Sharing Beauty (Possessing Beauty 3)

Shit, and I knew why. So did Cade, judging by the stifled snort next to me.

Ilana’s brow perked up. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” I said quickly.

Cade just kept trying to hide the laugh.

“Okay, please tell, I can’t stand that girl. She’s the most obnoxious gossip I know, and she once started a rumor in high school that I was sleeping with the headmaster. Not freaking true, by the way.”

Cade glanced at me before grinning. “Well she, uh, she tried to make a play for us at a gala a few months back and we turned her down. She was very drunk, and sort of made a scene when we declined her invitation. I think that's why she’s glaring at you.”

Ilana frowned. “Wait, she made a play for you?”

I grinned. She didn’t get it.

“She made a play for us,” I said, stressing the word.

Ilana’s brows suddenly shot up. “Wait, to both of you?” she said incredulously, her face going pink at what I hoped was her mind coming up with what that implied.

I nodded, and her eyes grew a little wider as she swallowed thickly.

“Well, now we’re certainly going off and getting that drink, if just to ruffle her feathers.”

I grinned. “Done.”

“But just so we’re clear...” Her face turned red. “I am not making a ‘play’ at either and certainly not both of you.”

“Of course not. You’re not that girl, as you’ve been saying.” I grinned.

She shivered, her lip catching between her teeth before she knocked back the rest of her drink.

“We should bring champagne.”

It was all she said before she whirled, her gown and her hair twirling as she made her way from the room.

Chapter 5

Ilana

Oh my God, what was I doing? What on earth had come over me? I felt tingly, and alive, and if I was being honest, sort of naughty in a way that sent a shiver through me.

Here I was flirting — flirting — with two gorgeous princes. It was so unlike me, and I knew I was breaking all sorts of my own rules. But something kept me from backing down from it.

I could hear them walking up behind me as I left the ballroom, turning down one hallway and then another, until we approached the east wing library.

I can’t believe I’m doing this.

And “this” wasn’t anything. Not yet at least. So I was getting a drink. Who cared? Except I knew it was more than that. I was getting a drink, in private, away from the ball, with two gorgeous men. Both of whom had made it quite well known they were interested.

And two men who had a draw on me like I’d never felt before. I felt alive near them, and scared. But also so protected. On top of that, there was the story of Priscilla, the duchess who’d been glaring at me back there. She’d made a “play” for both of them?

I shivered. Both, as in, the twin Charmings at the same time? It was so insanely scandalous, and yet, there was also no denying the naughty shiver that went through my body, teasing me in all sorts of places as I thought about it.

I needed some more champagne. Immediately.

I waltzed into the room, shivering as I heard them close the doors behind us. I clicked on one of the low-light lamps next to the opulent sofa before moving to the fireplace and clicking on the automatic flame with a button hidden on the side of the mantle.

I turned back, biting my lip as the two men took seats — Caspian on one end of the sofa, Cade in the high-backed chair facing it. There was pop as Cade took the top off the champagne.

“Shit,” he muttered. “We forgot glasses.”

I shrugged. “It’s fine.”

“You sure? You might get cooties from us.” Caspian teased.

I blushed, moving to take seat on the other side of the couch from him. Cade took a swig first, licking his lips softly — an action my eyes lingered on for far too long before he passed it to me. I nodded, reaching over and taking it before bringing the bubbles to my lips and taking a drink.

I passed to Caspian, before my eyes darted to Cade, pulling something out of his jacket pocket.

I laughed. “Are you serious?”

He grinned, shrugging as he held up the joint in his hands. “If you’re not into it, I can save it for later.”

“No, I’m fine.” I said it coolly as I could, like smoking pot in the library of the palace was no big deal. The truth of it was, I’d smoked the stuff once before, at Adele’s 18th birthday party, when some friend of a friend produced some.

“You sure?”

“Yeah, why not?”

Caspian cleared his throat. “Skip it, man, we’ll just stick to champagne for n—”

“Okay, I’m not the sheltered little princess you think I am, you know.”