Duplicity

4. Dance

His eyes met mine for a moment before I looked away, walking towards the bar area. Ordering myself a drink, I glanced around only to find him walking towards me with a smirk on his face, a very handsome punchable face.

Did I say handsome?? Eww. I meant a very ugly punchable face.

The bartender placed the drink in front of me. Then I heard his voice.
"Aarna Singhania. Why don't you look stunning tonight?" He said again with a smirk.
I really want to punch that smirk off his face.
"Mr. Sinclair , Didn't expect to see you here. Thought your brother would be attending instead."
That hit a nerve. He hates his brother for almost taking over the leadership.
"Well last time I checked, I am the heir not him."
"But he is more capable. And you and your father know that. Am I right?"
I picked up my drink and while taking a sip I noticed his expressions from the corner of my eyes.
Clenched his jaw and tightened his grip around the glass he was holding- almost on the verge of breaking it.
" Did I hit a nerve? Mr Sinclair"
"Of course not."
But his body language said otherwise.

Just then I saw a few people gathering in the middle of the room. Of course, how can I forget!  The traditional dance!
Every member that belongs to the royalty knows the dance by heart.

"Aarna. Should we-"
"It's Miss Singhania for you Mr. Sinclair" I said narrowing my eyes.
"Of course. Whatever you say , butterfly. Would you like a dance?"
My hand was itching to grab the dagger and stab him in the heart. How dare he! But no one is allowed weapons to the ball so I can't risk it.
"Of course. And do not call me butterfly" I said with a fake smile.
But he just grinned at me and said "whatever you say butterfly. Now come one"
Ignoring the hand he held out for me to hold, I made my way to dance floor.

We were dancing 'together'. My hand on his shoulder and his on by back. He tried putting it on my waist but one death glare made him retrieve his hand and place it on the back.

"So... I know our families are rivals and stuff but do you wanna like get outta here? Together."
The way he emphasised the words I knew what he was talk about. He wanted sex, obviously.

Before I could respond, he spun me around as the dance involved a 'partner exchange' step I guess that's what it is called and I landed in another man's arms.

A distinctive scent of mint along with lingering aroma of whiskey and cigarettes reached my nostrils. I looked up and saw grey eyes. And not just any grey eyes. His grey eyes.

As soon as I looked up his hold on my waist tightened, so did my grip on his shoulder. He spun me around and I landed in his arms again instead of another.
He didn't let go of me.

They moved around the dance floor, gathering the attention of the guest nearby.
"You were dancing with my brother. Why?"
"You jealous?" I asked taking a step closer to him.
His hold on my waist tightened even more.
"Jealous?" He scoffed. " why would I be jealous of my own brother? I just don't want him to associate with the likes of you."
Likes of me?? That kinda hurt, but I didn't show it of course. I would rather die than show any weakness in front of this man.

"Likes of me?" I scoffed. " I don't want to associate myself with the likes of you either. It was him who approached me."
" what did he want?"
"Sex" my eyes widened when I realised what I just blurted out without thinking.

His eyes darkened and his hold on my waist got even tighter. I hissed lightly due to the pain and he loosened his hold on me.

He didn't say anything after that.
We were just gliding across the dance floor when I felt his hand slowing move towards my thigh. My breathe hitched as it reached closer to my upper thigh.

"This for me?" He suddenly asked.
It took me a moment to realise he was talking about the dagger.
"I dare you, tell anyone and it will be on your throat before you can even utter the word dagger" I threatened.
A dark chuckle left his lips. Hot. What? I am woman! I have needs too.
Focus Aarna!

"Don't worry I won't tell anyone"
" of course you won't, you planning to use that gun?"
Bet he didn't expect that.
"Only if you give me a reason to use it."
"You thought I wouldn't notice?"
"Quite the opposite actually. In case you haven't noticed We both are quite similar in that aspect."
"True. Except, I am better."

"Of course you are." He said in a voice so low that I would have missed it if we weren't so close.

For the rest of the dance, he spun me around and didn't let go of me, not even once.