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The people cheered, applauded, and parted to each side, like the dividing of a sea. Christy leaned in close to me, with her mouth to my ear. “Vlad dances?”
“Never seen him do one before.”
The lights flickered and the bright colors dimmed, leaving only purple, blue, and white spotlights. I jerked my head to theleft, and the right. Then, he stepped out from amongst the small crowd gathered, into the lights, and my heart stopped beating.
He was just like I remembered; even more beautiful. He wore the color of death. Black, like always. A dress shirt, pants, and no tie. The tattoo on his arm was hidden beneath the long sleeves, and his black hair was let down, covering the tattoos on his neck I’d memorized.
The look in his eyes was distant, and even more cold than I was used to. He glanced over his shoulder, like he was expecting something... or maybe someone.
Shemade a dramatic entrance to the dancefloor. Her crystal net dress hugged and wrapped her figure snugly, sparking under the light, and her wet hair and smokey-eyed look were the cherry on top. If I didn’t hate her guts, I might have admitted that she looked divine. Grinning, she slid an arm around his waist, and I didn’t know if I imagined it, but he stiffened under her touch.
From the speakers, the tune of Tchaikovsky’s popularSerenade for Stringsplayed and Sophia held him closely. She put his hands on her waist and laid her head on his chest.
I remembered our night at the park when I placed my head on his chest and felt his strong arms wrap around me tightly, like he was afraid I’d disappear. My heart squeezed tightly in my chest.
Watching them, together on that dancefloor was a painful reminder that Vlad Vadim was not mine, and would probably never be. It didn’t matter that he looked like he was dying inside, soon he might have to get used to dancing in public with his wife in his arms.
Sophia had what I would never have again. The opportunity to belong to him; to have him call mehis and him, mine.
I lowered my head and rubbed my flat stomach. All I had now was the baby growing inside me, and that was more than enough.
Instantly, I felt lightheaded and the sudden urge to throw up all three glasses of the yellow hammer drink swept over me. I staggered a bit and Christy noticed. She dropped her glass and held my arm. It rose; rushed up my throat and...
I ran, all the way out.
“Mariana, wait!” I heard Christy call but didn’t stop.
My heels hit the floor and I weaved through the crowd until I was out of the house and in the backyard. A cool breeze hit my face as I located the closest low-trimmed hedge and bent over.
My throat closed up, my eyes watered, and... someone swept my hair up while I gagged my heart out. Someone with the scent of...
I lifted my head, and clear blue eyes stared back at me. My jaw dropped.
“Vlad?”
Chapter 20 - Vlad
“Moya zvezda, wait!”
It was faint and barely audible above the loud tune of Tchaikovsky’s famous classic. But I heard it; fucking crystal clear. My body stilled and my blood ran cold. I grabbed Sophia’s wrist and moved her aside.
“Vlad.” She blinked, stunned. “Where are you... Vlad, where are you going?”
She wasn’t my problem. My fingers curled to fists by my side and I walked away, not looking back. Raising my head, I scanned between and over the heads of the people gathered. I didn’t know where the fuck I was going, but my legs kept moving. I cocked my head to the side, twisted, and turned. I caught a flash of silver, and blonde hair, weaving in and out of the crowd, running toward the exit.
“Get the fuck out of my way,” I growled at a scrawny man blocking my path and he jumped out in a flash. I got to the exit and I saw her, in the hottest silver dress I’d ever seen, bent over by the hedge where she retched violently. I’d never expected that she would show up at the engagement party. A crease formed on my forehead and I walked over to where she was. Gently, and not to alert her, I gathered her long hair and wound the soft tips around my hand, sweeping her hair to the side.
She tilted her head upward and her brown eyes widened. Her jaw dropped.
“Vlad?”
A delightful shiver traced my spine at the sound of her voice. “You’re here.”
The surprise died in her eyes. “Exclusive invite extended by your lovely wife-to-be. Which brings me to this question: what are you doing out here? Shouldn’t you be inside dancing with her under the spotlight? You know, you guys look good together.”
She was jealous and didn’t bother hiding it. It looked good on her, and I liked that she was jealous because of me. Heat traveled between my legs and I felt a hard-on coming.
I almost responded, until I took in her full appearance.
