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“I’ll be waiting.”

I roll my eyes. “You don’t have to do that, rookie. Jas and I can find—”

“I’ll be waiting.” He lifts my chin up and bends down to kiss me, then nudges me toward the exit. Before closing the door behind me, I watch as he leaves from the same door he stood by just minutes ago.

I close the robe and clutch my heels to my chest. The door clicks shut, and I practically sprint to the employee’s only section. It’s buzzing inside. Dancers are heading to the back showers while others are stuffing their night bags with leather thongs, lingerie, props, and fishnet outfits. I make my way to my locker and hunt for another outfit before freshening up and shuffling into it.

It’s a simple black one piece with a slit across my stomach and another right above my breasts. I match it up with thigh-length boots. I pull my hair up into a sophisticated-looking bun and attach a pair of long faux silver earrings to my lobes.

I hurtle through the motions of getting ready, placing a matte fox mask on, and head back out to the main floor, still alive with patrons.

I smile stupidly and brush my fingers over my lips. My skin tingles, and the soreness between my legs prompts a delicious throb, reminding me of Dylan’s impossibly large and hard cock pounding into me. He said he was mine, and that I was his. What the fuck does that mean?

“There you are.”

I jump back, startled. It’s a tall, fair-skinned, light-brown haired man with piercing blue-green eyes, a simple gray mask over the top half of his face. I recognize him instantly. Charles, Piper’s man. He looks uncomfortable and out of place. He shifts his weight from one leg to another. Pretending that I don’t know him is easy, I mean, it’s basically true. My chin rises to meet his tall stance.

“We’ve been looking for you. You’re cordially invited to attend a ball. The rules are within this envelope. If you’d like to attend, follow the instructions, and an address will be provided to you one hour before the party begins.”

He hands me a shimmering black envelope and disappears.

It’s four in the morning as Jasmin and I exit the club. It’s two hours til closing, but we came in a couple of hours before opening and get to leave early. I’m still dressed in my one piece with my thigh-length boots, but I throw on a black trench coat and practically run out. Jasmin managed to throw her sweats and a shirt over her outfit and seems overly excited when Dylan takes our bags and opens the door for us.

“I can get used to this.” Jasmin smiles big.

I roll my eyes at her. “Don’t.”

We climb into the back, and the cool air conditioning tames the fire threatening to melt the clothes off my body and turn me into a hissing puddle.

Three minutes later, Dylan makes it onto the highway and I breathe in deep. His car embodies his scent. Leather, patchouli, and rose. I want to reach out and contain it, then lather my body in it.

“I got an invitation to Mayorcerro’slittle ball.”

Jasmin’s sleepy eyes pop open, and she sits up. “Really?”

I nod and peek at Dylan, my expression guarded. “A henchman delivered it.”

Jas’s eyes blanch, but she keeps her cool and takes the envelope from me. “There aren’t very many details. Doesn’t say when, where, or even a time. Just rules and shit.”

“Yea, secrecy is key. Plenty of high rollers are sure to attend, political henchmen among them. Obviously, they know one another. I’ll have to sign a non-disclosure agreement.”

“It says here you can take guests, who’ll have to sign that shit too, of course.”

“You and Sara up for crashing a party?”

Jasmin smiles wickedly. “You know it.”

“I’m attending with you.” Dylan’s voice startles us and we both gape at him.

“You can’t go as mydate. I’m supposed to attend as a possible treat.”

His jaw tenses, and he turns the soft playing music off. Jasmin’s face contorts and mouths,oh shit,but I ignore her.

“Then I’ll go as your bodyguard or your fucking pet if I have to. But I’m not letting you step foot into their hell without me.”

I nod, and my face elongates while I stroke my chin. I point my finger at him. “I like the pet idea.”

His lips break into a wide toothy grin and the air leaves my lungs. I squeeze Jasmin’s hand and struggle to breathe in.Fuck.

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