Chapter 2

The air in the corner of the lodge was thick, heavy with the scent of pine, old wood, and the musk of a hundred bodies who had danced before us. The main hall was a blur of tuxedos and silk, a cacophony of laughter and clinking crystal that seemed to fade into a distant hum as I stepped away from the crowd. My heels clicked against the polished hardwood, a sharp, staccato rhythm that seemed to echo in my chest, matching the frantic beating of my heart. I didn’t look back. I knew he was watching. I could feel the weight of his gaze, a physical touch that traced the line of my spine, down the curve of my waist, and settled low in my belly. I found the quiet alcove just beyond the arched doorway, a secluded nook where the velvet drapes pooled on the floor, creating a shadowed sanctuary away from the prying eyes of our mutual friends. The roar of the fireplace from the main room was muffled here, replaced by the crackle of logs and the soft jazz playing from the overhead speakers. I pressed my back against the cool stone wall, my breath coming in