Resisting The Wrong Brother

Forbidden Attraction

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Vincent hissed. His hands were on Anna’s shoulder.

“You don’t walk out on your man at your engagement gala. Do you want to make me look a fool?” He questioned further.

Anna's heart stuttered. So much for her brief taste of tranquility. Putting on a smile, she turned to face her bully of a fiance.

"I was just getting some air…" Behind them, the terrace door opened, and Vincent stepped back. A waiter paused in the doorway. "Sir, will you be cutting the cake soon?"

Vincent straightened his bow tie. "Yes, thank you. We'll be right in."

The waiter disappeared back inside. Vincent seized Anna's arm and wrenched her up to face him.

"I was just getting some air.” He said sarcastically. “Get yourself together, we have guests waiting."

Anna leaned heavily on Vincent as they reentered the ballroom. He guided her to a chair like a caring husband he never was. He signaled the lights to be dimmed. An enormous wedding cake was wheeled out as the guests sang and clapped.

Vincent beamed, playing the elated groom once more. But his claw-like grip on Anna's shoulder was a promise of pain yet to come. She had the feeling her punishment was only just beginning.

Anna moved through the elegant ballroom in a daze, Vincent's hand pressed possessively on her lower back. The cloying smell of perfume and false laughter suffocated her. She longed to escape the crowds and noise.

Out of the corner of her eye, Anna noticed Lucas Long, the younger brother of her fiancé. Anna had gathered that Lucas was the opposite of his elder brother. He was more down to earth and never participated much in the family business, even though he was one of the majority shareholders.

Lucas was leaning casually against a marble column, crystal tumbler in hand. He was more engrossed with the liquid in his tumbler than anything else.

His refined black tuxedo hugged his lean and muscular frame in all the right places. He brought the glass to his full lips, and Anna felt a spark of electricity run through her.

Lucas looked up and saw the bride-to-be earnestly looking at him. He raised a glass to her while he nodded his head. This made Anna weak at the knees. She was just stuck like a deer in headlights.

Before she could ponder it further, Vincent was there and was leading her toward the dance floor. A melody swelled as he whirled her aggressively around, his fingers caressing her delicate skin. Anna tried to focus on the steps but felt Lucas's stormy gaze following her from across the room.

The song shifted to a tango. Vincent excused himself to talk business, leaving Anna swaying alone. Lucas appeared behind her.

"May I have this dance?" Lucas asked, his voice smooth as honey. Anna nodded, her heart quickening as he pulled her close.

They moved as one, their bodies fitting together seamlessly like they had danced together before. Lucas's strong hand on Anna’s back made her tingle and forget her troubles. He dipped her backwards, and she felt intoxicated by his nearness.

"He was never good at tango,” Lucas said, leaving Anna convinced. “My brother, he made an excuse so he won’t tango with you,” he added. Anna was completely lost in his gaze and couldn’t bring herself to reply.

“You look radiant tonight," Lucas murmured, twirling Anna out, and then back into his arms. She blushed at the sincerity in his words. She had never felt any man ever look at her that way before.

"And you look very...suave," Anna replied, fumbling through her words. She was immediately lost in Lucas's intense gaze. He was a stranger, yet he felt very familiar. In the ballroom, Vincent, all her worries faded away.

"I'd like to see more of you, Anna." Lucas expertly guided them through a complex sequence of steps. "Perhaps somewhere more private..." he chuckled, “somewhere with fewer people where I can get to un…” “Somewhere less ceremonial” he stuttered through his statement. His suggestive tone made Anna’s heart flutter.

The music crescendoed, and Lucas pulled Anna tighter against him. At that moment, she forgot propriety and obligation and gave herself over to the desire to be free with him. But too soon, the dance ended.

Lucas brought Anna's hand to his lips in a lingering kiss. "Until we meet again," he murmured before disappearing into the crowd. Bereft, Anna watched him go longingly.

Anna slipped away from the dance floor and rushed to the sanctuary of the ladies' room. Safely alone, she gripped the edges of the sink and stared at her reflection in the ornate mirror. Her face blushed with traces of pink on her cheeks.

She turned on the faucet and splashed some cool water on her face. It did little to revive her. She was utterly entranced with the encounter and dance with Lucas.

Anna shook her head, dispelling those thoughts before they could incapacitate her. She had to get back out there. Patting her face dry with a linen towel, she reapplied lipstick and smoothed her hair. One deep breath later, she stepped out to rejoin the gala.

“An engaged woman is not supposed to dance that way with none other than her betrothed,” Isabel said, as she jolted Anna back to reality.

Isabel Bellamy is Anna’s elder sister. She had always been protective of Anna but felt as though she failed this time. She supervised the finances of the Bellamy company and felt a bit responsible for how they got here.

Anna turned to leave, but Isabel stopped her in her tracks. “How long will you avoid your family?” She asked.

“Mom, is worried sick about you, and you know that I would have gladly traded places with you” she continued. “And who is wearing the ring?” Anna replied.

Isabel replied, “Remember family is all that matters.”

Vincent reappeared, his mood sour. "Come. There are more important people to meet," he demanded, without even acknowledging the presence of Isabel, his soon-to-be sister-in-law. Reality came crashing back down onto Anna's shoulders as Vincent dragged her away.

Weaving his way through the remaining guests, Vincent spotted a group of his associates and headed for them. Anna noticed and gave a bright smile as she approached.

"Ah, there they are," someone in the group announced.

"Gentlemen, have you had the pleasure of meeting my lovely Anna?" Vincent asked, pulling Anna possessively to his side.

The men smiled and extended congratulations. Anna laughed airily at their pathetic attempts at humor, playing the part of entertained fiancée. Meanwhile, her nerves were frayed from the effort of maintaining this façade. She wanted nothing more than to flee from all this.

After what felt like an eternity of inane small talk but was likely only minutes, Vincent squeezed Anna's shoulder. "If you'll excuse us, gentlemen."

He steered her away toward another cluster of guests. As they walked, Vincent's hand encircling her arm tightened.

On and on they circulated, Vincent showing Anna off like a trophy. His proprietary grip ensured she could not slip away again. With each passing minute, the muscles of Anna's face ached from her false smile. She lost track of how many hands she shook, and how many times she thanked well-wishers through gritted teeth.

Finally, the guests began making their exits. The orchestra played a closing number as Vincent firmly guided Anna around for final goodbyes. She played along as expected, hugging Vincest's associates and air-kissing the wives.

At long last, Vincent announced, "I think it's time we headed home, my dear."

Across the room, Anna glimpsed Lucas Long watching her over his date's shoulder, his eyes stormy.

Anna's heartbeat fastened. She remembered the heady thrill of Lucas's touch as they'd danced earlier that night. His admiring gaze had revived her dimmed spirit, if only briefly. But it was foolish to hope he could offer any real comfort from her gilded cage.

The sea breeze felt heavenly on Anna's skin after the stuffy party as they stepped outside. Vincent ushered her quickly to the limo’s open door, but Anna changed direction before he could guide her in.

Anna dashed back into the ballroom. She saw Lucas and headed straight for him, with Vincent coming behind her.