Oh hell. It’s valet only tonight, isn’t it? I thought as I pulled Pretty Baby up to the front of NMNH’s entrance. There were several valet attendants bustling around, greeting the guests who were pulling up in luxury cars worth a small fortune, and I wanted nothing more in that moment than to turn around and go back the way I’d come. I’d have no such luck, as an attendant opened my door with a creak and gave me a forced smile.

“Attending the gala this evening?” he asked, giving my car a quick once-over.

“Uh, yes.” I stepped out of the car, leaving it on, and buttoned my suit jacket. Well, it wasn’t my jacket, it was one of Brayden’s that apparently had fit him in high school, but since I didn’t have anything in my closet fancy enough for this evening’s event, it would have to do.

The valet tore off a numbered card and handed it to me, and as he lowered himself into the driver’s seat, I said, “Oh, if the key gets stuck, you just have to push this button”—I leaned over the guy and stuck my finger through an open compartment under the steering wheel to show him—“and…yeah. That should work.”

The attendant gave me a look of amusement and distaste, and I felt myself turn thirty shades of red. “I think I can manage,” he said, before shutting the door and driving off to park.

How embarrassing, I thought, slipping the card into my pants pocket. I didn’t need to be ashamed, though. I had every right to be here among all the elegantly dressed couples walking into the museum. I’d worked my ass off to win a spot in the internship program, and when they’d called to offer me the job earlier in the week, I knew all the hours spent studying and hiding away while everyone else partied had been worth it. This was the stepping stone to the career I wanted, and tonight was the night I’d be introduced to this world. It was the annual opening gala, the night all patrons and employees gathered to celebrate and raise money for the upcoming exhibitions.

I tugged on the hem of my tuxedo jacket, and then, projecting a confidence I didn’t feel, made my way inside.

The gala was taking place tonight in the rotunda, an enormous room lined with marble columns and capped with a stunning stained-glass dome. As I entered the vast space, already filled to capacity, I looked up at the rising statue in the center of the room, three sirens holding a flaming orb above their heads, and could hardly believe I was here in a professional capacity. Tonight, the museum seemed even more magical, with twinkling lights strung across the balconies and a jazz band playing, and out of nowhere I felt the pang of disappointment that I didn’t have a date to share tonight with. Sure, I could’ve invited Brayden, but I’d have preferred a certain other dark-haired male, one I’d been fantasizing about all week, though I hadn’t seen him since our coffee date a week and a day ago. Not that I’m counting…

Salvatore had called a couple of times, late at night after I’d finally gotten home from a long workday, but he’d made no mention of seeing me again, and the conversations had been surprisingly…platonic. Asking how my day had been, if my car had been giving me any problems. No mention at all about what he’d said about wanting me, no hint of interest, sexual or otherwise. I kept running through our conversation at the café, wondering if I’d said or done something that made him change his mind about me. God, I hoped not. The more time I’d had to think about the enigmatic man who’d captured my interest, the more I wanted to know him.

I grabbed a flute of champagne off a passing waiter’s tray and took a sip. What would it be like to have Salvatore Wolfe by my side at an event like this? He probably would be entirely at ease here, surrounded by other wealthy, important people. As my eyes traveled over to the makeshift dance floor by the jazz band, I wondered if he’d ask me to dance. No doubt he’d be good at that, too, while I’d spend the whole time trying not to trip over my feet.

I eased through the crowd anonymously, picking up bits and pieces of the conversations around me, but too shy to try to strike up one myself. The song changed then, a slower romantic tune that had more couples heading off to the dance floor, and I sighed. If only…

As I pivoted away from the dancers to go in search of something to eat, my gaze fell on a familiar face a few feet away. With his hair slicked back, and in a tailored tuxedo that molded to the strong lines of his body, Salvatore was undeniably the sexiest man in the room, and he nearly took my breath away. His dark eyes were on mine, intense and hungry, and as he stalked toward me, I couldn’t move. I could only watch, utterly entranced, as the crowd parted for him, and he came to a stop before the man who’d captured his attention—me.

* * *

The delicious thrill that came from the element of surprise was never something that should be underestimated, and the round eyes looking up at me let me know that Jesse felt the same. When he’d first spotted me behind him, I had made sure to catalogue each and every emotion that flickered across his face, and what I’d seen there hadn’t left me disappointed.

Shock…

Joy…

And finally…desire.

And it was that final emotion that was currently swirling in his gaze as he let his eyes roam over my face, down my neck, and all the way down the length of my body. I gave him a second, or three, to look his fill before finally speaking.

“Good evening, Mr. Clark.” As my voice floated between us, Jesse raised his head and sucked in a breath. “Are you having a nice time so far tonight?”

Jesse blinked, then again, as though trying to ascertain if I was, in fact, in front of him, and then he let his breath out and nodded. “Uh, yeah, I am—I’m sorry, but how is it that you’re here?”

My lip curled in response, and when I took another step closer, Jesse bit down on his plump lower lip. The action made me achingly aware of why I was so fixated on the man opposite me. I indulged in my own once-over then, and made sure it was thorough and unapologetic.

Jesse’s blond hair was styled so the front was spiked and the rest was all neatly in place. His tuxedo fit him, but not perfectly. It appeared too large around the shoulders, and I’d noticed on my approach that the legs of the pants were a little too long. The tuxedo wasn’t his. Likely belonged to that friend of his, Brayden. But the shirt and bow tie fit him in a way that suggested they were his own.

Details. They were always important to take note of, because they were what would help you or hinder you in the end.

When I finally brought my attention back to his face, it pleased me to see the bright spots of color on his cheeks and the nervous way he was still chewing his lip. “You look very handsome tonight, Jesse.”

“I, uhh… Thank you.” He looked around, likely trying to see if anybody was paying attention to the exchange, but they weren’t. Because while he was shocked to see me there at the museum, no one else was. I’d been attending these galas for years. “I’m sorry, I know I must sound like an idiot right now, but I still don’t understand…how are you here?”

“I drove.” I reached for his empty glass, placed it on a waiter’s tray, and then handed Jesse another. “I think the better question would be: how did you get here? Did Pretty Baby give you any grief tonight?”

“No, she didn’t,” Jesse responded, and then narrowed his eyes. “And you still didn’t answer me.”

I chuckled at his put-out tone. “I didn’t, did I?”

“No, you didn’t—haven’t.”

“Won’t,” I said, then I leaned in. “I don’t answer to anyone, Jesse. But when I ask you something, you should definitely do the opposite.” As I straightened up, I saw him swallow, and smiled. “Do you understand?”

Jesse raised his glass and took a long gulp of his champagne, and once he was done, he looked flushed from both the alcohol and the lust I could see heating his eyes, and when I arched an eyebrow at him, he nodded.

Oh, that won’t do. Not at all. “Say it, Jesse.”

He licked along his lower lip and then gave me what I wanted: “I understand.”

“Good,” I said, and looked over my shoulder to where Dr. Berkovich, the museum’s director, stood with his wife and several members of the board, then I looked back to the one still watching me silently, waiting for whatever I planned to do next. “I figure congratulations must be in order. You got the internship, I see.”

“Yeah, I got the call after we last spoke.”

I slowly nodded, knowing exactly when Jesse had been informed. “You should’ve called me. I would’ve liked to have known.”

Jesse’s mouth fell open. “I should’ve called you? Umm…” He stopped then and said under his breath, “You’re Salvatore Wolfe. I figured you were probably busy buying, I don’t know, another high rise or something.”

“I have enough of those already,” I said, and looked beyond Jesse’s shoulder to one of the shadowed walkways that led off from the packed rotunda. I wanted to take him down there. Get him alone. And I had no doubt in my mind that he would follow, with the way he was staring at me. “But something I don’t currently have is—”

“Salvatore.” My name being said from somewhere behind me was an unwelcome interruption, but I knew who that voice belonged to, so I took a step forward until I was beside Jesse, and before I turned, I told him quietly, “Say hello and goodbye quickly.”

Jesse’s head whipped around, and whatever he saw in my eyes must’ve relayed my message loud and clear, because he took a shaky breath and nodded. As he faced forward, I turned also to face Dr. Berkovich, and made sure to stand close enough to Jesse that our arms brushed.

“I thought that was you,” Dr. Berkovich said as he came to a stop in front of us and held out his hand to me. As his most generous benefactor, I was used to the attention and praise he gave me at these events, and usually I was ever the accommodating businessman. Tonight, however, I was in no mood to be fawned all over. This meeting, though, was crucial for Jesse, so I would play nice for the moment.

“You would be correct,” I said as I shook his hand, not engaging in any small talk and not asking any questions. Instead, I gestured to Jesse. “And this here is Jesse Clark. Your newest intern.”

As I released his hand, Dr. Berkovich turned to Jesse. “Oh yes,” he said as he took Jesse’s hand in his. “You had quite the impressive résumé, young man. You’ll make a fine addition to our paleontology department. We’re lucky to have you.”

“Thank you so much,” Jesse said. “I can’t tell you what an honor it is to meet you. I’ve read countless papers and studies by you.”

Dr. Berkovich gave a hearty laugh as he let go of Jesse’s hand. “You flatter me. I thought most of those papers were used as sleeping aids.”

“Oh, no. They were very informative and interesting.”

Dr. Berkovich clapped Jesse on the shoulder and then angled his head in my direction. “And I see you’ve met Mr. Wolfe? Our most generous benefactor.”

“I—” Jesse stopped and looked up at me, and when he did, his cheeks reddened. “Uh, yes. I’ve met Mr. Wolfe.”

“Good. Good. Salvatore, make sure to stop by on your way out tonight. Dee would love to see you.”

I inclined my head ever so slightly. “I’ll be sure to track you both down. We were just on our way to the hors d’oeuvres table.”

“Of course,” Dr. Berkovich said, and sent a beaming smile in Jesse’s direction. “It was lovely to meet you, Mr. Clark. I look forward to working with you in the future.”

“Yes, I do too. It’ll be my absolute pleasure.”

As Dr. Berkovich gave us a farewell wave, I took Jesse’s half-finished glass of champagne and put it with mine on one of the waiters’ trays. I then touched a hand to his elbow. Jesse glanced down, and then slowly raised his eyes to meet mine. It was time.

I wanted him alone. And I wanted it now.

“Come with me.”

* * *

Salvatore led me through the crowd, and my stomach churned at the suspense of where we were going—and what we would do once we got there.

Don’t be silly. Nothing’s going to happen. I knew that much, but I couldn’t deny that as Salvatore lifted the rope that closed off one of the hallways off the rotunda, I desperately wanted to be alone with him for once. I nervously looked over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching us break the rules. But no one seemed to be paying us any mind, so I turned back toward the hallway to see that Salvatore now had a frown on his face. I quickly walked past him, and after he refastened the rope, I could feel his presence looming behind me.

The hallway was unlit, but up ahead I could make out the faint red lights of the Pompeii exhibit.

It felt wrong to be there, away from the party, especially on what was technically my introduction to this world.

“Should we be here?” I said, biting on the inside of my cheek as I looked at Salvatore. In the soft glow from the party, I could just make out his face as he stared down at me. “I don’t want to get in any trouble—”

“Don’t you trust me?” Salvatore brushed his knuckles down the side of my cheek, and his touch left goosebumps in its wake.

“Of course, but—”

“No buts. You do or you don’t.”

I swallowed. “I do.” I’d seen small glimpses of Salvatore’s dominant side in the short time we’d spent together, but tonight felt on a whole other level. Maybe I should’ve felt a little wary, but I was too excited.

A smile turned up the corner of Salvatore’s lips as he held my chin. “Good little lamb,” he said, and then turned on his heel to walk farther down the hall.

“Wait…little lamb?” I asked once I’d caught up to him.

“It’s fitting, no? I’m the Wolfe, you’re the lamb…”

“Don’t wolves eat lambs?” I joked, and as Salvatore looked down at me, his eyes glittered in the darkness.

“Yes. They do.”

A shiver racked my body, but it wasn’t just his words that caused that reaction. Just being in his presence again, feeling the power and control emanating off him, had my cock stirring. It was like I’d wished Salvatore into appearing tonight, and now that he had, I was holding out for something more. Something I knew shouldn’t happen, but I wanted it anyway.

And because the darkness had me feeling a little bolder than usual, I said, “I still can’t believe you’re here.”

“Good surprise?”

“A very good surprise. I’d been thinking about you, and—” I clamped my mouth shut. I hadn’t meant to put all that out there.

“Oh, do go on.”

I shook my head, too self-conscious now, but Salvatore wasn’t having that. He took hold of my elbow, and when I faced him again, he lifted my chin to meet his eyes.

“You’d been thinking about me? Tell me what you were thinking about.”

“No, I—”

“That wasn’t a question.”

The fierce look on Salvatore’s face told me I wasn’t getting away with not answering him, and so I said, “Before I saw you…I’d wished you were here. With me. Like that you came with me…as my date.” I tried to look away, but he held my chin firmly. “But I wasn’t sure you were still interested…”

Quick as a viper, Salvatore backed me up, and his hands flattened on the wall on either side of my head, caging me in. My pulse sped up as he leaned in, angling his head like he was going to kiss me. His breath was a hot whisper on my lips, and then he said, “Well, little lamb. Let’s clear that up right now, shall we?”