Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
I nod, and raise a black eyebrow before lifting my flute towards hers to clink lightly.
“To the most beautiful woman in the room,” I growl, seizing her blue eyes with my own. The passion between us is electrifying, even though we’re currently in a room filled with laughing, chatting people. “It’s good to finally meet you, Catherine.”
She blushes and her pink pout opens a bit, as if she’s going to say something. But instead, Cat merely nods and takes a sip of her champagne. I watch as she swallows, and wonder what it would be like to feel that throat pulsing around myself. Magnificent, most likely.
“I should go find Rev,” she says a little awkwardly before meeting my eye. Shoot. Her gaze is the most innocent, cornflower blue and my heart breaks a bit. This woman is naïve and untested, so what is my brother doing with her? He likes his women experienced and brittle, whereas Cat is soft and womanly. Shit. Somehow, I know that Rev’s up to no good. He’s going to bring heartbreak on this girl, and it’s just a question of whether it happens sooner or later.
But I push these thoughts to the back of my mind. It’s not my place to say anything, even as my chest tightens and my throat goes dry.
“Sure,” I manage in a neutral voice. “I’m sure Rev’s around somewhere. My apartment’s only five thousand square feet, so Rev can’t have gotten far. I’ll see you around,” I say.
The blonde bites her lip and nods, and then turns and slips into the crowd in search of my twin. The problem is that I want to protect Catherine from what’s coming, but is that even possible with my brother in the way?
3
Catherine
The crowd around me seems to pulse and morph, making me dizzy. The music is too loud and I feel a little wobbly as I wander around the apartment, looking for Rev.
Where is my boyfriend anyways? Okay, we never had “the Talk” where we agreed to be exclusive, but I’ve been referring to him as my boyfriend for months now. Plus, he brought me to this party, at his brother’s loft, which is also a Valentine’s Day shindig. So aren’t I his girlfriend now? If I’m not, then what am I?
But the night is only growing more and more confusing. Rev’s gone missing, and although Reed said that the apartment’s “only” five thousand feet, five thousand feet in New York City is actually a lot. This place seems to have endless rooms. I pass by the kitchen, and then do a double take because right beside it is another kitchen filled with people laughing and talking. Servers in stiff white shirts and black pants circulate with trays of canapes in their hands. More than one guest looks inebriated, although they’re all dressed well in expensive-looking clothes.
“Um, excuse me,” I mutter as I pass a couple making out in the hallway. Weird. All these people look like they’re the elite upper crust of New York, and yet they’re behaving like teenagers in some coming-of-age movie. Why can’t they get a room? Literally, why can’t they pay for a hotel room, when it’s clearly in their budget and there are billions of hotels in New York?
I pass what looks like a billiards room with a group of handsome men playing pool while smoking cigars. Then I pass a movie theater that has twenty plush seats inside and a projector. Right now, it looks like the crowd is watching Elf, even though it’s not Christmas, and I’m tempted to join them. Will Ferrell is funny in that yellow and green costume, and Elf is a hilarious movie that always has me in stitches.
But this isn’t the time because I need to find Rev. I pass a hallway with what seems like endless doors, but I don’t touch any of the doorknobs, nor do I peek inside. As I tiptoe on the plush carpeting, there are definitely moans of pleasure and delighted sighs, so I couldn’t possibly poke my head in and demand, “Where’s my boyfriend?” Instead, I wander to the back where there’s one last door.
The door looks normal enough, at least. It’s made of a dark wood, and fortunately, there are no sounds. I lightly knock, and there’s a woman speaking inside, although I can’t make out the words.
“Rev?” I ask. “Hi, this is Catherine. Are you in there?”
He must hear me because all of a sudden a baritone voice sounds out. But instead of saying come in, it’s saying something like, “The lighting’s right.”
What? Why would Rev say that? Then again, his words are muffled through the thick wooden barrier, so I test the doorknob. It’s unlocked, and slowly, I inch the door open.
“Rev?” I ask in an inquisitive voice while plastering a smile on my face. “Why did you leave me alone at the party? You know I don’t know anyone here.”