SIX
1045 Words
The grand ballroom sparkled with the splendor of Christmas. Chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the guests, their laughter mingling with the soft notes of a live string quartet. Lila adjusted the hem of her dress for the hundredth time, feeling out of place amidst the glittering crowd.
“You look stunning,” Nigel murmured beside her, his voice smooth and velvety. His hand rested lightly on the curve of her waist, drawing her closer as he greeted a passing couple with a practiced, disarming smile.
Lila forced herself to relax under his touch. “You’ve already said that three times tonight.”
“And it’s true every time,” he replied, the teasing edge in his voice making her roll her eyes ever so subtly.
Her gaze shifted across the room, searching for her target because she had lost him in the crowd. Then, she spotted him. Matt stood near the bar, his tall frame rigid, a glass of champagne in hand; he seemed like the champagne tasted as vile as he was.
She watched him for a moment, and then his sharp eyes cut through the crowd, landing on her. A flicker of disdain crossed his face before he looked away, pretending to focus on the conversation around him.
“He’s watching, isn’t he?” Nigel’s voice broke through her thoughts.
“Yes,” she muttered, spitefully.
“Good.” Nigel’s tone was light, but his hand on her waist tightened ever so slightly, sending a shiver through her. “Let’s make sure he gets the full performance.”
Before she could protest, he led her to the dance floor. The soft waltz filling the room felt both intimate and daunting. Lila’s pulse quickened as Nigel turned to face her, his dark eyes gleaming with mischief; he was so very entertained.
“Don’t overthink it,” he said, taking her hand. His other hand slid to her waist, the heat of his touch searing through the thin fabric of her dress. She forced herself not to give much thoughts to the heat pooling a the scandalous pit of her stomach.
His hand on her waist felt strong, it reminded her of last night, and last night made her breath shudder and her body tremble. She forced the thought aside and tried to pull her wanton self together.
“That’s easy for you to say,” she muttered, trying to steady her breathing. “You’re an actor. You do this for a living.”
Nigel chuckled, the sound low and rich. “True, but this is more real to you than it is for me; you can nail it better."
He was right, she could do this. She just had to not f**k up the dance first. As they began to move, Nigel’s natural grace took over, guiding her effortlessly across the floor. The guy was a pro at this, and every now and then his hold on her waist would tighten and cause her breath to falter.
Lila tried to focus on the steps, but the way his eyes never left hers made it impossible. She knew he could see that her eyes were darkening from the lewd thoughts going on in her mind; he could tell that she wouldn't mind being out of her dress for him immediately. Her chest tightened as the space between them seemed to shrink with every turn.
“You’re good at this,” she said, her voice strained in an attempt to fill the silence.
“You’re better than you think,” he replied, his lips curving into a smirk. His gaze raked over her figure once more and he cleared his throat, probably trying to remind himself to focus.
The music swelled, and Nigel spun her out before pulling her back in, his grip firm but gentle. When their eyes met again, Lila felt her breath hitch because they were much darker than they had been a moment ago. For a moment, the world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the heat of his gaze and the rapid beating of her heart.
"So, tonight?" He asked. His voice lower and deeper, his tone suggestive.
She tore her eyes away, focusing instead on the twinkling lights of the massive Christmas tree in the center of the room. "Don't try to distract me." She almost bit out. He was affecting her much more than she wanted to admit. "And how are you so good at this?"
He snickered.
"I had to learn for a role.” His tone was lighter, but the carnal darkness in his eyes remained.
Lila swallowed hard, suddenly desperate to put some distance between them. “I need some air,” she said, stepping back abruptly.
Nigel’s brows knitted together in slight confusion. “Did I—”
“No,” she cut him off, forcing a small smile. “I just need a moment. I’ll be back.”
She needed some air; the man was giving her a look that told her he wanted to spread her out and f**k her right here and now. And the problem was that she wouldn't have minded at all, she was that attracted to him.
Without waiting for his response, she slipped off the dance floor and made her way to the balcony. The cool night air hit her like a splash of water, clearing her head. She leaned against the railing, clutching the sides tightly as she tried to steady her breathing.
What was she doing? She was supposed to be proving a point to Matt, showing him that she didn’t need him. But somehow, Nigel had managed to make her forget all of that with just a look, a touch. Perhaps this wouldn't be as smooth as she thought it would be.
Damn it, Lila! Focus!
The sound of footsteps behind her made her blowing out an exasperated breath. He had followed her?
“Lila.”
She spun around immediately on hearing Matt's voice instead. Her stomach sank as Matt stepped onto the balcony. His face was a storm of emotions—anger, frustration, something that might have been regret.
She didn't want him looking like that so soon; he was ruining her game, he was taking the fun out of it.
- Writer
