Stealing Beauty

by Madison Faye

  “Touché.”

  “Anyways...” She quickly looked away, a wisp of her long blonde hair coming loose and floating near her ear. Damn I wanted to run my finger through that hair. Maybe tangle in it. Maybe pull her into me and claim that mouth.

  I cleared my throat.

  Jesus what the fuck was coming over me?

  “Anyways, I should go find my sisters, or something.”

  “Or something?” My brother smirked at her. “C’mon, can’t even come up with a good excuse why you don’t want to be hanging around with us?”

  I elbowed him sharp in the ribs but he ignored me.

  Ilana didn’t bat an eye.

  “Should I? Come up with an excuse I mean? It’s not like there’s any needed. I just shouldn’t be seen at a suitors’ ball like this hanging around the bar with two princes like yourselves, with your reputations.”

  “You forgot ‘sexy and gorgeous’ this time,” I added with a smirk.

  Her face bloomed crimson as she quickly took a sip of her champagne.

  “Good luck with…whatever you’re looking for tonight.”

  “I think we were perfectly clear what we’re looking for,” I said, my voice tight. “We’re looking for you and only you.”

  Her eyes met mine for a second, her cheeks tinging that pink shade again before she looked away.

  Damn I could’ve gotten lost in those eyes.

  “You keep saying that.”

  “It keeps being true,” Cade growled.

  “And I told you, I’m not that girl.”

  “Which girl is that then?”

  “The one that gets caught up in your little lines like this?”

  I wanted to fucking murder whoever had messed with her. Because I could see it then that that’s what this was. This wasn’t just a woman wise to men like us, even if that’s not what we were after. This was someone who’d been burned by someone like us. And I fucking hated whoever that asshole was.

  And suddenly it made sense. Through that lens, I suddenly understood the reason she was so standoffish Hell, even if she did feel what we were feeling, I knew she was guarded.

  She shook her head before either of us could respond.

  “Anyways, I’m not that girl so, enjoy your nigh—”

  “So prove it.”

  She whirled back, frowning at me.

  “Pardon me?”

  Cade swung his gaze to me, scowling at me.

  “Then prove it,” I said again, bolder this time. “You say you’re not ‘that girl’? Well, wouldn’t ‘that girl’ do exactly this? Walk away before things get real? Off to go waltz around with someone much safer?”

  Her eyes locked onto mine.

  “Lines didn’t work, and neither will reverse psychology.”

  I grinned.

  “Look, I’m done creating scandal with anyone watching me over here drinking with you two. Enjoy your night.”

  She turned to walk away again, but I caught her arm. I don’t know why, or what the fuck I was thinking. This was pushing it, and I knew it. I knew pushing her again to stay could’ve backfired so hard, but I wasn’t about to let her walk away. Not then, not ever.

  “You’re worried about scandal? Fine, let's go somewhere else for a drink.”

  I watched the heat creep through her face and neck, down to the top swell of her breast in the neckline of that dress.

  “Excuse me?” she almost whispered it, like this really was scandalizing.

  Cade glared dangers at me, but I couldn’t shut my mouth.

  “Look, you’re not ‘that girl’ and we’re not ‘those guys’. Seems none of us are the type to actually go to balls like this, and since we’re causing some a scandal just having a casual drink over here, I suggest we ditch the limelight and go have a drink somewhere where we won’t create scandal.”

  “Are you seriously asking me to ditch my own suitors ball?”

  “Do you seriously want to stay?”

  Her lips snapped shut, her eyes darting between us.

  “Fine.”

  Wait, what? My jaw almost dropped at her words before I forced myself to keep cool.

  “Fine. You’re right,” she sighed. “I’m very much over this ball. The pretense is stupid anyways, and I’m tired of the duchess of Lisandria glaring at me from across the room like I’m creating a scene.”

  I followed her nod to a sour looking, prissy-faced girl who was, sure enough, shooting dagger looks at us from across the ballroom.

  Shit, and I knew why. So did Cade, judging by the stifled snort next to me.

  Ilana’s brow perked up. “What’s so funny?”

  “Nothing,” I said quickly.

  Cade just kept trying to hide the laugh.

  “Okay, please tell, I can’t stand that girl. She’s the most obnoxious gossip I know, and she once started a rumor in high school that I was sleeping with the headmaster. Not freaking true, by the way.”

  Cade glanced at me before grinning. “Well she, uh, she tried to make a play for us at a gala a few months back and we turned her down. She was very drunk, and sort of made a scene when we declined her invitation. I think that's why she’s glaring at you.”

  Ilana frowned. “Wait, she made a play for you?”

  I grinned. She didn’t get it.

  “She made a play for us,” I said, stressing the word.

  Ilana’s brows suddenly shot up. “Wait, to both of you?” she said incredulously, her face going pink at what I hoped was her mind coming up with what that implied.

  I nodded, and her eyes grew a little wider as she swallowed thickly.

  “Well, now we’re certainly going off and getting that drink, if just to ruffle her feathers.”

  I grinned. “Done.”

  “But just so we’re clear...” Her face turned red. “I am not making a ‘play’ at either and certainly not both of you.”

  “Of course not. You’re not that girl, as you’ve been saying.” I grinned.

  She shivered, her lip catching between her teeth before she knocked back the rest of her drink.

  “We should bring champagne.”

  It was all she said before she whirled, her gown and her hair twirling as she made her way from the room.

  5

  Ilana

  Oh my God, what was I doing? What on earth had come over me? I felt tingly, and alive, and if I was being honest, sort of naughty in a way that sent a shiver through me.

  Here I was flirting — flirting — with two gorgeous princes. It was so unlike me, and I knew I was breaking all sorts of my own rules. But something kept me from backing down from it.

  I could hear them walking up behind me as I left the ballroom, turning down one hallway and then another, until we approached the east wing library.

  I can’t believe I’m doing this.

  And “this” wasn’t anything. Not yet at least. So I was getting a drink. Who cared? Except I knew it was more than that. I was getting a drink, in private, away from the ball, with two gorgeous men. Both of whom had made it quite well known they were interested.

  And two men who had a draw on me like I’d never felt before. I felt alive near them, and scared. But also so protected. On top of that, there was the story of Priscilla, the duchess who’d been glaring at me back there. She’d made a “play” for both of them?

  I shivered. Both, as in, the twin Charmings at the same time? It was so insanely scandalous, and yet, there was also no denying the naughty shiver that went through my body, teasing me in all sorts of places as I thought about it.

  I needed some more champagne. Immediately.

  I waltzed into the room, shivering as I heard them close the doors behind us. I clicked on one of the low-light lamps next to the opulent sofa before moving to the fireplace and clicking on the automatic flame with a button hidden on the side of the mantle.

  I turned back, biting my lip as the two men took seats — Caspian on one end of the sofa, Cade in the high-backed chair facing it. There was p
op as Cade took the top off the champagne.

  “Shit,” he muttered. “We forgot glasses.”

  I shrugged. “It’s fine.”

  “You sure? You might get cooties from us.” Caspian teased.

  I blushed, moving to take seat on the other side of the couch from him. Cade took a swig first, licking his lips softly — an action my eyes lingered on for far too long before he passed it to me. I nodded, reaching over and taking it before bringing the bubbles to my lips and taking a drink.

  I passed to Caspian, before my eyes darted to Cade, pulling something out of his jacket pocket.

  I laughed. “Are you serious?”

  He grinned, shrugging as he held up the joint in his hands. “If you’re not into it, I can save it for later.”

  “No, I’m fine.” I said it coolly as I could, like smoking pot in the library of the palace was no big deal. The truth of it was, I’d smoked the stuff once before, at Adele’s 18th birthday party, when some friend of a friend produced some.

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah, why not?”

  Caspian cleared his throat. “Skip it, man, we’ll just stick to champagne for n—”

  “Okay, I’m not the sheltered little princess you think I am, you know.”

  They glanced at each other, and I sighed.

  “I’m not.”

  “Okay, okay.” Cade held up his arms.

  “Light it, seriously.”

  “If you say so.”

  He lit the joint, taking a puff or two before handing it my way.”

  “See, I’d heard you were pretty sheltered.”

  I inhaled on the smoke, coughing slightly and feeling the buzz hit me before I passed it along to Caspian.

  “And what have you heard?”

  They glanced at each other.

  “Oh, what?”

  “Nothing.”

  “C’mon, tell me!”

  I knew what they’d heard. Of course, most people had heard about Lucian’s three virgin daughters. I knew it wasn’t true, but I hadn’t even ever told my sisters about that night when I’d been a total idiot with Prince Henry.

  “I promise you, I’m not as innocent as you think I am.”

  “Says the twenty-one-year-old virgin.”

  I held Caspian’s eyes, the grin still on his lips.

  “Not.”

  He frowned. “Pardon?”

  “I’m not. A virgin, I mean,” I said quickly, taking a big sip of the champagne he passed me.

  A shadow crossed his face.

  “Oh, please don’t tell me you’re one of those old fashioned assholes who thinks I’m like, less for not waiting until marriage.”

  He frowned harder. “Absolutely not.”

  I turned to his brother, seeing the same shadow on his face.

  “You sure? Cause you look like—”

  “We look like we’re pissed that some little shit got his hands on you and clearly didn’t appreciate what he had.”

  I froze, eyeing them. “And what makes you think he didn’t?”

  “Because he’s not here right now, threatening to throw both of us out the window for stealing you away.”

  I smiled, my face red and my body tingling.

  “It was a long time ago,” I shrugged. “And just once.” I sighed. “And you’re right, he was a total shithead.”

  “Anyone we know?”

  I glanced up at Cade. “Why?”

  “So we can beat the shit out of him for you.”

  I giggled, the bubbly and the smoke making me feel lighter and actually somehow clearer already. “Looking to defend my honor?”

  “Always”

  I bit my lip, falling into Cade’s eyes. “Well, thank you, but I’m okay.”

  I sighed, shaking my head at the offered smoke again and sipping the champagne instead. The moment felt perfect. I felt safe, and happy, and just at ease with these two. Hell, I’d just told them about Henry, and I hadn’t even told my sisters that.

  Caspian suddenly laughed. “Shit, why do I feel like we’re in high school right now?”

  His brother chuckled. “Maybe ‘cause we’re hiding from the party, drinking champagne from the bottle, and smoking pot?”

  I laughed, a snorting laugh that made me laugh more as they laughed along with me.

  “If this was high school, we’d need to be playing spin the bottle or truth or dare or something stupid like that.”

  I instantly caught the interested look on Cade’s face.

  “Not playing spin the bottle, Mr. Chivalry,” I said, trying to hide my grin.

  “Wouldn’t have even dreamed of it.”

  “I would have,” Caspian said, making me shiver as I laughed it off.

  “I could be okay with truth or dare though?”

  Both of their brows perked up.

  “Oh really?”

  “Told you I wasn’t the innocent little princess from the tower you thought I was.”

  “We’ll see about that.”

  I swallowed the shiver at Cade’s words, the heat in the room sizzling through me.

  “Okay who goes first?”

  Caspian shrugged. “Go ahead.”

  “Just ask either of you?”

  “Sure.”

  I grinned as I sank back into the couch, feeling the warmth tease through my body, the room feeling smaller like it was just the three of us in the dim firelight in this moment.

  “Okay, you,” I pointed at Cade.

  “Uh-oh.”

  I giggled. “Truth or dare?”

  “This is so high school,” he laughed. “But fine. Truth.”

  The words left my lips before I could even think about it.

  “Have you two ever, you know…” I blushed. “With one girl?”

  They both froze, and Cade’s jaw dropped. “Damn, you don’t beat around the bush do you?”

  I quickly shook my head. “You don’t have to answer that.”

  “Yes I do.”

  “I looked up into those eyes. Of course, I was thinking about Priscilla coming on to both of them. I mean, I could see it, as much as it shocked me. Two gorgeous sexy, blond princes? Identically good looking?

  I blushed again.

  Yeah, I could see the appeal. What girl wouldn’t? But then, who would actually act on it?

  Cade’s eye’s locked on mine.

  “Yes.”

  The heat came roaring through my face as my jaw dropped.

  “Wait, really?”

  He nodded. “Yep.”

  My eyes darted between them. “Wait, both of you?”

  Caspian nodded, even if it wasn’t his turn.

  “Like, at the same time?”

  Cade nodded. “Yes.”

  The feeling that slammed through my body right then could only be described as want. It was pure, raw, lust.

  “Wow,” I managed to whisper, sinking back into the couch. “How does that even work?”

  “Just the one question,” Cade grinned. “My turn.”

  I just nodded, my head still spinning.

  “Truth or dare,” he said to me.

  I shook my head, still not able to clear the filthy, x-rated thoughts of both of these men taking a girl together from my head.

  “Um, truth.”

  “Are you thinking about both of us with one girl right now?”

  I didn’t think my face could get as hot as it did right then.

  Cade grinned wickedly. “No lying.”

  I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Maybe,” I whispered.

  “Maybe, or—”

  “Yes.” I shivered, biting my lip. “Yes,” I whispered again.

  I took a shaky breath, turning to Caspian.

  “Okay, truth or—”

  He laughed. “No way, it’s my turn.”

  “What? But I just got asked.”

  “Nope,” he grinned. “We go in a circle. You, Cade, now it’s my turn.”

  His eyes lasered in on me, and I shivered.

&
nbsp; “So, Princess-not-so-innocent. Truth or dare?”

  I bit my lip, and again, words came tumbling out before I could stop them.

  “Dare.”

  The two of them whistled.

  “Well, well.”

  “Wait, no, truth,” I said hastily.

  “Nope, too late.” Caspian leaned forward. “I dare you to…” He trailed off, his eyes moving over me and leaving a heated trail in their wake.

  “I dare you to let your hair down.”

  I blinked. “What? Why?”

  “Because I think you’ve got sexy fucking hair,” he purred. “And I want to see it cascading down your shoulders.”

  I shivered, swallowing the heat from my face.

  “Fine,” I said as nonchalantly as I could.

  I reached up and started pulling bobby pins out, pulling out the elaborate twists and loops until finally I shook my head, letting my long locks tumble down well over my shoulders and halfway down my back.

  It was just my hair, but somehow, I felt like I was stripping clothes away for them, a thought that sent a heated spark between my legs.

  Caspian’s eyes went wide. “Well, damn. I didn’t know it was that long.”

  “Still sexy?” I whispered.

  “Even more so,” he growled. “Your turn.”

  I looked right back at him. “Truth or dare?”

  “Truth.”

  “Boring,” Cade laughed.

  “Whatever, dare.”

  Crap, I didn’t have a dare, only more truths I wanted to hear. Or at least, that I thought I wanted to hear.

  “Fine, I dare you to tell me how it works.”

  “How what works?”

  I blushed. “You two, and, you know…”

  “Us with one girl?” Caspian frowned. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

  “Oh c’mon, why not!”

  “Because,” he growled.

  “Don’t think I can handle it?”

  “No, I don’t think I want to talk about sex with other women to the girl I can’t stop staring at or get my damn mind off of.”

  The room froze for second.

  Caspian looked away. “Look forget it.”

  I felt the heat sizzle through me, my pulse quickening and my heart beating faster inside my breast.

  “A dare is a dare.”

  His eyes snapped back to mine.

  “Princess.”

  “Chicken?”