"Mr. Sullivan, I'm a respectable woman."
Sophia Sullivan's lips curved with a knowing smirk as her fingers dug mercilessly into the taut muscles at his waist.
She never let a slight go unanswered.
Especially after that near-feral kiss—had she not pulled away in time, her lower lip would have been swollen beyond recognition.
The man had devoured her like a starved beast.
A far cry from the composed, self-possessed Ethan Sullivan the world knew.
When her nails twisted sharply into his side, his brow furrowed slightly. Though he made no sound, the faint pallor of his face betrayed the pain.
Sophia never held back.
Yet he only chuckled low in his throat.
"However Miss Sullivan wishes to settle this score, I'm at her service."
The cufflinks at his sleeves glinted under the chandeliers as they seamlessly glided onto the dance floor, the earlier clash of lips and teeth forgotten.
Spin. Step. Every movement flowed as though choreographed through endless rehearsals.
Ethan had never danced with anyone before, his focus entirely on avoiding the delicate fabric of her gown.
But Sophia moved with effortless precision, her steps measured like a seasoned performer.
"Call it self-preservation rather than revenge. I’d hate to embarrass myself in front of an audience. Breathe, Mr. Sullivan. Follow my lead."
The lights brightened, illuminating even the farthest edges of the ballroom.
The new melody bubbled like a mountain stream, lively and unrestrained.
Sophia watched as more guests flooded the dance floor.
Spotlights chased swirling silhouettes, the tempo accelerating with each measure.
It had been years since she last danced.
On what should have been her first dance with Liam Winston at their wedding, he’d coldly declared such rituals beneath him.
She never touched dance again after that.
Now, the caged part of her soul broke free—more than ever, she recognized this as her true self.
Unbridled. Vibrant. Untamed.
"I thought you couldn’t dance. Turns out I’m the only amateur here."
Ethan’s gaze never left her. Sophia commanded the rhythm effortlessly, guiding him with practiced ease.
Though his movements remained slightly stiff, he matched her every step with unwavering precision.
"Your hand."
Before the words fully left her lips, she used his palm as leverage to launch into a graceful leap. The black silk of her skirt carved a sharp arc through the air.
They rose on the waltz’s crescendo.
Retreat. Close. Shoulders aligned.
When her feet touched ground again, his hands steadied her waist.
In that suspended moment, fragments of the past flashed through Sophia’s mind—Liam wouldn’t have caught her. Wouldn’t have spared her a glance.
But those days were over.
Like this dance.
Perfect in its abrupt end as the final note faded.
Under the chandeliers’ glow, the sharp planes of Ethan’s face deepened. His eyes held hers.
"Exquisite."
A dual compliment.
For the dance.
And the dancer.
No one had ever made Ethan Sullivan this acutely aware of his own heartbeat.
His first dance.
Perhaps the one he’d remember forever.
"Just improvising. Though I’m surprised—for someone so agile, you seemed rather restrained earlier."
She could feel the faint tremor in his hands where they lingered at her back.
He was nervous.
Sophia tilted her head up with a laugh. "Well? Did the gala meet your expectations, Mr. Sullivan?"
That two-billion-dollar card he’d given her was more than enough to launch her hacker empire.
A dance was nothing in comparison.
Ethan nodded. "Flawless."
The warmth of her skin seeped into his palms.
Unsettling.
And yet comforting.
At her quiet laughter, his gaze instinctively returned to her face. This woman, so aloof with everyone else, had genuine light in her eyes when she smiled.
Here, neither wore masks.
His pulse stuttered inexplicably.
It struck him then—how easily Sophia Sullivan unraveled his control lately. Even her simplest smiles scattered his thoughts like leaves in a storm.
"Julian’s investigation into you was intrusive. While he meant no harm, I apologize on his behalf."
Ethan lowered his lashes, veiling his expression.
The restless heat in his veins quieted unexpectedly, soothed by the faint citrus-and-spice whisper of her perfume.