Lord Abbot took her hand in his and the other gripped her waist, whilst she tentatively balanced her free hand on his bony shoulder. The music began, and he steered her into a waltz that matched the song, his eyes wandering down her body and fixating on her chest. She thought she’d be used to the wandering eyes of men, but nothing could ever prepare anyyoung woman for the terrifying feeling of being watched and touched by a man who thought he owned them.
“It is unfathomable to believe Lord Duran would allow his help to attend a ball,” he said as his eyes wandered the room, seemingly bored of looking at her.
Adriana followed his narrowed stare to where Deion stood in the corner. “That is Lord Daktari, he is Lord Duran’s friend. He has every right to enjoy the evening.”
“Such odd company he keeps. And his other friend, the little one, the rumours of him being an unnaturalist are spreading through town. It is simply despicable.”
“I cannot say that I agree with you, Lord Abbot,” Adriana said through gritted teeth.
She tried to focus on the music, to ignore the foul stench coming from her dance partner’s breath as he continued to preach his bigoted views, but she couldn’t ignore his hand that had slowly begun to reach round and travel down. She coughed, politely alerting him that his hand had wandered. But she needn’t have alerted him, he clearly knew exactly what he was doing, as he reached down further and grabbed her backside in a painful grip. She tried to step away, tears in her eyes as she realised no one would step in to help her.
He leant down and whispered, “I would not pull away if I were you. You should be winning my affection, Miss Adriana. After all, your father is all but whoring you out tonight.”
She wanted to slap him, to push him away and kick him between his legs where she knew it would hurt. She would not be spoken to like that, she would not be touched without her permission, and a man like him would certainly never understand that unless he was taught a lesson.
Before she could do anything, though, she felt a presence behind her as Abbot’s hand was wrenched away from her. Shespun around to face her saviour, finally free from the vermin’s grasp.
Of course, it had to be him.
Xander
Xander had been watching her since she had stepped down from her carriage. Her gown, such a dark green that the emerald tones were only visible under the light of the chandeliers, stood out among the other women dressed in deep purples and blues. Her dark blonde hair had been delicately wrapped into an updo with a few strands framing her pale face, her ears adorned with jewellery and her lips a luscious red. The small straps of the dress that hung across her shoulders met into a neckline that plunged slightly in the middle and led down to a fitted lace bodice that showed her figure in all its glory. The silk skirts that hung from her waist and gathered to the floor shimmered in the light with every step she took, every turn she made.
He thought she looked stunning, and he knew that even without jewellery and silk and lace, she was just as breathtaking.
It had taken every ounce of self-control not to run to her, for reasons he couldn’t even begin to comprehend, and he couldn’t help the tremor in his fingers as he watched another man whisk her onto the dancefloor. He’d noticed Deion and Edward staring at him, their thoughts screaming at him not to make a scene, but when that man, the one who hadn’t even asked her permission to dance, touched her in such a way that brought tears to her eyes, he nearly lost it.
Without thinking, he stormed across the floor, ignoring the young ladies who had been harping on at him about their dresses, and grabbed the man’s hand. He’d have ripped it off if there were less of an audience, snapped his fingers one by one before crushing his arm completely. But he couldn’t, not with so many witnesses, not when he and his brothers were trying to make a true home for themselves.
Twisting the man’s hand, he pulled him away from Adriana. Xander didn’t say anything, didn’t even speak into his mind, he knew he didn’t have to. The coward was terrified of him, and as soon as Xander let go, he scurried away with a groan, cradling his arm to his chest.
Xander watched him leave, desperate to go after him, to tear him apart piece by piece. But as Adriana stepped into his view, every single thought seemed to drain from his mind. All that mattered was her.
He could sense she was thankful that someone had come to her aid, but just from the look on her face she was clearly frustrated. Whether it be that she’d wanted to handle it herself or because she was annoyed it was Xander. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out as the two of them stood staring at one another, the dancers around them beginning to slow as they watched the strange display.
Before he could think any better of it, he held his hand out to her in invitation. “May I?” he asked.
He knew it could reflect badly on her, dancing with the man who had chased away her previous partner, but he also knew it would look worse if he were to leave her on the dancefloor alone. And, he realised, he didn’t want to leave. He didn't want to be anywhere but right there in front of her, asking if she would spend just a few minutes with him.
He wasn’t sure if it was her heartbeat or his own that increased as he noted a drumming sounding in his ears, but finally, sheaccepted. She placed her small, lace covered hand into his. A perfect fit.
Noticing a group of lords around her father watching them suspiciously, he tore the dance card off her wrist, his own way of telling everyone else in the room that she would not be dancing with anyone else tonight. He discarded it on the floor—noticing Edward quickly caught it beneath his boot—and directed them back into the waltz, fitting in perfectly with the other couples, never missing a beat.
Her eyes wandered over his appearance, and he couldn’t help but smirk at her obvious approval from the hitch in her breath. He didn’t need to use his Manipuli power to know what she was thinking. As much as he wanted to delve into whatever thoughts she had, he was certain she’d likely punch him as soon as she felt him in her mind.
“You seem surprised by my actions,” he spoke quietly.
“I am,” she said, her tone just as low and soothing as the voice he often found himself daydreaming about. “Though I am not sure which is more surprising, the fact that you saved me from that man or the fact you actually asked to take my hand.”
“Well, you did threaten to rip me apart if I touched you again without permission, sweetheart.”
Her grip on his shoulder tightened in warning, but the way she bit her lip to hold back a smile brought forth an unfamiliar feeling of warmth in his chest. He let go of her waist to spin her under his arm as they absentmindedly kept up with the dance, before pulling her back towards him. Their bodies met, closer than before. Unsure who’s doing it was as their fronts pressed flat against one another, her chest pushed firmly against his lower sternum, he decided he didn’t care. She wasn’t pulling away, and neither was he.
The signature smell of lilies and lavender, a beautiful mixture he now always associated with her, filled his senses. He had triedto ignore it, the pull he had felt towards her ever since they’d met again in that alley in town, but in that moment, he decided to give in. He knew she hated him, and it only made him want her more.
Lowering his head towards her, a few strands of his combed hair falling in front of his eyes, he rested his forehead against hers for a moment.
“Have I told you, you are absolutely bewitching?”
