Page 142 of The Blackened Blade

Morgan slips into her strapless navy dress; the beads swaying and shimmering down her dress as she moves. The colour compliments her raven black hair and porcelain skin, making her look even more like some foreign princess or a model from a Vogue magazine.

She gives me a knowing smile, throwing a pair of black suede cut-out stiletto heels at me.

“Thankfully I brought a spare.” She winks, gesturing toward my bare feet.

I give her a sheepish grin and my thanks before slipping them on.

We make our way slowly down the dormitory stairs in our heels. Morgan tries, and fails to stifle her laugh as I stumble a couple of times. But by the time we reach the front door, I’m much more steady.

That is, until I seethem.

Ezra and Annex stand at the doorway; Annex leaning against the wall as Ezra chats nonchalantly to Grey and Ash. Ezra’s brown and lilac wavy hair is styled in a quiff, his sun-kissed skin a contrast against the dark charcoal grey suit he's wearing. There's a deep teal shirt under his suit jacket that he’s unbuttoned at the neck. And that's where I see a slight bit of dark ink trailing down his chest.

I didn’t think Ezra would have any tattoos.

My eyes trail down his front and to where his teal shirt tucks into his suit pants, the fabric looking just a fraction darker than the colour of my dress.

A heat creeps into my cheeks the longer I stare, with thoughts of us in the Roller-Room flashing in my mind and of his body flush against mine.

I turn my gaze away, trying to push the memories down. But my eyes instinctively fall on the tall dark figure beside him that screamsdanger and sin.Annex.

He leans against the wall with an almost bored look on his face as he listens to Ezra and Ash talk. His dark brown hair is loosely slicked back, showing off every ear piercing and tattoo. A thick black chain sits on his neck, matching the metal colour of his drop dagger earring, while black ink flows down his neck and onto his chest. His shirt is loosely open down to his waist and shows little snippets of daggers and skulls inked on his torsos skin.

Where Ezra wears a dark charcoal suit, Annex has opted for a pure black combo, except for a small snip of dark teal fabric peeking out of his jacket.Which looks exactly like the fabric I’m wearing.

A blush coats my cheeks as I trail my eyes up their physiques.

Both of them look drool worthy, their suits fitting and hugging them in all the right places.And tonight, they were all mine.

A small smile tugs at my lips with the thought as I follow behind Morgan. She opens the door and pulls their attention straight to us.

And they all fall silent.

Ezra’s smile drops, his eyes slightly widening as they trail down my body.

Annex stiffens, mumbling‘Fuck’as he follows Ezra’s burning trail. Their eyes slowly meet mine after their perusal, with a look of almost awe in them before they quickly turn hooded.

A grin stretches my lips, a small chuckle tumbling out at their dumbstruck faces. It pulls them from their little trance.

“Fuck, Red.” Groans Annex as he adjusts his trousers, “I knew you’d look hot but…that’s fucking criminal.” He pulls out a small blade and palms it in his hands.

“Annex.” Ezra narrows his eyes at the blade as Annex points a finger toward me.

“If anyone tries to eye fuck her while she’s looking likethat…I’ll be taking souvenirs and starting a collection, Brother.” His gaze turns heated as he trails his eyes back over me. “Don’t blame me, Red. It's damn near sinful what you’re doing to me.” His grin turns wicked. “Thankfully I’m more on the morally grey side of life, and enjoy committing a few sins.” He leans in closer, his eyes burning a trail up my front before they land on my lips. “How about we forget the ball and go commit some sins together?”

A hand from the side slides in between us and pushes him aside. Ezra shakes his head at Annex before turning toward me. He leans in, his breath tickling my neck and ear as he whispers.“He is right though…” His lips graze my ear as a shiver works its way down my spine with the dark timbre of his voice, “You look absolutelydevourable.”

Heat creeps into my cheeks as he pulls back, his eyes dark and hooded with a wicked grin stretching his lips. There seemed to be a lot more to Ezra than I had thought. And with each new day we spent together he seemed to show me more of him, and a different side that I don’t think he let others see easily.

A small warmth flickers in my chest with the thought.

A throat clears behind us as Morgan narrows her eyes playfully at Ezra.

“We’ll be late for the ball if we just stand here watching you two slathering like dogs over Micai’s hot ass. So let's get moving!”

“Slathering?” Chuckles Ash as he wraps an arm around her waist, “Just say drooling babe.” His chuckle dies off, his face falling as his eyes meet Annex’s. Annex gives him one of his signature smiles–meaning it looks almost demented–and Ash starts shaking.

“S-sorry.” His face pales slightly before he quickly turns away.

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