Chapter 19
KATE
We walked until we found a corridor where the music almost ceased. Why the hell was I being dragged along by a stranger? I didn't want to be rude, but the situation demanded it.
"Wait..." I made him stop.
"What?"
"Where are you taking me?"
He smiled.
"Don't worry."
"Seriously, Mr. Miles? I'm being dragged along by a stranger." I forced a smile. "And I shouldn't worry?"
"Don't worry. We're almost there."
"You want me not to worry about you being a stranger or about you taking me to a strange place?"
"I'm not a stranger; I'm your friend's brother."
Fine, he's Emily's brother, so it can't be that bad. I nodded and continued to follow him. Strangely, there was something familiar about him.
We walked down the corridor until we entered a huge and elegant room. The place was furnished, with two large sofas in the center, bookshelves, paintings on the walls, vases, and a piano next to one wall.
"What would you like to drink, Katherine?"
"I'll let you choose this time."
"Have a seat. Do you like whiskey?" He pointed to the sofa where I sat, then he moved away and came back with a bottle and two glasses.
"Maybe it's not a good time."
"Why?"
"Maybe... because I'm alone with a guy whose name is all I know, in a lost room, in a huge house."
He laughed, taking a seat.
"You know I'm your friend's brother. Isn't that enough?"
"It doesn't count for much."
"Really?"
I nodded. He handed me a glass after pouring both.
"I might have to talk to my little sister then."
"Oh no! Leave her alone."
"Alright, let's do this. Tell me what you'd like to know besides my name."
"Why am I here? That would be nice to know."
"Because you're interesting."
"Me? And you figured that out in just a minute after seeing me?"
"Actually, I saw you arriving."
"But you can't claim I'm interesting. You don't know me."
"You're beautiful. So I want to take this opportunity to get to know you better."
"To get to know me? Okay, and what do you want to know?"
"It's more about what or how I can have you."
I nodded, clearing my throat before taking a sip of the whiskey. He was direct.
"We're being straightforward, right? So you want to know how to sleep with me? Because that didn't sound like a request for a date."
"I didn't mean to offend you." He smiled.
How could I get angry when he was so handsome and ridiculously attractive? It's even flattering.
"I don't know you well yet, but you are a fascinating woman," he said, his eyes fixed on my cleavage.
"My face is a little higher up," I said, lifting his face with my finger and smiling. Naughty.
He smiled and bit his lip.
"I'm sorry. It was just a moment of distraction."
"A distraction?"
"Yes, what I mean is that I'd love to spend the night being distracted by you."
"At least you have a sense of humor."
"It wasn't meant to be funny."
And it wasn't. It was sexy, but he didn't need to know.
"But for you to know, I wasn't necessarily talking about a bed." He shrugged. "But if you want to."
"You're funny. I feel flattered by your interest. But how about we change the subject? Lisa told me that you run your family's company. What's the secret?"
"You want to talk about my work? Trying to escape?"
"I have interests."
"What interests exactly?"
"It's my work."
"If you want, I can teach you how to manage... other things."
"You don't take anything seriously, do you?"
"I think we shouldn't talk about boring stuff. The party intends to have fun."
"Yeah... maybe you're right. Do you live here with your sister?"
"No, and you still haven't told me how I can have you."
"I don't think I have an answer to that question."
"Can I try to find one?" He moved closer, closing the space between us.
"Bryan..." Holding my face, he leaned in to kiss my neck. "You're going too fast," I said before he could kiss me.
"I'm just trying to have fun." He gazed at me again.
"Have fun? My voice came out husky.
"Isn't it fun?"
His face was too close, and he looked so sexy, almost irresistible.
"I don't know what got into me, but when I saw you..." He continued, stroking my face with his thumb and biting his lower lip. Damn, he had some kind of magnetism.
"What?" I swallowed, waiting for him to finish his sentence.
"You drove me crazy... So, please, relax and allow yourself to have fun with me."
What harm could it do? That was the purpose of coming here, right? He's Emily's brother, so he couldn't be that terrible after all.
"Have fun... okay," I whispered.
He smiled, wrapping his arm around my waist, and his lips were almost touching mine. I closed my eyes, expecting his touch, but Ryan's image appeared in my mind.
Anger consumed me, and I pressed my lips against his, wanting to make the image disappear. But a second later, I regretted it. I was acting like a fool. I pulled away.
"Sorry. I think we should go back to the party."
What's wrong with me? What did he do to me?
"Any problem? Do you have a boyfriend or something?"
"I... it's not... exactly a boyfriend."
God! What am I saying?
"I mean, it's not even close to that. It's just... a guy who brings me a lot of trouble."
Someone I love to sleep with but can't, and that's all I can think about.
"A troublesome boyfriend?"
"Not even close to a boyfriend."
"So, why can't we have some fun?" He approached again, holding my hips and leaning over me.
Everything was happening so fast. His hands were already moving up my thighs, stopping at the hem of my dress, and the other slid along my side until he squeezed my breast firmly. Making me moan. But it wasn't him I wanted; it wasn't his touch, and thinking about it made me feel stupid.
"Bryan, no."
He stopped.
"Why?" He looked at me. "Isn't this good?"
"I just... I'm not in the mood. I'm sorry."
"Okay." He sighed with frustration, getting up with a weak smile that quickly disappeared.
I stood up, adjusting my dress.
"But I won't give up so easily. You're only escaping this time. Now, at the very least, you have to dance with me." He smiled. He was trying to be a nice guy. Maybe he really was one.
"I don't dance very well; I probably would step on your foot."
"None of that. Come on!" He took my hand, leading me out of the room.
While he closed the door, I looked at a painting on the wall beside it. A painting of a blonde woman smiling. Something was fascinating about her—something like genuine happiness. I got closer. Bryan approached, standing next to me. I realized it soon enough.
"It's your mother, isn't it?"
Her features resembled his and Emily's.
"Yes."
She was beautiful.
There was something truly magical about the painting, but when I looked at his face next to me, I could almost feel sadness.
"Bryan! Look who's here!" Emily's voice sounded behind us, down the hallway.
Bryan turned around, but I couldn't take my eyes off the painting. I felt something familiar. Then I realized that something about her reminded me of my mother.
"I thought you wouldn't come, considering how busy you are!" Bryan said, leaving my side.
*"You thought I wouldn't come to my cousin's birthday party?" *
My body froze upon hearing his voice. It couldn't be. I wished I could disappear.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
