Page 81 of Taken By Sin
The conversation falls away as we move together, the music enveloping us. I can feel the strength in his hold, the quiet control in the way he leads, but there’s a softness too, a tenderness that surprises me.
As we turn, the chandelier lights catch the glittering diamonds in my mask, casting tiny rainbows across the marble floor. I glance up at Sin, and for a moment, it feels like we’re the only two people in the room. His gaze is fixed on me, unwavering and filled with something I can’t quite name.
“You look beautiful tonight,” he says, his voice barely above a whisper.
Heat blooms in my cheeks, and I glance down briefly before meeting his gaze again. “Thank you,” I reply softly. “You clean up well yourself.”
He chuckles, a low sound that vibrates through his chest and settles somewhere deep inside me. “Magnolia,” he says, hisvoice dipping to something almost reverent, “you’re more than beautiful. You’re… everything.”
Sin draws me closer, our steps slowing slightly as the waltz reaches its crescendo. I can feel the heat of his body through the layers of my gown, the faint scent of his cologne wrapping around me like a secret.
As the final notes of the waltz fade into the air, he doesn’t let go. His hand lingers at my waist, his eyes searching mine as if trying to memorize every detail of this moment.
I feel breathless, unmoored, as he leans in slightly, his voice so soft it’s almost lost beneath the applause.
“Magnolia,” he murmurs, “I think I’ve been waiting for this dance my whole life.”
My heart twists, and I don’t know what to say.
“Would you give it all up for me?” I dare to ask, surprised that the dance wasn’t ending at all, the beat picks up again.
His hesitation makes me pause, but before I can say anything else I’m whisked into the arms of another person.
The transition is seamless, and I find myself in the hands of an older gentleman with kind eyes. His mask is silver, simple yet dignified, and his smile is warm as he guides me into the next set of steps.
“You must be Magnolia,” he says, his voice rich with the gravelly tone of age and experience.
I blink, surprised. “Yes, that’s me. And you are?”
“Lorenzo,” he replies with a small bow of his head. “An old friend of the Donati family. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Sin speaks very highly of you.”
Heat rises to my cheeks, and I can’t help but smile. “Does he now?”
“Very much so,” Lorenzo says, his eyes twinkling beneath his mask. “And after meeting you, I can see why.”
There’s something comforting about him, a steadiness that reminds me of an anchor in the storm of this night. He’s an excellent dancer, his movements smooth and practiced, and for a brief moment, I feel at ease.
The next transition comes quicker than I expect. Lorenzo releases me with a polite nod, and my hand is taken by another partner. This time, the grip is firm, confident.
I glance up to meet the eyes of a man in a black suit with a deep red mask. His features are sharp, his jaw set, and his gaze intense as he leads me into the next steps. There’s a flicker of recognition, but I can’t place it quite yet.
“You look different than usual.” he says, his tone low and smooth.
“Cameron!” I grin, the man that visits almost daily now at work. “What are you doing here?”
He smiles faintly, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Just because I go to Alice in Brewland doesn’t mean I don’t belong in high society.” He does a small bow that makes me laugh.
“I know,” I chuckle. “It’s just funny seeing you here of all places.”
He doesn’t answer right away, instead spinning me in a graceful arc before pulling me back into the rhythm of the dance. “But the Donati family?” He shakes his head. “You’re not safe here.”
The music swells, the movement of the crowd pulling uscloser and then apart. My heart pounds, confusion and something deeper—something unspoken—swirling in my chest. There’s a weight in his gaze, a meaning I can’t quite decipher.
Before I can ask more, the dance comes to an end, and Cameron steps back, bowing slightly.
“It was a pleasure, Magnolia,” he says, his voice soft but loaded with something I can’t name.
My breath hitches, and I look through the crowd of dancing people, for Sin. Was that a warning that Cameron gave me?