Page 111 of Pandora's Pleasure

She threw me a sideways glance. “You must be pleased. Our trip to Sanibel was a success. How did theNew York Timesput it? ‘The haughty daughter of Brenan Bardot finally knows her place.’”

I cringed. “Thought you didn’t read the news.”

“You encouraged me to.”

“The photos of us by the pool were quite something.”

“I noticed.”

“At least they had the decency to print the ones of us with our clothes on.” I flashed a carefree smile.

“You used me at Sanibel. For your father’s campaign.”

I nudged Pandora into an alcove. “Not true.”

“The press insinuated it.”

“Fuck them. The public saw another side to you.”

She read my face carefully.

“I had fun,” I said with a playful smirk. “You didn’t?”

“I respect the fact that things are busy for you—”

“Really? Because you seem to have no idea what really goes on in the world.”

She went to walk away, but I grabbed her arm, smiling at a few guests who might have caught it. “Don’t walk away from me.”

She turned and faced me. “The polls are rising. You must be pleased, Mr. Godman. I’m no longer needed, apparently.”

“We still have a week to go.”

Her expression filled with pain as she eased out of my grip. “Darling, I’m off to powder my nose.”

Her stride was as elegant as it was swift and full of pride.

Immediately, I regretted not sharing the truth—I’d fucking missed her. That every night I’d woken in a cold sweat because it was too late for me. Our weekend away had driven a passionate stake through my heart and somehow gotten it to beat again.

I’d been thwapping my cock in the darkness at night as I’d tried to ease the strain of obsessing over her. Whatever spell she’d cast had burrowed deep.

I should go after her, demand she listened to the truth of what she’d done to me and how I really felt about her.

I’d fallen.

Like a million men before me with everything to lose.

Go tell her that.

Damn it.

Dad was signaling me from across the room—there was someone he wanted me to meet.

Telling Pandora my feelings would have to wait.

If she didn’t leave before I got to her.

Confusion now clouded my mind and my heart had been pulverized by Damien’s coldness. I walked away from him, keeping my expression stony-faced to hide the pain I was feeling from all the people who watched me pass by. The agony of rejection wedged itself deep in my chest.