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“Oh, my little crumpets, you’re all grown up now, so if you ever need a packet, just come find me, I always have extras.” Then she gave our cheeks a little tap before hugging us both as a threesome. Christ, she was the weirdest sweetheart alive, and I loved her but there was no way I was asking her for candy ever again… pop rocks especially.
So, after she had put on her over-the-knee PVC pink boots that matched the dress, complete with bows at the top, we had all been ready for the ball. Even Adam, because he was wearing a formal tuxedo and looked handsome. However, it was the hot pink bow tie and pink leather dress shoes that caused us all to smirk. Something Pip went bat shit crazy over, and she literally threw herself at him and started peppering his face with kisses. This meaning that soon his bow tie and shoes weren’t the only thing colored pink on him. A fact he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest as his face got decorated by her lipstick. But then again, knowing who he was, I doubted anyone would have been stupid enough to make a comment. Or should I say… suicidal enough.
As for Sophia, her husband Zagan stepped up to her, and the heat in his gaze couldn’t be masked by his cool persona. His long white hair was tied back, making his albino features all the more striking, with that tattoo down the side of his face standing proud against his pale skin.
Of course, not being left out, he too matched his wife. She wore a stunning black tulle dress, with a full skirt that flared out from the see-through vertical panels running down her torso. The cups at her breasts were solid black, with lines of white pearls framing the panels that followed the natural curves of her body. A thick choker of pearls was added to this, and matched the pearl cuffs sewn into each of the full length, see-through gloves she wore.
Zagan’s white suit was matched perfectly, what with his black shirt and white tie, with the lapels of his suit jacket being solid black satin.
As for me, I ran my hands down my dress nervously, now wondering what Jared would think seeing me in it. It was the most exquisite dress I had ever seen, let alone ever could have dreamed of wearing. I felt more like a glittering jewel. The silver corset was totally encrusted by a combination of tiny seed beads, sequins, silver pearls and stunning tear drop crystals. These were all sewn onto panels of illusion material, making it look as if these clusters were stuck to my skin that could be seen underneath. The strapless, sweetheart neckline was where the design was at its fullest so I wasn’t flashing everyone my ‘fun bags’ as Pip had named them.
As for the skirt, this was layers upon layers of tulle that flowed from my hips, and the V-shape of thicker beads, crystals, and pearls that framed the bottom of the corset. Thick silver ribbon crisscrossed down my spine and was pulled tight enough to keep everything in place.
My hair was Sophia’s work of art. Thankfully, she managed to tame my mad curls enough to twist sections of it back from my face, so in the end, it was pinned high with a cascade of curls falling down my back.
In fact, I was so stunned by the time it was done, I gasped in complete shock when I looked at myself in the mirror. I didn’t recognize myself like this; I honestly looked and felt like a princess. Of course, tears spang to my eyes the moment everyone else started saying the same, that I looked beautiful and Jared was a lucky man. And my only hope was that he thought so and enough…
That he didn’t want to leave.
22
WRITTEN FATE
“He's waiting for you downstairs,” my aunt told me with a wink, and I had to say, it felt more like a significant moment being the only one to walk down the steps unaccompanied. Like something out of a Disney princess movie as I picked up my floor-length skirt, took a deep breath, and descended down the steps, telling myself,
“You can do this, Ella girl.” But then the moment I saw Jared in the crowd standing next to his brother, I could only concentrate on him. Because the nerves simply disappeared, even with his back to me.
It was Orthrus who saw me first and I took it as a good sign the second his eyes widened in utter astonishment. A moment later, he leaned into his brother and said something I, naturally, couldn't hear but whatever it was, well, it was enough to get Jared’s attention. Because he turned to face me, and it was as if my whole world tilted on its axis before righting itself, centering my soul and making everything in my life right. The sight of him in an all-black suit with only a silver tie to match my dress was enough to have me falter in my steps, taking pause for a moment halfway down the staircase.
He was utterly breathtaking, and the most handsome man I'd ever seen in my entire life. I felt as if I couldn't breathe, and it had nothing to do with the corset of my dress. It didn't look as if I was the only one stunned in this moment, because his eyes displayed the same shock his brother had for long moments before they quickly became more primal. Those heated eyes glowed silver as they scanned the length of me in a slow and predatory way.
Christ, it looked like he wanted to eat me.
I swallowed down a new lump of nervousness and forced myself to continue before anyone could wonder why I had stopped. I vaguely recognized others around him smirking at his reaction to me, as if they too knew the impact I was having on him. The thought made me nearly giggle because, of course, I wanted to impress him. I wanted to make him think that I was the most beautiful woman in the world despite the sea of beauties in the room.
And with that gaze alone, I blissfully felt as if I had accomplished this.
I felt empowered.
By the time I finally reached the club floor, I had more confidence than I had done at the top of the staircase. This gave me the courage to continue on and close the distance between us, just as he started to do the same. He couldn't take his eyes off me, caressing every inch of me with his heated gaze, and the effect had me looking down at myself just to check I wasn't dreaming and actually naked. He looked like he wanted to ravish me, and I blushed, unable to help myself.
The moment I felt his first touch, I knew it was real, a living dream I wanted to hold on to for as long as possible. A single fingertip under my chin raised my head back up to look at him and the first thing from his lips ended up being a mirrored sentiment shared.
“Breathtaking,” he said, and the single word was anything but simple.
It held so much weight, I couldn't help but suck in a quick breath at the compliment. Of course, Jared had never not been generous with his compliments, always telling me how beautiful he thought I was. But this was something more. It was an occasion that warranted our blissful wonder, because neither of us had seen each other like this before.
After everything we had been through, well, once again I couldn’t help but feel as though this was symbolic. Like seeing the rainbow cutting through the storm and with it, bringing through the slither of hope that the turbulent weather would pass. A kaleidoscope of color breaking through the skies of gray.
He clearly couldn't wait any longer, because he hooked a hand at my hip and pulled me in close. Doing this so he could tell me in a hoarse voice full of emotion,
“I don't know what it is that I do to deserve such beauty but whatever it is, then I will spend the rest of my life continuing to do it. As long as I get to keep you in it.”
I melted at this, needing his strength as his arms wrapped around me so I wouldn't crumble to the floor. Crumble under the weight of emotions he brought out of me when gifting me with his words.
When gifting me with the truth of his heart.
“Oh Jared.” It was all I had the strength in me to utter because tears coated my eyes. In the end, I didn't know who started the kiss first, but I would like to think it was one of those rare moments where our thoughts and needs we're totally in sync. The rest of the room simply seemed to fade away and, with it, the audience that witnessed such a loving exchange between us.
