Chandeliers bathed the room in golden light, illuminating the opulence of high society. Isabella kept her smile poise

panion tonight," a woman in an emerald-green gown rem

ned slightly. "Miss Carter is more than jus

focus. She had been prepared for the evening's charade, yet the intensity of Alexander's presence-

could protest, Alexander turned to her, his dark eye

ath cau

rd the dance floor. The moment his arm wrapped around her waist, pul

impossible to ignore the way he affected her. As the music swayed, so did they, their movements in perfect harmo

breath teasing the shell o

rself to maintain control. "Maybe because

dancing in his eyes. "And y

he way he looked at her-like she was something he wanted to consume. His hand pressed a

Miss Carter," he mused. "I

the turmoil churning inside

slightly against her waist.

she came back to him, their bodies molded together in a way that sent heat curling in her stomach. His

tchful eyes of high society-it all became background noise. It was just th

n't until Alexander's lips hovered dangerously close to

d," he murmured, his vo

ng distance between them. "That was just a

as wicked.

away from the dance floor, but she could

with fire, and Alexander Blackwood w