Page 48 of A Twisted Arrangement

Not the freaking time.

“Only if you call me Scarlet.”

He gives me a dazzling smile. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I grumble.

“I’ll do my best to make this the least painful as possible.” He laughs.

I find myself relaxing with him. His self-deprecating humor makes quick work of disarming me.

“Good luck with that,” I reply and allow him to lead me through the entrance, where we stand at the top of the stairs.

My breath catches in my throat as my eyes take in the grand entrance before me. The replica of an ancient Greek feast is stunning, with a low ceiling adorned with intricate displays of vibrant flowers. Their sweet scent envelops me, beckoning me further inside. On one wall, olive trees stand tall and proud, their branches reaching toward the ceiling as if trying to escape this underground venue. And above all this beauty, thousands of twinkling candles cast a warm glow that mimics a summer night sky.

I’m so caught up in it I almost miss the way the crowd hushes with our entrance. The women look up at me with disdain, the men with appraisal. If this event is designed to encourage matrimony, I’m quite the catch. After all, if one could marry off their son, they could have two seats in the Order strengthening their family.

Not for the first time, I’m seriously debating my sanity for coming back here.

As if pulled by a magnet, I turn toward Matthias. He’s standing a few feet from the bottom of the steps, dark eyes on me. A flush crawls up my neck, and my breath catches as his gaze burrows into me, branding me everywhere it touches. Even from here, I can see the way the muscle in his jaw ticks when his gaze lands on where my arm is draped around Eric’s.

Dark eyes bore into mine, and he takes a step forward before Bash stops him with a hand on his shoulder, a wide grin on the younger brother’s face.

“You okay?” Eric’s voice is close to my ear, drawing my attention back to him. Guilt rises in the back of my throat. I may not want to spend my birthday here, but that’s no excuse for ignoring him. After all, he didn’t get to choose his partner either.

With the aim of enjoying tonight as much as possible, I follow him down the stairs. The treads are narrow, and my heels are high, causing me to rely on him more with each step.

His grip tightens, and he tilts his head closer for only me to hear. “I’ve got you.”

I expect to feel warmth in my chest, but there’s nothing. Not even a bubble of excitement. Why can’t I be into guys like him? Sweet, sensible,safeguys.

I ignore the voice in the back of my head telling me it’s because I already have a very specific type.

The dance floor is full by the time we get there, and I lift a brow in question to Eric. “Starting off dancing?”

“I didn’t think you’d want to mingle and converse.”

Sweet and attentive. “You’d be right. Come on.”

This time, I’m the one guiding as I make my way through the moving couples and take the stance my body’s memorized years before. I can do this in my sleep, but I let him lead me anyway, twisting and twirling me around the floor until my breath comes out in shallow pants. I laugh when he dips me low, my head only feet above the ground, and pulls me back up. A little too close for etiquette.

“You’re a good dancer,” I say.

His eyes are warm on mine, voice barely above a whisper. “So are you.”

There’s a pause between us, but no matter how much I search for it, there’s no familiar tension pulling us closer. This guy could be my brother at this point.

“I’m cutting in.” A low command comes from behind me.

“We’re not done with our dance,” Eric protests, looking between Matthias and me as if trying to decode what’s happening here.

“I’m not asking,” Matthias growls deep in his throat, and a shiver tingles my spine, sending heat pooling between my thighs.

Eric’s brows are pinched together, but he knows going against a Lord would be social suicide. He gives me an apologetic bow. “Save me a dance?”

“I will?—”

“Not going to happen,” Matthias cuts me off, hand on my hip, pulling my back into his chest. We’re too close, the position completely inappropriate for the setting.

---