Elena finally looked at him, her dark eyes bright with a mix of amusement and lived-experience. She wasn't interested in empty flattery; she’d heard it all before. She leaned back, the silk of her emerald dress catching the light.
"Hard not to," Julian admitted, leaning in. "You have this way of making everything else in the room feel like background noise." ebony mature
"The night is still young," she said, rising from the table. She didn't ask if he wanted to leave; she simply waited for him to follow. Elena finally looked at him, her dark eyes