Chapter 4
Chapter Four
ASTON
Getting hard in the middle of a ballroom while standing near many of my trustees, backers, and business rivals probably wasn’t the best idea. But as soon as I saw Blakely across the dance floor, everything in me shifted.
And it wasn’t just her beauty—those sharp cheekbones, those light eyes that shone underneath the soft lighting of the room. She’d even put her hair up in a half-do thing, so it framed her face, but still looked elegant. I used to be better about knowing what those were called, or even what kind of dress she wore. It had been a long time since I had been with anyone for that matter.
But no, it wasn’t any of what she looked like, it was the aura that seemed to surround her and others could feel it too. She may not have even realized they did. They stopped what they were doing to glance over at her, as if they wanted to know her. She’d catch everyone’s attention, whether it be to judge her or to admire her .
Or in my case, to barely hold back from falling down on my knees in front of her.
And now she was mine. If only for this dance.
“So, I didn’t realize this is what you would be doing this weekend,” she said softly as we glided across the dance floor. She had her hand on my arm, her other clasping my own, and I smiled down at her.
I hadn’t done this much smiling since my brother’s wedding when they had all danced and partied and looked as if they actually were going to have a great time.
It was a little odd to think I was doing so now.
“We try to represent the family.”
“Are you the only one here?”
I shook my head before I looked over hers to see both of my brothers raising their brows. Flynn and James had curious expressions on their faces, nearly identical even though neither one of them were the twins.
It must be odd to see me dancing with someone since I usually did not dance at these things. I smiled, spoke to those I needed to, did a speech if required, and wrote a check. I never got out on the dance floor when I came alone.
And yet here I was, with Blakely, losing my mind.
“Two of my brothers are here, they’re behind you, staring at me and wondering why I’m dancing.”
“You don’t dance? You seem to be good at it.”
The heat of her seared me through her dress and my tuxedo, and I had to swallow hard not to do anything that would shame us both. “I don’t dance. I can, but I don’t. ”
“Then why with me?” she asked, her voice a little breathy.
“I think you know, Blakely.”
“So how many brothers do you have here?” she asked, changing the subject. I didn’t mind, both of us needed to take a step to breathe if the way that her pulse fluttered against her neck was any indication.
“James and Flynn are here because it was our turn. My parents are out of town, or my mother and father would be here. Mother enjoys attending these events.”
I hoped the bite wasn’t in my tone at that, considering she liked all of her sons at these things so she could show us off.
“So three of you. That’s a good number then.”
I shook my head as I twirled her during the next song, both of us not having realized the song had even changed. “It’s not even a full fifty percent. There are a lot of us.”
“I knew you had a few brothers, but I hadn’t really paid attention too much beyond that.”
“There’s more than a few of us. Not all of us work with Cage Enterprises though. However we do all have a stake in the company because it’s our family. If that makes sense.”
“Not in the slightest,” she said with a laugh, her eyes shining.
“Understandable. We are here as a family to show our support, to donate, and to do what our family requires.”
“I would say that sounds annoying, but you get to eat some decent food, and probably make business deals along the way. ”
I raised a brow at her but nodded. “Yes. That is always a perk. What about you? You’re here with Howard Enterprises?”
I could feel eyes on me, and I knew it wasn’t just those who were curious who I was dancing with. No, the proprietor of Howard Enterprises was probably not happy about the woman who worked for him dancing in my arms. But there was nothing I could do about that. Nothing I wanted to do about that.
“Yes. Dancing with you is probably a mistake.”
“He doesn’t hate me that much, does he?” I asked, honestly curious.
“No. I don’t think so. I think he just wants to one-up you.”
“So does you dancing with me have anything to do with that?” I asked, oddly curious.
Her eyes narrowed, and she stopped dancing. I cursed under my breath and was grateful we were at the edge of the dance floor.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.”
“No you did. He didn’t ask me to dance with you. You’re the one who asked me to dance. And I knew it was going to be a mistake. He wants to beat you in everything all the time. So me dancing with the enemy probably isn’t a good idea.”
“I’m the enemy, am I?” I asked, my voice low.
She swallowed hard and shook her head. “No. It’s not so dramatic as that.”
“Good.”
I lifted her hand up to my lips and kissed it again, a bare brush of my mouth against her skin, and her intake of breath was all I needed to hear.
“You need to stop doing that.”
“I don’t know if I want to.”
Nobody was paying attention to us now, as the emcee was making their rounds, so I tugged on her hand and pulled her around the corner.
“Aston,” she said with a laugh, and I did what I had been wanting to do since I first saw her. I pressed my lips to hers.
She didn’t pull away, didn’t freeze. Instead wrapped her fingers under the lapels of my jacket and pulled me closer.
Groaning, I deepened the kiss, my tongue sliding along hers.
“We need to stop. Someone can come around the corner at any minute.”
“I’ll stop. Soon.” I kissed her again, needing her taste, craving her, and when I knew that it would be too much if I continued, I wrenched myself away, my chest rising and falling in deep pants.
“Holy hell,” I growled.
“Oh.”
I looked over at Blakely, her hand over her bruised lips, her eyes wide. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
“Not at all. I don’t think I’ve ever been kissed like that before. Which probably isn’t something I should say.” I had barely any control when it came to her.
I felt like a cat who caught the canary, and a smile slid across my face. “That sounds like a compliment. ”
“Maybe. Or maybe I need to get out more.” She grinned up at me.
Her eyes danced, and I wanted to know more. I wanted to know everything.
Who was this woman? And why did she do this to me?
“Sorry to interrupt, but they need you.” I cursed at Flynn’s timing, and Blakely’s face drained of color, while she tried to hide behind a potted palm.
“It’s just my brother. Everything’s fine.”
“I’m so embarrassed. I’m working for God’s sake.”
“It’s okay, nobody saw. James and I had the exits covered.”
“Should it worry me that it sounds like you guys have a plan for this sort of thing?” she asked, slight frost in her tone.
I cursed my brothers and everything they stood for, while I glared at him and James who walked up from behind him. “No, this is new. But we protect our family.”
Flynn looked over my shoulder and winked at Blakely. “I’m Flynn. The quiet one here is James. It’s good to see you.”
“Hi. I’m going to go fix my face. And then I have to…work.”
“You look wonderful,” James said softly, and I glared at him before turning my back to them and looking at Blakely.
“I have to go be The Cage,” I said with a roll of my eyes .
“I love the title.” I heard the humor in her tone—even above the slight panic.
“I don’t,” I said softly. “I want to see you again.”
Her eyes widened marginally. “Okay. Maybe not in the middle of a hallway?”
“No. Let’s not. I’ll call you.”
When she let out a soft laugh, I relaxed. Marginally. “Good. And then I’ll have my wits about me.”
“I need to go.” Long before this.
“He really does,” Flynn called out.
“Then go,” she whispered.
And then I pressed my lips to hers again before letting her walk away, presumably to go fix the blush of her face. But I thought she looked gorgeous.
“So, have you lost your mind?” Flynn asked as we stepped out of earshot.
“Stop it. I don’t want to hear it.”
Flynn clucked his tongue. “I think you’ve lost your mind.”
“I think you’re more like Dorian than we thought,” James whispered, and I flipped them both off, before straightening my jacket.
“Let’s go be Cages and do what we need to.”
“So that’s the girl from the chat?” James asked.
I nodded tightly. “We’re done here.”
“Oh, I think you’ve just begun,” Flynn said with a laugh.
I rolled my eyes at my two brothers, and moved toward the ballroom, knowing we had people to meet, and there was work to be done. My phone buzzed in my pocket however, and I couldn’t help but hope it was her.
However it wasn’t Blakely calling, it was my mother.
“Answer it, or we’re all going to have to deal with that,” Flynn said with a roll of his eyes.
I sighed but answered anyway. “Hello, Mother. You’re missing a great gala.”
“Aston. It’s your father.”
Ice slid up my spine, and I swallowed hard. I must have looked as if something was wrong, because both my brothers stopped teasing me, and stood still, staring at me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your father is dead. And I need you here. Call the others. We need you.” She hung up without saying anything else, and I stared at my brothers knowing everything had changed.