Chapter 5 Fit to Burn (Jealousy Games)

The ballroom glittered under a thousand lights - gold and crystal catching in the polished black marble like stars trapped beneath their feet.

Vivienne moved through it like a queen - sharp, flawless, untouchable.

Damian noticed the way every eye followed her.

He hated it.

He nursed a glass of bourbon near the bar, watching her work the crowd - perfect smile, perfect laugh, perfect mask - and felt something hot and unfamiliar coil in his gut.

Possession.

It was absurd.

She wasn't his.

She wasn't anyone's.

But when Carter Vance - a slick, grinning tech entrepreneur - cornered her by the champagne tower, Damian straightened instinctively.

Carter was all lazy charm and expensive cologne, wearing his success like armor.

Exactly the kind of man women swooned over.

And Vivienne - Vivienne was laughing.

Laughing, damn it.

Carter leaned in too close, whispering something into her ear that made her lips curve into a real smile - not the polished corporate one she wore like armor, but something softer.

Something private.

Damian's hand tightened around his glass until the crystal threatened to crack.

Vivienne tilted her head back, the movement baring the long, elegant line of her throat.

Carter's gaze dipped, lingering far too long on the curve of her body in that sleek black dress.

Damian didn't think.

Didn't plan.

He just moved.

By the time Vivienne noticed him stalking toward her, it was too late.

"Vivienne," Damian drawled, voice dangerously low.

Both she and Carter turned.

Vivienne's smile faltered - just a flicker - but she recovered fast.

"Damian," she said, tone bright and mocking. "Have you met Carter Vance?"

"We've crossed paths," Damian said smoothly, offering Carter a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"And we were just getting very acquainted," Carter added, flashing a grin.

Vivienne shot Damian a warning glance - don't you dare - but he ignored it.

Instead, he stepped closer.

Close enough that Vivienne had no choice but to shift - her shoulder brushing his chest, her perfume wrapping around him like silk and fire.

"You'll have to forgive me," Damian said, gaze pinned on Carter but voice meant for Vivienne alone.

"Vivienne's not available tonight."

Carter laughed, unbothered. "She can decide for herself, can't she?"

Damian smiled thinly.

"Of course she can."

But his hand - god, his hand - found the small of Vivienne's back, warm and possessive, fingers spreading slightly against the soft fabric of her dress.

Vivienne stiffened.

Carter's grin faltered - just a fraction.

The tension coiled between them, thick and electric.

"I should let you two... catch up," Carter said finally, offering Vivienne a lingering, regretful smile before melting back into the crowd.

The second he was gone, Vivienne turned on Damian, fury sparking in her eyes.

"What the hell was that?" she hissed under her breath, jerking away from his touch.

Damian didn't step back.

He leaned in instead, voice a low, dangerous murmur meant for her alone.

"Keeping vultures off what's mine."

Vivienne's breath caught - a sharp, involuntary sound she couldn't swallow fast enough.

"I'm not yours," she bit out, heart hammering.

Damian's smile was slow, predatory.

"Not yet."

The words hung between them - dark and heavy and devastating.

Vivienne opened her mouth - to argue, to cut him down, to say something, anything - but nothing came out.

Because for one wild, traitorous second, she didn't want to protest.

She wanted to surrender.

She wanted to grab him by that open collar and drag him into the shadows and taste every dangerous promise in his eyes.

Instead, she stepped back - a retreat disguised as disdain - and turned sharply away, heels clicking against the marble floor.

"Stay out of my way, Wolfe," she snapped without looking back.

But Damian only smiled, slow and certain, watching her go.

Because for the first time since they started this twisted little war, he saw it.

Vivienne Hart wasn't immune to him.

She was burning, too.

And it was only a matter of time before they both went up in flames.