Execution (Off Balance 2)

"Not anymore I'm not. I'll wear the Hervé Léger one I was debating on. This will piss your mom off."

My shoulders drooped a little. I wasn't the revenge type, especially when it came to my mother.

"Ave."

Her arm dropped to the side. "You can't let her constantly get away with how she treats you. It's not right."

Hayden walked

toward me and placed his hand out. I took it and stood.

"Not that I'd ever encourage you to be defiant toward your parents, but I'm going to have to agree with Avery on this one. Even from Cape Coral I saw how she treated you over the phone. But in person…" He shook his head and scoffed in disgust. "I say wear it."

"Me too," Holly said, though her voice shook.

Impulsively, I swiped the hanger out of Avery’s hand and walked into the bathroom. My heart pounded against my ribs. I never defied Mom. Ever. I couldn't believe I was going to wear this scrap of material Avery called a dress in front of my parents and their friends.

Dropping the robe, I stepped into the dress and carefully slipped it on. The straps were thin and nude while the rest was a surprisingly heavy material that fit snuggly against me. Avery's clothes were always a little too small. She liked them tight-fitting, which meant this dress hugged every curve. Not that I had noticeable ones, but tonight, in this Badgley Mischka gold sequined dress, I did.

I looked in the mirror and was rendered speechless. Good thing I was leaving tomorrow. While my boobs were average, they appeared supple and soft in the deep V cut. I had cleavage! The mini dress had ruching at my hips and pinched up, showing off my lean legs with a slight indentation at the crux of my thighs. I was glamour and sex fused together, and I loved it.

No need for eye drops in Mom’s drink tonight, this dress was going to give her a coronary.

"Let's go, Aid. We want to see." Avery shouted, her excitement seeping through the door.

I laughed. "Hold your horses!"

Fluffing my sultry waves, I flipped my mahogany hair to the side and exhaled. "What shoes am I wearing?" I asked, touching up my smoky eyes and pale pink lipstick.

"Open." Avery knocked on the door a minute later.

I cracked the door open enough to grab the shoes, then shut it. I smiled and shook my head. She handed me the shoes I bought at Chanel when I avoided her questions about Kova. The ones I thought I'd break my neck in.

I stepped into them and took one last glance in the mirror. Then I sent up a prayer that I’d live to see tomorrow.

"Ready?" I yelled through the door.

"We were ready yesterday." Avery said full of sarcasm.

Turning the light off, I opened the bathroom door and stepped out to three sets of eyes gawking at me.

"Holy fuck." Came from Hayden. I rolled my bottom lip between my teeth as I watched him. He couldn't tear his wild eyes from me. "Jesus." His guttural voice the only sound in the room. "Aid…"

I tried to pull the hem down. "Is it too small?"

"No."

"It's perfect," Avery said, a Cheshire grin slid across her face. She was proud.

"Wow," was all Holly could add. I chuckled. I guess I looked good.

"Excuse me, but there's something I absolutely must do."

All heads turned toward Hayden as he strode toward me. His blue eyes focused solely on me as he closed the distance and pressed his body to mine. My heart pounded viciously against my ribs and I held my breath. Threading his fingers through the hair at my nape, he angled my head back and looked deep into my eyes.

"You're so fucking gorgeous," he whispered. A little gasp escaped my lips right before he planted his mouth on mine and kissed me.

He kissed me good too, not caring that his sister and Avery were watching behind him. Hayden took charge and slipped his tongue into my mouth, a sensual stroke down the side as he curled his tongue along mine. My heart fluttered, my breath caught. A hot chill broke out over me. He stepped closer and cupped my jaw as he deepened the kiss, wrapping one arm around my lower back and holding me to him. His subtle cologne added to the moment as I fell into his kiss.