Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71275 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 356(@200wpm)___ 285(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
It could be that I had made that all up in my head, but I couldn’t get past the way he’d stared at me, as if … he knew me. And he didn’t want to. My thoughts were so focused on the odd encounter that when we walked into the ballroom, I didn’t immediately notice King standing beside Scotlin. Not until Sebastian’s arm flexed underneath my hand as he tensed.
King was everything I had remembered in a tux and more. The flutters in my stomach at the sight of him caused me to suck in a breath. He was beautiful. When our eyes met, I wanted to see him smile. Have that reassurance that he was mine. But there was no smile. No secret exchange of affection. The glower on his face made it very clear he was angry. Perhaps furious was a better word.
“And here we go,” Sebastian muttered.
I slipped my hand from his arm and took a small step toward Maeme, who was speaking to Scotlin. King’s eyes held mine while his entire stance went rigid.
“King, dear, you need to smile. It’s a party,” Maeme said, squeezing his arm tightly, as if to warn him to behave. When he didn’t even acknowledge her, she turned toward me, smiling as if all was well in the world. “Sebastian was kind enough to escort Rumor so she wouldn’t be alone. Isn’t the dress Annette sent perfect on her?”
King cut his eyes toward Sebastian, and the threat was there in his eyes for anyone who was looking to see.
“Honey,” Scotlin cooed at him, touching his arm and leaning into him, “if you want a break from greeting people, we can take one. Just say the word.”
He didn’t budge or respond to her. His eyes shifted back to me. I smiled nervously, not sure what I was supposed to do now. He didn’t want me here, but I hadn’t asked to come. Maeme had insisted. Otherwise, I would be at home with guards I didn’t know.
Right now, that option was looking like a much better idea than this. My eyes stung, and I knew it was silly, but I wasn’t reacting well to the glare from King, directed at me. He never looked at me like that.
“Sebastian, why don’t you take Rumor to meet some people and get her something to drink?” Maeme said with a happy tone, turning from King. She patted my arm as she walked past me with a swish of her long skirt, not saying anything more to King or Scotlin.
I dropped my gaze to the floor, wanting to find somewhere to hide and stay there.
“Of course,” Sebastian replied, giving King one last look before touching my elbow.
“Don’t.” King’s voice was so cold that it caused me to shiver. “Don’t touch her.”
Sebastian’s hand dropped away from me immediately.
“Got it,” he replied with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
Then, he nodded at me to come with him. I didn’t look back at King, but I could feel him. His eyes felt like a hot flame, following my every move.
When we reached the bar, Sebastian finally glanced down at me. “Water? Soda?”
“Water is fine,” I replied.
“Still or sparkling?”
“Still.”
He turned to the bartender. “Ice water and four shots of Maker’s.”
My eyes widened as I stared up at him.
He pulled at the collar of his shirt. “I’m gonna fucking need it,” he explained.
“He’s mad,” I whispered.
“You think? We will be lucky if he doesn’t murder someone tonight. Try not to look … well, just … if you can, don’t be any more appealing than you are.”
I frowned. “What does that mean?”
He sighed. “I don’t fucking know. I’m just trying to keep the man from going feral on anyone.”
“Is he mad at me?”
Sebastian shook his head. “No. He’s fucking livid that you look like that and he can’t stake a claim. I don’t know what Maeme was thinking. She should have put you in a muumuu or some shit.”
A small laugh escaped me, and he grinned briefly, then shut his expression down almost instantly.
“Don’t make me smile at you. His ass will be on me in fucking seconds.”
Unable to help myself, I glanced back at him, and his heated glare met mine. Scotlin was speaking to him, but he didn’t look away from me. His eyes slowly traveled down my body, causing me to feel warm all over. When he reached my face again, I smiled softly, wanting to reassure him, but it didn’t help. He didn’t return my smile.
“That’s enough,” Sebastian whispered. “The two of you can’t eye-fuck, or this won’t work. The last thing we need is to have pictures of that all over social media, saying that Scotlin May’s fiancé is having an affair.”
I took the glass he was holding out to me, taking my eyes off King, which was hard to do. All I wanted to do was look at him. No, that wasn’t true. I wanted to be on his arm. As close to him as I could get.