Katya stared out at the dance floor, watching Genevieve Stone carefully. The other woman did look normal. All her dark hair had been swept up into a sleek, fancy ponytail. She wore a strapless jumpsuit that showed off her delicate bone structure perfectly. She was stunning, really. How could she have such esteem issues?
Of course, that logic didn't make much sense. Katya looked back at Brighton – a gorgeous woman in her own right, yet she seemed to have a whole truck load of issues. Crazy, to be so young and so maladjusted. So hateful on the inside, yet so beautiful on the outside.
She was wearing a bodycon dress that showed off her curvy body to perfection. It had long sleeves and a high neck and went clear to her mid-calves, but the light peach color paired with the fact that it was painted on her body gave the illusion that she was naked at first glance. Her long, thick hair had similar waves to Katya's, and she was wearing so much makeup, she was hard to recognize. Highlighter and bronzer and contouring and false eyelashes. Katya almost felt under dressed in comparison.
“Jesus, what is she wearing?”
Katya whirled around to find Wulf standing behind her. He was glaring poison darts at his little sister.
“I think she looks nice,” Katya offered.
“She looks like a Playboy Bunny.”
“Well … they usually look nice, too,” she tried again.
“And is she getting a drink!?” he demanded.
“Um, I hate to tell you this, but a lot of nineteen year old's consume alcohol. She's been living alone at a dorm for the past year, I can guarantee she's had a drink before, and would bet money that she has a fake ID,” Katya pointed out.
“I don't give a fuck – she's nineteen and Liam is wandering around here somewhere, she's not fucking drinking,” Wulf growled. Katya barked out a laugh.
“What does Liam have to do with it?”
“Get a few drinks in him and he tries to fuck anything with tits. I will murder him if he so much as breathes wrong in her direction,” Wulf warned, then he started for the bar. Katya put herself in front of him.
“Whoa, calm down! He is not like that, and it's insulting to me to say so. Besides, Brie seems more than capable of taking care of herself. Have you actually met her? She's got a black belt in making people regret they've spoken to her. You're being ridiculous,” she snapped, putting her hands flat on his chest.
“I don't care, she's my sister.”
“Oh my god, Wulf. You're protective of your baby sister!” Katya started laughing again. He finally looked down at her.
“Of course I am. What's funny about that?” he demanded.
“It's just … it's kind of adorable. I didn't think it was possible for you to be adorable,” she teased him.
“Shut up, Tocci.”
“C'mon, calm down,” she urged. “Brie's a big girl and besides, is Tori even serving her? My roommate's good at her job.”
They both looked back at the bar and sure enough, Tori and Brie were getting into it. A heated exchange took place for a minute and ended with what Katya assumed was a fake ID getting tossed to the floor at Brie's feet. She held up her middle finger as she retrieved it, then she stormed across the room and disappeared up the stairs.
“She shouldn't even be here,” Wulf said in a low voice. “Vieve just lets her get away with anything.”
“Brie's an adult, Wulf. Not you and not Vieve can stop her from doing anything she wants. When was the last time you actually spoke to her?” Katya asked. His frown got worse.
“A while.”
“Have you even seen her since she's been staying here?”
His frowned disappeared and he looked shocked for a moment.
“What do you mean, staying here?”
Oops, I think I just spilled the beans.
“Um ...” she glanced around, looking for a way to escape.
“Cut the shit, Tocci. What are you talking about?” he demanded.
“She's been staying with Vieve, at your place.”
“Why the fuck isn't she back in school!?”
“Because maybe she needed an extended break?”
“She doesn't get a fucking break, not when I'm cutting the checks.”
“Well, maybe she would take it more seriously if she knew you were paying for it,” Katya pointed out. He looked like he wanted to curse some more, but he managed to keep his mouth shut. “Hard to get mad at her for keeping secrets when you never tell her anything.”
“You can shut up, any time now.”
She laughed again as he stomped up to the bar.
She mingled for a while after that, chatting with some of the employees and meeting their significant others. She was pleased to see Vieve and Gaten sticking close together, even sitting close in one of the booths.
It was a while before she saw Liam again. When she spied him standing in a corner, talking to a group of three gorgeous blondes, she snuck up behind him. Smiling big, she tapped him on the shoulder.
“You've been hiding all evening,” she teased as he turned around. She blinked up at him for a moment, then recognition kicked into gear.
“I'm beginning to think you have a crush on me,” Landon Edenhoff smirked down at her.
“Sorry,” she laughed. “I'm sorry. You just ...”
“Look just like him?” he offered.
“God, that sounds stupid. I'm sorry,” she babbled. Talking to him was disconcerting. Someone who looked so much like Liam, but had none of his warmth and ease. Landon had a tendency to stare her very directly in the eye while he spoke, which further unnerved her.
“It's okay, we're used to it. You know, you've seen me naked, and I don't even know your name,” he pointed out. She blushed a little.
“You weren't really naked,” she said quickly. He quirked up an eyebrow.
“Yet still, you've seen me naked.”
Realizing he meant that having seen Liam naked, she'd effectively seen him naked, her little blush turned into full on tomato face.
“Well … uh … congratulations?” she finally blurted out. He burst out laughing.
“Oh, I think you and I are going to get along just fine,” he said, stepping up close and draping his arm around her waist. The three blondes shot her death stares. “Now, how about you tell me your name, and we can discuss what you look like naked.”
“I don't believe we've met.”
Usually, Katya was annoyed by Wulf's habit of popping up out of nowhere and just speaking out of turn. That time, though, she was thankful for it. He appeared at her elbow, a martini glass in his hand and a stern look on his face.
“Dr. Landon Edenhoff,” Lan said in a smooth voice, holding out his free hand. Wulf shook it.
“Wulfric Stone.”
It was crazy, standing between them. It was like watching two lions meet for the first time. Two alphas, trying to decide whether or not to rip each other's throats out. As cocky and condescending as Landon was, though, she was still pretty sure Wulf would come out the victor. His ego was deep seated, part of his genetic make up at this point. Lan's felt forced, a facade put in place for god only knew what reason.
“Ah, Richard Mason,” Lan laughed, using Wulf's business pseudonym. “The bane of Liam's existence. The pleasure is most definitely all mine. I like anyone who can give my brother so much shit. He needs someone to keep him in place.”
Wulf didn't laugh in return.