Chapter 14
Fourteen
Cleo
Kai has no idea this is the first party I’ve attended in years—so many years, I’ve lost count.
I mean, how was he supposed to know? I didn’t push back nearly hard enough. I practically handed him a leash and obeyed.
So unlike me. So damn unlike me.
I gaze at my reflection in the mirror and take a deep breath, readying myself for tonight. There’s a chance that Stephen will be there. Actually, I’m confident he will be—he hardly ever misses a party. When he and I were an item, I almost always opted to skip parties, which bothered him a lot.
I pat my dress, focusing on the way the rhinestones feel against my fingertips.
I’m sporting a silver dress covered in microscopic reflective crystals with a classic A-line silhouette.
The dress molds against my upper half, framing my breasts and waist nicely, and fans out beyond my waist, ending mid-thigh, complete with a silver silk ribbon threaded around my arms.
I picked it up several months back at the clothing shop in the marketplace, Celeste’s, using my monthly allowance from the Archangels.
The sparkling gown reminded me of a disco ball, and embracing a sense of nostalgia, I chose to splurge on it.
Despite not knowing when I’d wear it, I couldn’t leave it behind.
This dress was meant to be worn by a girl who once loved the disco.
After applying a minimal amount of makeup—blush and lip gloss—I meet with Kai outside my haven’s building.
He doesn’t say a single thing about my appearance.
Not that I expect him to or anything.
During our stroll to the party, I keep my head held high, not shying away from onlookers. He has only lived full-time in the Middle Realm for a dozen days, and he has already gained a ridiculous amount of attention. It’s unprecedented.
Just before entering the atrium, he pulls me aside to a white brick wall bordering the courtyard, caging me in with one of his arms. With his free hand, he lifts my chin. I unintentionally shudder beneath his touch.
“Follow my lead for once, okay? Don’t overthink it. We’re getting back at him tonight, no matter what it costs us,” he says with a sly smile. I open my mouth to protest when he presses his fingers against my lips, shushing me. The sheer audacity of this man is unparalleled. “Just pretend?”
His eyes drop to my lips and linger there.
Little does he know, I’ve never been good at pretending.
I stare at him, not immensely enjoying the idea of following his lead, but nod soberly, nonetheless. His hazel eyes meet mine. I sigh and begrudgingly give in.
His mouth breaks into an easy smile as my cheeks grow warm.
It’s just harmless flirting—it’s not like this is new to me. I used to do it all the time. How hard can pretending be?
“Great. Let’s go, baby,” he says, grabbing hold of my hand and leading me into the outdoor atrium.
Baby.
Baby?
He can’t be serious.
I’m older. If anyone’s the baby here, it’s him.
Oh, wait. He’s not serious—my mistake.
I’m already falling behind, and I dread falling behind.
My grip on his hand tightens subconsciously as we venture into the party, ensuring I don’t physically fall behind and get lost in the crowd.
Ugh. I detest crowds like this. Why did I entertain this plan? I could be reading from the comfort of my cozy office couch right now, but instead, I’m gallivanting among a sea of loud strangers.
A golden-haired angel has already shoved a glass of alcomist into Kai’s free hand and regarded me with a bit of a pout, obviously perturbed at the sight of me with him.
I can’t say that I blame her. As much as I dread admitting it, he’s showstopping. With his white button-down and camel trousers, he appears even more refined than usual. His top two buttons are undone, too. His sense of style is better than I thought it was while serving as his Watcher.
He must’ve picked up a tip or two from his sister.
I mean, while serving as a Guardian, he hardly changed his clothes—not that he really had to worry about his wardrobe while serving. Only a handful of souls could see him, and angels don’t sweat unless they’re severely weak or in pain, like when I shoved that ring on his finger.
The thought of his pained expression from earlier makes my heart stir uncomfortably.
He inhales his glass of alcomist while sauntering, striding in with all the confidence in the world. Multiple angels greet him, patting him on the back and grinning widely. He takes time to greet every single person kindly, not releasing my hand for even a second.
“Having fun?” He bends, his voice a gentle rasp in my ear.
“Define ‘fun.’”
I gaze up at the platform to get a closer look at the live winged band. Complete with a guitarist, pianist, percussionist, and a male and female singer, it’s a whole team. Their music isn’t half bad. I find myself bopping my head to the rhythm of the beat subconsciously.
I glance around at the angels surrounding us. Looks like Matt and his girlfriend found us. He grins widely, saying, “Kai, you must be gifted. This one”—he gestures to me—“hasn’t attended a party up here in ages.”
Kai gazes at me, smirking. “Oh, is that so?”
I deadpan, “Sure, it’s been a while.”
“I’m just glad to see you out, Cleo,” Matt says warmly. I smile softly at him in return. “So, are you two…?”
He wiggles his eyebrows.
I fight the urge to shake my head. I look up at Kai adoringly and let go of his hand to wrap my arm around his waist instead, fully committed to the act at this point.
Odd. I didn’t expect his waist to feel so… solid. “It’s new.”
He gazes down at me, a subtle look of confusion crossing his features, then hooks his arm around my neck and pulls me in tighter, placing a kiss on my head. “Very new.”
My stomach drops. I can’t tell if the sensation is a good or bad thing—it’s never happened before in my afterlife.
He takes another breath of his alcomist, and I glance over my shoulder. I don’t spot Stephen, but I know he’s here. As Kai said, he never misses a party.
A song I’m familiar with begins to play. I start swaying—only a little bit—to the music when he leans down to breathe in my ear, “Let’s dance.”
I almost instantly regret swaying my hips, halting the movement at once and shaking my head incessantly. “Oh, I’m actually not much of a dancer.”
“With legs like yours? I don’t buy it,” he says, eyeing my legs and making my cheeks burn simultaneously. “You can’t be worse than me. I’ve only had one glass of alcomist, and I already feel like my right foot has morphed into a left one.”
Unable to stifle a laugh, I obnoxiously chuckle, covering my mouth as soon as it escapes me. His eyes light up, drifting back and forth between my eyes and lips.
“Your laugh… It’s melodic. More magnetic than my favorite song.”
I suddenly feel hot all over as I peer back into his eyes.
He’s pretending.
We’re pretending.
Fine. If this is all just a game, I’m going to pretend exceptionally well.
Realizing we’ve spent far too long locked in each other’s eyes, I break away and mentally draw a thick line to block out the blurred lines. “To hell with it. Just one dance.”
His warm eyes brighten again, a mischievous glint entering his gaze. I walk to the center of the dance floor, holding his hand behind me and leading him. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it my way. I tuck my wings away, determining that it will make it easier for Kai to dance with me.
Once we reach the center, he pulls me into him playfully, clearly thinking he’ll be leading me through this. I smile with my eyes alone and part my lips, allowing my body to connect with the music the way his body’s connected with mine.
As the sound vibrates through my body, a surge of energy builds up inside me.
My legs move on their own accord, following the song’s flow.
I lift my feet and begin a routine I haven’t done in years, kicking out one leg high and wide and using the other to spin my body.
My back presses against his stomach while I crane my neck and lean against him, raising my arms to wrap around his neck loosely and swaying my hips in perfect rhythm with the song.
He doesn’t seem to know how to react. I just feel his breath, hot and heavy, in my ear.
At first, he rests his hands on my shoulders.
Then he slowly drags them down to reach my waist. He pulls me into him, and in a shocking turn of events, he lifts my body and spins us.
Instinctively, I tuck my legs in lightly for a carousel lift, the silk ribbon wrapped around my arms fluttering in the breeze.
I’m floating in the air without even using my wings.
I forgot how incredible it is to soar without wings.
He sets me down and spins me again as I do more footwork and extend my arms, twirling myself.
I turn back to face him, clutching on to his neck and staring into his eyes, not missing the heat in his gaze.
Then, when I least expect it, he dips me.
I lift my toes to the sky and lean into the movement, entirely trusting in him.
Giving myself to him and the music, it’s as though I’m breathing again for the first time since dying.
Not a single soul could shatter this moment of serenity.
I don’t care who’s watching. I don’t care that we’re pretending. I don’t care about the closeness of our faces right now.
Our lips draw nearer and nearer to each other’s, and for a moment, the realm fades away into nothing.
The crowd fades.
The stress fades.
The music fades.
“My angel,” he murmurs, closing his eyes. His voice fades into a whisper. “You’re mesmerizing.”
His soft lips nearly brush against mine when the song ends.
“How’s that for pretend?” I breathe gently against his lips and lock my gaze onto his, chest heaving.
For a split second, an emotion I can’t quite decipher crosses his features, but then he schools his face. Then, he breaks into that lazy smile of his and leans away slowly, still towering over me.