Sociopath's Obsession(8)

Shrugging, my hands grabbed champagne from the tray a waiter was carrying. “You must have imagined it, Dad. Rarely do people know about that place.”

After a few seconds, he nodded, and then his hand on my lower back pushed me faster toward Benjamin and his son Erik, who stood near my mom. Erik’s eyes lit up seeing me, and I barely contained an inward groan. He would bring trouble; clearly, his interest in my breasts was still there.

“Sapphire,” Benjamin greeted me with a soft kiss on my cheek, and I tried not to wince at it. For some reason, he always made me feel uneasy, and no matter how much I found it strange, the feeling wouldn't go away. Guess his son inherited that from him.

Erik took my hand in his and kissed it. I was repulsed and snapped my hand back while his eyes narrowed. His touch was nothing like the stranger’s.

“Sapphire,” he repeated after his father. I hated my name on their lips. In the same moment, musicians started to play a slow song, and his mouth lifted in a half smile as he addressed my father. “Would you allow me to take your daughter for a dance?”

My dad beamed in pleasure and he nodded. “Of course, Erik.”

Before I could protest, he grabbed my hand and we ended up in the middle of the room as the musicians played an instrumental version of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” Loved the song, but hated the moment with him. His hand ended up on my lower back as he pulled me closer to him, although I kept as much distance between us as possible.

“You are breathtaking.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, counting the minutes ‘til the song would end.

“Sapphire, you never answered any of my calls,” Erik grunted. “We could have had a great time together in Aspen.” His hand moved lower and almost squeezed my ass, but before he could do it, I raised it back up and gave him a glare.

“Behave, Erik. Or I’ll stop this dance.”

He snorted mockingly. “Right, like your father would want to upset me or my dad.” My brows furrowed, and I was about to ask what the hell he meant by that, when someone patted his shoulder and we stopped our dance. The stranger from the garden stood behind him, and my heart started beating rapidly again.

“I’d like to dance with the lady.” Although his words made me warm, apprehension about the scene that it might cause worried me. Erik wasn’t known for his good temper. To my surprise, he let go of me and gave me to the guy.

“Sure, man. Can’t wait to see you again at the club,” he said, and the dirty look in his eyes made me instantly want to wash myself. Whatever the club was, it clearly appealed to his kinks. The rumors had it Erik liked it rough. Disappointment filled me at the thought of the stranger having fun in such places. So much for my fantasy.

He took me into his arms, and my body tingled from the sensation of being near him. When he pulled me closer, it allowed me to admire his hard chest and strong, muscled arms. One of his hands ended up on my lower back, while the other took my hand in his, and since there was nothing else to do, I put my right hand on his chest, where his heart beat steadily.

“Thank you,” I breathed out, and his eyes darkened.

“Not a friend of yours?”

My head shook and it made him draw me closer. “He always tries to touch me inappropriately.” The disgust I felt for Eric couldn't be hidden anymore, so the words left my mouth before I could stop them.

His hand on my back tightened possessively as he whispered, “And you don’t like it?”

“No,” I whispered back, closing my eyes, imagining we were far, far away from here and no one but us existed on the dance floor. I wanted to let the power that was coming from him in waves protect us from this society and the demands my father had on me. Was it so bad to get lost just for one night? This man offered me attention and sexual magnetism that I had never felt in my life. My father would never let me explore it any further, if the glance he gave me when I changed partners was anything to go by. After tonight, I would never see him again. Wouldn't it be a shame to have nothing to remember him by? My body felt like it was his, and in that one perfect moment, my mind didn't want to explore how ridiculous, unrealistic, or untruthful that statement was.

Before my mind could stop me, I pleaded against his ear, “Take me away from here.” He stilled, leaned back to hold my gaze, and after probably reading determination in my eyes, moved us through the people to my father’s study, and then closed the door behind us.



Sociopath

Sapphire was like a goddess dancing in an ancient ritual.

Beautiful, powerful, feminine, and happy.

Her blue dress displayed her gorgeous beauty in all its glory, and I wanted to punish her for that. For every male who looked at her with desire, and there were plenty. I noticed. Didn't she know that for a body like hers, men started wars? She shouldn't have exposed it so much, emphasized something that belonged to me.