Chapter 33

Cecilia

"Oh, you'll find out soon enough." Sophia stood, smoothing down her dress. "But speaking of which—your dress is absolutely stunning. Where did you get it?"

The abrupt subject change was clearly intentional, leaving me off-balance.

"Arthur took me shopping," I said, standing as well.

"He has good taste." She moved toward the door, then paused, glancing back at me. "You know, we should go shopping together sometime. Tomorrow, maybe? There's this boutique in the city that just got in their new collection. My treat."

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to refuse, to put distance between myself and whatever game Sophia was playing. But Carter was Arthur's friend, and I didn't want to create unnecessary tension.

"Sure," I said finally. "That sounds nice."

"Perfect." Her smile was brilliant, all traces of the earlier intensity gone. "I'll text you the details. But for now, I should get back downstairs. The party's winding down and I need to say goodbye to people."

She swept out of the room, leaving me standing there trying to process what had just happened. The conversation had felt like a test, or maybe a warning, wrapped in layers of politeness and feminine bonding.

I made my way back downstairs, my mind still churning. The party had indeed begun to thin out, guests making their way toward the exits in clusters, calling out thanks and congratulations to Carter and Sophia.

I found Arthur standing with Carter near the entrance, the two of them deep in conversation.

"Hey," he said, pulling me close. "How was your chat with Sophia?"

"Weird," I said quietly, so only he could hear. "Really weird."

His brow furrowed. "Weird how?"

I glanced around, making sure no one was in earshot, then quickly recounted the conversation—Sophia's story about Carter, the pointed comments about family background, the mention of Madison Hartley and the thinly veiled implication that Madison wanted something.

Arthur's expression darkened as I spoke. "That's... odd. I don't know much about Madison Hartley except that she runs in the same circles as Sophia. But the way Sophia was talking, it sounds like she was warning you about something."

"Or threatening me," I said.

"Maybe." He pulled me closer, his hand settling protectively on my lower back. "But honestly? I don't give a fuck what Madison Hartley wants or what Sophia's plotting. You're with me, and that's all that matters."

The fierce certainty in his voice made my chest warm.

"Are you tired?" he asked, his tone softening. "Want to get out of here?"

I nodded. "Yeah. Let's go."

We said our goodbyes to Carter and Sophia—her smile was just as warm as before, giving no indication of our earlier conversation. Carter pulled Arthur into another hug, clapping him on the back.

"Thanks for coming, man. Means a lot."

"Wouldn't have missed it," Arthur said.

As we walked away from the house, I felt the tension in my shoulders begin to ease. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in shades of pink and gold, and the evening air was cool and fresh after the warmth of the party.

"Let's walk for a bit," Arthur suggested. "I'll have Ethan meet us down the road."

"Good idea."

We strolled down the long driveway, the sound of our footsteps crunching on gravel the only noise besides the distant chirping of crickets. Arthur's hand found mine, our fingers lacing together naturally.

"You know," I said after a moment, "today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be."

"No?"

"I mean, your mother was her usual charming self, and Sophia's apparently playing some kind of long game with her bestie, but overall?" I shrugged. "I survived."

"You did more than survive." Arthur stopped walking, turning to face me. "You were perfect. The way you handled my mother, the way you held your own with Catherine Ashford and everyone else—Ceci, you were incredible."

The admiration in his voice made my cheeks warm. "I just didn't want to embarrass you."

"Embarrass me?" He laughed, the sound low and warm. "You could never. You made me proud."

I looked up at him, at the way the fading sunlight caught in his hair, at the intensity in his eyes as he looked at me like I was something precious.

On impulse, I rose up on my toes, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Yeah?" I said, deliberately making my voice softer, more playful. "Then don't I deserve a reward?"

I felt him go still, his breath catching. His hands settled on my waist, fingers tightening slightly.

"A reward?" His voice had dropped an octave, rough and wanting.

"Mhmm." I pressed closer, letting my lips brush against his jaw. "For being such a good girlfriend."

"Ceci." My name came out strangled. "You're playing with fire."

"Maybe I like the heat."

For a moment, I thought he might kiss me right there, in the middle of the driveway with the Ashford Estate still visible behind us. His control was visibly fraying, his hands trembling slightly where they gripped my waist.

Then he pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes dark with barely restrained desire.

"Whatever you want," he said, his voice rough. "Anything. Just name it."

I grinned, feeling powerful and wanted and absolutely certain of what I wanted.

"Take me home," I said simply.

His answering smile was slow and devastating. "With pleasure."

He pulled out his phone, texting Ethan our location, then pulled me close again as we waited. The air between us was charged, electric, full of promise.

"You know," he murmured against my hair, "you're going to be the death of me."

"Good," I whispered back. "What a way to go."

When the car pulled up a few minutes later, Arthur helped me in with exaggerated courtesy, his hand lingering on mine just a beat too long. Ethan, professional as always, didn't comment on the tension crackling between us.

As we drove away from the Ashford Estate, I leaned against Arthur's shoulder, feeling the solid warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his breathing. Whatever games Sophia and Madison Hartley were playing, whatever schemes his mother was plotting—none of it mattered right now.

Right now, it was just us, heading home, and that was enough.