Chapter 14 — Dressed for Desire

The sun had barely risen when Susan opened her eyes, the sheets tangled around her legs, her heart beating faster than normal.

The room was still submerged in darkness, but she knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep.

Once again, the same dream. Dmitry. The clearing near the lake. His mouth. His hands. His body pressing against hers with primitive urgency, as if he desired her more than air itself.

The way he possessed her, with hunger and reverence, still made her muscles contract in memory.

She woke up gasping, breathing ragged, skin hot… wet. She felt shame. And desire.

A desire that wasn’t only hers. It came from him too. From something deeper, older. Something that connected to her blood, to her soul.

It was the third dream in less than a week. And the second time she woke up with tears in her eyes, her entire body clamoring for him. As if she already belonged to him.

She got up slowly, trying not to make any noise. Her fingers trembled as she opened one of the wardrobe drawers and pulled out her mother’s grimoire, which she now kept hidden between design books and résumé folders.

She found a spell she had been using for two days, but it only worked for a limited time.

Spell of Sensory Dulling — Desire and Connection.

She recited the words in a low voice, hands still shaking, heart tight with doubt. Maybe she could get through the night without exposing herself, and without him losing control.

When she finished, she closed her eyes for a moment.

“Please… Let it work. Or I’m lost.”

She sighed and headed to the kitchen, trying to occupy her mind. She put on a calm playlist on her phone and began separating the ingredients for breakfast.

Flour, milk, eggs. Nothing extraordinary, but she needed something to keep her grounded. Making pancakes seemed like a good idea.

But even there, her mind returned. Insistently. Imaginary hands on her skin, his whispers in her ear, the heat, the possessiveness…

Soon, the smell of fresh coffee and warm pancakes filled the apartment. And with it came her roommates.

Jenn was the first to appear, hair messy, eyes half-open.

“What’s going on? Why the feast?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

“It’s not a feast,” Susan answered too quickly. “I just thought it would be nice to make something special.”

Jenn raised an eyebrow and threw herself onto the sofa.

“‘Special’? Hm…”

Carla appeared shortly after, with a crooked bun and an alert expression.

“You barely slept tonight, didn’t you?”

Susan hesitated. Her gaze fell to the frying pan. She bit her lower lip.

“Maybe a little.”

Jenn laughed and dragged herself to the kitchen.

“You can pretend this event means nothing, but… everyone here knows it does.”

“What are you talking about?”

“The guy, Susan. Dmitry Rurik. The Alpha. Your boss. The guy who turns you into a ripe tomato just by looking at you.”

Her stomach tightened. She was still tense, and the spell she had cast seemed to already be weakening.

“Jenn…”

“Relax. No one’s judging you. We’re just saying that… tonight could be revealing.”

Carla approached and picked up a cup of coffee, observing her with that look that seemed to see through any facade.

“Do you want to impress him?”

“Of course not!” The answer came out so fast it sounded like a shout. She noticed. And so did they.

Jenn crossed her arms, amused.

“Are you sure?”

Susan sighed, setting the frying pan down and throwing a cloth over her shoulder. She tried not to show it, but her mind was in chaos. Desire, fear, guilt… And that constant dread of being discovered.

She wanted to see him. A part of her had already recklessly surrendered to him. The connection was made, even if she still tried to resist.

“He’s married! And I just want to enjoy the night, that’s all. You know I haven’t been to a party in…”

“Three years,” Jenn finished.

“And that’s exactly why you have to enjoy it,” Carla nodded. “And let’s be honest… it’s the most exclusive party of the year.”

The two of them exchanged a knowing look but didn’t push further. Susan thanked them silently.

Then the doorbell rang.

“It must be Tati and Maki.”

She went to the door, trying to keep her composure. But her heart was still beating too fast. It wasn’t just about seeing him. It was about what might happen.

Tatiana and Maki were there, impeccable as always.

“Good morning, little redhead!” Maki greeted her. “Ready to turn into a princess?”

“I still don’t know why I agreed to this…”

“Because you trust us. And you know you’re going to look stunning,” Tatiana smiled, entering with her usual elegance.

“And because you’re going to see him tonight,” Maki added, with a sharp look.

Susan rolled her eyes, feeling her face heat up.

“You two are impossible.”

“And you love us for it. Now let’s go. A day of transformation awaits!”

She took a deep breath and followed them.

But deep down, she knew that no dress, makeup, or spell would be enough to hide the truth from Dmitry.

Not that connection.

…

The beauty salon they chose was one of the most renowned in Moscow, frequented by socialites, actresses, and daughters of the elite. Susan felt she didn’t belong in that world. The shiny marble floor, the aroma of expensive perfumes in the air, and the sound of sophisticated conversations made her want to disappear.

While she watched Tatiana being transformed with classic, imposing waves and Maki receiving a casual yet deadly hairstyle, a shiver ran up her spine. The nervousness, previously held back by a thin layer of rationality, now threatened to overflow.

She took a deep breath when it was her turn. The professional began working with precision on her red strands, leaving them wavy and shiny, falling like silk over her shoulders.

It was as if he was drawing a new version of her… But no amount of makeup in the world could hide what was truly consuming her inside.

It wasn’t just insecurity. It was fear.

Fear of being noticed. Fear of being felt.

When the beauty ritual ended and they returned to the apartment, Maki took charge of the makeup with excitement.

“You trust me, right, little redhead?”

“Not even a little,” Susan forced a smile. They laughed together, but her chest was tight.

Maki used soft and sophisticated tones. Brown smokey eyes, gold on the eyelids, nude lipstick, highlighter in the right places. Susan barely recognized the woman in the mirror. A bolder, wilder version of herself. More… dangerous?

But the real shock came with the small box Maki took out of her bag.

“Lenses. Tonight, you’re not wearing glasses.”

Her glasses were her shield and armor. But tonight… there would be no screens, only ambient light, voices, music… And Dmitry.

She allowed them to put the lenses in. When she opened her eyes and saw herself in the mirror, she felt a lump tighten in her throat.

“Wow…”

“You look stunning, Su,” Tatiana said, with a sparkle in her eyes.

She finished putting on the dress while Maki applied the lipstick. When she came out of the bedroom, she heard Jenn’s scandalized sigh:

“My God. If Dmitry Rurik doesn’t devour you with his eyes tonight, he’s blind.”

The black dress outlined her body perfectly. The satin fabric hugged every curve — her wide hips, thick thighs, the design of the back, and the subtly daring neckline. The embroidery on the bust and the side slit brought a perfect balance between sophistication and undeniable sensuality.

Susan looked at herself in the mirror, stunned.

“I… I don’t know if I can go out like this.”

“Shut up. Yes, you can,” Maki shot back. “And you’re going to shine.”

Tatiana approached, lightly adjusting the hem of the dress.

“You’re perfect. Now just breathe.”

But Susan could barely do that. As they went down to the car, the air felt heavy. Her skin tingled. This was more than anxiety. It was instinct.

She wasn’t just going to a party. She was walking into a minefield.

In the back seat, hands resting on her lap, she kept her eyes fixed on the window. The streets of Moscow passed like shadows. And as the VDNH approached, her heart seemed to shrink.

“What’s going to happen if he looks at me? If he touches me? What if he feels…?”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

Her body might seem ready. But her blood didn’t know if it wanted to be contained or discovered. The connection with Dmitry already existed, and it was dangerous. Every dream was an offering to that bond that threatened to consume them.

If Dmitry discovered everything… maybe tonight would be her last.

And yet… there was a part of her, reckless, hungry, and surrendered, that wanted to see him. That wanted to feel him.

And that terrified her even more than being discovered.