Leaving with the Girl

*Reece*

I hold the stray hand that's crawling down my bicep and turn. "Do you just go around touching men, Emily?"

It's a firm warning I'm giving off since I'm not trying to play coy about what is happening here. And neither is she, apparently. She leans away, her eyes bearing the singed pride of someone who has never been rejected before. "Only those I wouldn't mind giving a good time," she replies.

I know now that there is a Moon Goddess–and that she makes her payments with karma.

Maybe I was an asshole in my previous life, or else she'd have compassion on me and make Rose the one that's telling me this, not this woman I've known for only a few days…. Well, I’ve also only known Rose for just a couple of days, but that’s different; I actually want to get to know Rose.

"While that is an interesting offer. I'm not interested," I say firmly, not trying to sound like a complete asshole… yet.

"Is it because you are afraid you won’t be the winner of the competition and get to take my hand as your wife? You don't have to be scared about that. It’s just a dance. I’ve seen how you’ve been looking at me the past few days. I won’t bite. We could have a splendid night together."

I am trying not to raise my voice as she continues to eye me and blink her lashes. The action reminds me of a bird preparing to take flight. I pray someone, or something, saves me from this woman. I want to be with Rose but find myself wondering what will happen if I have to be the one to call this woman my Luna. I shake my head forcefully; I don’t even want to think of that possibility.

Where is Rose?

I look around the room but see no sign of her. I glance over at the podium and see the king speaking with Mark and Tristan; I can’t hear what is being discussed thanks to the loud music and distance. The exchange looks serious, and I wish I was better at lip reading.

A tap on my shoulder brings my attention back to my present position. I pray it is not yet another woman here to ask me for a dance. Was it the new era that changed the roles we were all accustomed to of the man being the one to ask a woman for a dance, and not the other way around?

I turn around, but the words of disapproval at the tip of my tongue die when I see Eli. Certainly, he’s not a woman, and he’s not here to ask me to dance.

He looks fresh in a starched shirt and bow tie. I lift my hand to my neck and try to loosen my tie. Eli looks comfortable in his formal attire, but I feel like my tie is slowly getting tighter and trying to choke me. I find myself missing my casual clothes.

“Want to dance?” I ask, only joking.

Eli takes a step back, “Huh?” He looks confused.

“Joking,” I mutter before continuing. “Hey.” I nervously look around and exhale with relief to find that Emily seems to have given up on her agenda and moved to another man I don’t recognize.

“Why are your eyes darting around like you’re tracking prey?” Eli asks as he also follows the direction of my gaze. I chuckle at his assessment.

“More like I am the prey. I thought you were Emily or someone similar,” I say and take a glass of champagne from a tray when a servant passes by. Eli does the same and returns his attention to me.

“Did you forget she might be your future Luna?” he cajoles and elbows me playfully.

“Or yours,” I return and smirk at him.

“I am glad Tristan and Mark have called a truce. The king also spoke to them about their fight; it was just creating unnecessary tension,” Eli sighs seemingly relieved and then takes a sip of his drink.

I take a sip from my glass. So that is what they were talking about when I spotted them with the king earlier.

“Aren’t you jealous about the prospect of sharing Rose?” I ask him.

Eli inclines his head to the side and seems to smile. “No. I know once I get my turn with her, the rest of you are history,” he says with a playful smirk.

I want to respond to his cocky reply, but I bite my tongue. There is no need to start our own fight right here and now. I also know he’s just saying that in an attempt at a light-hearted joke, but I fail to find the humor in it.

“I see,” I nod and take a huge gulp of my drink. I really need the alcoholic liquid courage right now.

The fast-paced music that is playing stops after a minute, and a soft tune begins. I listen to it, and I imagine myself slow dancing to it with Rose. I note that Eli’s eyes are now focusing on the entrance to the ballroom. I take note of how his eyes seem to sparkle and widen at whatever he is seeing.

Everyone else seems to be looking in that direction too. I turn to see what has grabbed everyone’s attention and almost choke on pure air when I finally set my eyes on the angel making her way into the room.

The sound of the music seems to fade as I watch her seemingly float into the room. Everyone else disappears, and all I see is her.

She is dressed in a burgundy gown that shows off her delicately molded figure. Her waist is slim and her skin lustrous; I swear she seems to be glowing under the dim lighting of the room. Her hair is gathered in an intricate design on top of her head. The little decorations in it sparkle as she walks. Her head is bowed, and I wonder if she even realizes how she demands attention without even trying. She is perfect.

When she raises her head, she shows off pearly white teeth at the couple she walked in with. I find myself strolling toward her as if she had silently called to me. Before I know it, I am standing in front of her.

She regards me before doing a subtle curtsey and smiles. A little dimple forms on her left cheek, and I feel like my blood is flowing in the wrong direction within my body.

A crash somewhere in the room reminds me that there are other people around. I turn around to find the source of the noise and see Emily walk away from shards of glass that are on the floor. A servant rushes to the site to clean the mess. I turn and refocus my attention on the belle of this ball.

I stretch my arm to her. “May I have this dance?” I ask, ignoring Emily’s commotion as I fight back the butterflies that have built a small army in my stomach. I have never felt this nervous about asking a woman for a dance before, but this is no ordinary woman. I haven’t even had much time with her, yet I already understand why Mark and Tristan have been squabbling over her.

I pray she doesn’t say no and leave me here to wallow in my embarrassment. After the way she was when she had come to confront Mark and Tristan… well when Shelby confronted them on her behalf… she might not want to indulge me, thinking we’re all jerks. Cut from different cloths, but jerks all the same. I’d heard the commotion through the bedroom door.

I almost want to jump and touch the ceiling when she actually nods and places a gloved palm on my arm. It’s nothing major, just a dance, but to me, it feels like winning the first battle.

I lead her to the dance floor. It seems the Moon Goddess is looking out for me now, as at that exact moment a sweet love song begins to play.

I draw her close and inhale her scent. She smells like a fruity garden, and it’s dizzying in a way that makes me want to sweep her into my arms and carry her somewhere where it can just be the two of us.

“Are you okay?” I whisper into her ear as we sway to the rhythm. I can hear her gulp.

“Yeah,” she sighs but I don’t believe her.

“You look beautiful. And on behalf of all the Alphas, I am sorry for everything. I promise we are not all jerks.”

I relax when she chuckles.

“I didn’t know the king had a dress tailor-made for you,” I say, and this time she laughs out loud. The sound warms my heart.

“It wasn’t tailor-made for me. I found it at some shop this afternoon,” she admits.

“Huh. You could have fooled me. I would have sworn it was made with you in mind,” I reassure her.

She leans back and regards me. I know she is trying to catch the lie in my facial expression.

“You flatter me, Alpha Reece.”

I draw her even closer to me. The feel of her warm, slim body against mine is making my heart beat increase, and I can feel a tent beginning to build in my pants. “I don’t aim to flatter, as I speak nothing but the truth, my angel.”

She smiles and looks around nervously. I wonder what is going on inside her head. I see her gaze rest on a particular location in the room for a length of time and her smile vanishes. I swirl her around so as to see who, or what, she is looking at. I see Tristan watching us with a scowl on his face.

“If you feel uncomfortable, maybe we can leave this place,” I suggest.

“Wouldn’t that be considered rude… since I just got here, and the ball is far from being over?” She innocently licks her lips, and I feel like my knees will give out supporting the weight of my body. I gaze into her eyes and move my face toward hers. I am tempted to kiss her, but I don’t want to steal the kiss. I want her to give it to me when the time comes out of her own free will.

“Tonight is my night with you. We can go, and if you feel like you are not up for going that far tonight, we could just lay in bed, and I will hold you throughout the night. After all you have been through, I won’t push you to do anything that you don’t want to do,” I try to reassure her.

She blinks at me. I have a distinct feeling she doesn’t believe me. I would love to make passionate love to her and erase the pain and her past experiences, but if she says no, I would be okay just holding her all through the night.

“You are expected to make love to me though,” she states plainly. “That’s why I’m here.” Her words feel like a sword to my heart. She really sees this whole thing as nothing but a duty. I want to show her that it can be way more beautiful than she thinks.

“My angel, with me, you are not just an object for breeding. You are a gorgeous woman who deserves to feel pleasure. Come with me tonight. I promise to give you all of the control. I want to teach you how to not only receive pleasure but to give it freely.”

I look into her eyes and plead with my own. She bites her lips…. This woman will be the death of me. She nods. I take her hand and lead her out of the ballroom.

Tonight will be romantic. Tonight will be beautiful and magical, just like she is.