Beautiful Beings (10 page)

“Like…?” I had a vague idea what people might think, but wanted to hear it from him.

A slow and reluctant grin softened his face. “Like your mysterious past, where you come from, why you were transferred here, and how, on your parents’ admittedly small income manage to get into a school like St. James.  Like the bad girl attitude you give off, like the hot and sexy way you have in making that dreary school uniform look like high fashion.” He pulled me closer. “Like the beautiful face that is so captivating, yet so withdrawn and inaccessible.”

“Well, maybe that is who I am.” I flashed him a cocky smirk.

“Seriously?”  He sat up and propped an elbow on the table as he turned to look intently at me. “I mean, I know you're beautiful, anybody can see that, but… mysterious, bad girl, the attitude?”

“Well, I do like to keep my private life private. If some people want to call that mysterious, that’s fine with me. As for the bad girl, I don’t know. I don’t really like to take crap from anyone. Don’t push me and I won’t push you back.  Could also be that I’ve never been the girly girl type. I hate doing my nails, I can’t stand wasting time on my hair and getting into a dress…”  I flared out the skirt of my uniform. “You have no idea how uncomfortable this is to me.  I guess some people see something wrong with all that.”

“And the attitude?”

I shrugged. “Maybe it’s just a defense mechanism… you know, shun them before they shun you.”

“You’re amazing, you know that?”  He reached out, as though to caress my face, but he stopped, bit the corner of his lower lip and withdrew his hand. “I’ve never met anyone like you; not at St. James, or anywhere for that matter.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” I pulled my science book out of my bag and opened it.  “Now, are you going to help me understand all this, or what?”

He laughed and we got down to some serious studying. It was two hours and dinner time when we took a break.

“I feel like my brain has spent a week in a beaker flaming over a Bunsen and is now ready for the Petri dish.”

“How about a bite to eat?” Brax offered.

“Hmmm, maybe coffee would be good.”

He rose. “Coffee it is.”

I followed him inside to the large gourmet kitchen.  The cool chill immediately settled on my shoulders again, despite the warm rays of sunshine beaming through the arched windows.

As I leaned back against the dark granite counter, my hands playing over the cool, smooth surface, Braxton prepared a blend of coffee I’d never even heard of before, filled the machine with pricy bottled water and clicked the on button. “You’ll have the perfect cup of world class java in a minute,” he said.

“I have to admit, I didn’t think you’d be so handy in the kitchen.”

“Anyone can make coffee.” He came to stand directly in front of me, his beautiful hazel eyes filled with hunger and tenderness.

“Hmm, tell that to my dad.  He’s still trying to get my mom to understand the coffee water ratio.”

I could feel the heat coming from his body, crushing the perpetual cold the house seemed to embody.  His breath came to my nostrils, lightly scented with cinnamon, sweet and too appealing. He was a good guy, the kind of guy any girl would love to marry. Attentive, generous and sensitive, all the things I’d thought men were incapable of.

Don’t forget delectably adorable, a little voice whispered from deep within my body. Yes, definitely adorable, I thought. He often kept his blond tresses in order, sleeking them back in a way that gave him a haughtier look than he should, but now… now his hair framed his face, giving him an angelic appeal.

Contradicting that angelic appeal were his lips, sultry and full, just waiting to be kissed.  When he parted them, I knew I wanted to feel the press of his mouth against mine.  I wanted to lose myself in his embrace.

I closed my eyes, willing him to come closer.  When he didn’t, I reluctantly opened my eyes to find him staring at me in wonder, his hand, cupped and reaching for my chin, frozen in midair.

“I don’t want to scare you off. I don’t want to go too fast and have you think I’m just playing games, but…”  He tongue came to play along the edge of his teeth as he paused and nodded thoughtfully. With great hesitation, he went on. “I’d like you to come to the St. James formal with me.”

A spontaneous harrumph escaped me, but I quickly recovered. “I’d love to go with you, Brax, but you know how I hate that sort of thing. It was all I could do to drag my butt over here last night. I truly had no intention of going.”

Reaching back to take my hands, he brought them together and kissed my fingers. “Look, think about it. I have to go on account of my uncle, and I’d really like it if you could be there with me. It’ll sure be a lot more fun if you’re there, and I promise I’ll do all I can to make sure you have a good time, too.”

His lips continued to play over my fingers, making me dizzy with the desire to please him.  How could I say no? I said “yes,” and his lips left my fingers, and found their way to my lips. The kiss was sweet and soft, and when I pressed closer to him, his arms came around me, pulling me closer. “Lux,” he said breathlessly. “I’m so glad you found me.”

He kissed me again, and all I knew was that his kiss made me feel so warm and wonderful, I said, “Me, too, Brax. Me, too.”

Chapter 10

B
raxton dropped me off at home and I was relieved to find I’d arrived before my parents.  Though they were cool about what I did with my free time, I simply didn’t want to get into it.

Once inside I went to the phone to erase the message I’d left, but found there was another message beside my own.

“Hi Lux, Shayne here.  Didn’t see you all day, so I was wondering if you’d found the note I left in your locker.  I really did have a good time and hope we can get together, a girly get together.  You know the formal is coming up soon and I thought maybe we could check out some possible fashion choices.  Anyway, I’m free all week, so just let me know and you can come over… you’re welcome to go through my closet if you don’t have anything suitable.”

I clicked the erase button. 

If I don’t have anything suitable… what kind of a stuck up, ballsy, snooty-nosed comment was that.  I’d already decided to wear the dress I’d worn at Kingsley’s.  Then again, the sexy little vixen inside me whispered, something new and really hot would be nice.

Forgetting to fix something for dinner, I headed upstairs to change out of my uniform. Standing in my black undies and lacy bra, I examined myself in the full length mirror. I was toned without being overly muscular, fit without being boxy or boyish.  Turning around I looked at my booty and wondered what kind of dress would best put all this to the best advantage.

Cut down low to show off my cleavage?  Tight and clingy to emphasize my derriere?  Slip up to there for a little vavavoom. Now that Brax had kissed me, and we were going to the formal together, I wanted to dress up to see his beautiful hazel eyes light up when he sees me.

Either way, I wasn’t quite ready to give Shayne a call just yet, no matter how popular she was. I doubted she’d be so generous with her extravagant and elegant wardrobe if she knew I’d accepted Braxton’s invitation to the formal.  In fact, she’d probably tear whatever I did end up wearing to shreds.

The next day, however, I had to deal with her face to face.  The moment she saw me she made a beeline for me with the question I knew was coming.

“Hey, why didn’t you call?  Wasn’t my offer enticing enough?”

“Sorry, I got home a little later than usual.” Not a total lie.  “Besides, I’m not really sure it’s such a great idea to borrow your clothes. I was thinking of wearing what I had at the Kingsley.”

“Honey,” she said, a cautionary hand coming out to pat my arm.  “This is a formal. Minis are frowned upon, and even a cocktail dress won’t do. You have to pull out all the stops.  Full-length gown, jewels, updo, the whole thing.

Full-length gown.  Mom had already invested more than she should in the mini I’d worn.  I couldn’t possibly ask her to splurge for a gown.  Perhaps it was an omen.  I didn’t belong at that kind of function.  “I really appreciate the offer, Shayne, but, I don’t know.”

“Because of Brax?”

I almost dropped my cinder block novel.  How had she found out so quickly?

“I don’t really care that he asked you to go with him instead of me.  I mean, he’s cute and all, but, hell, there are plenty of other great guys here.  I think I can handle just being good friends with him.  Besides you two make such a cute couple.”

A brief moment of relief allowed me to accept her invitation, but it was followed by a longer moment of suspicion. Somehow I found it difficult to believe she could be so ardent one day and so passive the next.

“I have the perfect Randi Rahm gown that would be ideal with your color and build.  You’ll be the belle of the ball.”

I had no doubt she would reserve the opportunity to wear that honor for herself.

“How about tonight?”

“No, not for a week or two.  I’m absolutely drowning in catch up work.”

She pulled out her phone to check her calendar.  “Okay, I scratch you in for November 13, two weeks from now.”

She flashed me a dazzling smile as she spun around, her hair flouncing about her, and sauntered off.

*****

The next two weeks were a flurry of science, math, English and chemistry, and while Brax was a patient and diligent tutor, he could also prove to be quite a distraction. Ever since the first kiss, Brax was unabashed about finding moments when he would kiss me again. They were always sweet and soft, as though he was holding back…

However, every afternoon brought us closer and closer as we studied, exchanged ideas, spoke of our hopes and dreams for a future and chatted over the little nothings in life.  The waterfront terrace was the perfect venue for opening up, exploring one another and getting some true studying done. We would talk about everything and anything.  All except my closely-guarded secret…that I was a demon slayer.

As we sat on the bench facing the water, one breezy, cool afternoon, the length of our thighs pressed together, he turned to me, his fingers instantly coming to calm the wayward tresses that played on the wind. His eyes smoldered and my intense desire to get closer to him became excruciating.

“The formal is coming up soon,” he said.  “Are you ready yet?”

I shook my head.  “Not yet.  I’m supposed to go to Shayne’s tomorrow to see what she has.”

He leaned in, his lips brushing along my ear.  “Whatever you wear, I’m sure you’ll be the hottest girl there.”  He kissed my temple and sat back.

I would have to content myself with that for the moment.

*******

The next day I hid my intimidation as I got out of Shayne’s chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom and followed her inside the majestic mansion in Belvedere. While she appeared completely unaffected by the splendor of her surroundings, I couldn’t keep from gawking.

“How ‘bout a snack before we start?”

“I’m good, thanks.”

She nodded and led me up the stairs.  Tastefully decorated, the home was remarkably cozy and welcoming.  Cream-colored walls offered the perfect backdrop to rich wood furniture, while clean lines kept the home from looking cluttered.

Shayne’s room carried the same simple sophistication, the only spot of color being the blue roman drapes that mirrored the perfect blue of the bay visible from all windows.  The effect was magical and soothing.

“So, where should we start?”  Shayne said and she pulled apart two paneled sliding doors.

The girly girl in me exploded into a childish giggle as I took in the expansive closet. Dresses, all grouped by color, lined one side of the closet while gowns of all colors and fabrics lined the other.  At the far end, there was a wall of shoes.

“The Vionnet halter dress would be great on your figure.”

The pleated beige dress was indeed pretty, but lacked the sex appeal I was hoping for.  I shook my head.

“I have this Michael Kors cutout dress.  It’s elegant, classy with just enough sensuality, and if you top them off with these Nicholas Kirkwood heels.”

I didn’t want just enough sensuality, I wanted more.  Flicking through the hangars, I came upon a shimmering blue corseted gown.

“Anna Lin, one of my favorites. That is perfect, and I have the perfect shoes to go with it,” Shayne said.  “I wore that to a fundraiser not too long ago and got rave reviews.  I’ll leave you a moment to try it on.”

I disrobed and pulled on the dress. Holding the corset to my chest, I struggled to pull up the zipper at the back and finally called Shayne in for a hand.

“Wow,” she said as she came in.  “That shade of blue is just divine on you, and you certainly have the shoulders and arms to pull off a sleeveless dress.

As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, she came up behind me and tugged on the zipper, but when she reached my bust line, the dress proved inadequate.  She tugged harder, finally forcing the gown closed, but my breasts were ready to pop out.  After a brief flash of envy in her eyes, Shayne pulled the zipper down. “Well, I guess this one is too small.”