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Amelia watched through her peripherals as her friend was kissed passionately by her husband; apparent love shining from their both.

“Will you play with me when we get home?” Seraphina slurred, and Hugo immediately chuckled.

“Without a doubt,” he answered, a sensual tone lacing his voice.

“Ugh, enough you two,” Tristan pleaded, followed by Theo and Ophelia making sounds of kissing; making it apparent that they were all really quite drunk.

Again that vile feeling of envy slithered through Amelia, and she turned away from the scene.

“Go on, let them take you home,” she said with a commanding air. “We shall see each other tomorrow.”

They all said their goodbyes, hiccuping and giggling as they did so, and the four women allowed Tristan and Hugo to lead them outside.

“Looks like being back in London isn’t so bad,” Dominic mused once they were alone.

“That’s because I haven’t been forced into society yet,” Amelia grumbled; her jubilant feelings now long gone.

She finally turned her back to him, meaning to put some space between them, but Dominic followed close behind.

“And don’t you dare judge me,” she slurred slightly, moving to pick up her half-empty cup of punch. “You smell of whiskey.”

“I’m not,” Dominic stated, grinning as he held his hands up. It only served to annoy her even more.

She stared at him as she brought her cup to her lips and took a deep swallow.

“Go away.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because we have matters to discuss.”

Dominic closed the space between them, plucked the cup from her hands and, with his eyes still on her, downed the rest of its contents.

“Mmm,” he hummed, his tongue darting out to lap at his bottom lip. “Thatisquite good. And strong. No wonder you’re so knackered.”

Amelia felt her cheeks fuse with heat as she glared at him. She hated the way he’d licked his bottom lip. It reminded her of how he’d teased hers and how it presently made her entire body spark with need.

“I am not!” She protested, and Dominic chuckled.

“I am perfectly fine,” she insisted. “Go on. Discuss your matters.”

She pushed out a hand as a gesture for him to speak, but the act made the world spin again. Dominic must have noticed because he caught her waist before she could even stumble, and pulled her into his lap; taking a seat by the table. For a moment she thought of fighting him, but it felt too good, too comfortable in his embrace to break away from it.

Steadying her with one hand, he pulled a pamphlet of papers from his breast pocket with the other, and placed them on the table.

“Instructions for the party we are throwing this Saturday,” he explained, tapping them with two fingers. “I want everything to be precise. Can you do it?”

“Did I not take care of everything while you were gone?” She answered.

Surprise shone in Dominic’s eyes, but he grinned wickedly.

“Everything but your own reputation,” he retorted. “WhichImust now save.”

“Well, aren’t you the hero,” Amelia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

Dominic’s hand was around her throat in a second, causing another burst of that annoying heat to soak through her skin and clear into her bones.