He steps closer, but not too close—just enough to invade oxygen. “Because,” Slade murmurs, “you look like temptation incarnate. Wearing that beside me would suggest you’re already claimed.”
My pulse thunders.
“And since you are not… every noble house would assume I’m making astatement.”
Rhea points. “Okay, that’shotbut also terrifying. Next dress.”
Flabbergasted, I peel my jaw off the floor, practically running for the safety of my bedroom. I shut the door behind me, slip out of the gown, pull out the next… And promptly—gasp.
It’s emerald green. Off-the-shoulder. Soft satin that pools at my hips.
I slip it on, inhale, and walk out.
Slade goes still again. More still than before. His pupils blow wide, and his jaw looks like it’s clenched hard enough to crack teeth. “Slade?” I say.
He inhales sharply, jaw tightening. “Piper.”
“What?” I whisper.
“You need to stop.”
My stomach flips. “Why?”
“Because the curse is…responding.”
I frown, glancing around, only to realize he’s right. The Christmas tree lights begin strobing like a rave. The tinsel shivers, like a snow has beensummoned from the arctic. My garland slowly raises itself off the bookshelf like it’s performing an exorcism.
Oh God.
“Slade…”
He steps toward me—slow, controlled, predatory—but he stops a breath away, hands flexing like he wants to touch and is forcing himself not to.
“I think if I come any closer,” he says softly, “Your whole apartment might combust.” He smirks, eyes shifting from me to the room.
The sink turns on. A snow globe shakes itself off the shelf. The mistletoe over my doorway wiggles ominously.
Rhea snorts. “Okay, okay, end this runway show before we summon Santa’s horny ghost.”
I whirl toward her. “RHEA.”
She holds up her hands. “I’m just saying! The magic CLEARLY wants you two together.”
Slade’s eyes lock onto mine. I feel it instantly. Heat. The pull.Gravity.
“It does,” he murmurs.
My breath goes shallow. He steps back—barely. But enough to let the tree lights settle into a slow pulsing glow. “Try the third one,” he says, voice low, controlled, dangerous.
I swallow. “There’s athird?”
“There aresix,” Rhea chirps.
I groan.
Slade’s mouth curves into a sinful smile. “Let’s see them all.”
I tuck tail so fast I almost trip over the gown, darting into my bedroom door like he personally set my ass on fire.
