Page 74 of Burn for Me

“Sam?”

That sweet voice calls my name, but I’m busy downing a glass of whisky by the island.Tonight has to go well.

“Yes, Little Devil?” I call out, and the sound of clacking heels echoes off the elegant interior of the room, but I don’t get a response.

“Come on now, Darlin’, we're going to be–” I turn towards the noise, and my breath is knocked from my lungs.

She is a fuckin’ vision. A maroon silk dress fits her perfectly, highlighting her shape in a way that’s both classy and a bit sexy. She may say I'm not allowed around her arse right now, but there's no way in hell she's going to be stopping me later. Especially since when she turns, it reveals a daring slit that trails up to her thigh, hinting at the lace I can only imagine she’s wearing underneath.

“I can’t zip it.” Jasmine murmurs, but I’m frozen, swallowing against the dryness that has suddenly settled in my throat. She’s not wearing much makeup; it’s minimal, with a thin black line on her eyelids and her eyelashes curled over a subtle dark shadow. She huffs at my silence, and I focus on her red-painted lips, parting with the sound.

“You're just as bad as Sharkie and Moe.” She grumbles.

I scowl as I realize Moe saw her in this before I did.

“Turn around,” I mutter. She complies, revealing the length of her bare back to my gaze. I trace my finger down her skin, noting the slight irritation along her spine where a red line lingers.

“You can breathe, you know.” She teases, and I grin.

“Fire feeds off oxygen. I’m worried you might erupt into flames with how hot you look.”

Slowly, I slide the zipper to the top and clasp the little hook things. Her laugh vibrates through her shoulders, causing a little shake, and I fight back a grin.

That laugh is for me. That blush is for me.She is for me.

Slowly, she turns, pulling my tie between her fingers and gliding one end over the other. Even though she's focused on her task, I'm captivated by how her lashes brush against her cheeksand the little scrunch of her nose. Now that I know I have a heart, I should probably get it checked—it's racing faster than ever.

“I gathered all our things. We’ll go home after the party,” I murmur, feeling the need to say something. Her expression briefly falters, but then she beams brightly again, and my brows furrow as I try to decipher the worry lines creasing her forehead.

“Right. Home.” She whispers to herself more than me while smoothing my tie against my chest. Just like that, she turns and gathers her things into her purse. It's funny since I’ve already packed everything she needs in there myself. Well,almosteverything.

Walking to the fireplace, I drag my hand along the mantle, and my fingers brush against the red gem-encrusted half-mask. It features two small horns raised at the sides and a thick black band designed to fit around her head. Figuring out how to keep it from messing up her hair was challenging, but there was no way in hell I was listening to her complain about it, so I took my time. There’s even a tiny microphone attached underneath the bridge of the nose, allowing Tide to hear her without any interference. I had to do the same on my mask, but I won’t mention that to her. She seemed proud of her work, and I didn’t want her to think that I had altered it in any way.

"I guess I have everything. You need to stop packing for me."

I chuckle softly and turn to watch her step closer. That dress is going to be my bloody death.

"Seriously, I feel so helpless."

"You're anything but, darlin'."

She smiles, and I can't help but offer a hint of a smile in return as I thread the band through her hair, adjusting the mask on her nose. This woman wears my ring, my last name, my mask, and she holds my heart. Sure, things aren't perfect, but they will be.

“Come on, Little Devil,” I mutter, kissing her head as she nods.

I don’t take long to grab and toss our duffle bags onto a baggage cart, so I don’t ruffle my suit by carrying them. Jasmine stays close by my side, chin held high, looking like a goddess as she walks ahead of me to the elevator. Not once does her composure waver, and she never trips over her heels, which is a miracle considering they look like they could break her ankle with a tiny misstep.

“I’ll be in the car in a moment; I just need to return our keys,” I call out. Jasmine comes to a sudden halt, slowly turning her head back to look at me. Holy shit, if looks could kill, I’d be in dancing with my demons right now.

“I can handle that,” she replies, her tone a little too sweet for my liking, but I’ll let her have this one. I’m not afraid of many things, but I’ve realized that Jasmine knows how to intimidate without trying.

With elegant grace, she strides to my side and slips her fingers into my jacket while placing a kiss on my cheek. I let out a gruff huff and roll my eyes with a grin. It’s clear to me now—she’s always been jealous and territorial. I’m just still trying to adjust to the fact that she doesn’t try to hide it.

“Leave the girl alone,” I warn, and she smiles brightly.

Shaking my head, I carefully tuck everything into our vehicle's trunk, ensuring it’s all safe and snug in a little compartment. That way, if any of those fuckers get curious while we’re inside, all they'll find is my underwear and those fluffy robes Jasmine stole.

Leaning against the car, I tap my foot on the pavement and glance at my watch again. It hasn’t been long, but I’m worried she might have lost her cool and ruined the dress I’m so eager to rip off her later.What fun will it be if it’s already torn?

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