Page 4 of Velvet Secrets

As I closed the distance between us, I noticed more—how still and self-contained he was. Underneath these velvet drapes most men preened, adjusting their expensive watches and cufflinks, attempting to make themselves visible, but not him. He didn’t chase attention, he drew it.

“You watch everyone like this?” I asked when I was sure I was within in earshot, trailing one of my hands along the back of the empty chair across from him. “Or am I just a lucky woman?”

And still…he didn’t blink. He didn’t smile. He just sat there quiet and unreadable.

For some reason, in that very moment I knew I should have walked away—gotten security and had them remove him because he looked like the kind of danger and temptation I should run away from, but I didn’t.

I couldn’t.

Curiosity always got me in the best kinds of trouble.

I allowed my eyes to drift over him. He was tall, easily over six feet, with a lean athletic build that didn’t just wear confidence—he carried it. His skin was a deep bronze, smooth and warm toned. There was a thin scar curved under the corner of his left brow—subtle, but it made me wonder what kind of life he’d lived to earn it. His jaw was strong, lined perfectly with a full beard, and his mouth—full and well-shaped—curved into a smile that looked like it could ruin your life, or rewrite it at least.

It was his eyes that got me though. Just staring into them had all of my senses in a frenzy. They were rich brown, almond shaped, lined with thick lashes, and the focus in them felt toointimate for a room full of people. It was like he saw past the noise, the music, the rules. He sawme.

He was a distraction.A beautiful fucking distraction. A carved temptation, and should have been off limits, but… I couldn’t walk away.

I eased into the chair, crossing one of my legs over the other, purposely slow, in an attempt to deliver a statement—I’m not intimidated. But I was curious, a lot more than I wanted to admit honestly.

“You’re not on the guest list.” I stated after moments of silence, and realizing he wasn’t going to respond to what I had initially said. “How’d you get in?”

“Does it matter?”

His voice was low and smooth—like velvet being dragged across warm skin.

Lord, who is this man?

From those three words alone my body reacted before my mind could check it—nipples tightening beneath my blazer thighs squeezing tightly, breath hitching just a bit. He didn’t have to touch me. His voice alone felt like foreplay.

No temptation, Avani.

I had to gather myself quickly because I couldn’t allow myself to get caught up and lose control, especially not to a man that clearly knew what his voice could do judging by the smirk that he was now wearing.

“It does if I let the wrong man in.”

His smile spread a bit more—just slightly.

“I’m not the wrong man.” He lifted his glass but didn’t drink. “And you didn’t let me in.”

My eyes narrowed. “Then who did?”

“I let myself in.”

I laughed a little at his audacity.

“Interesting. And the mask?” I pointed to it sitting on the table. “House rules.”

“I’m not the kind of man who hides behind a mask,” he replied. “If I want to be seen,I will be.”

My brows lifted.

“And tonight that’s what you needed?” I asked. “To be seen.”

“No.” He leaned forward, folding his hands in front of him. “I wantedyouto see me.”

I froze for a second because I wasn’t expecting that response. Again I found myself staring into his dark, mysterious eyes before I asked, “why are you here…” I paused waiting for his name.

“Sin.” He answered after a few seconds of silence.Only it wasn’t silent.Everything was still going on around us. It justfeltlike nothing else existed in this moment but us.

---