“If I knew you’d look that beautiful in white, I’d have chosen this color instead of red for my Rosebud,” a deep voice rasped in my ear.

I stilled, my heart stopped in my chest.

Deep breath, Em! Deep breaths!

Inhaling deep, I searched for my voice. “You were mistaken if you thought I’d wear the gown you sent me.” I decided to wear another dress I’d bought with Tess the other day, instead of the one he bought for me. Even though I loved that gown.

Wait, did he just call me his Rosebud again?

“And I’m not yours.” Tilting my head, I looked up at him over my shoulder. It was a mistake. My breath hitched as soon as my gaze met his.

He wore his hair and beard longer tonight. I hadn’t seen him in two days, and his thick stubble was so grown today, giving him an extra look of edge and roughness. His dark hair touched the collar of his shirt. My hands itched to run over his covered jaw and smooth hair. While his stormy irises remained the same, intense on me, dark and dominant.

His heady cologne with his signature smell of a hint of smoke tingled my nostrils. Something tugged in my lower region as I filled my lungs with him.

Suddenly I felt him against me, his arms caging me around the bar. When did he come so close?

A groan reverberated through his chest as he brushed a strand away from my face. His intense gaze fell on my parted lips. “And again, I’m going to repeat that, Rosebud.” Leaning in, he brushed his lips on my earlobe. “You’re mine.”

A shiver ran down my spine. Another tug in the forbidden area had me mortified. Averting my eyes, I tried to break his cage and fly away, but he only pulled me close, binding me in his arms again.

The music began in the background, indicating the dance had started, while I continued to scowl and wiggle in his arms. He watched me in amusement.

The look in his orbs did something to me. He watched me as if he was looking at the most precious and beautiful thing in the world. His usual hollow eyes had light and… happiness. A serene, tiny smile tugged on his lips.

When my struggle finally died down, he took my hand in his. “Dance with me?”

“No,” I said, but not moving away from him.I was turning weak again, I knew. I couldn’t help it. He made me like this, he made me weak for him.

Ignoring my answer, he gently kissed my hand and pulled me into the dance floor among the other couples, who were already swaying under the slow music.

And all the time, I felt a pair of eyes on me. It wasn’t a warm feeling, though. The shiver that ran down my spine was chilling.

EIGHTEEN: HURTING