Soon , Elliot and Camilla had left us behind and ascended the many stairs that would lead them into the mansion and eventually into the center of the roaring party that awaited then inside . I shifted my gaze , rather hesitantly , from Elliot and Camilla' s retreating backs and built up the courage to face Nicholas . I squared my shoulders and then stared Nicholas defiantly into his stormy grey eyes . His brows had a crease between them like he was trying to place something . . or , perhaps , figure something out .
His suit had clung to him in the most becoming way , clutching at his shoulders before following the natural tapering of his torso . I hated that I still remembered the feel of the taut skin beneath his suit like velvet over steel . For a fleeting moment , my gaze had met with
