Never Again Yours (Isadora and Magnus)

Chapter 11

Isadora clutched the blanket to her chest and edged backward. "Fair's fair. I slept

with you, then you slept with me. We're even now."

She was determined-he couldn't hold this over her anymore.

Victor withdrew his hand, the lingering warmth of her skin still clinging to his fingertips. With one hand in his pocket, he stood tall and imposing, his dark eyes fixed intently on her for a few moments.

"Get dressed and come out for breakfast," he said at last, then turned and strode out of the room.

Only after the door clicked shut did Isadora reach for the dress he'd left for her. She unfolded it and blinked in surprise-a form-fitting, deep plum dress, splashed with bold rose patterns. The fabric was luxurious, unmistakably expensive.

She had almost never worn anything so bold or alluring. Magnus had always preferred her in simple, innocent styles-soft pastels, clean lines, nothing that drew too much attention. And for him, she'd gone along with it, even though she hated it.

She'd never liked playing the innocent or pretending to be fragile. That only ever made her an easy target for people like Pearl Vaughan. But for Magnus's sake, she'd put up with it all. Back then, he was everything to her.

Looking back now, she realized she'd been hopelessly lovesick. Honestly, in this day and age, being lovesick was practically an illness-and she desperately needed a cure.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Isadora tossed off the blanket, exposing skin almost startling in its paleness, crisscrossed with marks that screamed of last night's lack of tenderness.

dress, piece by piece.

did Victor know her exact size after just one

her burning cheeks, trying to collect

a night with a man

herself a quick wash, and stepped out

Z, and the cut of her dress forced her to walk slowly, careful not to trip. The slit in the skirt revealed flashes of her slender, pale legs as she

of her footsteps. The instant he saw her, something

He had good taste.

with a healthy, porcelain radiance. Draped in

lounged in his chair, idly tapping his fingers in a steady rhythm on the table, watching her

right now-how badly he wanted

thought brought a lazy smile to

and intense. She tugged at her skirt, suddenly self-conscious. It wasn't too short, but

cleared her throat. "Is there something on

eyes softened almost imperceptibly. "You look good

often, in fact. Isadora was used to men telling her she was beautiful. But something about Victor's simple,

look good"-sent a faint

moment, the air between them felt charged with a gentle, unspoken