Strange Love 69 Party Favor

The city lights pa.s.sed by in a blur as Jos leaned against the window, her mind vigerously working through what was to come. She meant what she said, as soon as the gala was over she was telling Xavier and thanking him for being a friend before leaving to come home. A light pat to the hand she had balled into fists in her lap brought her attention back to the now. She glanced up at Arei question in her eyes, but he was focused on the road his hand merely resting on hers in what seemed to be rea.s.surance. She began to say something before stopping herself. A heavy blush covered her face as she continued to stare up at him.

Arei laughed as he glanced her way, "What is it? You have a funny look-" He frowned remembering he was still holding her hand and frowned. "Sorry, I didn't think... it must be awkward for you, I'm sorry." He lifted his hand from hers and rested it on the gear s.h.i.+fter instead.

Joslyn's eyes widened farther, "N-no..." She glanced down at his hand. Her blush deepened as thoughts of all the times those hands had been on her body in the past. The heat in her cheeks was almost unbearable as the whispered words left her mouth. "I... um... What is..." She stuttered, the words just not wanting to come out.

He smiled and placed his hand back onto hers, "What is it, kitten? You know you can ask me anything." His smile fell when he realized the words that were meant to soothe her only seemed to bother her more. Worried he pulled off to the side of the road. He pulled the car into park and turned concerned eyes toward her. He hooked a finger under her chin to bring her eyes back up to his taking note of the heat radiating from the area their skin touched. "What's wrong? Is it something I said?"

Jos shook her head her gaze frozen on his eyes burning down into hers. She squeezed her eyes tight and blurted out. "What is your name?" When she felt his hold fall away from her face she risked a peek expecting to find him angry or hurt but instead his hand was at his mouth trying to hide his amus.e.m.e.nt. She looked away, her brows furrowing in absolute frustration and embarra.s.sment.

Arei let out a masculine snicker before gently pulling her face back around to him, a smile still lit his eyes and turned up the corners of his mouth. "You don't have to be so embarra.s.sed, it's a logical question after all."

She interrupted him with an unladylike grunt. She looked away her face still resting in his grip. "With the things we did together, I shouldn't have to ask... I should already know, don't you think?" The irritation fleed, rapidly replaced by shock as his eyes heated and he increased the pressure of his hold. {Oh s.h.i.+t!} She quickly pulled back out of his reach hitting her head against the window, now very familiar with what that look would lead to.

Arei let out a heavy sigh as he looked out the window as he bit down into the inside of his jaw, fighting the urge to take her in his arms and rekindle those very 'things'. "Areion..." He whispered in a low husky voice. "Arei, if you like." His hands moved to the gear s.h.i.+fter as he tried hard to fight the urge to touch her, to take her away from the wolf and the vampire and any other man...

"Arei..." Jos breathed, finally placed a name with the ghost of her past. She was too caught up in her own thoughts to notice how the single word affected the man beside her.

The tiny whisper from the pa.s.senger seat pulled his full attention back to her. He stared at her for several minutes. The golden trim of the black gown accentuated her plump breast. The tiny wisps of hair that had fallen around her face gave her a youthful appearance. His harsh expression softened as he took her in. She wasn't that young girl from all those years ago, she had grown into one h.e.l.l of a woman. He couldn't help the smile that turned up his lips. {I feel for any poor b.a.s.t.a.r.d that has met her or that's still fated to meet her still... because they'll forever be lost to her.} He brushed a hair out of her face. "What are you thinking, little one?" His eyes softened as she turned toward him.

Jos furrowed her brows, "It's just strange, I guess."

He smiled as he brushed another stray hair behind her ear. "What is strange, kitten?"

Jos's brows came closer together as she tried to explain what she was thinking. "Finally putting a name to your... well..."

His smile widened as he cupped her cheek, "My what, Joslyn." He pushed, knowing good and well it wasn't his face she was thinking of.

Her troubled eyes met his, this time ignoring the heat she saw there. "I thought it would feel different... that knowing your name would make me hate you more..." Her voice trailed off as she tried to understand her own feelings.

He leaned closer, "And?"

She glanced down as she answered. "I don't hate you." She said, the words seeming like just as much of a shock to her as they were to him.

He held himself back, fighting the urge to take her into his arms and kiss her until 'I don't hate you' turned back into 'I love you'. His throat tightened unable to say a word, instead, he continued to listen to what she had to say.

"I can't really say I still hate Orion either." She paused waiting on the usual twinge of pain that came from hearing or saying the name but was surprised when it was only a dull ache instead. Her brows pulled together and her eyes closed tightly together. "I really am sorry, I was stupid... and stubborn back then... and it caused a lot of undue hurt to everyone involved... everyone who has ever tried to get involved with me." Another tear slid down her cheek.

He carefully wiped the tear away and pulled her close, leaning painfully far over the center console of the car. He pulled her into a tight hug against his chest and kissed the top of her head. "What did I tell you, no tears. You'll ruin that beautiful makeup of yours." He felt the soft nod of her head and quickly released her and returned to his side of the car before he lost all control of his will power. He slowly pulled his seatbelt back into place and pushed he car into gear, easing out onto the road before he said anything else. "I have something I want to show you." He glanced over to her trying to convey his worry. "I understand you have something going on with that vamp, and even though you say you'll not be with him after tonight..." the worry was now etched on every inch of his handsome face. "I want you to know all I know about what going on right now."

She turned confused eyes his way, "What do you mean?"

He shot her a glance as he maneuvered the car through traffic, "I'll explain when we get there." He pointed ahead. "See that large parking area over there?" He waited until she followed his finger. "That's where we are going."

He didn't say anything else as he pulled into the crowded parking lot and shut the car off. He walked over to the other side of the car and helped her out taking her hand in his. Once she straightened he released her hand and moved his around to the bared skin of the small of her back. He led her toward the dock where there was a large table positioned beside an oversized podium. "Here." He said leading her to the table. "Pick any one of them you want to wear for the night. I'll fill out the registration forms." He said indicating the intricately designed masks spread out on the table. He turned away and began talking to the attendant standing at the podium as his hand worked quickly on the paperwork. "Decker, right?" He asked from the podium, drawing her attention away from the beautiful masks.

"Hum?" She asked on a sigh as she continued fingering through the masks. Not noticing when he came up behind her.

He reached over her shoulder and snagged a lacy black mask with tiny diamonds adorning it. She turned to look at him, her eyes wide with question. "Decker? That is the last name you are still using, correct?" He glanced over the mask sending her a raised eyebrow as he worked the knot in the silk strings.

"Yes it is." she nodded still slightly confused but before she could ask, he gently set the mask against her face and rubbed his chin with his free hand.

"This one suits you, I think." Arei made a spinning motion with the finger that had just been rubbing his chin as he continued to hold the mask with the other. She turned and he stepped closer behind her. He leaned over carefully placing the mask back onto the slim bridge of her nose before feathering his fingers along the sides of her face, bringing the ribbons with them. "Which feels more comfortable?" He moved the ribbons above her up-done hair then moved it under it, holding each position for a few seconds to give her the feel.

Jos cleared her throat as his fingers glided across the back of her bare neck sending a slight s.h.i.+ver to run down her spine. "Under is fine." She whispered, hoping her voice didn't reveal too much of her emotions and his effects on them.

Arei smiled letting his fingers linger longer than needed. "All done." He finally breathed leaning over her shoulder. He held her troubled gaze for a few seconds too long before grabbing a mask of his own and straightening. He quickly tied it into place and stepped back for her inspection. "Well?" He asked indicating the mask. "Is it me?"

Jos nodded her emotions struggling to be freed and explored. "Y-yes..." she mumbled.

His face lit up under the half mask. It was a pale gold trimmed in black with darker gold and black designs one side of the unevenly cut mask covered nearly his entire left side while the right was bared from the upper arch of his eye down. The gold of the mask causing the gold sparks around the center of his eyes to sparkle while the black contrast caused the contrasting blue of his eyes to seem brighter. He held out his hand for her to take. "Follow me."

He led her across the pier leading to the ma.s.sive boat and up onto the balcony overlooking the largest section of the party. He guided her over to the rail and leaned over beside her. "Look out there what do you see?"

The question confused her and no doubt that confusion was obvious because before she had even answered he had already moved closer and was now looking up into her eyes. He nodded his head toward the ma.s.sive amounts of bodies moving around below them. "Really look, kitten." He said pus.h.i.+ng up off the rails and moving to stand behind her.

She examined the area again. "What am I supposed to be looking for?" She asked.

He gripped the rail of one side of her has he leaned over the opposite shoulder pointing out over the crowd. "Do you see any familiar faces?" He met her eyes hoping to convey his message without actually having to spell it out. "You were there 15 years ago during the attack on the Laganas. Several of these very men were there that day."

Her breath caught in her throat and her hands gripped tighter around the railing until her knuckles where white. She tried to choke out words but couldn't.

He turned her around to face him pus.h.i.+ng close against her as he lowered his head and whispered, his nose nearly touching hers. If anyone pa.s.sed them or noticed them, they would more than likely think they were a couple kissing rather than someone outing a potential uprising plot. "This is why I felt I had to tell you now, alone." He brushed her cheek along the bottom edge of the mask, lowering his voice farther. "I didn't want you to come here tonight and recognize someone from then. Believe me when I tell you I've been around these guys long enough to know well what would happen." He gently cupped the back of her head pulling her into his chest as he glanced around, making sure they hadn't drawn any lingering attention before he spoke again. "We... I have no way of proving it right now, but we suspect they are all on a verge of another uprise. DeMarco doesn't present himself as his father had but he still seems driven toward the same power." He gazed down into her eyes, "I'm not saying you're in danger. The man seems to seriously care for you no matter what your relations.h.i.+p with him is, but I wouldn't trust him either." He stroked his hand down along the length of her arm stopping on her wrist where the small handbag hung. He tugged on the strap drawing her attention down toward it. "Enter my number into your phone and if something happens or you need me for any reason call me immediately."
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She shot worried glances his way as she removed her phone from the bag and swiped her finger across the screen. She tapped a few b.u.t.tons then handed him the phone. "Here." She said.

He arched a brow down at her, "You should really consider putting a lock code on this." He said as he took it from her and quickly typed in his name and contact information. He handed it back before pulling her against him again. He placed a light kiss to the top of her head before holding her at arm's length. "I may be here to work tonight, but don't worry, try to enjoy yourself some, and know that I'll be looking out for you, alright." His bright smile did little to hide the sad nostalgia that lingered around the corners of his eyes. "It's been great seeing you again, kitten. I wish we could have gotten a chance to talk and catch up sooner..." A flirty glint lit up his hazel eyes as he added. "Maybe 15 years sooner... before that wolf pup was so ingrained into your heart." He placed a light kiss to her cheek before taking her hand and spinning back around toward the stairs. He walked her to the edge and pointed toward a door. "You'll more than likely find DeMarco in there." He said. He ran a finger along her jaw taking her in one last time. He let out a loud sigh before stepping away. He stopped and turned back up toward her on the second step down. "If you need anything at all don't hesitate to call me, ok." When she only nodded he smiled then continued back down the stairs.

Xavier tightened his grip on the champagne gla.s.s in his hand feeling the fragile crack of the stem under his grasp. He turned and pointed toward the stairs leading from the second-floor balcony. "Who is that man over there." He asked the man standing beside him.

"Which one?" The other man asked not paying much attention.

Xavier ground his teeth together as he watched the man turn back and smile up at Joslyn. He had recognized the gown he'd picked almost instantly and with her silver hair piled neatly atop her head, there was no denying it was her. There had been no denying it was her when the man he now pointed at had been groping and kissing on her moments ago either. "The one with the black and gold mask and solid black tux-" The words died in his throat as he recognized the strange hairstyle. It was the man from the meeting earlier, the one who'd followed her out into the hall... who had given her a ride home AND here tonight.

"Oh, that?" The man asked finally following Xavier's gave to where Arei made his way down the stairs. "His name is Aaron, Aryan... or something of the sort." The man continued to speak as Xavier pushed angrily by and toward Arei.