The grand chandelier-lit ballroom sparkled like a canvas of diamonds, its opulent walls adorned with frescoes of golden cherubs and velvet drapes that cascaded to the floor like frozen waterfalls. The crème de la crème of society mingled, their designer gowns and tuxes rustling softly as they sipped champagne and canapes.
"Casa dolce casa" Sofia breathed out beside me.
"Non c'è niente di dolce in questa prigione" I retorted.
Taking Sylvia's hand and literally dragging her alongside me, to begin easing her into our world.
"You fuckin-"
I was already out of earshot to fully grasp her gritted out curses that were no doubt, directed at me for leaving her alone with Romano. I internally smirked.
We briskly made our way up the grand staircase, exchanging pleasantries with some business mogul and high ranked personnel on the way. We stopped at the end of the staircase, and from my position, I could see everything going on downstairs.
My jaw clenched and my hand unconsciously tightened around Sylvia's wrist, causing her to wince and sharply turned her head towards me.
Her wince caught my attention, and I glanced down at my hand, and softened my hold, but I didn't meet her eyes, instead I refocused them back on him, looking resplendent in a tailored tuxedo, he stood at the center of it all like a benevolent monarch surveying his kingdom.
Sylvia's eyes followed my line of sight, but she didn't dare to ask any question. In fact, she's been handling this entire gathering better than I expected, and she might not know it, but I was taking note of every single detail. How are hands didn't tremble in my hold, and her voice never once wavered when she greeted scary looking men and women alike.
Her graceful poise, and a smile that looked so believable you had to be a very good observer to see they didn't reach her eyes at all. When she first smiled at one of my father's associates, I was genuinely shocked, thinking she was enjoying the brief attention, but after observing more closely, I realized she was a damn good actress, an extremely beautiful actress.
"Sooner or later, you'd have to go down there."
Great.
"Arianna" I responded with the enthusiasm of a comatose body.
I turned to face her, and my movements made Sylvia turn with me.
I watched as Arianna's gaze shifted to my hand, clasped over Sylvia's before coming back up to meet mine, not bothering to spare Sylvia any look. One thing I liked about her, she never gets jealous, she understood me and my… needs.
"Lucien" she matched my tone.
I sighed as I took her in. Her caramel skin glowed under the bright lights of the profligate ballroom, clad in a very tight cream-colored gown that spiraled from her waist down into a puddle around her feet, overshadowing her heels. The spaghetti strap, gave a sumptuous view of her gold attired neck, and the low dip in the chest of the gown, teased a limited sight of the smooth skin of her breasts. Her braids, bound together atop her head, leaving two strands down at each side of her face, exposing her ears, lined with several gold earrings, and a single stud that pierced her nose. Her sharp facial features were emboldened by natural makeup, and that sweet scent of hers that I loved so much filled my nostrils and taunted my mind with explicit memories.
I'll be honest, she looked exquisite.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"Uhmm, hello, I'm still part of the mafia" she answered in a duh tone.
"That's not what I meant, and you know it." I said in all seriousness.
The last thing I need right now, is for Sofia to see us like this. She sighed and looked away from me to the show downstairs, before meeting my gaze again and replying
"Non potevo resistere al tuo sguardo."
I stared deep into her hazel eyes. Yes, we both have the same eyes, but we're not related.
"Meet Sylvia" I changed the topic, partly because I wanted to see how Sylvia would interact with her. She didn't know Ari and I's history, but that doesn't mean she didn't feel the aura Arianna carried, a seductive yet ruthless demeanor, it's impossible to not feel it.
Her hazel eyes pierced into Sylvia's brown orbs for the first time this evening.
"I know, Sofia briefly mentioned her." She said as she tore her eyes from Sylvia, back to me.
Of course! Sofia and her big mouth! In all of these, Sylvia didn't say a word, but I knew she was observing.
"You look good." She said after a brief pause.
"Thank y-"
"I wasn't talking to you"
Sylvia's words got calmly cut off by Arianna's blunt ones, making Sylvia swallow and put her head down.
That made me boil, Arianna's blatant rudeness towards Sylvia made a surge of anger overwhelm me. She purposely commented in English, and directed her words to no one in particular, knowing fully well Sylvia would assume.
"Pettiness doesn't look good on you" I fired back.
Arianna's feature changed from smug to annoyed, and then back to that smugness.
"It does, just not as good as your cum" she returned the energy.
Which made Sylvia choke on her own damn spit. Loudly, might I add. The sound drew a few attentions to us, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. She is one very blunt bitch, and I've forgotten just how vulgar she can be.
"I… I think I need a drink… excuse me" Sylvia untangled her hand from my grip, and left without awaiting my permission.
"You're excused!" Arianna called from behind her with a fake sweet smile plastered on her nude lip gloss-stained lips.
"Was that necessary?" I asked in annoyance, I could feel my jaw tick.
She closed the space between us, and leaned in my ear.
"I know you want to punish me for what I just did" she whispered, so low and so close I could feel her wet lip gloss on my earlobe.
I grounded my teeth. She was absolutely right.
"Why do you take so much pleasure in constantly being used as a worthless whore?"
That was low, even for me and I knew it. She's only ever this submissive to me, but I just wanted to see her hurt for what she did to Sylvia.
I got my wish, as hurt flashed across her eyes, and she didn't bother to hide it.
"Fairs, good to see you again, don" she replied, and made a move to walk away, but I held her wrist to stop her. She shut her eyes, and breathed out.
"Che cosa?" She gritted out, but didn't attempt to relieve her wrist of my grip.
I didn't respond, but I pulled her back to me, her front flush against mine, as me hands gripped her waist, and pressed her body more into me. I made a move to secure her lips with mine, but she hesitated, pulling her head back from me a little bit, I didn't tarry as I followed her movements and pushed my head towards hers before smashing my lips to hers.
Fuck! Fuck I missed this! Missed her.
The kiss was intense and wet as we poured all of our pent-up emotions into it. I didn't care that we were in the middle of an event, my hands drifted lower to cup her ass, and I squeezed, earning a low moan from her. She didn't seem to care either, her hands roamed everywhere on my neck, and hair, messing up my bun a little, she pressed her front to my own, leaving no space between us.
The air on the back of my neck stood on end, and it definitely was not because of the temptress flushed against me, it was more of the kind of feeling you get when you feel an intense stare on you, and in that moment, I knew who the stare belonged to.
I pulled away from the kiss faster than light, leaving Arianna dazed and confused with swollen lips.
I didn't say anything and left Arianna standing there, while I made my way to one of the rooms upstairs. Upon entering, I breathed out heavily, sighting the half-empty bottle of whiskey on the desk, I went for it, sweeping a glass from a top drawer, I poured the dark brown liquid into the glass and gulped it down in seconds. I poured and gulped again, before dropping the glass on the desk with a loud thud.
I gripped the edges of the desk and hung my head low in exasperation. I have had wild sexual experiences in my life, especially with Arianna. Making out in the middle of a gala doesn't even light a candle to the many crazy things we have done together, and not once have I cared if we were seen, or who was watching.
Then why the fuck did I just suddenly stopped at the feeling of her staring?