Page 33

"If it means the two of us burning together—-" Cadence's tone was somber. "I don't think I'd mind at all."

Keiran was starting to feel on edge. "Cadence—-"

"Oh, look, we're here."

The car had already cruised to a stop, and a valet was promptly opening the door for them.

Fuck.

Keiran reluctantly stepped out and as he took her hand to help her out, he then heard her whisper, "Thank you...Master."

Keiran almost lost his footing at that.

Fuck.

And so it began, with Cadence doing her best to do what she believed mistresses did best, and that was to stare up adoringly into his eyes, stay by his side every moment, with her breasts pressed tantalizingly against his arm.

"I'm going to punish you for this," he growled under his breath as he swept her onto the dance floor.

The words only made her eyes twinkle mischievously. "Promise?"

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Nothing seemed to faze her, not even when they danced beside a couple who seemed to take pleasure in talking about women who didn't see anything wrong in selling their bodies for financial gain.

Hearing this had Keiran stiffening, but it was Cadence herself who had asked him to ignore them.

"It's alright," she said softly.

No, dammit.

It was not fucking alright.

But it should be.

And that was what was killing him.

Because wasn't this what he wanted in the first place?

What he had planned from the start?

Hadn't he asked her to be his mistress so he could punish her?

And now that the whole damn world did see Cadence as his mistress, all he wanted was to kill everyone who was thinking what he meant them to think.

"It's really okay, Keiran." Cadence's voice drew his attention back to her. "I really don't mind being talked about."

He could tell she wasn't lying, and yet...

"Something's still bothering you."

Her gaze turned uncertain.

"Speak," he ordered.

"I just hate that they have to talk about you, too," she admitted. "Three years ago, it was my dad who wanted to shame you and had everyone talking. And now, it's happening—-"

He pulled her close, his mouth claiming hers in a hard and possessive kiss, one hand tangling in Cadence's hair as the other pressed against the small of her back.