Gifted Connections 4

“Silvermist?” Troy asked in confusion, although he called me Misty all the time.

“Her name is Silvermist. Why do guys insist on calling her Blake? She doesn’t even look like a Blake!” She looped her arm through Lincoln’s. “Linc, take me dancing while my bodyguard dances with her piece of meat.”

“We’ll be right back,” Troy reassured her with a laugh as he swept me onto the dance floor.

The song changed to a slow dance, and I was grateful to have Troy pull me in close. I didn’t understand my strange reaction to Lincoln Hudgens. He was such a douche, but I had felt warmth at his touch.

I linked my hands over Troy’s shoulders and swayed with him. Soon it was hard to tell where he started and where I began.

“Are you okay?” Troy asked worriedly.

I buried my head into his chest. “I can’t wait to tell Jemmy, Dawn, and Rachel that their celebrity crush is a…dick,” I muttered.

He chuckled as he lowered his head next to mine, his hands sliding to the smooth expanse of my back. “Why do you say that? You do realize that half of the celebrities in Hollywood are like that, right? When they get to a certain point in their career, they forget their beginnings. At least, that’s been my experience.”

“He acted like, since I looked young, I’m not capable of being competent at my job,” I sniffed, still perturbed by Lincoln’s attitude.

He nuzzled my neck. “Your age is not a factor on your abilities. If you had the use of your gift, you could really show him.”

“Troy,” I sighed and moaned as he continued to stroke my back.

“I want to slip away for a few moments, lift your skirt and lose myself in you. Just for a few minutes,” he whispered in my ear.

I felt like a dam was flooding as I imagined him putting his words in actions. “Then take me,” I whispered back.

“Blake!” I heard a warm female voice break into my addled sex brain. I looked up in confusion before I saw Molly a few feet away from me. “How are you?!” she cried out in genuine delight.

I pulled away from Troy, confused by her greeting me. The last time I saw her, she looked possibly heartbroken.

“I’m good, how are you?” I asked as she approached me and air-kissed both of my cheeks.

“Good, good. Jace said you were here, and I had to see you.” She smiled enthusiastically.

“Okay,” I said a bit hesitantly.

“You must think I’m crazy, right?” She laughed. “I wanted to thank you. Troy, can I have a few moments?” she murmured, not waiting for a response as she led away to double French doors that went out to a balcony out back. A few couples were out there, so she guided me to an empty bench. I looked back at Troy and noticed the same mystified expression on his face.

“Okay, so I have never seen Remy or Jace so happy. I know Remy has visited his sister, too, and I know he’s finally on the path he should’ve been on long ago.” She was speaking quietly as if she was afraid that she would be overheard. “I wanted to hate you at first, but Jemmy had so many good things to say about you, and I thought you had taken Jace from me, but I know now, I would never had made him as happy as you’ve made him. If he hadn’t found you, I would’ve never given Ivan a chance.”

She held her left hand out, where a large engagement ring was now adorning her fingers. “Jace always had a way to help me with my anxiety and depression, but he always had to use his gift. With Ivan, he is so much like Jace, but he doesn’t have to use his gift to calm me. He’s not even gifted. He just knows all the right things to say and do. So, thank you!”

“um… you’re welcome,” I said, not knowing exactly the proper response to give her.

I mean, I was happy she found happiness and glad she had moved on from Jace, but I didn’t know why she was telling me this.

She laughed as if she could read my thoughts. “I know you must think I’m crazy, but I vowed if I ever saw you again I would let you know. And seeing how happy Jace is only solidifies how wrong we really were for each other.”

“You made a cute couple,” I smiled as I looked towards the ballroom. I was glad that someone from the outside could see that. Sometimes I had to wonder, honestly. I knew I couldn’t be happy sharing them…

“It takes more than looks,” she laughed once more, hugging before she stiffened.

“Something bad is going to happen,” she said urgently. “Someone with ill intentions is going to do something.”

I stood up, ice flooding my veins. Anna!

I ran as fast as my heels would allow me to. I saw Anna next to the French doors I had just exited. She was still with Lincoln, talking. I looked around frantically. I didn’t see any of the guys. I pulled my gun out and placed it in my open clutch.

As I made my way towards Anna with calm even steps, I looked to my right. There, a flash of a muzzle sticking out of one of the alcoves about thirty yards away. I didn’t have a clear shot with everyone milling about. I had only one other choice.