I jumped at the smooth voice. When I opened my eyes, I found Brace standing in front of me. He stared for an immeasurable moment, his eyes heated and his expression unreadable.
“There are not words to describe how you look tonight,” he said finally before looking away. He let out a strangled breath as he turned back. “I want to say breathtaking, and breathtaking is correct, but it’s not enough.”
I drowned in the heat of his eyes for a moment, and then I took in the full picture.
Speaking of breathtaking! My heart stuttered. Before that moment I’d never seen him in anything but casual clothes. Tonight his height was emphasized in a perfect fitted black tuxedo. His broad shoulders filled out the jacket. He was huge, solidly built, falling just short of being bulky. He looked dark and dangerous. The silky strands of his stylishly tousled, inky black hair fell along his forehead.
I stood then, torn between throwing myself into his arms, pride be damned, or punching him in his perfect nose.
Angry words erupted before I could stop them. “Where have you been, Brace? Why did you bother to come at all?”
Okay, I was even more pissed off than I’d thought.
Before he could answer, I turned and walked away. The punching in the face option was definitely starting to win.
As I stormed off, I realized I’d left my shoes under the chair. Shrugging, I decided to retrieve them later, hoping no one would notice.
A hand caught my arm. Only at the last second I stopped myself from flipping the person over my shoulder. Old habits. I turned, expecting to see Brace, but it was someone else.
Lucas stood before me. “Would you like to dance, Aribella?”
I should have known. Although the jolt wasn’t as obvious, there was still some type of mild electric connection between us.
I looked to the corner where I’d left Brace. He was gone. I turned back and, with a sigh, nodded.
“As long as you call me Abby.”
I placed my hand into the crook of his outstretched arm. He smiled broadly. “Abby it is then.” He spun me out onto the floor.
I swayed awkwardly a few times, uncomfortably, but at least I was more coordinated barefoot.
“Sorry, I have no idea how to dance.”
Lucas smiled. “Oh, really? I couldn’t tell. You do such a perfect sway.”
Flushing a little, I returned his smile. “You should see me do the chicken dance. I was compound champion.”
Laughing, he leaned closer, the standard First Worlders’ perfect white teeth flashing, the cold iciness of his blond beauty softening as he smiled.
“I have no idea what a chicken dance is.” He looked down. “Do you realize you aren’t wearing shoes?”
I followed his gaze down at my bare toes. At least my toenails looked wicked. They were painted a shimmery black to match my dress.
“Yeah, they’re over in the corner somewhere.” I sighed. “They were killing my feet.”
Lucas threw back his head, laughing out loud. “You’re definitely not what I expected.”
He wasn’t exactly my expectation of the spoilt future emperor either. But there was still something about him that made me feel edgy.
I turned at a low deep growl. There was no one around us. I couldn’t tell where the rumble came from. Suddenly a hand appeared on Lucas’s arm. Brace appeared from nowhere to stand before us, serious and beautiful. And, as usual, those damn eyes called to me, tantalizing me.
“Do you mind if I steal Abby away for a minute?”
I could hear the restrained anger in his voice. What was his problem?
Lucas looked down at me before facing Brace. He had to look up a little to meet his eyes, but eventually he nodded and stepped away.
I noticed Brace had my shiny black heels hooked over his right hand.
“Did you lose something, Red?”
Shaking my head, I snatched the heels from him.
“Now, now, snatching isn’t nice, Abby.”
Screwing up my nose, I stuck my tongue out at him.
With great difficulty, I managed to finagle my shoes on. Brace stood back, grinning at me.
“Abbs, everything okay over here?”
Lucy and Samuel were swaying next to us. We were in the center of the dance floor.
I nodded once, and before she could question me further, Samuel swept her off. As I watched them, Samuel laughed into her upturned glaring face, before leaning in closer to whisper in her ear. She turned back toward me, looking curious. I shifted my attention before she returned to rescue me again.
Brace held out a hand. “So, how about that dance?”
I glared at him. At least with those stupid heels we were much closer in height.
“How about ‘no’?” I turned to leave.
He caught my hand, and hauled me back against his body. “Come on, you don’t want to create a scene at your own party,” he whispered into my ear.
I couldn’t move or answer. Electricity zoomed through our closely pressed bodies. I stopped struggling and just breathed. The connection between us was as strong as ever.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been around to visit you.”
We were swaying closely. The entire world disappeared.