21

21
Six

Arabella descended the staircase like she owned the room, and in a way, she did. All eyes turned toward her. Even the pianist seemed to agree, as he played beautifully.

The red dress hugged her figure like a glove. She hesitated for a moment, scanning the crowd.

Then, in an instant, she brushed it off and continued down the stairs. Her poise was perfect, a polite smile on her face, and my God, she was beautiful!

My chest tightened. She was always beautiful, but tonight? Tonight, she was breathtaking.

I wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Marco was watching her like she was the main course, and I hated it. His gaze roamed over her, lingering in places it had no business lingering.

My jaw clenched. I forced myself to look away. It was hard not to gawk at her when she was just across the room.

Tonight’s event, however, was different. The Capo was the host, we were surrounded by his people, and Arabella was out of bounds tonight.

I had never cared for Marco before, but now? After I met Arabella, he had become my enemy.

I hated how he looked at her, how he could never keep his hands to himself. I hated it. I hated Marco.

And then he left the room. I noticed the moment he did because, even though I wasn’t looking directly at them, I was still watching.

I caught her eyes from across the hall, beautiful eyes that sparkled, and then she began to walk toward me.

For a moment, all rational thought flew out the window. I didn’t care who could see us or what would happen. She was so close when Katherine appeared out of nowhere.

“Hello, Six,” Katherine cut in with that high-pitched voice. “Fancy seeing you here.”

I looked at Arabella, then turned my attention to Katherine. “I think it’s the other way around. I work here…”

She giggled aloud and playfully swatted my arm, but I was no longer listening. I was focused on her; Arabella.

She had a look on her face. Jealousy? Then, without a word, she turned around and left.

The rest of my evening went by in a blur.

I was still nursing the disappointment of not talking to Arabella tonight. Katherine, however, was determined not to leave my side. My one-word replies didn’t deter her.

She was narrating something about a party she had attended one time.

I had stopped listening a while ago. My eyes darted toward Marco and Arabella in the crowd.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, guilt creeping in. I shouldn’t feel like this.

“Six?” Katherine nudged me. “Are you even listening?”

I forced a smirk, turning to her. “Of course, Kitty. Something about romance?”

She rolled her eyes but grinned, still buzzing with excitement. I pretended to listen, nodding at the right moments, but my eyes kept drifting back to Arabella. And then, just as I was about to say something…

Marco pulled her in.

I froze.

His hand slid around her waist, holding her close. Too close. Then, as if to drive a knife straight through my chest, he kissed her.

The room felt smaller. Hotter. I exhaled and adjusted my tie. I needed a drink. I snatched one from a waiter walking by and passed another to Katherine.

My jaw ticked angrily. He had kissed her. Of course, he had kissed her.

What was I thinking? She was his bride. Of course, they were going to kiss, and even do more than kiss. My grip on the champagne flute tightened.

Katherine placed her hand over mine. “Are you okay, Six?”

I nodded. “Yeah,” I answered in a strained voice. No, I wasn’t okay. Not in the slightest.

She was his bride. Of course, he was going to kiss her. And with how she was looking tonight, he wasn’t going to be able to resist her.

If I were in Marco’s shoes, I wouldn’t stall. With how she looked in that dress, I’d pull her close every moment and kiss those full, luscious lips.

Hell! We’d be in the bedroom at this moment, and I’d be peeling that dress off her. My cock stirred in my pants. I looked away.

So why did it affect me so much? I sighed and raked my fingers through my hair. What was this tight feeling in my chest?

Why did it hurt so much to look at them, to see Marco touch her, even in the slightest?

Katherine giggled beside me, oblivious.

“They’re so in love,” she sighed. “Arabella is so lucky.”

I scoffed before I could stop myself. Lucky? I’d be damned! Marco was undeserving of her.

I turned to Katherine, smirking as I let my gaze drop over her. “You know, you look stunning in red.”

Katherine blinked. “But… I’m not wearing red.”

Shit.

I stalled for a second, then my eyes caught on the ruby pendant resting just above her neckline. I reached out, tracing the stone with my fingertips.

“I was staring at your cleavage.”

Katherine gasped, then burst into giggles, her cheeks turning bright pink. “You’re awful!”

I grinned, playing into it. She was eating it up, completely distracted. But my attention was still on Arabella, watching her from across the room.

Then Marco moved again.

This time, he got down on one knee.

The crowd gasped. Katherine practically squealed, gripping my arm. “Oh my God! Aww, they’re so cute together!”

I clenched my teeth hard, my throat turned dry.

Katherine tugged at my arm. “Oh my God, Six! He is proposing? Isn’t he just sweet? He had probably been planning this for weeks! It’s so romantic!”

I felt like I’d been punched in the stomach several times by a trained boxer.

The room erupted into cheers, but all I heard was a dull ringing in my ears. My hands curled into fists at my sides, but I kept my expression carefully neutral, forcing a smirk.

Katherine kept talking, gushing about the announcement, the proposal, the way Arabella looked so happy.

I couldn’t take it anymore.

As Marco stood, announcing that he and his fiancée would be retiring for the night, my heart sank. He couldn’t have made it more obvious.

Arabella belonged to someone else, and whatever had put the thought in my head that she was mine? Mine? My breathing was ragged.

I turned to Katherine, extending a hand. “Do you want to fuck?”

Her eyes lit up, her mouth dropped open. “Yes,” she answered. “Yes, please!” She answered even more excitedly. Beaming with smiles, she slipped her hand into mine. “I’d love to.”

As I took her hand and led her out of the hall, my mind was still centered on one person. Arabella.

I glanced at the staircase, she had left the party with Marco’s arm draped over her shoulder.

He was drunk. My other hand balled into a fist by my side. Maybe by now, he had already taken off her clothes, staring at her naked body…

“Come on, Kitty…”

I took her outside to the parking lot. I was like a madman possessed. I couldn’t use the room Marco had given me - it was upstairs. I couldn’t be that close to her.

I led her towards a dark area just behind a car.

As soon as we got there, she reached behind her to pull down her panties and raised her dress.

I hesitated. She was no Arabella. I wanted to fuck Arabella. Only she was in another man’s arms, and there was nothing I could do about it.

Maybe Katherine saw my hesitation because she reached behind and helped me undo my pants.

I was hard, but not as hard as I was when Arabella took off her clothes in front of me.

The image of her naked body, toned, smooth skin, her full, bouncy breasts and perky nipples, her pussy lips spread open in front of me…

I sucked in a deep breath. My cock hardened. In a swift motion, I pulled out a condom, put it on, and slammed into her with a hard thrust.

“Oh yes!” Katherine moaned. “Fuck me, Six!”

I did. I shut my eyes and gripped her waist as I fucked her, imagining it was Arabella holding up her dress, her butt out in the cold air, offering me her pussy to fuck.

My thrusts became faster and stronger. Katherine was moaning loudly as I fucked her, imagining she was Arabella.