Rían kept nodding even though I’d stopped speaking.
“Ambassador!”
He blinked, then grinned. “I like your dress.”
What was it about that smarmy smile that made me want to wallop him? “Were you listening to me?”
“No one is paying us the least bit of attention.”
Sure enough, those closest to us seemed to be minding their own business, and the dancers on the dancefloor appeared too focused on their partners to notice either of us were in the room.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he finished his champagne then set the flute on the windowsill. “They’re too busy nattering about Lady Samantha’s husband going off with Lord Ketter’s wife, and Lady Julia’s baby bump which is rather large for someone married only three months.”
Lady Samantha’s husband huddled in the corner near the musicians with three more men my father’s age. All of them swirled and sipped their brandy, no doubt very pleased with their male accomplishments.
Lady Samantha sat on a chair surrounded by a handful of women, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Now that I was looking, Lady Julia’s bump beneath her burgundy gown did look quite big.
“You can hear them from here?” All I could make out were coughs and murmurs and music.
“Fae hearing.” Rían tapped his left ear. “Although this one’s fecked,” he muttered, tapping his other one.
“Why? What happened to your ear?”
He dragged a silver flask from his back pocket, taking his time unscrewing the lid. “You look positively delectable tonight.”
Heat crept along my neck. My jaw. My cheeks. “Did you hear what I said?”
Squinting, he pointed at me with the top of his flask. “Did you hear whatIsaid?” He eased forward, his breath tickling against my neck. “I wonder if you taste as good as you smell.”
“You mustn’t speak so improperly,” I breathed, choking on the sour stench of alcohol. “Someone may hear you.”
With a flick of his wrist, the sounds around us fell silent.
He’d created one of those tosts.
The couple eating cake to our right didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. The tost must be working. Would they hear me if I screamed?
“There. Now I can say whatever I want andnooooone can hear us.” He took a deep gulp from the flask. Using his sleeve to wipe the drink from his lips, he went back to smiling. “You’re a viper tonight. Makes me want to do all sorts ofimproperthings with you.”
I didn’t want to hear any of his undoubtedly lewd suggestions that would probably involve him and I alone. Touching and kissing and . . .My toes curled inside my slippers. “That’s quite enough, Rían.”
“It’s Ambassador DeWarn, remember? Or Edward, if you’re feelingimproper.” He flicked his wrist.
Sound exploded. Voices. Music. Laughter. Carefree and utterly oblivious.
“Seeing as you and I no longer have any business together, I’m off to have fun with these humans. If you’re looking for a bit of devilment, you know where to find me.” Rían’s shoulder grazed mine as he sauntered past, plucked another glass of champagne from a tray, and inserted himself in the middle of a group of young women fluttering their fans and eyeing him like he was a slice of delicious cake.
I’d come prepared to fight, and he hadn’t even batted an eye at my refusal to bargain.
Nothing about that man made sense.
I grabbed a glass of champagne, hyper-aware of Rían’s every breath. Every movement. Every twitch of his fingers, blink of his dark lashes, flash of teeth when he smiled.
If only I had fae hearing and could listen in on the undoubtedlyimproperthings he whispered in Tilly Dalton’s ear.
He was like a flame, beautiful and enticing.
But flames scalded and burned.