Burn (Virtues & Lies 1)

Cassandra

Leo pulls me closer to him as we dance. His hands are wrapped tight around my waist and with the bulk of my skirt my arms are wrapped just as tight around his chest.

Humming along to Cannonball as he sways me gently, it’s so peaceful that with my head like this on his strong shoulder, we feel like any other couple. The weight and gravity of everything surrounding us fades into the background with all the prying eyes and it’s just us. Me and him. Cassie and Leo.

His lips meet the curve of my neck and I can feel his kiss even over the expensive jewellery between our skin.

I could wear his kisses like a necklace every second of every day.

“Shall we go home?” he asks softly.

“One more dance.”

I love the way he brushes his fingers through the ends of my hair as we move around the dancefloor. And the way our feet knock together when we step to the music.

Our chests press to one another as we inhale in sync. I love this. The normalcy and public intimacy.

We sway and twirl in unison to the music and when it ends, he leans to kiss my forehead. He brushes his fingers through the lengths of my hair and gosh, I feel like the most special person in the whole room.

Leo makes me feel like the North star. So bright. Important.

“I really do think it’s time to get under this dress,” he murmurs into my ear before taking my hand and walking me off the dancefloor.

Some of the men he was talking to earlier try to stop us, but he hands them his card and guides us towards our table.

“Are you guys going already?” Looking fed up, Arabella asks with hope tinging her voice.

“Yep.” Leo answers for us both.

“I need to talk to you before you go.” Christopher says, nodding t

o where Casper is standing at the bar with Laura.

Her eyes narrow on me before flitting to Leo, and something about the way she smiles makes me want to bitch slap the crap out of her.

“Toilet?” Arabella gives me big Puss in Boots eyes before looking over at Laura and giving her a scowl. “He better not fuck the bitch or I’ll disown him for good.”

“Who’s fucking who?” Fleur flops onto one of the seats with a tired sigh. “I need to talk about something other than how cute you and Leonidas are.”

“Leo.” I correct her.

“Same thing.” Shrugging she turns to follow Arabella’s gaze. “I’ll be right back,” she says, sounding distant as she gets up and gives me a hug. “If I don’t see you before you go, we’re doing brunch at Charlie’s tomorrow. It’s going to be a pancake stack kinda day.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. You know how it is. Same shit, different day.” Squeezing me tight, she sighs before she says goodbye to everyone else. I don’t miss the way she stops by my parents’ table and sits with my mum.

“I swear to all that’s holy, my mother will kill him.”

“Didn’t you want to go to the loo a minute ago?” I ask Arabella as she sits back into her chair, her eyes threateningly narrowed at her brother.

“Nope.”

“Bells, he’s a grown boy.” Christopher squeezes her shoulders.

“I couldn’t give two flying shits! That girl gets around so much she leaves a snail trail behind her.”

“Jesus, Arabella!” Pinching the bridge of his nose, Christopher groans dipping to kiss the top of her head before heading towards Casper.