Page 61 of Surrender

Just then, a large body in a grey suit steps up to me, a little too close, boxing me in against the bar. "Stepsiblings? Is that your kink?" Adrian asks, his voice low and deep, and only for me. "It is not mine, but I can be your stepdaddy if you want me to be."

I tilt my head back and peer into icy blue eyes. "No thank you," I say simply. This man no longer has the power to scare me, and I can tell the moment he notices the difference. His eyebrow quirks and a smile spreads across his face. It's a shame. He really is incredibly handsome and built like Harrison - just large and masculine. But my heart's already Declan's, and Adrian can't see beyond whathewants. For some reason, he's set his sights on me, but I don't think he actually wants me. He doesn't know the first thing about me, except that I'm a virgin. He likes the idea of me, I think.

"Can I get you your usual vodka tonic, Adrian?"

He frowns at my use of his first name. It was intentional. I'm taking back some of the control he wants to have over me, and belittling him by using his first name, and not Mr. Volkov or sir.

"Dah," he replies, and I slip under his arm to deliver the order to Benji. I wait, arms folded across my chest, my back to Adrian. When Benji's done with the drink, I turn to find Adrian sitting at his usual table. I set the drink down in front of him without another word.

I know we haven't made anything official, but in my mind and my heart I already belong to Declan, and I don't appreciate Adrian thinking he can mess with that.

I scan the room and let a satisfied smile spread across my face. The room is more packed than I've ever seen it, and I watch as customers approach others and pair off to live out their step-whatever fantasies.

Declan turns and catches my eye, giving me a nod of approval.

And that's all the praise that I need to set my heart alight.

Chapter thirty-five

Declan

Inever looked at what clothes Vivek bought for Serenity. He's dressed me, Daniel, Harrison, and a handful of people in our social circles and he has yet to let me down.

This dress, though? It's perfect. A little too perfect. And it's making my mouth dry.

Serenity is all long legs and gorgeous curves wrapped in the silver, shimmering dress that Vivek bought for her for our charity galas.

I love Ser in her running clothes, her work clothes, and my t-shirt at night. But where she looks comfortable and homey in those, this dress has me considering diamond rings and happily-ever-afters.

She's sitting prettily beside me in the back of the town car while Joseph drives us to the gala.

Her legs are crossed primly at the ankle and the delicate bracelet and rings on her fingers resting against the shimmering lace of her ball gown is a striking difference from how I first found her, and the change isn't lost on me.

It's not even about the material aspect of her transformation. When I first met her, she was timid, scared, running, with a black eye and a hole in her only shirt.

The Serenity sitting next to me today has lean muscle from running, a relaxed, confident set to her shoulders and chin, and a custom bought gown.

I can't help myself as I reach over and lace my fingers through hers. We still haven't defined what we are, but I'm fonder of her than I ever thought I would be, and I'm so incredibly proud of her. I find myself slipping into obsession.

I never knew there could be a woman like her. She's soft, but strong. Smart, but struggles. Sweet, but naughty. Shy, but proud. I'm obsessed with every aspect of her. What started out as a ward/charity scenario quickly turned into intrigue and then into affection. It happened moment by moment, look by look, word by word, until I found that I couldn't live without her. That knowledge shakes me to my core.

I loved a woman like that once and look what happened. I was infatuated with a woman before and it ended in death, heartbreak, loss, and so much trauma. I should have checked myself in to therapy a long time ago. Instead, I buried myself in work, running, in control and domination in the bedroom. Not entirely healthy coping mechanisms, I'm realizing.

So, it's with a mixed ball of infatuation and dread that I curl Serenity's hand into the bend of my elbow and escort her into the Waldorf.

There are paparazzi and flashes of cameras. I should have prepared her more, but I'm finding I don't do a lot of things I should with her.

On instinct, however, she turns into me, seeking comfort, seeking reassurance. Her eyes look up to me, pleading for guidance. And blood rushes to my groin. I'm fucking hard at herdesire for help, for guidance. Even though I know she doesn't need it.

The paps shout questions in hopes any of us give them the time of day.

However, I've never made a public appearance like this with a woman - let alone one so much younger than me. I think about how it looks to the paps. She's clearly physically comfortable with me, leaning into me for comfort, but I haven't announced her as my girlfriend. Because honestly? That word sounds so contrite for what she is to me.

So instead of indulging in their gossip machine and making my Serenity even more uncomfortable, I simply smile, wave, and walk into the ballroom.

"Is it normally like that?" she asks breathlessly beside me as we enter the foyer of the venue.

"Yes. You happen to be with 'DC's most eligible bachelor'," I say before rolling my eyes at the ridiculous title. But my self-deprecating humor does the trick, and she smiles in return.

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