer.
Her body pulsed, desire drowning distrust. He's playing me, and I'm falling. "You don't know me," she teased, voice sharp, pushing back, body begging to grind closer. Julian's watching, and I'm breaking free. Her eyes flicked to Julian, his fists clenched, jealousy raw, spurring her on.
Damian slowed, face inches from hers, eyes blazing. "I'm learning fast," he said, voice thick, lips hovering, a seductive near kiss, breath mingling, daring her to crash. "What's your next move, Marquez?"
Her body screamed to close the gap, mind screaming Mateo's name. No! I'm in control. She jerked back, heart slamming, breaking his hold. "Not that," she said, voice firm, hiding the ache.
Damian grinned, respect in his eyes. "Your call," he said, stepping back, leaving her skin buzzing, his scent clinging. "Offer's still there."
She turned, catching Elias at the bar, jet black hair loose, brown eyes heavy, jaw tight, longing and restraint warring. Julian stood nearby, gray eyes molten, fury and desire warring. Good, burn Cross. Her chest burned, Elias's warmth pulling, Damian's heat lingering, Julian's fire scorching. How can I want them all when they're liars?
Julian stalked over, voice a low growl. "Enjoy your rebellion?" he said, tone smooth, jealousy simmering. "You're testing me, Ms. Marquez".
Defiance surged, guilt fading. "It was a dance," she snapped, voice hard. "Not a betrayal. You want a fiancée? Trust me to play the part."
His eyes narrowed, respect cutting through rage. "Trust? Earn it," he said, voice clipped. "Reed's poison and you're done with him."
She laughed, sharp. "Poison? Look at yourself." Her words stung, fueled by phoenix's shadow.
Elias approached, ocean and leather scent grounding her. "Rough move," he said, voice soft, cautious, eyes searching. "You, okay?"
Her breath caught, his concern piercing. "I'm fine," she said, voice tight, dodging his pull. "Just shaking things up."
He nodded, pain flashing in his eyes. "Shake careful," he said, voice low. "Reed's not the only shark." His tone was gentle, secrets heavy.
Her clutch buzzed—a text from an unknown number: Lab logs encrypted and Reed has keys. Her heart leaped, the tip a spark. Reed's my way in, but at what cost? A woman nearby dropped her tablet, a file flashing—Project phoenix: classified. Her pulse spiked, fingers itching to grab it.
Julian's hand grazed her waist, voice low, a low growl. "Gala's done, fiancée, and you're coming home with me". his eyes burned, jealousy and desire warring, his touch possessive, daring her to resist.
Her body hummed, his fire pulling, distrust warring. "Your penthouse?" she said, Voice steady, heart rising. "Fine, Cross. Let's go". I'll play your game, for answers.
His smirk curled, eyes blazing. "Good girl," he said, guiding her to the exit, grip tight, claiming. She glanced back, Elias's gaze heavy with loss and Damian's grin taunting from the crowd.