“Jesus, Cage,” Sinclair said.
His rage was palpable but instead of ripping into his friend, he stepped back to me and took my face in his hands so that I was forced to look up at him. He pulled out a kerchief from the inside pocket of his blazer and tenderly wiped my tear-streaked face. Cage was watching us, people inside were waiting for us, but Sinclair wouldn’t leave, I realized with growing warmth, without making sure I was okay.
“I’ll take you home.”
“No.” He flinched at my rejection so I placed a soothing hand against his on my cheek. “No, you need to go inside to Elena. Cage is,” I sniffed grossly but he didn’t recoil, “right. This isn’t fair to anyone. We agreed to be friends and it needs to stay that way.”
Sinclair closed his eyes and breathed deeply before touching his forehead to mine and admitting in a soft, quiet voice that mended my heart as quickly as it was broken, “I can’t leave it like this. I thought I could but,” his sigh feathered against my lips, “I need more time with you. Give me more time with you.”
It wasn’t quite a question but it didn’t matter. I pressed my lips to his nose and whispered, “Okay.”
His full smile took my breath away and I laughed when his lips crashed inelegantly against mine. Pushing a lock of hair gently behind my ear, he bent his knees so that our eyes were level and when he spoke, his voice was pure smoke.
“Tuesday night, my siren. That’s when I’ll have you.”
“You look flushed.”
I was startled out of my day dreaming by Sebastian, who had joined me at the bar where I waited for a glass of wine.
“Hmm?”
“I said you look flushed.”
His eyes were sharp and I straightened up self-consciously. It was dangerous to have ones head in the clouds around one of the twins; they saw things most people shouldn’t.
“It’s warm in here.”
“But you were just outside,” he countered, too casually. “With Cage?”
“Yes, the poor guy can’t keep his hands off me,” I giggled nervously.
He didn’t buy it.
“Interesting, he can’t seem to keep his hands off of that one too.” He tilted his head to indicate Cage, who was kissing a beautifully clad woman’s neck on the dance floor.
“My heart,” I joked, clutching at it dramatically.
Sebastian bit down on his smirk, which made me realize how serious he was about seeing this line of questioning through to the end. I didn’t know if it was because I was still high on Sinclair’s kisses or if it was because I was so tired of lying and feeling guilty but either way, I crossed my arms and gave Sebastian my best no-nonsense glare.
“Seems like another poor guy can’t keep his eyes off you.”
Ah. I knew without following his gaze behind me, who he was referring to. I had felt his eyes on me as soon as he and Cage had followed me inside after a short private conversation. I wore that gaze with pride as an invisible mantle across my shoulders, infusing me with a cheeky confidence and power.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Seb,” I demurred. “But I may have been distracted by Savannah Richardson’s multiple attempts to catch your eye.”
We stared at each other for a long moment and I wondered if this is what yet another of my familial relationships would be reduced to – acridity and defensiveness.
But Sebastian mocked me for my pessimism by dissolving into full-throated laughter. Still chuckling, he leaned forward to swing his arms around me and tug me closer.
“Ti amo, bambina.”
“I love you too,” I said as I pressed my smile into the soft fabric of his blazer.
A slight cough alerted us to the arrival of Elena who stood with her fingers clutched tightly before her gorgeous Grecian inspired velvet gown. Despite her dark coloring and slumberous sexy eyes, Elena conducted herself like an ice queen. I wondered idly if she had ever seen Frozen.
“What’s so funny?”
“Nothing.” I waved away her question and nodded at the older man behind her. “Who is this?”