Chapter 5

The air in the private box was thick, heavy with the scent of expensive perfume, aged wood, and the low hum of the orchestra tuning their instruments below. The grand opera house was a cavern of red velvet and gold trim, a labyrinth of plush seating and heavy drapes that swallowed the light, creating an intimate world apart from the thousands of patrons filling the auditorium. But we weren’t thinking about the performance. We weren’t even thinking about the music yet, because the tension between us had become a physical weight, pressing against my chest, making it hard to breathe. I sat on the edge of the deep red velvet divan, my legs crossed, trying to maintain some semblance of dignity, but my skirt had ridden up dangerously high on my thighs. He stood before me, tall and imposing in his tailored tuxedo, the white of his shirt contrasting sharply with the dark fabric. His eyes were dark, hungry, devouring me with a intensity that made my knees weak. I looked up at him, my heart hammering against my ribs like a trapped bird, waiting for his next move. "Look at you, baby girl," he murmured, his voice a low