“Bryce,” I murmured, basking in the sensation of him, his breath hot on my cheek, his sack slapping against me with each thrust, his tight grip on my knee as he lifted it for access.
“You’re mine.” There was a carnal edge to his voice as he drove into me, long, steady strokes changing to frenzied thrusts.
“I’m yours,” I echoed, holding his face while everything else slipped from my mind. Nothing mattered but him, but us.
And then the dam broke, leaving an orgasm gushing through me in its wake. Bryce’s features contorted with his release, gasping for breath as he came inside me.
For a moment, we were silent, our chests heaving for breath, staring at each other in the aftermath of what we’d done.
Then he slowly withdrew from me, carefully laid down the skirt of my dress, and adjusted his pants. And then he kissed me again, taking his time like it didn’t matter that we’d been absent from his party for too long already.
But when he pulled back, he looked me in the eyes. “Are you sure about this?” he asked. “Once we go out there, there’s no going back.”
Instead of speaking, I slipped my hand through his and walked toward the door. As soon as we got through, Cruz rushed up to us with panic in his eyes, saying, “Where the hell have you been?”
64.Bryce
My entire bodytensed at Cruz’s question and the chaos I could hear coming from the ballroom. “What happened?”
“The Daybreak Dominion were here.”
I winced at the thought of the damage those sycophants could cause in a crowded room. Still holding Jada’s hand, I started walking with Cruz toward the ballroom. “What did they do?”
We walked through the double doors into the ballroom, and I scanned the people. Dozens of guests sat spread about on the floor in their black-tie wear, surrounded by helpful others.
“They started flashing people with a massively bright flashlight,” Aaric said.
“A flashlight?” If the people inside didn’t look so hurt, it would have been funny.
Instead, Aaric looked grim as he nodded to confirm I’d heard him correctly.
“Did we catch the people who did it?”
He frowned. “No. Hotel security is giving the footage to our security team and the police when they get here.”
“And medical? Has someone called an ambulance?” I asked.
Aaric nodded. I turned to Jada. “I need to take care of this, but I’m not sure it’s safe here. Will you let Gen take you home?”
Jada nodded slowly, seeming unsure.
“We’ll talk more tomorrow. Brunch?”
A small smile graced her full lips. “Sounds good.”
“Aaric, will you walk her outside?” I asked. “Make sure she gets into the limo with Gen?” I wasn’t sure who I could trust around here. Especially after Jude’s behavior.
Aaric nodded, and he started walking with her, his hand at her mid back. Taking a breath, I turned to the wreckage. It seemed like all the guests who were in pain were older men.
My eyebrows knitted together. That didn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t women have been attacked too?
It all came together. I saw Simon on the floor, Quentin and a few other party guests surrounding him. Whoever attacked had been trying to reachhim. I hurried toward them, careful not to trip over anyone, and knelt between Q and Simon. “What’s going on?” I asked them.
Simon blinked and then winced, putting his hand back over his eyes.
“They were trying to send a message,” Simon said. “It’s imprinted in the light.”
My eyebrows flew up. “They put a message in the flashlight.”
