Page 44 of Their Property
Fuck.
The valkyrie thumped her axe against her shield in time to my racing heart. A warning beat if I ever heard one.
“Understood,” I said grimly.
THIRTEEN
KYRIE
“You don't think this is too much?” I looked over my shoulder and into the mirror, staring at the expanse of my bare back in the floor-length evening gown.
“It'sstunning, Ambassador,” Anita said in a breathless whisper. “Youmake it look stunning.”
My face grew warm at her compliment, and I turned to look at the dress from a few more angles. The dark blue, backless gown had been my favorite design at the dress shop but now that the state dinner was here, the endless warnings of not soiling my reputation rang loudly in my head.
My dress had sleeves and a high neckline, but was an open back too scandalous for such a conservative territory? Anita didn't warn me like she had with my 'masculine' work clothes, so it seemed I was safe.
“Nathan better appreciate his arm candy,” I muttered, securing my earrings.
After finishing touches on hair, makeup, and accessories, I was as ready as I'd ever be. The low voices of the Sons murmured out in the loft, waiting to escort me to the ballroom.
My heart pounded harder at the thought of them seeing me, then it jumped into my throat when Anita opened my suite door.
The conversation between them stopped abruptly, their mouths hanging open as I stepped out.
“Holyfuck.” T-Bone spoke first, making Anita gasp at the curse.
“Kyrie...” Dyno breathed my name reverently, like a prayer. I only ever wanted to hear him say my name like that from now on.
With Grudge, I could only imagine what was going through his mind. He stared at me like I was the only person who existed.
The attention was more gratifying than I could have imagined. I wanted to soak in it like a hot bath. Why couldn’t I stay up here in the loft with them, instead of going to a party with a bunch of people whose attention Ididn’twant?
Dyno sobered first, elbowing T-Bone, who cleared his throat loudly. “Uh, you look fu—uh, ravishing. I mean, not like that. I mean…” He swallowed thickly. “Great. You look really good.”
“Beautiful,” Dyno corrected, shooting him a scathing look. “The word he’s looking for is beautiful.”
The clumsy compliment soothed my nerves, and I was smiling before I realized it. “Thank you. You guys look good too.” They still wore leather vests and looked ready to ride off at any moment, but their boots were polished and their white shirts were crisp and tailored.
And they smelled incredible. Whoever chose their cologne and managed to dab it on deserved a raise. The warm, masculine scent only amplified the desire to hide away from everyone else and stay right here with them. Anita fidgeted next to me all too soon.
“Shall we?” she asked.
I tore my gaze away from the three men I wanted to stare at and talk to all night, then headed for the stairs. Nathan would likely be waiting for me at the bottom, and each step felt like walking through concrete. Feeling the Sons’ footsteps echoing my own, knowing they were near, was the only thing that kept me going.
“Miss Vance!” a voice called brightly before I’d even reached the bottom. “You are an absolute vision.”
I forced my lips into a smile as I continued down to the floor. “Thank you. You look very dashing.”
Nathan wore a charcoal gray three-piece suit with accents of gold thread embroidered at the cuffs and collar. He did look good, but I could only wonder about the people who’d likely slaved over making his suit. My dressmaker had started crying when I insisted on giving her a tip on top of my dress’s cost.
Nathan’s eyes flickered over the men behind me, but it was short-lived as he offered me his elbow. “Shall we?”
I accepted, keeping a loose hold around his bicep and my body several inches away.
“This is where I leave you, Ambassador.” Anita smiled, heading for a side door. “Have an excellent time.”
“Oh, we will,” Nathan called after her.
