Page 10 of A Vicious Love

His expression hardened.

I kept my fingers outstretched.

I wasn’t trying to be difficult. I did it because walking beside Jamison without touching him made me feel like I was a girl trailing after a man who had forgotten why she was there.

His hand made me feel chosen, even if only from a distance.

After a long second, he took it. His palm swallowed mine.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

He walked too fast, but I was used to that. My heels clicked across the marble. His guards shifted around us with terrifying efficiency, a moving wall of black suits and dead eyes.

At the Crow table, Marcel was already standing. He had been raised to understand that a woman arriving at a table deserved to feel seen.

“Sienna,” he greeted.

“Hi, Marcel.”

Emmie rose too, smiling, beautiful in emerald silk with her dark hair tucked behind one ear. “There you are.”

I loved the way she said that.

Like I had been missed.

Harrison leaned back in his chair with a lazy grin. “Sunshine survived the beast.”

Jamison dropped my hand as soon as we reached the table. “Fuck off, Harrison.”

Harrison’s grin widened. “Tender as ever.”

Emmie came around the table and touched my arm. “Your dress is gorgeous.”

“Thank you.” I smoothed my hands down the satin. “Jamison fixed the bow.”

Emmie’s eyes flicked briefly to him.

Jamison was already sitting.

“Well,” she said gently, “he did a lovely job.”

I beamed before I could stop myself.

Jamison ordered another whiskey from a passing server.

I sat beside him because that was my place. Emmie sat across from me, Marcel beside her. Harrison and his date were on the other side, his date tonight being a girl named Celia.

The first course hadn’t been served yet, thank goodness.

I hated being late to food.

I asked for Jamison’s hand again once we were settled.

He gave it to me with visible reluctance.

I tucked it into my lap and traced the ink over his knuckles.

“How is ballet?” Emmie asked.