chapter 2

DARANA

“Darana” he repeated as if testing the sound of my name on his lips. My hand was still trapped in his and I slowly wriggled it out which earned a slight chuckle from him.

I glanced to my side and saw Caliste watching us with genuine interest. I blushed and tucked a loose strand that was framing my face behind my ear.

From the corner of my eye, I watched the crowd. The party was in full swing now and the guests were beginning to fill the dance floor as each couple twirled left and right.

“You should join them," Caliste urged, nudging me softly.” Go dance,” she said. I shook my head. “But I don't have a dance partner” .

“Ohhh, that's easily remedied,” she said with a laugh as she grabbed her grandson's hand and placed it in mine. “Now you have one," she said with a wink and my eyes widened. This old woman had tricked me and I had fallen right into her trap.

She was gone before I could protest and I watched as she disappeared into the crowd leaving me alone with the last person I wanted to be with.

“You don't have to dance if you don't want to”. Niklaus whispered in my ear as he slowly traced the back of my fingers.

He was right. I didn't have to do this if I didn't want to. It wasn't part of the plan. The plan was to distract Caliste and nothing else.

But if I said no, Niklaus was bound to get suspicious and that could ruin the whole plan. I decided to play along. I'd have a dance or two with him and be off to find Caliste. “Yes, that's what…”

“So, what's it going to be…..” Niklaus’s deep voice said, drawing me from my thoughts.

I smiled and looked up at him. “Dancing with you wouldn't be such a bad idea” I whispered in his ear and his smile widened.

“Good choice” he replied and led me to the dance floor. I could finally see why the Titterington empire was called an empire because the dance floor could accommodate two hundred people.

Niklaus led me through the dancing guests to the center of the room and slowly placed his hands on my waist, holding firmly. The dress was cut open at the back and feeling his warm palm on my naked flesh made me hitch a breath and I shivered slightly.

“Are you cold?” Niklaus asked softly but I could see the smirk on his face and I knew he was aware I was affected by his touch. Sly bastard.

I decided to play his game and stood on my toes placing my lips just a few inches away from his. I smiled slowly. “Not at all”.

I reached behind him and cupped his ass tightly and watched as he stiffened immediately. “Maybe you are?” I teased and pulled away.

I had just gotten few feet away from him in search of Caliste when a strong hand gripped me and pulled me back and I was pressed against a hard chest with that familiar warm hand on my back.

“It's not good manners to leave a man hanging”. Niklaus said hoarsely in my ear.

He pulled me away just enough to twirl me around him and pull me back against him. I could feel his hardness at my back and I drew in a shaky breath.

His hands trailed across my neck just as I felt his warm breath against my ear. The room had faded behind us and the air buzzed with a sexual intensity so great, it had my knees weakening.

This wasn't right. I was always in control. I had always had the attention of men in my palm so what made Niklaus so different. I wasn't waiting to find out.

“Want to go somewhere quiet?" he asked as his hands found the curve of my hips and stayed there.

“What was taking Adrika so long?” She should have gotten the jewel by now. I didn't know how much longer I could keep this up.

Niklaus turned me around and slowly closed the distance between us, his lips hovering just a few distance away from mine.

I was so sure he was going to kiss me when I heard a screeching sound through the Bluetooth device.

“I've found it,” Adrika yelled and I winced from the loud sound.

“Okay good,now get out of there” Gemma hissed. “You've wasted more than enough time”.

“I'm out already” she grumbled and I heaved a breath of relief. “Rana, that's your cue. Get out of there. I don't know what's going on there but you can't stay a minute longer”.

I looked up just in time to see Niklaus close his eyes as his lips were about to make contact with mine.

I could kiss him now or bolt for the entrance. I decided to go for the latter once I saw the guards make their way upstairs possibly to the room Adrika just stole from.

My eyes darted between Niklaus and the entrance and I sighed as I gathered my dress in my hands and stylishly disappeared through the crowd of guests.

The van was parked next to a catering service vehicle and Adrika and Gemma were already waiting.

“What the hell was that all about?” I yelled to Gemma as soon as I got close enough.

“No time. Get in the car”. She ordered and I sighed and got in, pulling my heels off once I had sunk into the leather seat.

“So did you manage to distract Caliste?”Gemma asked and I shook my head.

“I was with her grandson” I replied and her eyes widened. “Her grandson? Rana, that wasn't the fucking plan” she yelled.

“Well, if you had informed me that her grandson son would be attending the party then maybe I would have stuck to the fucking plan” I yelled back.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck” she cursed as she buried her face in her hands.

“Umm, what should I do?” Reggie, our driver asked from the driver's seat.

“Fucking drive” we chorused