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“Listen to me,” he whispered, taking total control of her steps, “Close your eyes, and picture yourself at theDevil’s Masquerade.”

* * *

“What?”Amelia hissed, her breaths growing more uneven. Her heart was hammering at an uneven pace; her stomach lurched and roiled in discomfort as the room closed in on her.

“Do it,” he demanded, and Amelia’s lashes fluttered shut.

“You are in the dark,” he whispered, his tone velvety and hypnotic in her ear. “In thatgorgeousblack dress of yours. Around you our masked friends stare in hunger and envy as they see you slide into my lap. They want you, respect you, for the utter vixen that you are. But it is my hands that slide over your waist and warm your loins.”

Amelia exhaled deeply through her lips, her trembling slowly starting to abate.

“Your hips move on mine, undulating with the music as you feel that dark sense of freedom take over you,” Dominic whispered on, his hands now guiding her in the steps. “Can you feel it? Feel how warm and alive all of your senses are?”

“Yes,” she breathed slowly, her heart beat starting to fall into its natural rhythm.

“Your seductive power springs free, andeveryonewatching wants you.Iwant you. And my fingertips begin to glide up your waist, your breasts, your throat,” Dominic’s deep voice whispered, carrying her through the dance.

She was just a body in his control now; moving in steps simply because he moved her there. The sounds of the party, the harsh, bright light; it all faded away as Dominic’s voice carried her to a place she felt in control and powerful.

“That’s it my little vixen,” he praised, sliding a hand up to the back of her neck, “Breathe for me.Movefor me. You can do this. You can show them you are above them in every way.”

His fingers flexed at her neck, just enough to send a shot of pleasure straight down her spine and into her lower belly.

“Now open your eyes. Forget them. And dance with me.” Dominic commanded.

Amelia’s eyes fluttered open, feeling more herself than she had in days, and sweeping force of strength filled her as she met Dominic’s silver gaze. An absolute devilishly handsome grin slid slowly onto his lips as he watched her survive.

“There you are,” he whispered. “Now show me. Showthem,what you have become.”

Amelia pulled in a smooth, even breath from her nostrils as she grasped properly onto Dominic’s hands, and as the music continued, she danced with utter grace and skill. Around them the whispers stopped as they began to hold their audience in rapt attention; everyone around them too curious, too transfixed to mutter another word.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Dominic smirked.

“See what happens when you don’t toy with me? I can be quite helpful.”

Amelia let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Itoy withyou, Your Grace?” She asked, letting him spin her around. “I am certain it is the other way around.”

“Are you still angry about the other night?” He asked, a smile twitching on his lips.

“You needed to be taught your lesson. You practicallybeggedfor it.”

Her anxiety now completely gone, Amelia felt that flare of usual annoyance she now associated with being in her husband’s presence.

“Next you’ll be saying I begged for your absence too,” she scoffed.

Dominic rose an amused brow.

“Did you not?” He mused. “You wanted freedom. I gave it to you. And look how you flourished. Even if you did make some mistakes.”

“It was not I that made mistakes,” she bit back quickly, then thought on his words. He now knew what she had been doing while he had been gone. But did not know what he had been in up in her absence.

“What were you doing while you were away, anyway? She asked in a teasing tone, “Visiting yourwillinginternational paramours?”

She’d expected him to scowl at her, but to her surprise, he chuckled almost ruefully.