Page 37 of Take My Crown

Leo started playing the mournful opening notes ofI loved you just to lose you, a ballad which had been Christmas’ number one a couple of years ago. I decide that this is my cue to go and get something to eat, but as I turn to find a waiter, a masked man steps in front of me. He is wearing a hooded black mask which conceals his hair as well as most of his face. Silently, he holds out a hand, making it clear he wants to dance with me.

“I don’t know. I was going to get some food…”

The man shakes his head and puts out his hand again.

“Okay. I guess I’m dancing!”

I take his hand and let him pull me close. There is something rather exciting about dancing with someone when you can’t see what they look like. Tall, I was pretty certain this isn’t Declan trying to make up for cheating on Ally with me, but beyond that, I don’t have a clue who the stranger can be.

He sure smells good though. Closing my eyes, I inhale his aftershave, the musky scent that is all man and slightly familiar. I drift off into a fantasy that this is my boyfriend and we are having a romantic slow dance together alone in my suite. Whoever this man is, we fit perfectly together. My head rests against his chest while his arms around me make me feel secure, as if he would protect me against anything or anyone who might want to hurt me.

All too soon the song comes to an end, and the truth is? I am alone. I don’t have anyone I can trust on my side. My life here will always be full of lies and secrets. Reluctantly, I pull away from my dance partner as Lost in Oblivion begins playing an upbeat number.

“Thank you,” I say, wishing we could have danced for longer.

My regret must have shown on my face because the man held out his hand to me. Taking it, I follow him away from the stage. Passing a waiter, he stops to take a glass of champagne, handing it to me before taking another for himself. Then we carry on walking, leaving the ballroom and out through a set of double doors to the grounds outside.

We aren’t alone, a few people dot about having conversations away from the loud music. My companion takes me past them, further away from the house. I begin to wonder whether it is a good idea to leave my party with a stranger like this. What if this is another kidnap attempt? It is a crazy thought, but then my life has been pretty crazy these past couple of weeks.

Just as I am about to suggest we go back, I realise we are heading towards a tall hedgerow. Without breaking his stride, the masked man takes me through a gap in the hedge and into a hedge-lined corridor.

“Is this… amaze?” I ask.

My companion doesn’t reply, but he turns to face me and nods as he continues to lead me through the lanes. He must be familiar with the maze because he leads me through a number of junctions without hesitating before we eventually reach a clearing. In the middle is a water fountain with a statue in the centre, a bench next to it so you can sit and listen to the sound of water trickling into the pool.

“I guess that’s one way to get a bit of privacy,” I say. “I had no idea this was out here. But then there’s a lot about this place I don’t know.”

Whoever my companion is, he smiles sadly, reaching out to tuck a stray tendril of blonde hair behind my ear.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispers in a low voice I can hardly hear. There is something about his voice which is familiar, but I can’t quite place it. “May I kiss you to wish you a happy birthday?”

This is weird. I have no idea who this guy is or even what he looks like under that huge mask. But then again, it is my birthday, and I deserve a kiss at least.

I take a large mouthful of my champagne for Dutch courage.

“Sure. Why not?”

I don’t know what I was expecting, but it isn’t the tender, romantic gesture that came next.

The man lightly cups the back of my head, pulling me to him. He kisses me lightly, as if sounding out how I really feel about him kissing me. Just like our dance, there is something which felt intrinsicallyrightabout being here with him.

I opened my mouth slightly, letting him know it is okay to take things further, and he deepens the kiss, making it more passionate, teasing me with his tongue. This is someone who really knows what he is doing. I feel like I can stay there for hours, losing myself in his kiss, but eventually he pulls away. I moan with disappointment, torn between wanting to reach out and pull him back but not wanting to seem too easy.

“You taste as good as I remember, Ivy,” the man boldly says, and the blood runs cold in my veins.

“No!” I gasp, pulling away from him. He takes off his mask to reveal what I have only just realised.

I was kissing Archer.

And now he has stolen not just one, but two kisses from me.

Chapter Eighteen

Ivy Archaic

Igo to slap him instinctively but he catches my hand and effortlessly tugs me against his hard body, a smirk on his face.

“Howdareyou!”

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