The Woman in Silver.
"Alex's point of view."
Kissing Leila Castor was very distracting. I could see Ben Maloney striding towards us, fury painted over his features, but it took too much effort to enjoy it, not when I was enjoying something way better here.
Leila was soft and fit into my arms so well, I let my hands wander down her waist, almost cupping her butt, then grabbing at her leg and wrapping it around my waist and pressing her against the wall when my eyes caught Ben's.
" What the hell is this," he asked, coming to stand by the balcony. Leila didn't seem to hear him in time, so I didn't pull away. Instead, I slowed the intensity of the kiss, but I didn't stop teasing at her lips gently, then letting her leg fall back down to the ground, kissed her neck, she opened her eyes, a little dazed and flustered. She looked cute, which was a word I'd never thought I would use.
Ben stood on the balcony looking enraged. He was flushed red, which did no good to his looks, and he was annoyed.
I pulled away from her, letting her straighten her skirt as she swallowed thickly. She still looked dazed, and I couldn't help but compare her to the man in front of us.
He was tall but not as tall as I was, his hair a short buzz cut brown, he had a nose that was almost too wide and murky brown eyes.
" What are you doing with him?" he spat the word at him like a curse. As I looked at him all I could think was just how Leila Castor, the daughter of an influential man with beauty and, as she had proven this evening,, brains to go with it seeing a man like Ben Maloney.
I stood there as calm and composed as I could, putting on my most nonchalant expression. I looked like I hadn't done anything wrong, and I watched her and Ben as he stood there like an angry bulldog looking to bite at her. It was cute that he thought I would let him get past me, but it also made me ask what kind of man he was.
This man loved posturing and the thought that he was not better than everyone else stung.
To a man like Maloney, the thought that his woman would leave him for a man like me whom he considered inferior had to be killing him.
I wondered if, as she looked at him, she loved him still, wanted him. I didn't think so, but you could never say can
" I asked you a question" he growled, moving towards her, and I stopped him by placing a hand on his chest.
" Woah buddy, take it easy" I mumbled, Ben shot me an acidic stare which frankly wasn't doing much to scare me at this point
" I was talking to my girlfriend to stay out of this" he muttered, and looked at her.
" Leila, what the hell is going on" he asked?
"The last time we spoke, we were fine," he asked, and she sighed, her eyes hooded to hide the pain that was filling them.
She looked away from him.
" I don't want anything to do with you" she mumbled, and something in me was soothed even as he scoffed.
" And you want something to do with him," he asked, pointing to me, and Leila stiffened.
" That's none of your business" she hissed, and he laughed.
" I don't know what you think you're doing, but I'm not falling for it. " He stalked at her menacingly, looking over my shoulder as he hissed
" I know adventurous sluts and you are not it. So come home "
" You are a narcissistic man" she muttered beneath her breath. I heard it, and I was sure he did too, because he lunged at her, reaching for her hand.
She jumped, hiding behind my back. I grabbed his hand and squeezed him, and he grunted.
" I believe she wants you to leave". I drawled and looked him dead in the eyes.
" You don't get to speak for her Cross" Ben hissed. I laughed and infuriated, infuriating him further. He folded his fist and lunged. I saw the blow coming, but I wasn't fast enough because his fist connected with my cheeks. I heard a small gasp from the room and the murmurs that followed – an audience that would make the gossip spread throughout the room if we let it. Christ, this had not been in the plan. She must have thought the same thing because she turned pleading,
" Ben, I need you to leave," she said. He turned to her.
" You can't be serious," he muttered.
" I am, " she hissed, and I moved behind her.
" You have to talk to me" he pleaded, or he was trying to, but all it sounded like to me was a man trying to get what he wanted from a woman and doing a poor job at it
" I'll call you" she replied. He hesitated as if he wasn't sure what to do. He didn't trust her, but he couldn't force himself on her either.
" Please Ben, people are watching," she said, likely hoping to assuage his vain side, a man like him wouldn't want to be seen less than prepared.
It worked. He glanced up and looked at the people in the room and cursed, ran his hands through his hair straightened
" I'll be waiting for you to call me" he muttered, and she nodded, her gaze hooded.
He wandered away back to the party as we watched smiling at a few guests who smiled back even as they tried to hide their interest. Most of the eyes looked away, but I could still feel a few of them on us.
I looked back to Leila, who seemed to be having a moment.
" How did you last with that fool," I grunted and she laughed.
" Almost the same way I'm going to last with the others" I frowned - she wasn't calling me a fool, right, she grinned.
" We can't stay here any longer," she said softly, and looking over her shoulder I was forced to agree, nodding gently.
" I agree," I drew closer to her, smiling, caressing her cheek with the tip of my finger. She was beautiful and that was not a lie. Maybe I was being delusional, but her beauty wasn't all that did it for me.
" I see now why you made the offer" she smiled wryly.
I knew Ben almost as much as she did, I knew their traitorous family as well. The thought of her facing him alone because if I didn't help her she would do that frightened me for some reason.
" He doesn't like his toys leaving him" she replied, and I laughed, pressing a soft kiss to her lips.
" I'm going to have so much fun taking you away from him", I grinned and she smiled,
"I'll call you " she whispered, pulling away from me. I nodded and watched her as she walked off into the crowded ballroom, her silver dress swaying as she walked sensually away.
I dreamed of her that night, us both on a bed or any surface really, as I made love to her, that silver dress bunched around her waist. I woke up sweaty and aroused as hell.
This was going to be torture, especially if I had yet to mention to my uncle that the bride he wanted for his
Son had proposed to me instead.