Page 14 of Stolen Hearts

Eventually, we’re all atMaison Vogue, a stunning and incredible boutique in the 8thArrondissement. Champagne is being passed around and I’m cracking up with Neve and Elsa as Hades is getting fitted for a tuxedo when Eilish taps my arm. I turn, my mouth falling open at the stunning violet gown in her arms.

“This is the one, I can feel it.”

I gawk at the gorgeous dress. “It’s…wow.”

“Try it on! You’re going to look like a Roman Queen in this thing.”

“Dude, Greek.”

“I won’t tell Dimitra if you don’t.”

I grin as I take it from her hands. “Okay, let’s see how it looks.”

I knock back my champagne and head into one of the dressing rooms toward the back of the boutique. I hang the dress on its hanger on one of the hooks on the wall as I stare at it in admiration. The violet silk wraps around the neck, criss-crossing over the chest to wind around the small of the back before dropping straight to the ankles, with a huge slit up one side to mid-thigh.

It’s sexy, but elegant. And instantly, I freakingwant it.

I quickly pull off the sundress I’ve been wearing all day and drape it on another one of the hooks. My bra follows before I turn to run my hands over the stunning gown.

The door to the dressing room flies open. I gasp, jolting as I whirl…

And come face-to-face, inches apart, with Castle, who’s holding a pair of tuxedo pants.

Our eyes lock as we both freeze. His huge frame blocks the view of the inside of the dressing room from any of our friends and family back toward the front of the boutique. Stunned as I am, my hands still instinctively fly to cover my breasts as I drown in the dark blue pools of his eyes.

My heart thuds. My pulse simmers like fire right beneath the surface of my skin.

I let my hands fall.

Castle’s jaw tightens and his eyes blaze pure fire as they drop to my chest, then lower, leaving me shivering heatedly before he drags his gaze back up to meet mine.

His eyes narrow to slits.

“Callie…”

“Castle—”

In one motion, he steps away from me and yanks the dressing room door shut.

Then he’s gone.

But that look in his eyes stays with me.

4

CASTLE

This has to stop.Fucking. Happening. And by “this” I mean “me seeing Calliope Drakos nearly naked”.

Once was a mistake. Twice in under twenty-four hours is a serious problem.

I shouldn’t know that her nipples are that shade of dark rose. I shouldn’t know about the little scar on her hip, or what color panties she’s wearing.

Orwaswearing.

Currently, as I watch her swan across the floor of the Bijou Gala, I’m beginning to wonder how anyone could be wearinganythingunder that dress without it being glaringly obvious.

My teeth grind as I watch her lean against the bar on the main floor of the stunning Musée d’Orsay and order a cocktail from a handsome and far too attentive bartender. My eyes slide over the violet silk of her gown, which is doing fuck-all to drag my thoughts out of the land of hugely inappropriate thoughts.

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