Not. Katy.
Emily. Emily. Emily.
If she told Ryker the truth now, he would hate them both. Emily and Katy had both lied to him. Tried to trick him. He would demand Emily pay back the advance, and their mother would be kicked out of rehab.
Katy squared her shoulders. So be it. She would work three jobs if she had to. She couldn’t keep up the charade. Things were too intimate. Too personal. Too much falling in love and not enough pragmatic distance from her sister’s business partner.
“I don’t deserve this, Ryker. You don’t understand. I have to tell you—”
“Hush.” He placed his finger over her lips again. “Not now. Do you hear that?”
She listened closely and realized music was drifting through the hallway outside her room. Beautiful, haunting music. And the soft rumble of many voices.
“Our guests have arrived. The party has begun. Nothing would please me more than having you on my arm. Please, Mia Regina. Give me this night.”
She loved him. Heart and soul. Head to toe. Every cell in her body ached to give him anything he wanted. “Yes.”
His smile could have melted an iceberg. He turned from her and snapped the lid closed on the velvet box before she could make out the final piece that lay inside. She wanted to know what was in the box, what he hadn’t given her. But she was beyond spoiled already and didn’t dare ask. She was already playing the villain; no need to make things worse.
He held out his arm, and she wrapped her hand around his elbow, allowing him to escort her from her bedroom toward the party. Vector stood just outside her room.
Ryker handed the black box to him. “When the time is right.”
“Of course.”
Vector walked away without a backward glance, leaving Ryker and Katy alone in the hallway. The music was louder now, clearly a waltz, and it sounded as if Ryker had an entire orchestra inside.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Not even close.”
Her honest response made him throw back his head and laugh. The sound made her entire body tingle with longing. She wanted to hear that sound again. A thousand times.
“You are very intelligent. I have enemies here tonight. Stay close to me. Do not go anywhere without one of the Guardians. Do you understand?”
“No. What enemies? And why invite them to a party?”
All levity gone, he turned her in his arms and lifted one hand to caress her cheek. “I do not fear my enemies. I only fear losing you. I will explain later. Just know you mean everything to me. Everything. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” She understood all too well, for she felt the same way. She just could not lie to the man she was falling in love with for another minute. Her eyes burned at the thought of losing him. Of hurting him. Leaving him behind and going back home. Never seeing him again. But she couldn’t do this anymore. She would find a way to make things right with her mother. “Ryker, I have to tell you—”
His lips crushed hers before she could complete the sentence, his kiss stealing her breath. Her will. Her very soul from her body. When he finally released her, they were both fighting for control. “You promised me tonight.”
“Yes.” For one night she wanted to be his queen, the gorgeous, mysterious woman by his side. She wanted him to look at her like he’d never get enough. A few more hours would change nothing. The truth was coming for both of them. If he wanted the dream to go on for one more night, she would play along. She could deny him nothing. Didn’t want to deny either of them this last night together. “Yes. I promise. Tonight, I am yours.”
He kissed her once more, softly this time, then turned them toward the din coming from the grand entrance of the palazzo. When they reached the top of the long, winding staircase, Ryker stopped and surveyed the room, Katy with him.
Hundreds of people mingled below. Beautiful ball gowns, dazzling jewelry, and women so stunningly beautiful Katy was sure they had all walked straight off a fashion runway. They were tall, the women lithe and elegant, the men shockingly handsome in designer suits and shoes that looked like fine Italian leather. No one in the room looked a day older than Ryker or herself. And not one person in the room looked less than royal. Katy had never seen such a thing in her life, not even in the movies.
Ryker placed his hand at the small of her back and led her, slowly, carefully down the winding stairway, his touch a burning brand at her back.
With every step, the room quieted more as head after head turned in their direction. By the time they reached the first landing, even the orchestra stopped playing and literally every eye in the room was on her.
Not Ryker. Her.
Her hand clenched, unseen in the crook of Ryker’s elbow. Her throat tightened. Was she having a wardrobe malfunction? Had she grown horns? What was with these people? Was she so far below Ryker’s class that they would not accept her among them? No, not her. Emily. Emily. Emily.
Ryker stopped at the landing and walked with her toward the railing, the edge waist-high, and stared down over the throng of guests like a king addressing his court.