I keep Lyra’s soft, perfect hand in mine as we step back into the party. A few people look, but I honestly couldn’t give a shit. Let them. Let them know that this angel from heaven is mine. Hopefully, the word gets out to some of the jackals who were sniffing around her earlier, before I have to fire them and put them in a grave.

Her hand tugs at mine though, and I turn, my brow furrowing.

“I need to go freshen up,” she says softly.

But I grin and just shake my head. “Uh-uh. I thought I was clear, angel. I want you covered in my seed for the rest of the evening.”

She blushes fiercely, her lip catching between her teeth as she shakes her head. “No, not that,” she blushes again. “I just mean I need to go fix my hair and my makeup. I think I might look like…”

She trails off, but I just hold those gorgeous eyes of hers with mine, a smile teasing my lips.

“Like you just almost got fucked?”

Her face lights up like a red Christmas bulb, but I pull her close, wrapping my arms around her. And when I feel her hands tighten around me as well, and her face bury in my chest, I’m not sure I’ll actually ever be able to let her go.

I do, of course, reluctantly. And not until I’ve pulled her tight to me, tilted her head back with a hand in her hair, and claimed those lips in front of the group of employees clustered around the bar where we’re standing. I slowly pull away, relishing the look of pure happiness on her face before I gently let her go.

“Don’t be long,” I purr, squeezing her hand. “I might have to come find you and make sure no one else is trying to steal you away.”

“Please do,” she whispers breathlessly, before her hand slips from mine, and she’s lost in the crowd.

Holy shit.

Something’s happened to me. Something that I’ve never once looked for, and never expected to ever find has hit me over the head like goddamn brick. And now I’m seeing stars — stars spelled “L-y-r-a.”

I’ve hardly ever had time for women, what with my work and making this company the machine it is today. The work and the money and the power have always come first, before a pretty face or a nice pair of legs.

…That all completely changed when my little angel stepped into this party, and I know without hesitation that nothing is ever going to be the same again. Nothing in this world will ever be as sweet or as pure if I don’t have her for myself. In the one hour I’ve had her in my world, I’m already seeing clearer than I’ve ever seen. I’m thinking faster, and sharper than ever.

I know what I want, and above all of it — above the job, and the money, and the power, there’s one thing now that shines brighter than the rest.

…It’s her, of course.

She’s barely been gone a minute when I can already feel the anxious need to have her in my arms again. My jaw tenses and my muscles twitch, wanting nothing more and needing nothing more than to have her small, perfect little body pressed to mine - her soft lips opening willingly for me and her tender moan igniting something inside of me.

I turn and nod at the bartender, who passes me what he already knows I want. Scotch. Old, expensive, rich, and smoky. I sip the glass slowly, trying to let the golden liquid mellow my mind, and keep me sane while she’s not by my side.

But I know it’s a losing battle.

Instead, I turn, glancing over the room for my head planner. I wasn’t kidding before. This party is fucking over. And the second I find my guy, I’m making sure every single person here, from distinguished guest to catering waiter is out that damn door in five fucking minutes.

Everyone but me and my Lyra.

I’m still searching the room for the planner when a hand claps me on the back.

“Hey! There he is! Big D!”

I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes at the sound of the voice before I turn and force a plastic smile to my face.

Bill Goddard is the head of Regent Trust, the fund mine is taking over. Bill is also weak and stupid, he drinks too much, and he makes trades that are far too conveniently placed time-wise to be above the level. He’s reckless with his fund’s money, to the point of most certainly engaging in very obvious insider trading that will get the authorities’ attention sooner than later.

His company is decent, which is why I’m buying them into mine. But what Bill doesn’t know is that the minute the contractually obligated grace period is up with the merger, he’s fucking gone. Until then though, regretfully, he’s going to be second in command around here — a thought that sits sour in me and has my teeth clenching tight.

I’d fire him now, or Hell, throw him off a roof after the way I’ve seen him speaking to his staff, or worse, mine. I saw the way he talked to my secretary like she was less than shit, right before he tried to get her to come into his office for a massage.

No, seriously.

Bill is drunk, reeking of booze as he leers in my face, grinning away. I tense my jaw, forcing myself to smile at him. Again, I’d toss him off the fucking balcony, tonight even, but I need him. I need this acquisition to go through and I need the grace period to make the merger final.

And I hate being beholden like this.

“Ready to take on the world, Big D?”

“Don’t call me that,” I growl.

He just chuckles. “You’re the man, D.”

I remind myself for the hundred-thousandth time that committing murder tonight would put a serious hitch on my merger. My temper flares, and I turn away from Bill to scan the room, looking for the one thing I know will bring me back down to earth and keep me sane.

My angel.

She’s been gone too long. Even if it’s barely been five minutes, that’s five minutes that I haven’t had my arm around her, or my hand on her skin, her lips on mine, or the scent of her hair driving me wild as I bury my face in it.

Bill slaps me on the shoulder again, and I snap.

“I have to go,” I growl, barely keeping it together as my eyes scan the crowd over his shoulder.

“Oh, wait, Damien,” he swigs from his drink, clearing his throat. “Hang on, there’s someone I’d like you to-”

I’m already pushing past him though, having spotted my head planner, when Bills fucking hand grabs my arm again.

“Damien, I’d like you to meet my daughter.”

I sigh heavily, narrowing my eyes and squaring my shoulders as I turn back to him to tell him as politely as I can to fuck off.

“Bill, I need to—”

I freeze.

The rest of the room fades away as my eyes lock onto the gorgeous, perfect little angel that Bill’s goddamn arm is wrapped around.

Her.

The girl who’s still got my cum soaking into her panties, who’s sweet little candy pussy I can still taste on my tongue and is literally all I can think about.

…And she’s Bill Goddard’s fucking daughter.