Shock and panic ran through me, stealing my breath.

He caught me off guard. Just like he’d been trying to.

But I was better than that. He forgot I was trained for this.

I looped my arm around his neck and made it more believable by closing my eyes.

“So predictable, baby,” I whispered to him and pulled away to catch the annoyed expression on his face.

Well, I thought it’d be annoyed. But I was wrong.

His eyes were hooded, his gaze dark, and his jaw was tense. His whole body language told me he was having a hard time holding himself back just as his hands dug into my waist.

Holding back from what, though? Punishment? Actually kissing me? Fucking me in front of all the media?

Hard to say, but I didn’t have time to think about it as he grabbed my hand again and quickly walked up the stairs where someone was waiting for us.

A man in a dark altered suit that wrapped around his chest in a robe-like fashion and showed his chest, with long black hair that shone in the moonlight and the most crystal-clear blue eyes I’d ever seen, came into view.

He looked at us with a sultry grin. He exuded sexual prowess. He looked like someone who’d be involved in the auction.

“Addison Mercer,” he said with a smile. “I never thought I’d see the day where you and Warren linked arms.”

As if Warren had forgotten, he dropped my hand like it burned him.

I didn’t miss a beat and lifted the same hand to reach out to the man.

“A pleasure,” I said with a bright smile. “Am I to assume this is your event?”

He took my hand and gave it a light shake.

“It is. I’m Dominic.” He motioned for us to follow him in. “Every year I get various artists and wealthy businesspeople to open up their hearts—and wallets—for a few of my favorite charities.”

“How considerate of you,” I commented just as we entered the house, and my skin immediately felt hot with all the eyes on us. But it wasn’t just that. It felt like we had been picked up and teleported smack into another dimension.

The walls were a light gray, but all the paintings decorating them were dark and surrounded by deep gold frames. Many spanned whole walls; others were clustered together.

Vines and leaves swirled up the corners and to the ceiling where they hung amongst the chandeliers with little white flowers peeking through, mimicking the night sky above.

The vibe was moody, the lights dim, but the people were dressed in their most extravagant clothing. I could just smell the money wafting off them.