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"Where have you been, my dear?" Zach wanted to see how Søren would react to outright flirtation He dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder

"Sorry that took so long" Nora took a quick drink of Zach’s gin and tonic "Had to do a favor for a friend"

Zach breathed in and recognized a sweet and heady scent on her skin--a familiar scent that Grace’s skin had carried after they’d made love She hadn’t been with Søren, he knew Or Griffin…Zach reerie in his pocket and wondered if she’d run off with another woht, Eleanor" Søren dipped his er into his wine and delicately ran the wet tip slowly around the riuest entertained in your absence"

Nora shot Griffin a dirty look, but Griffin only shrugged a helpless apology froht then," she said to Søren Leaning back against Zach’s chest, she asked, "You ready to go?"

"Absolutely," Zach said and stared at Søren Zach saw no jealousy in Søren’s eyes, but no ame with this man, especially not on his territory

"With your permission, sir," she said to Søren

"Of course I will show you out"

"That won’t be necessary" Zach stood by Nora and took her hand She htly around his thumb

"I insist," Søren said Nora squeezed Zach’s hand in a warning Apparently Søren was not to be denied

Søren stepped to the floor and set his glass of wine on Griffin’s back, balancing it on the flat plane between his shoulder blades "Stay," Søren ordered Griffin who stayed stiff and motionless on the floor Søren offered Nora his aro

Søren and Nora led as Zach followed closely behind They went back down the elevator and across the pit where the play had grown louder as more Circle denizens had joined in Zach expected Søren to leave the a key and inserting it under the down button The doors closed and the elevator ascended The door opened onto the first entry hallway and Zach stepped out

"Excuse us, Zachary," Søren said, still inside the elevator "I need another ith Eleanor"

Søren flicked his wrist and the doors closed onceZach alone in the empty hall

"Søren, let et hos to discuss"

"We have nothing to discuss"

"Not even Michael?"

Nora sighed There was no point in fighting Søren

"Yes, of course Michael was lovely Thank you very much"

"You are certainly welcoin?"

"No, of course not"