7. The Dark Halls.

[Luke]
She was here.
Immediately I heard that I managed to cough out an excuse to distance myself from Megan, it was not easy though since she intended on clinging on to me throughout the event.
"I haven't seen your face in five years, Luke, let's retire to one of the picture rooms and have a talk." She moved closer to me and whispered in my ear.
She was obviously trying to seduce me but I felt nothing, nothing but disgust, her scent was not even appealing to me, I wanted to smell Claire and the more time I spent with Megan, the more I wanted to leave.
"I'm sorry Meg, I have very important matters to discuss with some of the guests, I'll see you around when I'm done."
"No, Luke, I can come with you, I'll probably not understand what you're discussing anyway, you can introduce me as your date and I'll just stay at your side." She smiled at me and held my upper arm.
There was nothing I could say now and I could not come up with anything to save myself from her. The men or women discussing business did not leave their partners, they had partners with them so it was perfectly okay for her to be by my side.
I smiled at her and then I started looking around for Claire. I was feeling a desperate need to see her. I wanted to know if she would wear the corsage I had sent.
It was not the best thing I could send but I couldn't risk it, I couldn't send her jewelry because I didn't want her to question my finances, I didn't really know how much palace guards earned but I guessed it was not enough to afford to gift an acquaintance with a diamond bracelet or a pearl necklace.
I spotted Liam in the crowd and I quickly beckoned to him with my eyes. I was glad that he was looking in my way, or maybe he'd been staring at Megan whichever, I was glad that he had understood me.
"Luke, can I have a word?" He walked over after a while and asked.
Megan stared at him in confusion and then she stared at me and raised her brow.
We get that a lot, the semblance between Liam and I was almost uncanny.
When she kept staring at me, I understood that she was not just questioning our semblance, she wanted me to introduce her.
Clearing my throat, I smiled at her silliness and I turned to Liam.
"This is Liam, my best friend and this is Megan, my date and childhood friend." I introduced them and Megan stretched her hand towards Liam.
He stared at her for a moment before he accepted her handshake and he smiled warmly at her.
I did not expect her to initiate the handshake, I even expected her to ignore the handshake but she shocked me by being nice.
"The two of you look seriously alike." She said,
"We get that a lot." Liam smiled at her, the way they were staring at each other I wondered if I should just leave the both of them alone to talk.
"We're supposed to be having that talk." I nudged Liam in the ribs softly and he snapped out of whatever daze he was in.
"Yes, I'll go greet the king, you can go talk, come find me later Luke." She said and pecked me on the cheek. "It was nice meeting you, Liam." She said and pecked him on his cheek too.
As I pulled him away from the crowd, his cheeks reddened and there was a shadow of a smile on his lips.
He was definitely smitten by her.
"One of the waiters informed me that she was here, where is she?" I asked Liam in a hurry.
"She's by the balcony." He replied, chuckling softly. "You're mush for her." He said and I raised my brows at him.
"You're one to talk." I wanted to say but I just folded my lips and suppressed the urge.
I looked towards the balcony and my breath caught in my throat, I saw her, she was dressed in a very sexy silver dressed, she was a bit far from me but I still managed to catch a glimpse of the corsage strapped to her wrist, I smiled when I saw it and I started walking towards her.
"What do you think you're doing?" Liam asked and I paused my movements.
"Going to have a talk with her of course," I answered him and continued walking.
"As the prince." He said and I stopped immediately, I'd forgotten that I was in my shade and hat, she would know immediately that I was the famed prince and I didn't want that to happen.
"I wasn't thinking." I retraced my steps and moved back, seeing her in that dress was making it hard for me to think.
"We have to switch places," I told him and he stared at me in shock. "You can keep charming Megan while I spend some time with her," I added before he had the chance to refuse and I watched the fire of refusal quench in his eyes.
Good.
"Let's go to the hall, it's a bit dark in there." He said.
I took one more look at Claire and my blood boiled as I saw her talking with another man and he had his hands all over her back.
I wanted to cut off his hands or at least break his fingers but I couldn't, swallowing my anger I pulled Liam with me and we hurried down the hall. I would make sure to deal with that man when I come back out as Jean.
"Patience Luke." Liam calmed me down as we hurried down the hall, he had seen the man being handy with her and he knew that I was boiling with rage and jealousy.
I didn't want another man's hand on her, she was already mine even if she didn't know it yet and I didn't take kindly to someone else touching what was mine.
.
.
[Claire]
Maybe Jean could help me with a picture of the prince I reasoned as I hurried down the hall but then I paused, I didn't want him to think that I was just after the picture of the prince.
I sighed as I almost looked far down the hall, I had lost them.
I considered turning back and even leaving the party because I was already bored of the crowd, I didn't think I would be able to get an audience with the prince and I couldn't even find Jean.
Could this night get any worse?
I turned to go back when a voice stopped me.
"You came." The voice washed over me like melted butter and I closed my eyes, his scent filled the air and I took a deep breath.
It was Jean.
"The g-gift, t-thanks." I stammered out without turning back to look at him, I didn't think I could stare into his beautiful eyes and not be drawn to him, the last thing I needed right now was to be caught in the arms of a palace guard.
A whirlwind romance.
It sounded a bit intriguing to me because I knew nothing of romance but I couldn't afford to be distracted from my main mission.
I still hadn't gotten anything back from the private detective I had hired and in the meantime, I had to keep making money before I had to settle his bills.
"It looks beautiful on you." He had moved closer and his nearness was already doing things to my body and making me want things.
"I-I should go back to the party." I swallowed a bit too loudly and tried hard not to inhale his manly scent.
Butterflies had taken flight in my stomach and my private lady parts felt like they were pulsating. I pressed my legs together to dull the familiar ache but it seemed to intensify and I moaned unknowingly.
"Claire." He called my name in that distracting way, that husky manner that just makes me lose control and want to beg him.
Beg him for what or to do what? I have yet to determine that.
"Why did you come here?" He asked with that same voice but my mind was far gone to reply to him.
His fingers were running up and down my arms and he was nibbling my ears softly.
"I I I c-came to to find you." I gasped for breath as he pressed harder against me from behind and I felt his hardness against my butt cheeks.
"Good girl." I felt him smile against my neck. "I love this dress on you." He said and he brought his hand up to my breasts and gave them a tight squeeze.
"Jean." I moaned out and my n*pples perked to attention.
"Still don't wanna spend the night with me?" He asked as he spun me around to face him.
Anger began to bubble inside me at the thought that I was falling for a man who was only interested in spending a night with me. I was about to give him a piece of my mind but he smashed his lips on mine before I could reply.