Mates Next Door

You're So Art Deco

~FLYNN~

I'd mastered the art of silence, learned to keep my emotions locked away and it had saved me from the woes of attachment and the pain it came with.

It was the only way to survive in a world where fate had dealt me a cruel hand.

Astra, the girl I craved and was marked to, was also mated to my best friend, Arik. The revelation has left me shocked, forcing me to retreat into the safety of the shadows, observing from afar and damn near seething with rage.

But that same night, after we had all gone to bed, I could barely sleep. I kept tossing from one end of the bed to the other, wondering if I made the mistake of being plain rude to her. I knew it wasn't her fault but the idea of her being mated to Arik drove me crazy.

Hearing her soft whimpers had pierced the darkness, reaching deep into my soul and stirring something within me- a form of protectiveness, the urge to protect her from danger, even if it was the one happening in her dreams.

I'd fought to stay away, to let her suffer alone, but my feet had moved of their own accord, leading me to her. I'd found her trembling, her nightmares manifesting the fears she kept hidden. And I held her, comforting her until the dawn broke.

The next morning, jealousy had clawed its way through my chest, reminding me of the bond she not only shared with me, but with Arik. So I left, reprimanding myself for showing her an ounce of care and not being my mysterious self. Giving her the silent treatment when I found her in the kitchen was enough compensation for my kindness last night.

Yet, when she appeared at my doorstep today, asking for Ryder's cash price, I saw an opportunity, a chance to win her over, to make her choose me.

After our ordeal at the bank, we had lunch at one of my favourite restaurants.

And now, I stood at the clothes store, watching her play dress up, her laughter and smiles an obvious contrast to the darkness brewing within me.

I'd been offered a seat but I preferred to stand. Honestly, I would have taken a seat if I wasn't so restless about Shenseea's appearance and what she said about Hanny.

I hadn't planned on going to the club today but with Hanny being there for the last time, it was a do or die affair.

And you know, I kind of hated that such came up tonight of all nights, when all I wanted to do was spend time with Astra.

I couldn't go to the club alone. I had to be there with Ryder and Arik. Most especially, Arik. But I didn't want him there. I didn't want him tearing Astra's attention from me because hell, I knew she wanted him more than she did me. She would go running into his arms as soon as he appeared.

I would also be blamed for roping Astra into this. I was basically leading her into danger by appearing at the club before Hanny and her cohorts.

Damn me.

And f**k Arik. I could do this without him. Ryder could tag along with his doll girlfriend and keep the secret until I decided it was time to inform Arik.

"Flynn?" I looked up to see Astra standing in the third dress. A silk, deep blue dress. She twirled and I caught her bare back and hissed at the sight of her wonderful back. My fingers clenched. This was a discovery. I'd never minded backs so long as they looked good enough. But Astra had a perfect back. The curve dipped and disappeared under the dress.

The air was thick with tension as I went over to her, my eyes fixed on the way the clothes hugged her curves. She was a siren, luring me into the depths of her. And I was willing to surrender, to risk everything for a taste of her.

"Wow," I blinked and placed a hand on my head. "You look so good."

A blush creeped up her cheek. "Thank you."

The attendant butted in. She held a red dress in her hand and lifted it to us. "What do you think about this? I think red will suit her skin tone."

"Astra," I called out, my voice low, husky. "Try the red one."

She turned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "You think I'd look good in red?"

I smiled, my heart racing with anticipation. What the f**k was going on with me? "I know you would."

I waited, tapping my boot against the floor and nodding at the attendant who couldn't stop smiling.

"Is she your girlfriend?" She asked finally.

I was expecting that.

"I'm hoping she will be."

"That's nice. She's very beautiful," She chuckled. "I wished I was as pretty as her. Maybe I would have the likes of you pining over me. It's unfortunate that I look this way."

I looked at her from head to toe, then sighed. "Blame your parents."

She definitely didn't see that coming because she blanched and cleared her throat before laughing awkwardly.

"Uhm, she will be taken straight to the salon where she will be made up."

"And how long will that take?" I asked, finally taking a seat and relaxing.

"About two hours if they are fast."

I could wait. I didn't mind.

I decided to use the free time I had to call Ryder and convince him into coming to the club without Arik. He was still on his way back from wherever he went and somehow, he was interested in attending without Arik.

"He's such a party pooper." Ryder had said. "Of course, he's good at handling business and commanding respect, but we don't need him tonight."

My night was made.

While Astra got ready at the salon, I decided to grab a few new clothes. I had a lot of them back home but I didn't have the strength to drive back and encounter Arik.

So I got fitted at the store and returned to my initial sitting position, tapping my new pair of boots against the ground impatiently as I waited.

Astra's throat cleared and I turned quite too fast. I reeled at the sight of her in that dress.

No, she wasn't average in any way. The attendant was right.

Astra in a red dress was a vision of seduction to behold. The glossy crimson hue hugged her curves, accentuating her sharp features like it was made for her and her alone. My eyes travelled from the armless bodice, down to her soft cleavages that moved according to her breathing. The dress dipped into her waist and then flared out at her hips before hugging her thighs once again.

As she moved, all I could think of were those long legs of hers wrapping around my torso and grinding against my crotch. I started to contort images in my head, mostly ones that had her in lewd positions, seminude in this dress and fully naked and on top of me, wildly riding as her breasts swung from side to side.

My eyes travelled back up to her face. Her hair, damn. Those golden locks of hers cascaded down her back like a river of shimmery gold threads, with subtle waves that framed her heart shaped face. Her bright blue eyes sparkled like sapphires in the light and that gave me an idea to give her the sapphire jewellery set I'd kept locked up in my room for no reason. Maybe it had always been hers from the onset.

Her full lips, painted a deep red to match the dress, curled into a sly smile, inviting me to surrender to her charms.

Slowly, I pushed to my feet, not even tearing my eyes off her.

"How do I look?" She asked with a grin. That grin did things to me. I wasn't ever going to forget her lips spreading to expose her perfect, white dentition.

As she twirled, the dress fluttered around her, releasing a subtle scent of rose petals and vanilla, teasing my senses and leaving me breathless. The soft rustle of the fabric, the gentle sway of her hips, and the bright sparkle in her eyes all combined to incite a feeling that was going to end in disaster.

"You look..." Words failed me as I made my way over to where she stood. "...stunning."

"You got changed too?" She asked, a frown playing on her face. "I loved the rugged look. Now, you look like you're about to kill someone."

"Isn't that still the same?" I replied in a distracted tone and snaked my arm around her waist before pulling her flush against me. "I was going to kiss you but you've got lipstick on and I don't want to ruin that for you."

"How disappointing." She muttered under her breath and clutched her purse to her side.

Knowing fully well, what she was insinuating, I decided that ignoring her was the best. It was to save us from further problems.

And maybe I didn't want to be saved.

"C'mon, we have a club to attend.”