You sing like a siren

As she sang, she could feel the eyes of the other guests on her as well, watching her perform, enjoying the beauty of her voice. But among all the gazes, it was Alexander's that stuck out the most, his gaze burning into her, making her feel almost like she was performing just for him. She tried to ignore the effect he was having on her and focus on singing her heart out.

As she continued her performance, she found herself sneaking glances in Alexander's direction. She could see that he was enjoying her performance, a smug smile on his face as he watched her sing. Every time their eyes met, her heart skipped a beat, and she had to steel herself to keep singing, to resist the almost magnetic pull of his gaze.

Finally, she reached the end of her song and the room erupted in applause, the guests expressing their approval and admiration for her performance. She smiled and bowed, accepting the applause graciously. She glanced at Alexander, expecting to see his usual sardonic smirk, but instead she saw him watching her with a look she couldn't quite place.

She couldn't help but feel a little confused by the look in his eyes, the way he was watching her as if seeing something new. She tried to maintain her composure as she thanked the audience and stepped off the stage, feeling a little shaky on her legs as she made her way back to the crowd.

As she stepped off the stage, she could see Alexander approaching her, his gaze still fixed on her. She tried to ignore the way her heart rate quickened in his presence, doing her best to maintain her composure as he stopped before her and looked her up and down.

His eyes continued to rove over her body, his gaze almost as tangible as a physical touch. She could feel a shiver run down her spine as he looked at her, and she found herself torn between feeling annoyed and flustered by his unabashed ogling.

He didn't speak, just continued to watch her with that intense, almost predatory gaze. She fidgeted under his gaze, feeling as if he was peeling back her layers and seeing things she wanted to keep hidden. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and almost seductive.

He stepped closer to her, his body almost touching hers. His voice was soft and dark, like velvet made of shadows.

"You sing like a siren," he whispered, his gaze never leaving her face.

She felt a shiver run down her spine at his words. There was something in his tone, in the way he was looking at her, that sent a thrill through her body. She tried to keep her composure, but she could feel her heart racing in her chest. Her voice was a little breathless as she replied "Is that a compliment?"

He chuckled, a low, seductive sound. He was so close to her now that she could feel his breath on her skin, and she shivered involuntarily. His voice was deep and silky as he responded "It's a statement of fact. You sing beautifully, darling."

She felt her heart skip a beat at his words. There was something almost mesmerizing about his voice, the way he said "Darling" with such sultry assurance. She was acutely aware of how close he was, of the heat radiating from his body. She tried to think of a witty reply, but her mind was mush, her thoughts fuzzy from his proximity and his nearness.

He smirked, his eyes glittering with mockery and desire. He lifted a hand and traced his fingertips along her jawline, his touch sending a jolt of electricity over her skin. His voice was a low, seductive murmur as he bent down to speak in her ear "You're flustered, darling. I knew you'd be sensitive to my touch."

She gasped involuntarily at the feel of his fingers on her skin, his touch burning like a hot brand. She could feel her cheeks heating up, her heart racing faster at his words. She tried to step back, to distance herself from him and his intensity, but he moved before she could, his hand sliding around her waist to pull her against him.

She felt her breath catch in her throat as he pulled her against him, her body flush against his chest. His hand was firm on her waist, holding her in place. She could feel the heat of his body seeping through her clothes, making her dizzy. He leaned in, his voice a low, seductive murmur in her ear "You're so responsive, darling. I can feel every shiver, every tremble."

His breath was warm on her skin as he spoke, his voice husky and intimate. She could feel his chest rising and falling against hers, their bodies so close they seemed to merge into one. Her own breath was coming in short, ragged gasps, her heart slamming like a hammer against her ribcage. He chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery and desire.

"You're practically shaking, darling. I wonder what other responses I can get out of you…"

He pulled her even closer, his grip on her firm but not bruising. She could feel the length of his body against hers, the hard planes of his muscles straining through his suit. One of his hands wandered up her back, his fingers tracing a fire trail across her exposed skin "I wonder, if I were to touch you here," he murmured, his voice a velvety rumble. "Or here…"

He traced his fingers over her collarbone, his touch sending a shiver down her spine. She could feel her body reacting to his touch, the simple brush of his fingers igniting a fire within her. She bit back a whimper, trying to suppress the desire that was pooling low in her stomach.

The mayor stood off to one side, watching the scene with a satisfied smile on his face. From his vantage point, he could see the way Alexander and Iris' bodies were pressed together, the way his hand was sliding up her back, the way her head was tossed back slightly, her lips parted. He felt a strange sense of pride knowing that his plan to bring Alexander to the event was working.

Iris managed to take a step back, breaking the electrifying contact between them. The distance gave her a moment to catch her breath, to try and make sense of the jumble of feelings rushing through her. Alexander didn't follow her, but he didn't look less intense. He watched her, his gaze still fixed on her, his expression a mix of mockery and desire.

He didn't speak for a moment, just watched her with those intense, unreadable eyes. He seemed to be studying her, taking in every detail of her flushed cheeks, her rapid breathing, her dilated eyes. She felt like a butterfly pinned under his gaze, exposed and vulnerable. Finally, he spoke, his voice a low, amused murmur "What's the matter, darling? Overwhelmed?"

He chuckled, the sound almost like a growl. His eyes flicked over her form, his gaze like a caress "You look like a wounded bird, darling. Ready to fly off at the slightest touch."

He took a step towards her, his movements slow and purposeful. He was stalking her now, like a cat toying with a mouse.

"You're like a skittish little bird," he said, his voice low and mocking. "Frightened by the slightest touch. I wonder how much it'd take to make you sing, darling."

He was so close to her now that she could feel the heat radiating off him, feel the force of his presence, the way he seemed to fill the air around her. He leaned in, his face only inches from hers, his voice a raspy murmur "I bet I could make you sing, darling. I bet I could make you sing louder than you've ever sung before."

He was so close that her back was pressed against the wall. He was looming over her, his body like a cage around her. She could feel the strength of him, the raw power contained in his muscular frame. His breath was like fire on her skin, his voice a dangerous whisper "I bet I could make you sing my name, darling. I bet I could make you moan in ecstasy.

She swallowed hard, trying to tamp down the feelings his words were stirring up in her. She found herself liking the way he was speaking, the dangerous edge to his voice, the mockery and desire blending into something that sent a thrill through her body. But she couldn't let him know that. So instead, she tried to sound firm.

"Please stop. I don't like the way you're talking."

He pulled back a fraction of an inch, a sly smile playing on his lips. He had heard the hitch in her voice, the slight breathlessness. He knew she didn't really mean her words.

"You don't like the way I'm talking, or you don't like the effect it's having on you, hmm?" he asked, humor in his tone.

Just as the tension between them was reaching a peak, a maid suddenly appeared with a tray of champagne flutes. Amber saw the opportunity and quickly snatched a glass, taking a deep gulp as a way to hide her flustered state. She could feel the liquid running down her throat, the bubbles making her feel a little dizzy. She cast a glance at Alexander, who was watching her with thinly veiled mockery.

He watched her take the glass, his expression amused at her obvious attempt to hide her reaction to him. He accepted a glass as well, swirling the liquid in the glass before taking a slow, deliberate sip "Thirsty, darling?" he asked, voice dripping with mockery and desire.

Iris tried to regain her composure, tried to ignore the hammering of her heart and the heat rushing to her face. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts. But his presence, his intense gaze, his mocking words, all of it was making it hard to concentrate. She forced a small, polite smile, striving to appear calm and collected.

She could feel the champagne starting to work its magic on her system, warming her body and loosening her nerves. But there was something off about the feeling, a strange undercurrent of wrongness that she couldn't quite place. Her heartbeat began to speed up, her breath quickening as if she'd just run a race. The room seemed to spin slightly, and she blinked, trying to clear her head.

Her heart was now slamming against her chest, the room starting to spin more intensely, as if she was sitting on a merry-go-round. She could feel her thoughts beginning to cloud, her senses becoming strangely heightened. The scent of the champagne was overwhelming, as if the room was filled with nothing but the smell of it. And Alexander's gaze on her felt like a hot brand, burning through her skin.

She staggered a little, leaning against the wall for support. Her breathing was shallow now, come in quick, gasping pants. The room continued to spin, the sound of the crowd around her receding into the background. And through it all, she could still feel his eyes on her, watching her, studying her like a predator would its prey.