Gold Shimmer (4 page)

As he starts to walk away, I turn to follow. “I’ll come with you...”

But uniform guy clasps my hand, saying in a low voice for my ears, “Stay and dance with me instead.”

I barely give him a glance as I attempt to shake free of his grasp. “I’m good.” I don’t want to lose sight of Damien. He’s the biggest partier in the Blake family—not to mention the richest guy here—which means he’ll be the center of attention. Celeste needs to be fully in the spotlight tonight when she does something beyond embarrassing.

The fingers around mine tighten, holding me in place. I frown and glance down at his hand on mine. “You can let go of me now.”

“Why are you panting after Damien? Will only a slick billionaire meet your needs…instead of a lowly sailor?”

The arrogant challenge in his tone instantly stiffens my spine. I jerk my attention to his face, ready to lay into him for his assumptions, but I’m thrown off guard by his focused gaze staring at me.

As much as I want to study his defined cheekbones and angular jawline, it’s his green eyes that hold my attention. Even shrouded by his hat’s black bill, they’re the clearest color I’ve ever seen. Lush, Ireland green. And currently full of judgment. Instead of taking the harshness in his tone too seriously—it’s not like he isn’t partially right about my agenda—my thoughts shift to how much I’d like to photograph him.

Shaking my head to get myself back on track, I scan the rest of his face. “You’re not wearing a mask.” As a matter of fact, he’s the only one not following the “masks must remain on or you will be asked to leave” party rule.

He smirks. “Observant.”

“Smartass,” I retort, rolling my eyes. When his eyebrows shoot up as if surprised, I remember that cursing isn’t Celeste’s style. She’ll cut you down to size with her elitist attitude instead. Giving a half-smile, I tilt my head and gesture to his uniform. “Navy branch, right? Since you’re not trying to hide, does that mean you’re really in the military? Or are you just that incredibly arrogant?”

“And astute,” he continues his assessment of me, his mouth crooking in amused appreciation as he runs his thumb along mine. “I’m in the Navy, and yes to your last question too.” A shrug. “I can’t be anything other than who I am, so why fake it.”

His realness disarms me, while the warmth of his touch sets my nerves on edge, taking my stomach on a rollercoaster ride. I ignore the signs of interest blooming and instead focus on my inner “revenge vixen” who’s currently rubbing her hands together in glee. He could be even better than Damien. Celeste would never spend more than a nanosecond socializing with a military guy. Then again, at least one of the Blakes must know him, because he’s walking around unmasked. “Nice to meet you, Mr. Navy, I’m Yvette,” I say, shaking his hand. “When do you ship out again?”

“Day after tomorrow.” Turning, he leads me through the crowd. Once we reach the other side of the dance floor, he tugs me close as we begin to dance to the fast-paced song.

“Leaving so soon?” I say, letting disappointment creep into my tone.

His green gaze heats right before he clasps my waist and bends close to my ear. “I’ve developed a talent for getting to know people who interest me in record time.”

“Really?” I raise an eyebrow as he straightens. “What’s your secret?”

“I state my intentions right up front.” He flashes an unrepentant grin. “Doing so cuts through the BS. Everyone wins.”

The double meaning in his comment is hard to miss. This is probably the fastest come-on I’ve ever had. I love this guy’s swagger. He’s so damn cocky, he’ll at least be fun to verbally spar with. The fact he’s shipping out in two days and prefers to eliminate the BS in his life means he obviously isn’t looking for more. I couldn’t have planned a more perfect scenario. I’ll get to have as much no-strings-attached fun with Mr. Navy-Hot-Pants as I want tonight, while at the same time stirring Celeste’s snobby friends into a frenzy about her slumming it. I can already see their sidelong looks and hear the mumble of hushed gossip circulating around us.
Idiots
.

As unbidden excitement rushes through me, I laugh and tug free of his hold to grab two flutes of champagne from a passing server’s tray. Turning back, I offer him a glass. “To an evening full of potential conquests…er, interests, Mr. Navy.”

He shakes his head. “I’m staying sober tonight. And there’s only
one
interest I’m focused on,” he continues, moving closer to me as we dance to the song’s rolling base.

Taking a long sip of my drink, I hold his steady gaze, ready to be enthralled by his methods. Or at the very least…entertained. “So, how
do
you employ this talent of yours?”

He rests his hands on my hips, the corners of his lips tilting in a predatory smile. “Blunt honesty.”

At least he’s consistent. “Honesty only gets you so far—” I gulp back a gasp when he pulls my hips fully against his. As he moves our locked bodies to the music’s seductive beat, I’m shocked by his aggression, but even more surprised by his obvious erection pressing intimately against me. I quickly down the rest of my drink, letting out a low laugh. “Then there’s the direct approach.”

Determination shines in his green eyes flecked with bits of grey. “Damien’s going to be pissed that I sent him on a fool’s errand, but he’ll just have to get over losing you. I’m not letting you go,” he says in a low rumble, tracing his thumbs slowly down my hipbones.

I try to ignore the chill bumps quickly spreading across my skin from his arousing touch, but the resolute steel in his voice and tightening of his hands on my hips send a shiver of delight rushing through me anyway. I drain half the other glass, appreciating the warm buzz that’s starting to spread through me. I’m well aware this seduction is all part of his “I must get laid before I ship out” plan for the evening, but for someone who’s in total deception mode tonight, I appreciate the upfront honesty. “I didn’t realize I was a prize to be won.”

“Taken,” he corrects quietly.

His husky double entendre rockets my heart rate. “You’re pretty confident in yourself,” I say evenly while my mind screams,
“Love it, damn it!”
Any other time I’d be all over this opportunity, but not tonight. Stepping back, I try to slow the mutual attraction down to super sexy verbal fencing. “You…ah, do realize there are
two
pieces to this puzzle you apparently want to complete.”

Chuckling, he takes my glasses and gives them to another server, then lowers his face close to mine. His hat’s bill briefly shrouding us in our own little shadowed space as he slides his hands around my waist, amusement settling. “Hmm, puzzle pieces...how is it that I’m just now noticing you have so many intriguing angles, Celeste?” His serious gaze drops to my lips, then slowly slides down my neck to my cleavage before moving back to my face. Touching my jawline, he captures my chin with his thumb. “I’m going to enjoy fitting myself against every one of your curves until we lock perfectly into place.”

His seductive metaphor knocks me in the gut, wrecking havoc on my senses. I’m really glad I gave that condom to Talia or I’d get Celeste into so much freaking trouble tonight. I can’t decide if it’s Mr. Navy’s charmingly irresistible confidence that’s doing crazy things to my insides, or his amazing smell.

He’s not wearing cologne like half the guys here, but his clean, crisp scent tightens my chest with an unbidden craving for more each time he draws close, like some kind of perfectly timed pheromone dispenser. My physical reaction to his hold on me is so unnerving that I swallow, hoping to settle the sensation. Just how far can he take this metaphor? Nothing is hotter than a guy with sharp wit. “Let me guess. You’re a master puzzler?”

His lips lift in a definite smirk. “I’ll admit you’ve surprised me tonight, which doesn’t happen often. I’m fascinated. As for me being a master puzzler…” He pulls me even closer. “Why don’t you let me know once I’ve thoroughly and completely solved you.”

My lower muscles clench.
This man takes verbal foreplay to a whole new level
. While my body zings to life, I know his shrewdness doesn’t bode well for my incognito status. He obviously knows of Celeste, but he doesn’t really know her. That means I haven’t been playing her well enough, which could become a problem. She might be a bitch, but at least she’s whole. I look and sound fine on the surface, but my insides are all broken. The last thing I need is for him or anyone else to figure out I’m
not
her.

Just as I push on his chest so I can rein myself in, I catch quick movement out of the corner of my eye.

Talia is hurriedly weaving through the crowd. The way she’s pressing her lips together tells me something’s up. When I see she’s also caught Gavin’s attention and he starts to quickly cut through the partiers, worry rises. I turn away, mumbling, “I think Scarlett needs me.”

I don’t get more than two steps before Mr. Navy captures my arm. His chest brushes against my back as he says in a low tone, “Watch. This should be good.”

The second Gavin steps into place, hot on Talia’s trail, the hooded guy who’d been dancing with her earlier grabs Gavin’s shoulder from behind. Despite the people all around him, Gavin quickly jerks back, fist flying. The hooded guy captures Gavin’s swing as if it were a foam bullet. Holding onto Gavin’s fist, he says something in a low voice.

Mr. Navy’s laugh rumbles in my ear. “If Bash’s getting involved, then your friend Scarlett must’ve made quite the impression.”

Whatever that Bash guy says works, because Gavin jerks free of Bash’s hold, then tugs on his custom suit’s lapels and walks away. All of this happens in seconds, so I scan to find Talia and keep my gaze focused on her until Bash catches up with her. When I see her nod and let him lead her out of the crowd, I exhale a sigh of relief. I know Gavin was her biggest worry tonight, and after that showdown with Bash, I doubt he’ll focus on her again.

“Well, that was impressive,” I say in a light tone. “Your friend has some skills.”

“Yeah, he can hold his own. The guy grew up rough and doesn’t take shit from anyone. He taught me a few fighting tricks even the military hasn’t imparted. The streets are definitely a different kind of survival.”

The last was said with amused affection and respect. I glance over my shoulder and meet his gaze. “You two sound close.”

“Since we were teens. He always gives it to me straight, no lies, no bullshit. Other than my father, he’s the only person I can say that about. Actually, he’s the reason I joined the military.” He smirks as he trails his fingers down a curl in my hair, stopping to wind the end around his finger. “Claimed it would be a more positive use of my skills.”

It’s on the tip of my tongue to ask what his skills are—I’m dying to know—but then I notice the attentiveness in his touch and realize I’m acting entirely too interested and curious…more like me and
not
Celeste. This guy makes it too hard to pretend to be completely self-absorbed. Despite his poor taste in someone like Celeste, I don’t like deceiving him. It feels wrong. I need to shift my focus back to Damien. He’s much easier to keep up a superficial persona with.

I push my hair over my shoulder, swiping the curl from his finger. “What’s your real name, Mr. Navy?”

His smile fades. For a second, I think he’s not going to answer, but when he does his voice is tight. “Calder.”

By his reaction, apparently Celeste knows him, and he assumed she knew but was playing coy.
Ugh
, I feel like shit for adding to his baggage, but sadly, not remembering meeting him in the past—because a sailor wouldn’t rate high enough in her upper-tier social network—is exactly something Celeste would do.

I nod and force a smile to smother my guilt. “Thanks for the dance, Calder. Be safe when you ship out next week. I really should find Damien now. He’s probably wondering what happened to me.”

It’s hard not to wince when I hear him mutter, “What the fuck…” as I walk away. But he really doesn’t need the fucked up
real
me in his life either. I’m actually doing him a favor. Instead of turning back and apologizing, I walk through the frenzied crowd of dancers. While I scan for Damien’s dark head and black cape near the bar, a loud crack of thunder rumbles outside, reflecting my suddenly tanked mood.

Being a royal bitch
sucks
. I didn’t think it was possible to dislike Celeste even more. At this moment, I despise her.

“Celeste!”

I’m knocked sideways just as I reach the edge of the dance floor as the blonde girl from earlier, Jordan, bumps shoulders with me, a wide grin on her face. My stomach drops at the familiar smell of a spicy cologne clinging to her. The scent elicits such a revolting response, I instantly take a step back

“Hey, girl,” she slurs loudly to be heard over the music. “I ran into Jake a few minutes ago. He’s looking for you.” Glancing up, she nods toward the bar area. “Saw him up there getting a drink. And now I’m off to the bathroom.”

My chest cinches when I follow her line of sight. Just then Jake’s dirty blond head swivelstoward us. Dressed as a gladiator, his eyes light up as they land on me. He must’ve heard her say his name. As Jake quickly speaks to his buddies, I try to grab onto Jordan’s arm, but she’s moving too fast and is swallowed in the crowd once more.

That moment I thought I could handle, the one where I face down the demon that I’ve slayed in my mind a million times before has come. As Jake heads toward the dance area, his blond head bent as he takes the first step down leading to the dance floor, my instinct is to run, but it’s like my heels are welded to the floor. Everyone slows down around me, the sound fading to a heavy bass thump in the background.