Her breath caught in her throat.
He was already dressed for the evening, tall, sharp, and striking in a black tailored suit. The shirt beneath was a deep grey, almost charcoal, with the top two buttons undone, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone and the strong line of his neck. His dark hair, usually a little wild, had been slicked back smoothly, giving him an even more powerful, polished look.
But it was his eyes that held her still.
Darius stopped just a few steps into the room and didn't speak right away. He simply looked at her. His gaze swept over her slowly, from the soft ribbons in her hair to the shine of her dress, and then back up to her eyes.
His expression didn't change much, but his silence spoke louder than any words.
Cassandra stood up slowly, her hands smoothing the
