The Maverick Pride Tales - Chapter 127: Chapter 127

Her cheeks heated and her breath caught. If she wasn’t careful, she’d wind up having an asthma attack from her own nerves.
“Come on, beautiful,” Lance said, taking her hand.
Anna stopped and waited for him to look at her. She needed to make things clear from the beginning, so there were no false expectations.
“You don’t have to do that, you know,” she said. “Call me things like baby or beautiful. I’m not expecting that⁠—”
“Wait. Why not? Do you not like that? I would never want to offend you,” he said, frowning.
“Oh, no,” Anna replied. Dammit. Now she would have to explain. “I am not offended, Lance. I just mean, I’m a realist. Men don’t do that kind of thing with me. I am always the geek who gets friend-zoned by the end of the night. I just, well, before this goes any further, if that’s the case, it is okay. I don’t mind being your friend. I just don’t want to confuse things⁠—”
“Annalia,” he said, moving closer to her, so close their fronts touched. “I don’t know what kind of idiots you’ve dated in the past, but I am not them. I don’t tell lies. I can sense them, all my people can, and I would never do that to you. It’s just not in me. Hear the truth in my voice when I tell you, you take my breath away.”
She was gonna melt. Right there, Anna was going to turn into a puddle of goo at his feet.
Goopy goopy goo.
Either that, or she was going to come with nothing more than a few words from this ridiculously sexy man. Her breathing grew tight. The perfume and cologne in the air made it difficult to get any air in. But that was not why her pulse was racing.
It was in the way this blue-eyed man was practically purring and running a single finger across her cheek. Like she was something precious.
“You are precious,” he murmured, leaning down to brush his lips across hers in a perfectly respectable kiss. “Precious and beautiful. That’s just the truth, Anna.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, painfully aware she’d spoken aloud again.
Sigh.
Annalia stepped back, taking a moment to collect herself. The room was gorgeous, done all in blues and silvers. The event planner had done an outstanding job with the decorations.
“It really looks like a winter wonderland in here,” she mused.
“Right? I like the ice sculptures over there,” Lance said, taking her cues and leading them to their designated table.
He’d nodded to the far wall where a huge forest scene was carved from ice depicting a wide array of wild animals. Impressive. Anna felt like a fairytale princess.
“They hired an orchestra too.” She pointed out.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked.
Annalia did not know how much she could take of him touching her before she jumped on him, but yes, she wanted to dance. Nodding, she took a sip of the glass of water that had been waiting at her seat. Then stood and allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor.
It was packed with beautifully dressed couples moving in time with the beat from the live band. Ladies were dressed in their finest, and men in their suits looking dashing and debonair. No one held a candle to Lance, of course, and from the look on his face, he seemed entranced by her, too.
The band began to play a beautiful arrangement of a modern dance song with their dozens of winds, string, and wood instruments, the result a spectacular rendition causing her body to vibrate.
Or was that him? Lance tugged her gently towards a dark corner of the dance floor, and she was glad. She wanted him all to herself. He sheltered her in his big embrace, heat coming off him in waves that made her shiver and quake.
Something big was happening. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but it was like a magic spell, and she never wanted it to end. Anna hadn’t been this turned on in forever. This kind of soul-deep craving was something she’d never experienced. It would have frightened her if she didn’t see the same thing echoed in his own stare.
Concentrate on dancing, she told herself.
Easy enough with Lance leading. He moved expertly, guiding her between the other swaying couples. Anna felt like a princess. She smiled, laughing delightfully when the crowd gasped at the sudden dimming of the lights.
“This is like magic,” she said, and rested her head against his chest while he tucked her in close.
“That’s just you, beautiful,” his deep voice and warm breath tickled her ear.
It was all too much. She was on sensory overload. Need coursed through her veins, and Anna turned her head. But there he was. Big and handsome, and so damn close.
All she had to do was lean forward, and their lips would meet. Most of the men she’d kissed were not particularly adept at the activity. A true pity because Annalia loved to kiss.
Could be a deal breaker, she reasoned, but better to find out ahead of time.
“Won’t know unless I try,” she whispered.
Lance frowned but caught on as she lifted her face for him. A soft sound, like a growl, escaped his lips before he brushed her mouth with his once, then twice.
The light, teasing touches were driving her mad. She licked her lips. Not because she was trying to be seductive, but because she wanted, needed more pressure.
Lance was a fast learner. His lips pressed against hers in a hot and hard crush. He held her closer still, flooding her with his heat. One hand on her waist, the other on her cheek, Lance slid his tongue inside her mouth, dominating her with his seductive skill.
Sirens were going off like mad inside of her. If Anna wasn’t careful, she would be confessing her undying love for the man after one single kiss.
Why not? It had happened for her parents that way. Love at first sight. But things like that didn’t happen anymore, the reasonable side of her brain said blandly.
They do now, she thought and threw herself into the moment. She’d never been kissed like that. Never had the world stand still and tremble at the same time while fireworks went off in the sky.
He was branding her with his lips, ruining her for anyone else, marking her with his tongue. Lance’s kiss was changing the way she would think about kisses forevermore. She was gasping for air by the time he lifted his head. And Anna was gratified to see. So was he.
“Anna,” he whispered her name.
“Hello Lance, Annalia, I see you arrived safe and sound,” a familiar voice interrupted them.
Anna raised her shocked face to see Uncle Uzzi dancing alongside them with a beautiful, silver-haired woman. The older man was resplendent in a white tuxedo, blue eyes sparkling with glee.
“Uncle Uzzi!” Annalia couldn’t stop herself from smiling widely. “Are you having an enjoyable time?”
“Yes, of course. You look beautiful, dear. And, Lance, how are you doing?”
“Good evening, Uncle Uzzi,” Lance said, and his eyes flashed gold for a second when he looked at Anna.
“I see. Well, Lance, Annalia, I hope you have a good night.”
Uncle Uzzi’s eyes seemed vacant for a moment as he answered. A moment later, he nodded, and spun his dance partner away. Lance was still grinning when he turned to Anna.
“Can I ask you a question, Lance?”
“Of course,” he said. “You can ask me anything.”
“Let’s stop dancing a moment.”
“Sure. Come on.”
Lance led her off the floor. White flower arrangements with pale blue ribbons adorning them sat on several of the tall tables surrounding the dance floor. There had to be four hundred people in the large space, and suddenly Annalia’s chest squeezed tight.
She hated crowds. The flowers, the perfume, her nerves, everything was adding up and breathing was growing difficult. Of course, her pump was in her clutch. The very one she’d checked with her coat at the entrance. She would be okay, Anna just had to take it easy.
Slow it down, she scolded herself. Last thing she wanted was to cause a scene.
“Can I get you something, Annalia? A drink?”
“Please,” Anna responded, and placed her palms flat on the table.
Lance looked worried. She wanted to tell him not to be, but right then, she had other things to do.
Like breathe.
He hailed a passing server. Snagging a glass of champagne from the tray, he handed it to her. Anna nodded her thanks, sipping the chilled wine to soothe her frayed nerves.
“Anna, do you want to go?”
“No. I apologize, I just got winded.”
“You never have to apologize to me. You said you wanted to ask me something?”
“Yeah, uh, why did you hire Uncle Uzzi to find you a date?”
“What?”
“Well, look at you. I mean, you’re completely hot, and from the moment we walked into this place, dozens of women have been giving you come hither looks. So, obviously you aren’t struggling for female attention,” she said and noticed a striking blonde headed their way. Anna rolled her eyes.
“For example,” Annalia sighed and pointed.
“Excuse me,” the blonde said smiling at Lance, she looked at Anna like she was a bug under her shoe and practically pushed her out of her way.
“Lance, my love,” the stranger stage whispered.
Her slim figure was decked out in a skintight dress that showed off not an ounce of fat. Red fingernails reached out and grabbed his lapels as the woman pressed her body against his.
Anna’s whole being tensed. She couldn’t help but stare at the scene as it played out. So, this was his usual date. Made perfect sense. She hardly knew him, had no reason to be hurt, and yet Anna felt like her heart was being torn in two.
Maybe he would push her away? Maybe he would explain the blonde bombshell mistook him for someone else? But no. Anna watched Lance’s expression. Red-faced, like he’d been caught double-dipping. Yes, he was more than uncomfortable. He looked guilty.
Oh no.
She wanted to yell, to scream. What an idiot she’d been, building castles out of a dance. This was a mistake. Talking to Uncle Uzzi, agreeing to the makeover, coming here had all been a terrible mistake. Anna didn’t even have to listen to the simpering female to know she was right.
“Brenda, not now,” he growled.
“I know what this is, Lance. We’ve been through this before,” the woman said with a scathing look at Annalia. “I know you want to make me jealous by dancing with another woman, and you win, I am jealous. Now come on, let’s makeup,” she said, dropping her voice to a sultry whisper that made Anna want to puke.
“Move,” he growled at the woman, but Anna wasn’t buying it.
If he’d wanted to move, he would have stepped away from her grasping hands, but he didn’t. Anna’s dreams came crashing down fast as Lance remained right where he was with that woman’s hands all over him.
Jerk.
“Don’t play hard to get, Lance-a-lot. I said, I was sorry about leaving the other morning when I texted you. Didn’t you see it? Let’s get out of here. I’ll make you forget all about that silly little fight. You know I can. I got what you need, Lance.”
The woman’s voice was loud now, and Anna was desperate to get away, but the couple had her exit blocked off. She was trapped, watching her so-called date and his real girlfriend have their little romantic makeup scene.
Shit.
Humiliation was not a good look on Anna, and she was already cursing herself ten times a fool for falling for his lines. Thank goodness she hadn’t gone home with him. She always fell too hard too fast.
Shifters, magic, whatever.
There was nothing special for her here. Her breathing became strained as her emotions grew even more volatile. This was stupid. She was stupid.
“Excuse me,” Anna said, and tried to get around them, but neither moved.
“Is this why you wouldn’t text me back all day, Lance? For this chubby little nobody?” The bitch laughed.
“Don’t talk to her, Brenda,” Lance growled, and there was no trace of blue left in his eyes as they flashed to Anna. Only the gold of his Tiger.
“Really? She’s human, Lance, what can she do for you?” Brenda the bitch hissed. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but me and Lance have a relationship that spans years⁠—”
“All in the past,” he growled, but Anna did not want to hear it.
Thunder roared in her ears as embarrassment washed over her. Sandra was right all along. It didn’t matter what she wore, she had nothing to offer a man. Especially one who looked like that. She should have known better.
But so should he. What the hell was he thinking? Kissing her and dancing with her like she was the only person who existed. How was she supposed to know he’d been playing some revenge game?
“I just want to leave,” she murmured.
“No, Anna⁠—”
“Let her leave, Lance.”
His inhuman growl was too loud for the humans near them, and Brenda looked around nervously. Anna wanted to help, but she couldn’t/ Brenda was right. She was just a human.
"Anna,” he pleaded.
But she shook her head, she could not speak to him. Yes, she wanted to believe it was all a mistake, but the woman obviously knew him. Lance wasn’t even trying to deny her claim. He was looking from Anna to the stranger, but he was silent. Tongue-tied and red-faced as fuck.
That could only mean one thing. He’d spent the night with this Brenda and recently too. This whole date was probably some kind of pity revenge thing. A favor he owed Uncle Uzzi, maybe?
Anna was fuming. She did not need or want anyone’s pity. She deserved better. Screw Sandra, and Glenn. And screw Lance too.
He might be handsome, but he was just another liar, and Anna had no time for that in her life. Humiliation rolled off her in waves. It might sting for a while, but she would do better next time. She just needed to find a ride back to the cabin.
No way was she standing around, waiting for Lance to finish his little reunion.
Fuck that.
“I’m getting out of here,” she said firmly, and pushed past the couple.