TouchNode | Complete

8 | A Cold Shot of Reality

You're perfection, all of you, and I can't wait to devour you whole.

I felt a distinct shift in the air as Euphrates neared me and the fighting couple. He seemed even less pleased as he made eye contact with me. A blank look, one I often wore, was directed squarely at him. After all, he had ignored me all night; what business did he have behaving like a cave man, now?

Partrine was pushing himself harder between my thighs, forcing me to harden my stance to keep from falling. Sythandra rose behind me, adjusted her skirts, and came to stand directly behind the bobbing head of husband. As he moaned low in his throat, she dove her bejeweled fingers into his thick, dark hair and tugged, forcing him to let his head fall backwards.

"Let's go." She ground out, tucking her other hand under his chin. She caressed his cheek and softened her face before dropping her lips to seal them to his.

"I'm sorry, Thandie." I heard his soft apology, despite the loud music and the raucous from the other guests. Standing, Partrine took her into his arms and tightly hugged her against his chest. She went willingly, pressing her cheek against his firm pecks.

"What the hel--?

Partrine was cut off by a frightened screech belonging to Arabella. On autopilot, I bent slightly to the side to find her form. Euphrates had stopped in his pursuit of me, and was turned around, focused on the scene unfolding. The Pael's gasped and rounded me, disappearing behind the frozen crowd to escape the room.

"Arabella," immediately I recognized the voice of Justus Lockwood, eldest heir to the Lockwood fortune and the next CEO of Lockwood Consolidated. His blonde hair was wild, and the suit he wore was torn in places and missing the matching jacket. "I loved you, why couldn't you love me back?"

Slowly, Arabella straightened herself to stand. Her male and female customers stepped away in fright, shielding themselves from the young man's hurt appraisal. Arabella stepped down from the coffee table she stood on and gracefully moved to stand directly in front of the shaking gun Justus was holding.

The cold barrel of the revolver was suddenly pressed against her sternum, Justus' arm was gently nestled between Arabella's perky breasts. He sucked in a deep breath, but miraculously his gaze didn't drop. She tried to give him a bright smile, unfortunately, it didn't rise above a simper and quickly melted away.

"You promised." He spoke again, his voice a dull echo in the quiet room. Security had entered and were slowly emptying the room of party guests to isolate Justus, but he barely noticed. All his attention was fixed on the pretty woman in front of him.

They gazed into each other's eyes. Love, adoration and another emotion glittered in the secretive gaze belonging to Arabella. I pitied her. Arabella had fallen in love with this man knowing she still owed Mize and Overt years of her life.

"Please put the gun down, Justus."

He shook his head and tightened his grip to steady the weapon, "no, you broke your promise."

"What are you going to do, love?" She coaxed, tipping her head to the side and grabbing his suspended wrist in one hand. "Shoot me?"

The remaining members in the room waited on bated breath for him to respond. More guests were emptied out of the room, each ducking behind the scene with horror stricken expressions. Shoes no longer clicked, jewels no long glinted and the laughter, brought with pleasure, had ceased to exist.

Surreptitiously, Euphrates backed away from the scene, glancing backwards to make sure I hadn't moved from my spot. I couldn't move if I tried, my attention was laser focused on the gun still pressed tightly to Arabella's chest. Carter and Ballarina stood just inside the door now, Ballarina looked sick and Carter... Carter wore the mask of a man drenched in hot, sticky fury.