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“Just so you know, if I had ht this second so I can strip you out of your gown and enjoy every soft, delicious inch of what’s beneathand be assured, I’ers,with promise

Breathing nore, and it took all of her effort not to squirether to ease the ache that was beconore with every word Hunter spoke The man was a master at verbal seduction, and by the ti to be on the verge of co

His fingers trailed across her shoulder in one last caress before he sat down beside her and released a disappointed sigh that had her turning her head to look at him since it contradicted the provocative spell he’d just put on her

A devilish light glea Elle that he are of the chaos he’d just created inside her “However, asto have to restrain est trait when it co his explanation “Unfortunately, I’m required to spend at least the next few hours at this ball to appease ether and expects uests”

He looked completely put out by his duties, and she couldn’t help but smile at him “It is the Wilder Way Foundation, and you are one of the hosts,” she pointed out “I’m inclined to side with your sister on this one”

“A traitor already,” he said,couple of hours, but I’ll just have to find various ways to make time pass quickly”

She had no doubt that he would

While they enjoyed a delicious five-courseat their table, a feere already acquainted with Hunter Elle was content to listen to their conversation between each delicious dish they were served and take in the atht of Helena and her stepsisters sitting a few tables away a

nd was eternally grateful that their backs were facing her so she didn’t have to withstand their nasty looks during as an enjoyable dinner

When they’d finished their rich, decadent chocolate ganache tart for dessert, everyone dispersed to enjoy the rest of the festivities With Hunter’s arm settled around Elle to keep her close to his side, he was surprisingly attentive as they wandered through the various roo all the fairy-tale aspects of the ball, which completely enthralled her They stopped to listen to Raevynn Walsh sing her hit songs froe that had been set up in the ballrooood a out all the offerings on display And though Elle didn’t bid on anything, and neither did Hunter, it was still fun to see all the extravagant items that had been donated to the cause

She enjoyed another glass of chah an area with fun fairy-tale backdrops and what looked like a real enchanted forest She was laughing at so Hunter said to her when she saw Helena, Gwen, and Claire not far away, and their heads turned to stare at her as soon as one of her stepsisters realized she was in the vicinity

Hunter noticed them, too, and deliberately steered clear of the triobut as they h the various rooms, she realized that her step to covertly watch what happened between the

“They’re very deter equally irritated by their persistence

“It seems so” If they weren’t at a foruests, Elle would have confronted them by now, but she wasn’t about tothe ball I don’t knohat they expect to see”

“Oh, I do,” hehis brows