Elias led Seraphina toward the polished marble dance floor with the grace of a confident man entirely in control of the moment, no matter what whispers swirled behind him. The crowd parted instinctively as he stepped forward, his silver mask glinting beneath the ballroom chandeliers. Many turned to look at him again as his tall frame was imposing yet elegant.
As Elias offered his hand, she took it with a knowing smile. Her fingers slipped into his warm hands and her other hand resting against his shoulder as he pulled her gently into position. The music changed to a slow tune, the strings humming with sensuous tension. and they moved as if they had done this a hundred times before.
Their bodies leaned just close enough to suggest intimacy, without breaking propriety. The silk of her gown brushed against his fine velvet coat with every graceful turn. Their eyes locked beneath the glittering chandeliers, and the world faded.
