I’ve craved it. Thought of it on repeat after the fact as my body longs for more. When he threatens me, I’m not scared of him. I don’t submit to his demands because I’m worried he’ll hurt me.
I do it because Ilikedoing what he tells me to do.
Giving up control.
The pure peace and clarity I get when everything about me is in his hands.
The feeling of being put back together, lovingly, carefully, after he’s broken me apart.
And so, as we waltz through the ballroom in our masks and finery, and I dance with him at a fancy gala knowing the savagery and monstrousness he’s capable of, we’re really two couples, melded into one.
The glittering prince and princess.
But also, the brutal Dom and his submissive sub.
Hence…juxtaposition.
“You’re averygood dancer,” I breathe, panting a little as the quartet finishes a seriously impressive—and fast-paced—rendition of “The Skater’s Waltz”.
Vaughn smirks a little but then dips his head. “So are you, but you don't need me to tell you that.”
I grin, then my brow furrows. “Seriously, where’d you learn to dance like that?”
I mean, it was just a waltz, but it wasperfect. So were the dances before. Which is…not something I’d expect from a man who rips out throats and fucks you on the floor with his belt around your throat.
“Someone close to me suggested I learn.”
I smile grimly. “Let me guess. Sabine.”
Vaughn’s mouth curls into a smile as he cups my jaw, lightly brushing his thumb over my bottom lip.
“There’s something veryfuckableabout you when you get jealous, you know,” he murmurs.
“I know the feeling,” I breathe as his hand slips from my mouth and falls away.
“But no, not Sabine.” He frowns, then shakes it away. “Anyway, it was suggested that learning to ballroom dance would impress my predecessor, thus allowing me to get closer to his inner circle and eventually usurp him.”
I arch a brow. “You learned ballroom dancing tokill your boss?”
“And to impress beautiful professional ballerinas, should the occasion arise,” he murmurs.
“Monsieur le Marquis?”
We turn to see a young man in a tuxedo bowing stiffly.
“If you would care to follow me, Monsieur d’Auvrelle will meet with you now.”
I glance up at Vaughn, confused. Why does that name sound familiar? Vaughn just nods. “A moment, please.”
“Of course,monsieur.”
The man retreats and waits by a gilded archway to one of the many opulent hallways of the château.
“Xavier d’Auvrelle,” Vaughn says, seeing the question on my face. “The head of the d’Auvrelle family.”
It clicks.
“Wait,thatd’Auvrelle family?” I blurt quietly.
