“Ambassador, so pleased that you could come,” Aeron greets, his tone not overly warm but full of grudging respect. It’s as if he doesn’t like the man but his position requires the gesture.
“Aeron Taylor, a wonderful party,” the man replies in a posh, British accent, and I frown when I see the way his wife is eyefucking my guys. “May I introduce my wife, Susan, and our daughter, Aspen?”
“A pleasure to meet you,” Susan coos, and my nostrils flare at the way her eyes travel over Aeron. He just smiles blandly back, ignoring her blatant flirtation and dipping his head in acknowledgement.
“May I introduce, Lark, our fiancée?” Aeron says, and all three of their eyes widen as they look at me, then the guys. My cheeks heat at the scrutiny, though I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like the way he claimed me so publically. “How are you enjoying America, Aspen?” he asks, smooth as fucking silk, and she blinks up at us, swallowing.
“It certainly rains less here than in London,” she lightly jokes, her voice soft and her gaze sliding from Aeron and landing on me. “It really is a lovely party, thank you for inviting us.”
“You’re welcome,” I respond, even though I had no part in any of this. “Have you been here long?”
“Not really, just a little over a week,” she answers, and I feel that she’s on guard, saying exactly what they expect of her. She seems nervous, her eyes darting back to her parents as if seeking approval, and I can’t really work out why, we’re not that intimidating.
“If you’ll excuse us,” the man, the ambassador, interrupts before she can say anything else, and Aeron nods as they walk away, Aspen trailing behind them.
“Why are you frowning?” Aeron asks me as I watch them and draw my lower lip between my teeth.
“There was something…off with them,” I muse aloud, still watching as they greet some of the other guests. It’s then that I see the slight flinch Aspen gives when the ambassador extends his hand, and my shoulders tighten. “She had a look in her eyes that I used to see all too often when I gazed in the mirror,” I add, my stomach knotting slightly.
“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Aeron assures me immediately, and my muscles relax a little before I turn to him.
“You’d do that? For a complete stranger?”
“No,” he states, brushing my cheek with the back of his fingers. “I’d do it for you because I don’t want to see you frown.”
“I love you, all of you,” I confess in a choked-up voice, my heart feeling like it might burst from my chest at any moment.
“And we love you,” Jude adds from behind me, placing a soft kiss on my neck.
“Let’s carry on, there are some people I’d like you to meet,” Aeron adds after a moment.
Soon, we come across a group of four guys and a beautiful, brunette-haired girl who looks to be about my age. Her dress falls in soft waves from just under her bust, showcasing a very pregnant belly. Although, fuck saying anything just in case she’s just put on a few pounds. The guys are pretty fucking hot, and my eyes widen when I spot the blond one with a short beard and hair tied in a knot. He’s fucking massive, bigger than Knox and that’s saying something.
“Aeron.” The one with neat, black hair and tattoos that go up his throat steps forward, his hand out and what looks like a genuine smile on his face. Aeron shakes it, also with a friendly smile, not the usual fake one that he mostly wears when out in public.
“Ash, glad you guys could come,” Aeron greets as the others all shake hands.
“We wanted Pretty Girl here to stay home, given she’s almost about to pop,” the redhead teases, Loki I think his name was. “But she put her foot down and so here we are.” He chuckles, looking down at the girl who beams up at him. My chest tightens at the obvious devotion in both their gazes.
“Just because I’m pregnant, for the second fucking time I might add, doesn’t mean I’m a fucking invalid, Loki,” she teasesin a crisp, British accent, turning hazel eyes that sparkle to meet mine. “Men, am I right? I’m Lilly.” She holds her own slender hand out and letting go of Jude’s hand, I take it.
“Lark,” I tell her, feeling an instant connection with this girl, like she’s my kind of people. “And yeah, they’re possessive as fuck. These guys tattooed me so everyone would know who owns me,” I tell her, letting go of her hand and showing the chains that just peep along the neckline of my dress. She laughs, a tinkling sound that has my lips tugging upwards.
“Damn! Don’t give my husbands any ideas.” My eyes widen as they flit back to the guys, who are all chatting but looking over at us every so often.
“Husbands? As in, you're married to them all?” I ask, the idea really fucking intriguing.
“Well, not legally, but we had a handfasting ceremony, so it’s the next best thing,” she tells me, no shits given that she’s talking so openly about her unusual relationship.
“Well, shit. I may need to get some details off you,” I answer, and I see Tarl’s lips tug upwards as he overhears my comment while listening to the guy with glasses. My cheeks flush and Lilly laughs again.
“Lark!” I hear my brother’s voice before he’s rushing up to me and wrapping enormous arms around me in a bear hug. “I’m so fucking glad you’re here! I feel like a fucking monkey in this getup.”
I laugh as he sets me down on my heeled feet, looking him over and admitting that my brother is a handsome guy when he’s all dressed up. I glance over his shoulder to see three other guys coming up behind him, all dressed similarly, although they’re all wearing boots instead of dress shoes. Rebels.
“Ash, let me introduce you to Dove’s brother,” Aeron says, coming over to us, and I roll my eyes at his lack of usingmy actual name. Ash steps towards Rook with his hand outstretched.
“Asher Vanderbilt, pleased to meet you,” he acknowledges, his voice deep and with an air of command to it. My eyes bug out when I realize who this is. Asher Vanderbilt of Black Knight Corp. Which means Lilly and the others all own a piece of the biggest company in the fucking world. So big that even I’ve heard of them, and they have fingers in so many pies I couldn’t even list them all.
