I didn’t know why I invited him to opening night. To be fair, all he had to do was walk in the door; he didn’t actually need an invitation to attend. I’d delivered it more as a warning that he and I would figure this out. I’d given him a week, and I was curious to see what he did with it.

The play went off without a hitch. As I knew it would. I only hired the best, and despite the drama and adversity we fought through during rehearsal and with the theater renovations, I’d known we would pull through.

I couldn’t focus on Gray until after the play. With everyone standing in the Grand Foyer in black tie, I scanned the crowd for him. Above me, the gold ornate statuary and paintings glowed in the faux candlelight. This place must have been magical with real candlelight. Or maybe just hot.

The sponsors always celebrated opening night with a party. And the board loved any excuse to get the sponsors drunk enough to part with their checkbooks.

I skirted the edge of the room, not wanting to be drawn into any more congratulatory speeches that ended with a man congratulating me on a triumph, and complimenting himself.

But really, it was the best vantage point from which to look for Gray. As one of the board members and the owner of the theater, he should be here.

Once I got tired of circling in my too-high heels, I braced myself against a column and waited. Any second I’d catch a glimpse…

“You know this place had a serious candle budget back in the day.”

His voice caressed my skin like warm velvet.

“I was just wondering how warm it would get in here if there were thousands of lit candles overhead and circling the room.”

He stepped up to the opposite side of the column, and I hazarded a peek at him. Exactly the same as the last time I saw him, and yet his face looked a little leaner. His smile appeared forced and strained. But I doubted anyone would pick that up. At least not anyone in this room.

He wore a black tuxedo, black shirt, black bowtie, and even his shoes were black. The color did very good things for him. I swallowed the naughty turn to my thoughts and smoothed out the deep royal blue of my dress. The sweetheart neckline bared my shoulders and decolletage; I’d chosen the dress purposefully to get Gray’s attention. I’d even skipped dinner so didn’t ruin the beautiful satin before he had a chance to see it.

“It would be very hot. And the clothes were all higher quality, thicker fabrics, with so many layers you couldn’t get dressed without help. So even more warm because of that.”

I crossed my arms under my breasts and pushed off the column to face him. “I owe you an apology.”

His mouth hung open as if he were about to say something, and he snapped it shut after my declaration.

“I’m sorry my brother kidnapped you and forced you to listen to one of his boring lectures.”

“I think…”

“Oh and I’m sorry he tased you. That really wasn’t cool. To be fair, he did say Chloroform hurts more, and it takes a lot longer to work than tasing, so that is why he chose that…” I trailed off. He likely didn’t need the rundown I’d forced out of Jake before he left.

He blinked a few times and stepped forward enough that I could smell his cologne. I wanted to press my face to his neck and snort it. The smell reminded me of his hands on my body and his teeth. All of it.

I stepped forward, closing the distance between us but not touching him. “Can we get out of here and talk?”

He nodded and held out his elbow. I threaded my arm through the loop he created and he clasped my forearm against his body tight. “Now you can’t escape,” he teased.

Little did he know I was thinking the same thing.

Outside the ornate front doors, which no one in the company ever used, about a quarter of the guests milled around. Some were smoking; others sat stretching their legs out on the stairs. One couple was hot and heavy around the bend of a statue.

Dorian guided me along, and I allowed him to lead me wherever he wanted to go. We stayed silent. I figured he wanted privacy, and the square and side streets were packed with people after the event. I was surprised when we ended up at my front door.

I led him in and slipped off the shoes that had begun to form blisters on my heels. Luckily, before Band-Aids were required. Blood and satin are not a good combination.

He hovered awkwardly by the door. As if he wanted to make a dash whenever the first opportunity arose.

I pointed to the couch. “You can sit down.”

He sat on the edge of my couch and tested its give. It must have performed well, because he sank back into it with a sigh.

“Are your shoes killing you too? You’re welcome to take them off.”

He chuckled, and just like that, it felt normal, being here in my home with him. “No, I have some experience with uncomfortable footwear.”

I threw myself down on the couch beside him in a cloud of satin and crinoline. Once I’d contained my dress enough to move my legs, I propped my foot across my knee to rub it. Usually I walked in flats, but I didn’t want to risk letting go of Gray before we’d gotten here, so I limped back in those killer heels.

Dorian reached out and plucked my ankle off the top of knee and stretched it to his. When he started rubbing the stocking-covered balls of my, feet I thought I could orgasm then and there.

“That is amazing. Where did you learn to do that?”

He smiled, a good smile, not a mask but not the showstopper either. “I told you I have experience with uncomfortable shoes. When I was a young man and a woman went off on her own, I’d help her, offer to rub her feet…one thing usually led to another.”

“Women used to sleep with you for a foot massage. Wow. You must be good.”

He glided his thumb down the tendon on the bottom of my foot, and my entire leg shook in response. Well damn.

“Watch it, Gray. We have to keep things civil until we figure it out.”

“What are we figuring out?”

To be honest, I had no idea. He and I never really talked about what we were or what we could be, only what we couldn’t be. I knew I cared about him. I wanted to see where things with him could go. Even after warnings from both Gray and my brother. I wanted to make the choice for my own life. Both of them trying to push me away only made me want what I couldn’t have even more.

I decided to go for the truth. “I have absolutely no clue what we need to figure out. But I do know there is something here.”

He glanced over as he massaged the entire top portion of my foot in his two big hands. “I agree with that sentiment. We certainly do have something.”

I lifted my foot off his lap, and he held his hands up for me to switch out the massaged foot for the still aching one.

A moment of silence passed between us while he rubbed, and then he stopped and met my eyes. “If you know what your brother did, then you also know why he felt the need to do it. I agree with him. I’m going mad. And as much as I adore you, Isobel, I refuse to put you in any danger.”

His declaration, while well intentioned, punched me in the neck. “And you and my brother are both under the impression that I am unable to take care of myself. I’m a grown woman, and if I want to be with a man, insane or not, I’ll do what I damn well choose.”

My outburst took him by surprise. His eyes flew open wide, and the hands that had resumed their ministrations froze.

“Sorry,” I grumbled. “I don’t like being bossed around, especially by men.”

He nodded and started on my feet again. “Understandable. I apologize for presuming to know what is best for you. But I will say, I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt you.”

I sat up and put my hand over one of his. “You’re too late. You leaving, despite it not being of your own free will, that hurt. And you did write that letter. All of that hurt. Then the silence while you brooded. That hurt as well.”

He hung his head, a strand of his wavy hair falling forward down his forehead. “I’m sorry for that. I truly am.”

I lay back down, if only to get some space between us. “What hurts me most of all is I can’t figure out why I care so much. By all accounts, we haven’t spent a ton of time together. But, whenever I’m with you, it feels like home. Like the home I had before my parents left us. I feel more than happy, more like content. I’m not ready to give that up. Even if that means I have divide my time between my house and the mental institution. Although I have no idea if France has mental institutions.”

He chuckled for that one at least. “They do. Plus, money can pretty much buy anything to be delivered anywhere.”

I threw my hands up. “There you go. You’re rich. Get one of those live-in doctors, except make him a psychologist or whatever. I can’t ever remember which ones can prescribe medication. Get one of those. I need a refill on my Xanax.”

Another laugh.

When he remained silent, I kept going. “Okay then, realistically what are your options? What should you do in this situation?”

He cupped my heel and wiggled it in a way that shot sensation up to my kneecaps. “I should go to the science center where they will likely keep me for observation indefinitely.”

“That sounds ominous. Nothing like an American science lab taking prisoners to ruin a relationship.”

He continued the silence until it started to piss me off. I dragged my feet of his lap, sat up, and maneuvered the dress until I straddled his lap. He pressed back into the couch as if he were trying to put as much distance between us as possible.

“You’re not getting off that easy, Gray. I know you have opinions about this, and feelings. Can you weigh in here? I’m trying to make an effort, and I think you’re trying to push me away. Again.”

He looked everywhere except at me. Instead of forcing it, I climbed off his lap, went into my bedroom, and slammed the door. I had to get rid of this damn dress. Once I got the zipper off the rest was simple enough. Standing in my underwear, which I’d chosen particularly to inspire worship, his refusal to budge hurt even more.

That man should have been on his knees with his face between my legs right now, and instead, he sat pouting. The consideration of it just didn’t feel right. I arranged my boobs in the black corset I wore, made sure the stockings were in place around my thighs, and threw open the door of my bedroom with the same determination with which I slammed it.

“Dorian Gray.”

His eyes snapped to mine in the doorway. Then he slowly let his gaze drop down my body in a line. Once he reached my feet, he met my eyes again and then glanced off somewhere beside my ear.

“I did not put this corset on for my own benefit.”

He flexed his fingers into fists and adjusted on the couch.

When he didn’t move, I stalked over in my stocking-clad feet until I stood next to his legs. “Look at me,” I snapped.

His eyes flashed to mine.

“It’s my turn to take control. And you’re going to listen.”