CHAPTER 15

Aurelia

I pivot on my heel, coming face-to-face with Stella McMichael, one of the girls I used to go to high school with.

She smiles like we're long-lost friends, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me into a hug, or her definition of one, pressing two air kisses to both of my cheeks. It's odd, considering in all the time we'd known each other, she'd barely ever said more than two words to me.

"It's been forever!" She prunes, pulling back with a wide smile that doesn't even reach her eyes. "You're still so..." She gives me a slow once-over: "Different."

I cringe. "Thanks? I guess."

She waves a dismissive hand and says, "Oh, it's no bother." She links her arm to mine, moving me away from the door.

"Uh," I say, "actually, there's somewhere."

She gasps, interrupting me, "Is that who I think it is?"

My eyes follow her line of sight to Kane standing off in the distance. He's alone, a glass tumbler of whiskey in his hand. The sight of him makes me pause. Thoughts I try my damnedest to push away rush through my head.

I had him in my mouth less than a day ago.

He came down to my throat.

Oh, God.

The butterflies take flight in my belly. It's the first time I've seen him since

last night. Watching him now in his fitted, formal attire, all business-like and proper, makes everything that went down yesterday seem all the more erotic.

I made him lose control.

It's a side of him no one here has ever seen.

side of him I should have never witnessed.

But one I'd give anything to experience again.

"God," Stella sighs, jerking me out of my stupor. "He's so grown now."

She practically drools at my side, lost in awe as she watches him from across the room.

"Yeah..." I trail off, "It was nice seeing you again, Stella, but I have to." "Take me to him."

"What?"

Her grip tightens on my arm. "You have to re-introduce us; you're his.

sister, and I... well, I want you to remake the introductions."

I'd rather inhale dry ice than do that, truly, but Stella barely gives me an opportunity to decline; she's already dragging us over to where he stands. His eyes survey the guests as he sips from his glass. His gaze cuts in our direction as we approach, zoning in on my face. I swallow under the weight of his stare. He doesn't look away.

Something in my chest crackles, like mini explosions spreading across my skin, and his eyes are lazily tracking my steps. It felt like he could see my harsh exhales with how hard he was looking.

Like he knows it was me he throat-fucked last night.

Stella's grip is strong enough to bruise, holding me to her as we step up to him, her smile blinding.

"Kane," I say, my voice betraying the unease I feel right now. "This is Stella," I gesture towards her, "Stella McMichael. We all went to, uh, the same school. Stella, Kane. My... stepbrother."

Stella holds out a hand, which Kane doesn't accept. Or doesn't notice. My eyes lift to him, the breath in my lungs thinning as I realize his gaze is on me. Pale, cold green depths drag me into his oasis the second I meet those eyes. He takes a drink from his glass, his Adam's apple bobbing with the swallow.

My throat suddenly feels dry.

He drags his gaze down my form, slowly taking in my casual tank top and skinny jeans. Compared to his tailored dark suit, I felt naked, which was wrong. My skin pricked under his attention.

Stella curls her fingers back to her chest, laughing off his rejection nervously. "I hear you've practically taken over the family business. That's impressive, really; your father must be really proud of what you've accomplished in such a short time."

Silence.

Another drink.

I clear my throat. "Um, well, if you'd excuse me."

"Oh, don't be silly, dear." Stella chides; he grips on me, tightening even

more, "Talk with us."

She made it sound casual, but it's obvious that, as eager as she was to meet him, she doesn't want to be left alone with Kane.

My eyes stray—anything to distract me from his attention. I'm brimming with nervous energy; something tells me one long look into my eyes would reveal truths to him that I'd rather die than let him uncover.

Twenty million dollars.

My heart picks up an unsteady rhythm.

And then it stops altogether, my eyes zoning in on Emaine to the left of me. She laughs in the middle of a conversation, but my body locks up, turning back to Kane and Stella. I look between them, but Kane, ever the observant fuck, looks in the direction I just turned away from slowly, then back at me.

"I have to go." I say, finally, tearing Stella off my arm and making a beeline towards the front door. I bump into people, mumbling apologies. It's almost a home run; the relief bubbles up inside me until I hear her call out my name.

Shout it.

I stop in my tracks.

Emaine marches toward me, fury lining her features. She grabs my arm.

fingers digging into my skin harshly, "What are you doing here?"

My throat closes up, I can't get a word out, and my eyes are bouncing around the

room. A few guests glance at us, curious about the commotion.

"How did you get out of the basement?" She growls, dragging me out of the room. "Oh, girl, by the time I'm through with you," "Sweetheart."

Emaine stops at the sound of my father's voice. He walks up behind us with a smile, nodding at his guests as he approaches.

His smile thins but doesn't slip off his face for appearances; his voice drops. "Don't make a scene, dear." He slips an arm around my shoulders, his voice rising then. "And our daughter can stay, of course; I'm sure she just wants to have a good time. Feel among. As a matter of fact, there's someone I'd like her to meet."

A man comes into my line of sight, one I recognize. He's a family friend and one of Dad's oldest business partners. "You remember Daniel Miller, don't you?" Dad asks. I do; he frequented the house often when I was a child. I nod.

"Good." Dad grins at his friend and says, "You're not strangers to each other. I believe my friend would like a dance, dear." His grip tightens on my shoulder as he turns to me. Instantly, the smile slips off his face. He doesn't say a word, but one look is all the warning I need.

Behave.

The meaning might have been lost in translation, though.