5. Another Thorn
Another Thorn
Electra
R eturning to the party was weird. It felt as if everyone was staring at me like all my sins were written on my forehead for them to see. Anxiousness overcame my every thought for no apparent reason. Thankfully, Bastian’s observant eye noticed something wasn’t right with me.
“Are you okay, princess?” he asked, spinning me around to the rhythm of a beautiful romantic song.
“Not sure,” I admitted truthfully, enjoying the proximity of his body, which always provided comfort. He tenderly kissed my cheek, pulling me closer to him. We barely moved, and people cast secret glances, but he didn’t care.
“Our encounter was very intense,” he whispered, stroking my back gently with an open palm. “A night full of cuddles and kisses is the key to beating the mental exhaustion you feel right now.”
A dreamy chuckle escaped my lips. I loved the idea of us in bed, naked, glued to each other. The image in my head was perfect.
“Let’s go, we’re leaving,” Bastian commanded unexpectedly, pulling away from me. My eyes dilated, waking up from a beautiful dream, and I realized we were still at the party. We couldn’t leave after three hours. He was the main host. It was rude and inappropriate.
“Bastian, wait,” I whispered, tugging on his jacket. He turned towards me with knotted eyebrows, disliking my disobedience, but I had to express my opinion. He planned this event for months. It wouldn’t be ruined because I felt odd.
“I’m okay,” I spoke softly when we stopped at the bar, and he was scanning my face. “You can’t leave; all those people came because of you.”
“I can’t leave?” he repeated sternly, with a predatory glint in his eyes, making me shudder. Blurting out the first thing that appeared in my mind, I definitely got myself into unnecessary trouble.
“Of course, you can,” I said, taking his hand. “You know what I mean. It would be very impolite. Your reputation could be hurt by it.”
“Do you really think I care about them more than I care for you?” he growled, pinning me against the bar with his body, leaving no room for escape.
I leaned into my elbows, supporting myself because he was dangerously close.
His arm curled around my waist, and his icy eyes transfixed me in place.
He was so devilishly handsome and sexy when he asserted his dominance and, at the same time, proved he didn’t care about anyone else but me.
I totally forgot about my uneasy state, losing myself in his cold irises.
“Answer the question, Electra,” he ordered sternly, clenching his jaw.
“No, sir,” I breathed, licking my dry lips. To my great pleasure, he leaned closer, brushing his nose against mine, and my insides turned to jello when his seductive voice reached my ears.
“You’re lucky that we’re surrounded by people right now, princess.
” His hand moved from my waist up my spine to my neck.
He buried it in my hair, grabbing the back of my neck roughly.
“Or I would show you how much I care .” He underlined the last word, and all the hair on my body stood up, and wetness pooled between my legs.
I was so ready for him to take me. I just couldn’t help myself.
“Too intense, brother.” Andreas’ voice interrupted our moment, and Bastian instantly released my neck. I gulped, realizing that everyone in the room could see us.
“We have a problem which only you can solve.” Andreas turned to his brother, watching me with a sly smirk as I tried to hide my flustered face. “I need you to come with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Bastian stated, ignoring his sibling’s attempts to stop us. He seized my hand, directing us out of the ballroom, but Andreas blocked the way.
“I know she’s important to you.” He glanced at me before he proceeded. “But Leon won’t talk to anyone, only you. Fredy will keep her company until you return.”
“Fredy is here?” Bastian asked with a scowl, and Andreas nodded.
“Yes, I called him. He’ll make sure your girl is fine,” he replied, looking nervous. He demanded Bastian’s assistance, and I could survive half an hour at the bar.
“Babe,” I addressed Bastian softly, and he immediately stopped talking, his brows furrowed.
I never called him by any nickname. I had a problem with his given name, yet I felt like this situation needed it.
“I’ll be okay. Go with him.” I motioned to Andreas, who gave me a small thankful smile, but Bastian shook his head firmly.
“I won’t leave you here alone,” he grumbled, squeezing my hand. “They will eat you alive.” He shot a deadly glare at the people on the dancefloor, and I almost rolled my eyes. The overwhelming feeling caused by his overprotectiveness again surged through my system.
However, before I could object, our conversation was disturbed by the cheerful voice of a young man who stopped beside me.
“What did I miss?” he asked, grinning at the two men. It was Frederick Thorn, the third of the Thorn brothers, a thirty-year-old economics and stock market expert. He worked for one of Bastian’s companies as his right hand.
His looks were different than his older siblings.
His blond hair and brown eyes were an unusual combination, which suited him well.
He wasn’t as tall as them, but still about six feet and something.
In his black tuxedo, he looked exceptionally handsome, and his boyish smile reminded me of Bastian’s. He was adorable.
“Fredy, meet Miss Electra Hernandez,” Andreas introduced me solemnly, making me giggle like a schoolgirl. “The woman who owns our oldest brother’s stone-cold heart.”
The expression on Bastian’s face was unreadable when he glared at Andreas. Fredy turned to me with a broad smile, taking my hand gently.
“Frederick Thorn. It’s a pleasure finally meeting you, madam.” He softly pecked the back of my hand, and blood rushed to my face, reddening my cheeks.
“Okay, okay,” Bastian grumbled, taking me away from his brother, who was grinning at me mischievously. “Don’t play games with my girl.”
“I’m not doing anything,” Fredy shrugged, winking at me. “I’m simply showing her that there is another better-looking Thorn who is also much more fun.”
I had to suck my lower lip into my mouth, suppressing another laugh because my man would probably burst through the roof if he heard it again.
He was territorial, maybe even jealous, and he definitely despised the idea of leaving me with his younger sibling.
However, he had no choice because Andreas was impatiently waiting for him.
“If anything happens, call me,” Bastian commanded, staring into my eyes. His tone didn’t accept any objections.
“Of course.” I smiled, and he kissed my forehead. With one last stare at Frederick, who was casually leaning against the bar with one hand in his pants pocket, looking like he posed for a photo, he left.
Glancing around but not seeing anything interesting, I took the glass of champagne and walked closer to Frederick, who scrutinized my every move. I felt like a bug under the microscope.
“Are you looking for someone?” he asked with a grin, not taking his eyes from my face. A great idea popped up in my mind, and I quickly decided to use his company .
“Do you know Rose Adelaine?” I inquired, changing the empty glass for a full one and handing him one. He wrinkled his nose, and his smile quickly disappeared.
“I went to university with her,” he answered, cautiously watching me. He didn’t like talking about her; I could feel it from the tone of his voice.
“So, you know what kind of relationship Bastian has with her.” It was more of a statement than a question, and he narrowed his brown eyes at me.
“He doesn’t have a relationship with her,” he replied, drinking his champagne in one gulp.
“He dated her, and two weeks ago, he signed a contract with her,” I pointed out, watching his face closely for any sign of nervousness.
“Why don’t you ask him?” he countered, his eyes glued to my mouth. It felt weird to notice him watching my lips move.
“I will,” I reassured him. “I just want to be prepared for everything.”
“Or,” he looked over my shoulder, making me frown, “you can ask her.” With a slight nod, he motioned behind me, and I turned my head to see Rose walking towards us. My stomach twisted with uneasiness, and a stab of jealousy pierced my heart when I stared at her. She looked so elegant and stylish.
“Hello, Frederick.” She smiled sweetly at him, stopping before us, not sparing me a glance. “I didn’t know you’d be here.”
“Hi,” he said, not attempting to greet her like a proper gentleman. “What do you need?” He circled the liquid in his new glass, watching her raise her eyebrows.
“Where are your manners?” she teased, leaning her elbow on the bar between us and showing me her back. It was rude of her, and I didn’t understand what she was doing.
“I need to tell Miss Hernandez something.” She abruptly turned around, startling me. There was only a few inches of free space between us when she glared at me like she wanted to put me six feet under.
“Hold on,” Fredy growled, snatching and hauling her from me. I stared with my mouth open at his broad back when he turned her to face him and leaned closer while she was killing him with her eyes. I followed them from a safe distance so I could hear every word.
“You won’t tell her anything without me seeing it,” he hissed, deepening my confusion. It didn’t make any sense.
“I don’t take orders from you,” she spat, shaking with rage. She clearly had a hard time controlling her temper. Something beyond my comprehension was happening here.
“Not yet,” he pointed out, letting go of her arm. I noticed a red mark on her skin. He wasn’t fooling around; he was angry. “I suggest you leave Electra alone, or I’ll ensure you won’t set foot in our company.”
“You’re not the boss,” she announced confidently, crossing her arms over her chest and holding her head up high. I admired her confidence to oppose him.