by Lannah Smith
John's eyes narrowed at his direction.
He didn't know he was back.
Skull's surly tone made him return his gaze to him. "What made you come anyway?" he asked.
John pulled in breath.
What made him come?
When he saw the invitation he knew he had to come and the complications, fuck, he simply did not care anymore.
He needed to see her.
He needed to talk to her.
Even if he couldn't tell her everything, not yet, not now, he hated the misunderstanding between them. He wanted to convince her he wasn't the bad guy he painted himself to be, that it wasn't entirely his fault because he had no choice. He told Leon a half-truth but it was the truth all the same. They were still children. He was a child given two choices and he chose the choice he could live with even though he always regretted letting her go.
He wasn't sure how he could tell her, wasn't sure how he could even get her to talk to him but he was going to do it.
John didn't tell Skull that.
Instead, he told him, "I was bored."
Skull frowned. "Bored?"
"Yeah."
"And you think your boredom will disappear if you attend this party?" he asked sarcastically. "And you ask how my brain works?"
John grinned in reaction. "Just looking at you wearing a monkey suit amuses me - hey, don't even think about punching me and causing a commotion. Your Granny will kill you."
Skull lowered his tight fist. "I was just going to pat you on the shoulder."
John rolled his eyes. "Sure you were."
"I saw a samurai sword when we went in. If you don't stop being smart with me, I'll hara-kiri your ass."
"Do you even know what hara-kiri means, dumbass?"
"Cut you into tiny pieces and feed you to the fish?" Skull pondered. "They do have a really big aquarium."
John glanced around them and sighed. "Christopher?"
"Yeah? I mean, no." Skull pointed at him aggressively. "Do not call me by that name."
"Your grandparents would skin me alive if they hear me call you Skull," he replied wryly. "And will you turn it down a notch? The high snobs are looking."
And they were.
From the moment John and Skull both stepped in the room they had drawn curious stares.
But they mostly had their eyes on John.
Like Skull said, it had been far too long since John last attended a party. He had caused a stir when he entered, caused heads to turn. Questions burned in their eyes, on their wagging tongues. Questions about why the sole heir of the Steele family disappeared from their sights and changed into someone wild and irresponsible.
Questions about what he was doing here now and the reputation that had now precede him.
Skull leaned into him. "I think they're staring at me," he mumbled. "Hold me. I'm scared."
Laughing, John pushed him away. "It's me, Skull. I'm too damn pleasing on the eyes."
Skull gave him a disgusted look in return.
"Rohan should be here," John commented, ignoring the eyes on him and returning his attention to the crowd below. "Look. The doc's here with his family."
Skull looked at the family he was referring to. Rohan's stepfather was in deep conversation with some people with Rohan's mother beside him. His stepfather's eldest daughter stood a few feet away from them, chatting with a group of girls her age.
"You know Rohan never comes," Skull replied. "He thinks all of this is unnecessary and stupid. He calls these kinds of the parties the gathering of the rich and useless."
"I agree with the kid."
"We all agree with him," Skull remarked. "Damn it. Granny knows I don't like attending these crappy parties because they're boring as fuck but she nagged and nagged, saying that it was my duty and blah blah blah."
"You don't like parties?" John interjected, amused.
"I don't."
"Then why do I get the feeling you'll disappear from my side any minute from now with that brunette you're eyefucking."
Skull's eyes cut to him and he flashed a grin. "I'm not the only person who'll get bored here, John. And knowing you, you'll probably..."
The sentence trailed off, for Skull had glanced toward the entrance of the ballroom. John quickly turned around to see what gripped Skull's attention. A stunning girl in a black backless gown stood in the doorway, surveying the crowd with cool gray eyes.
John drew his eyebrows together. "Is that...?"
"April," Skull muttered.
His words came out grim that John had to look at him. It could be just his imagine but he swore Skull's eyes had darkened. But when their eyes met, Skull was wearing his shit-eating grin again.
"Looks like the princess is here," Skull commented.
John snorted. "She's not a princess."
"Who? April? She's not a princess. She's a bi... a witch," he amended.
"Then who were you talking about?" John arched an eyebrow.
Skull pointed and John turned his gaze.
Suddenly he was having trouble drawing a breath. Tightness settled inside his chest and his heart started slamming a wild beat.
Because standing just a few feet away from April, wearing a blue dress, was Terry.
She literally took his breath away and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't seem to take his gaze away from her.
She looked magnificent to him. She was so beautiful, so exquisite...
And so damned naked.
Skull's indrawn breath filled the air. "Knew she was pretty, but damn. She's hot tonight."
"Has she always been dressing up like that?" John asked, his voice coming out strangled.
"I don't think so. I don't really attend these events regularly but I'm sure she dressed like a nun. She still looked pretty, though. Do you know she's called the ice princess by everyone of our peers?"
John had been deciding to remove his jacket to cover her up when Skull's question caught his full attention. "Why?" he asked him.
"She doesn't mingle. She never leaves her father's side or her brother's. And when she does, she's with the high snobs, talking about business."
It didn't surprise him. He could imagine her doing exactly just that.
A redhead wearing a pale green dress had approached her. It was her best friend. Hannah, if he recalled correctly.
"Even her best friend couldn't get her to socialize," Skull observed with a smirk.
"How do you all of these things?" John couldn't help but sound amazed.
Skull chuckled. "The last girl I was... well... getting acquainted with wouldn't stop talking. I had to get acquainted with her for the second time to get her to shut up."
John wasn't the least amused. Visions of Terry and the skirts of her blue dress around her waist as he thrust into her had filled his mind and he knew he had to do something to resist the senseless urge to grab hold of her and drag her off into the night.
Damn it, but what the hell was her father thinking, letting her wear such low-cut dress?
And damn it if he didn't love her dress so fucking much.
John was watching me.
I knew because I could feel his stare burning into my back.
I knew because whenever I glanced his way, his eyes were on me, his expression intense, almost brooding.
Decked in a midnight black suit, his hands tucked in his pockets as he stood alone beside a pillar, he was a picture of an aloof prince, handsome and mysterious.
Be still, my stupid heart.
"He's here, Terry," Hannah whispered unnecessarily. "John Steele is here and oh, my God, he's gorgeous."
As per normal, as I'd had loads of practice, I gave the impression of being cool, calm, unaffected as I greeted each guest, even though my insides were a riot. Hannah was still whispering beside me about me John, making it almost difficult for me to retain my composure. I was already tense because of Haru and seeing John did not bode well for my sanity. The large ballroom suddenly seemed too small, making me feel li
ke I was suffocating.
"You look really beautiful tonight," Hannah said once I had no guests to entertain. "I absolutely love your dress. It must have cost a fortune. I look like a troll next to you."
"You don't look like a troll, Hannah," I replied, knowing instinctively that was what she wanted to hear. And it was the truth. Her pale green dress suited her perfectly, her red hair unbound and falling into soft waves around her slender shoulders, and she was so beautiful a group of guys couldn't stop gawking. "No one could ever make you look like a troll."
"I do look pretty, right?" she giggled. "Now if only the one I'm interested in will give me a glance."
"If you're talking about William then he's been staring at you since you've arrived."
She winked at me. "I know. But he snubbed me at the last party we both attended so it's his turn to come to me."
"How vengeful," I observed dryly.
Hannah ignored my observation and leaned in to whisper, "But don't you think John oh-my-God Steele is the hottest guy in the room? And did you hear this is the first party he's attended for years?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Well, we all know how he turned wild and rebellious once he reached puberty right? My sources also told me he's been flatly refusing invitations since then and his parents couldn't force him to come."
His father must have been furious, I thought. He loved showing John off when we were children because he was such a perfect son.
"Oh, crap," Hannah mumbled as she looked over her shoulder. "Will is elbowing his way to me."
"You better run then if you want to play cat and mouse with him," I commented with a small smile.
"Yeah, I better. See you later!"
Picking up her skirts, she headed to the opposite side of William. An elderly couple approached me just as Hannah disappeared into the crowd and began to converse with me. But John was still staring at me and as the couple went on and on about something or the other, I wasn't paying any attention, so distracted by his unexpected presence. I nodded when the old woman paused for air and kept smiling until my face felt brittle. I could only hope she was telling me an amusing story and not a tragic one.
I knew I had to get away from him.
I could feel my composure faltering.
The night was still young but I was already fervently wishing it'll end soon so my torture would cease.
Dad was seated in a chair across the room. Haru was talking to a few acquaintances. I decided to go to Dad once the couple had moved on. I forced myself to walk with a dignified stride, dismissing all thoughts of John from my mind. A few people greeted me and complimented my dress and with a practiced smile and hidden impatience, I answered all their questions before I continued on my way.
But then, just as I was passing the arched alcove of the ballroom, a hand clamped tightly around my wrist from the darkness of the archway and pulled me into the night.
A gasp fell from my lips when I saw it was John.
"What are you doing, Steele?" I whispered, trying to sound angry and not too worried. "Let go."
"No."
"And how dare you manhandle me. Let me go."
But he didn't stop or let me go. Not until we were beyond the French doors nestled inside the arched alcove and well into the balcony. He whirled me around and I managed to pull myself from his grasp but he didn't stop walking. He forced me with his measured steps to back up until I felt the stone banister behind my back.
He put his hands on both sides of me on the banister and frowned down at me.
Then he said, "I want to kiss you."
I shot him with the most withering look I could muster. "No."
His eyes narrowed. "I want to kiss you, damn it."
"I'll kick you in the crotch if you do."
His nearness was driving me crazy. My heart was beating like a hummingbird inside my chest and I struggled to breath.
I was good and trapped.
He knew that.
But I was an expert in judo and could overpower him if I tried.
He also knew that.
He was just banking on the tightness of my dress to limit my movements.
"If you won't let me kiss you, then we're going to have a normal conversation," he announced.
I blinked. "A normal conversation?"
"Yes, Evans. A normal conversation where I ask you questions and you ask me questions. We will answer as truthfully as we can and you won't try to karate-chop my head off."
"You're crazy," I seethed. "Let me go back inside, Steele. I have guests."
But he looked determined enough to stay on the balcony for the rest of the night if he needed to. And he couldn't seem to stop touching me. His hand was now on my waist while the other was caressing my shoulder. His touch was making my pulse quicken, my heart beat wild, and I took a deep breath in an attempt to stop the panic I could feel catching hold.
"So you'd rather have a kiss," he drawled out as his mouth descended.
My head jerked back and I covered my lips with my hands. He laughed and buried his face into my neck, pulling me into his arms. I squeaked in surprise and he lifted his head back to look at me.
"Flustered, Evans?" he murmured, his green eyes twinkling.
I felt myself blush with mortification and I scowled at him. "You wish, Steele."
A slow smile spread on his face. "I wish to have a kiss. May I?"
"Don't you dare."
"I dare easily when it comes to you."
I pushed both hands against his chest, hoping to dislodge him. "I don't like being toyed," I snapped. "Stop playing with me. You have your pick of girls in the room, Steele. So go away and leave me alone."
"But you're the only one I see," he returned, his face losing all traces of amusement.
My rapidly beating heart tripped.
"You're the only girl I see, Terry."
He was robbing me of every thought when he stared at me with such intensity. I stared up into his eyes and instantly wished I hadn't because I was now having trouble concentrating. I tried to hold on to my anger but he and his beautiful eyes were making me powerless to do anything more than stare back.
I shouldn't allow myself to be reeled in but, oh God, how easily he could do it.
"There you are, Terry."
Hearing that voice, I felt the blood drain from my face.
Because it was Haru who had spoken.
Chapter 18
John felt Terry's reaction as her brother neared them.
She was quaking in his arms and her hands on his shoulders tightened so tight, they drew pain.
But when he turned to look down at her, her expression was composed. She stared at her brother as she slowly let him go. John clenched his jaw. He knew her brother scared her. He doubted her brother would care if he knew.
Her obvious fear angered him and a swell of protectiveness begin to simmer inside him, emotions that leapt into steady flame when Haru stopped in front of them.
"Hello, John. It's been long, hasn't it?" Haru said politely. He seemed to have a blasé attitude about catching his sister in his arms but John wasn't fooled. He could see the hint of tension in his shoulders. "I see you've re-acquainted yourself with my sister."
John gave her a reassuring squeeze before he let her go. He turned to Haru. He didn't like the way Haru was staring at them. Behind his dark eyes, he could see the wheels turning. Weighing the options and eventualities. Plotting and scheming.
"I thought she needed a breath of fresh air," John replied evenly. "She's been entertaining guests without rest."
Haru's gaze cut to his sister and John had to resist the urge to hide her from his eyes. "I'm sorry if I hadn't noticed, Terry. But you should have told me you needed a break."
She lowered her gaze and didn't speak.
And his fury escalated.
He took a step forward, intending to give Haru a piece of his mind.
Or a taste of his fist.
But before he could do ei
ther, Terry rushed over to her brother. She took a hold of his brother's arm and put a hand on the crook of his elbow. If Haru was startled at this sudden show of affection, John didn't know and he didn't check because he was staring at Terry's anxious face.
