Page 110 of Pandora's Pleasure

Within the confines of that Sanibel cottage, my desires had taken over all reason. I’d been shaken, well enough to see what I wanted my life to look like.

My family hoped to carry America through a profound political awakening and there was no bandwidth for fragility.

Many of the guests had brought along their agendas that only my father could see realized. This was a playground of sharks. Scanning the crowd for the worst of them all, I looked around for Salvatore Galante. I’d grab some time with him later and try to extract what he had on Pandora’s family. If anyone could persuade that fucker to drop the story on her dad, it was me. I’d go for diplomacy.

I’d do anything for her.

I downed the rest my Macallan to get rid of the taste of bitterness. Avoiding the more nefarious guests, I resigned to at least mingle and seek out the policy changers. The men with integrity. The game changers who genuinely cared about social issues. Equality, fairness, and a respect for humanity.

Hushed whispers hinted that someone important had arrived. It was her.

Like a breath of fresh air.

Dazzling.

My heart stuttered at the beauty of Pandora as she gracefully entered the ballroom.

She held her head high until she saw me, then she broke into an iridescent smile, looking stunning in a shimmering silver gown that matched her delicate clutch purse. Her hair was styled in a chignon, making her look both youthful and sophisticated, her classic style complemented by twinkling Van Cleef jewels. Pandora behaved like a queen about to greet her people—regal and haughty, with that same closed-off demeanor I knew her for.

Both of us were starkly aware of the stares locked on us.

“Hi,” I greeted her, reaching out and taking her hand.

“Damien.” If her chilliness was meant to intrigue, it did.

I felt a rising desire to fuck her red pouty mouth with the burn of passion I’d suppressed for days. Somehow, I’d find the time for us to be together tonight.

My hand slid from the middle of her back to her lower spine…a physical prelude to what I was going to do to this woman later. I would start slow and then ravage her. Taste and devour her. Make her come again and again. Have her forget there’d been any lost time between us.

Her cautious eyes threw me a warning.

I followed the direction of her gaze and saw her parents standing amongst an elite crowd of billionaires. They were sipping champagne and making small talk. Many of the guests were hoping to find time alone with my father to offer their demands in exchange for helping pave his way into the White House. That door was closing fast.

For her parents, I was willing to accommodate a meeting with my father. After all, it was something she would want. Even now when my dad was being dragged in every direction, I would make it a priority.

I pulled her aside. “How are you?”

“Fine, thank you.”

“Everything okay?”

“Yes, of course.”

“You seem a little…chilly.”

“It’s cold.” She turned from me and perused the room.

The ice maiden was back.

“Want my jacket?” I went to shrug it off.

She put a hand on my arm to stop me. “You can’t be seen without it.” Her expression softened. “But thank you.”

“Let your father know I’ve secured time with the Senator tonight.”

“The Senator?” She narrowed her glare. “You’re so formal at these things.”

I pointed to my chest. “I’mformal? If you were any more formal, we’d be calling you Your Majesty.”