Chapter 5

Grace reached forward and picked a card from the deck. Her fingers were steady, controlled. She flipped it over and read aloud, her voice calm but deliberate. "Choose one person and turn them on by any means necessary."

Sophia rolled her eyes and thought, With you? We'll be here till dawn. She looked at Grace with mock pity, then smiled sweetly. "Did you miss the dress code, honey? The theme is leather with lace. What are you wearing?"

Grace smiled. Slow. Wicked. She reached down, slid her hand under her silver gown, and pulled off her lace underwear in one smooth motion. Then she flung it directly at Mason's face.

It hit him square on the nose.

The room went silent for a split second. Then murmurs erupted. "Yo... yo..." someone whispered. Another person gasped. A few others laughed nervously.

Grace stood up, her expression unbothered. "Lace." She pointed at her underwear still draped over Mason's face. "Now... more lace."

She walked toward him, hips swaying, and deliberately pressed the delicate fabric against his nose. Mason froze. His eyes widened. His breath hitched. He inhaled without thinking.

"Fuck, Grace," he muttered, his voice thick and subconscious, almost a groan. He reached up, his fingers twitching like he wanted to grab the underwear and hold it there. His entire body leaned forward.

Grace yanked it away at the last second.

Mason nearly fell off his chair.

"Oops," Grace said, her voice dripping with fake innocence. "Wrong person."

She turned on her heel, her silver dress shimmering under the lights, and walked straight toward Aiden. He was sitting back in his chair, watching her with an unreadable expression. When she reached him, she didn't hesitate. She climbed onto his lap, straddling him, and pressed her body against his chest. Her movements were slow, deliberate, designed to provoke.

Aiden's hands immediately went to her waist. Then lower. He cupped her backside and squeezed, pulling her closer. His fingers dug into her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. Grace twisted her hips in a way that made his jaw tighten, and she could feel the tension radiating off him.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Mason's face. Red. Furious. Jealous.

She leaned down, her lips brushing against Aiden's ear, and whispered softly, "Our turn."

Aiden's breath hitched. His hands tightened on her hips. He whispered back, his voice low and rough, "You little troublemaker."

Grace smiled against his neck. Then she started moving. Slowly. Sensually. She rubbed her body against his, her hips rolling in a rhythm that made Aiden's breathing uneven. His hands roamed over her back, her waist, pulling her impossibly closer. He kissed her neck, his lips trailing up to her jaw.

The crowd around them erupted into murmurs.

"This game is wild!" someone shouted.

"It's absolutely insane!" another voice echoed.

Sophia's smirk faltered. She'd planned this whole thing to humiliate Grace, to watch her fumble and fail. But instead, Grace was the center of attention. Everyone was watching her. Wanting her. And Mason couldn't take his eyes off her either.

Grace tilted Aiden's face up with one hand, her fingers tracing his jaw. Then she leaned in and kissed him. Full on the mouth. Slow. Deep. Passionate. Her tongue slid against his, and Aiden responded immediately, kissing her back like he'd been starving for this moment. His hand moved to the back of her neck, holding her in place, and the kiss deepened even more.

Mason watched. Every second of it. His fists clenched on the armrest of his chair. His jaw locked so tight it hurt. His chest heaved with barely controlled rage. He couldn't look away. Couldn't stop the jealousy from burning through him like acid.

Grace kissed Aiden harder, her hands sliding into his hair, tugging slightly. Aiden groaned against her mouth, his hands gripping her thighs now, pulling her even closer. The room felt hot. Suffocating. The air was thick with tension.

Mason's control finally snapped.

He slammed his fist down on the table with a deafening BANG. Glasses toppled over. Drinks spilled everywhere, liquid pooling across the wood and dripping onto the floor. The music stopped. Everyone turned to look.

"STOP!" Mason roared, his voice echoing through the ballroom.

Grace pulled away from Aiden slowly, her lips swollen, her breathing heavy. She turned her head to look at Mason, her expression calm. Almost bored.

Mason stood up, his chair screeching against the floor. His face was twisted with fury. He pointed at Aiden, his hand shaking. "She's my wife! You can't touch her!"