[Music: Keep Your Eyes On Me Boy By Nessa Barrett]

"Mrs. Salvero."

"Mrs. Salvero?"

"Mrs. Salvero."

I felt a hand on my shoulder, and the mere contact pulled me out of whatever had taken hold of me.

I blinked, darting my eyes to the lookbook and then Mrs. Allen.

"Mrs. Salvero?" she asked with concern. "Are you alright?"

"I..." I swallowed a lump down my throat, rubbing my temples that were now hurting. "Um... Yes, I just feel dizzy."

"Oh my, are you ill? You look pale."

I shook my head. "I just..."

"I’ll get you a glass of water right away!"

She was already leaving before I had the chance to tell her not to bother. I reached for the champagne that was served earlier, and drowned the whole flute in one go.

That helped a little bit, but it didn’t miraculously take the feeling away. There was this emptiness settling over me.

Deep breaths, Ana.

I chanted in my head, placing a hand against my chest. When I opened my eyes, Zade was standing at the entrance.

Every inch of me went on shutdown, a rush of warmth wrapping around me in a very soothing way.

Soothing? Since when has the sight of him been... welcomed?

He sank his hand into his pockets and leaned against the doorway, slowly tilting his head as he dragged his eyes from my shoes, legs, lingering on my behind for far too long, and then my back before we locked eyes again through the mirror.

"Do you like the dress?"

I couldn’t speak because I was more overwhelmed by his mere presence that dominated the room in a way that made it suffocating.

He moved, and my heart did too, throbbing mercilessly and threatened to fall off. For the love of God, I was almost reduced to pieces.

Goosebumps rose on my skin when his hand stroked against my back, gently.

"I have envisioned how you’d look in this dress. But this... doesn’t begin to measure up to my imagination. It’s far better."

I drew in a sharp breath when he clutched my waist and pulled me to his body. He brushed my hair over my shoulder and pressed a soft kiss there.

A soft sigh fled from me as he dragged his hot lips to my neck, and I angled more to invite him in.

All restraints shattered as I relaxed against his solid frame, the bliss swallowing me in its warm embrace, stripping all sense of reasoning away.

The only place I wanted to be was near him... in those strong, dangerous arms that could easily break me, but they weren’t doing that. They were bringing me toward the edge of my own sanity.

My lips parted as he continued to kiss my neck as if trying to brand his lips there, the heat slashing through my skin, but it wasn’t just that; his teeth were grazing, and then he sucked. I knew exactly what he was doing.

At the sheer thought of him marking me, I could have pushed him away, but I didn’t.

I flicked my eyes open, and my heart nearly stopped. The panorama of him devouring my neck almost made my knees buckle.

I’ve never seen such a beautiful picture.

"Mrs. Salvero, I brought the—Oh!"

I quickly pulled away, but Zade didn’t let me take any space away from him as if it couldn’t be tolerated. He pinned his nails into my waist, keeping me rooted at his side.

"A-Apologies! I’ll just leave this here and be on my way," Mrs. Allen said, amused, dropping the glass of water on the table and storming out.

I lingered on the spot where she no longer stood before Zade tilted my chin so that I could face him.

He studied me closely, eyes narrowing to slits as if he had finally caught something that wasn’t there before. "Are you alright?"

I had a feeling I can’t lie to him, call it a hunch or whatever, but I knew.

"We’re gonna be late for our date," I muttered in reply.

"You didn’t answer my question, kitten."

I planted my palm against his chest and gave a light push, walking to the table and reaching for my purse. I took a breather, hoping to cool the hotness on my cheeks.

"I like the dress," I said, clutching the purse tightly as I faced him. "You always buy me pretty things."

"You’ve always loved to dress prettily."

Zade stepped closer and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "Let’s not forget the most important part."

He dipped his hand into his suit pocket and brought out something, holding it up for me to see.

The anklet.

"You have been very naughty, kitten, thinking you can simply stop wearing this."

I opened my mouth to say something, but the words hung up when my eyes descended with Zade as he dropped to one knee and pinned the chain around my ankle.

The most feared and ruthless Don of Hightower city was on his knees... for me.

Just like the pool, and he did it without a single thought, like it was natural for him. He kissed my ankle, and I melted instantly.

"Z-Zade..."

He lifted his gaze to me, grinning, and a shiver grasped my spine. It’s happening again. This particular scene felt like déjà vu; it was just like months ago when Zade held the bouquet of calla lilies.

This doesn’t feel like a coincidence.

Zade continued to press soft kisses against my skin; he ran his lips up my thigh, and my pussy pulsed with need.

Thankfully, he stopped and rose to his full height, but a profound loss followed.

"I’m not sure my self-control is gonna last for the rest of our date." He wiped the corner of his lips with his thumb.

Then don’t.

I froze at that thought in my head.

"If you keep looking at me with those big innocent eyes, I’ll fucking lose it," he added, jaw clenched, and the idea of bringing this powerful man to this point does things to me.

I hitched in breath and forced myself to speak. "W-We should get g-going."

"We should." He took my bag and held my hand as he led me out.

Half the time, my surroundings were nonexistent to me; I just kept my eyes on Zade like he was the only thing that mattered in my orbit.

Flashes flickered through my mind, fragments my brain couldn’t keep up with, but it was the overwhelming rush of familiarity that unsettled me most, the hairs on the back of my neck rising, solid goosebumps taking over my skin.

We got into the car, and suddenly the space felt crammed. My nostrils flared as his scent wrapped around me like a cocoon. Cedarwood. Warm, rich, and far too intoxicating.

I traced my hand against his chest, leaning closer as I pressed my nose on his arm, the fabric of his suit ticklish.

I inhaled as bliss found me, but that wasn’t enough, so I redirected my nose to his neck. The scent of aftershave was my breaking point. I rubbed my knees together to stop the friction building up between my legs.

My lashes fluttered before I opened my eyes to find Zade’s attention on me, a dark glint behind those hollow gaze.

"Have you always smelled this good?"

I moaned when he seized my neck, our faces inches apart. Despite how rough he was, I have never been more turned on.

Zade gritted his teeth, his hold on my neck tightening and nearly knocking the wind out of me. I thought he would, but he leaned, the desperation for a kiss compelled me to close my eyes, waiting.

However, his hot breath was over my ear. "Careful, kitten. The more you keep this up, the more I’d be convinced you actually want me."

I do.

Zade released me, and reasoning crawled back in. I was startled by the voice in my head that had taken over.

He readjusted his tie, jaw clenching so tightly that a vein pulsed beneath the skin. A deep, hot shiver consumed me when he rested his hand on my thigh, holding it possessively as though it was a string to keep his sanity in check.

The size of his hand was too much for my brain to process.

Speaking of brains. Something was happening to me. I keep seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. Voices. Scenes. It left me scrambling in disarray.

That woman, Mrs. Allen, someone that I have never met before, was so familiar. That place was too, every single inch of it.

I thought back to what she told me about how Zade had brought me to that boutique before, but I don’t recall a thing nor have I been there myself.

None of this made sense.

It was like I was missing something, like there was a piece of a puzzle that should fit somewhere.

Was something wrong with me?