Selena descended the stairs with the grace of a queen, her silver gown shimmering like moonlight. Every step she took seemed calculated to draw attention, the fabric of her dress flowing like water around her as she moved.
It wasn't simply an outfit, it was a statement, one that declared her presence with quiet confidence.
Her hair was styled elegantly, soft waves framing her face, and around her neck hung a diamond necklace that sparkled as brightly as her icy blue eyes.
The jewels caught the light with every movement, completing the look of a woman who had mastered the art of commanding a room.
Alex's breath caught in his throat. He'd known she was beautiful, but this... This was something else entirely. She looked radiant, almost otherworldly, and for a moment, he couldn't do anything but stare.
His eyes wandered down, taking in the full effect of her ensemble. That's when he noticed the slit in her dress. It wasn't overly revealing, but it was enough to make his heart skip a beat. Selena was breathtaking. Too breathtaking
The smooth expanse of her leg peeked through with each step, and Alex felt his face grow warm. He quickly averted his gaze, raising a hand to cover his flushed cheeks while the other gripped the stair railing so tightly he thought it might snap.
What is she wearing?! He thought, panicked. His mind raced as he tried to compose himself, but the image of her kept flashing in his head. She was stunning, and it was almost too much for him to handle.
This dress—it was as if she'd deliberately chosen something designed to fluster him.
Before he could get a grip on his own feelings he quickly realised that there would be many men at the Royal Ball... He knew whom they would look at... Or more specifically what. The slit, the neckline that dipped just low enough to be enticing... The image made his stomach churn. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy or protectiveness, but he didn't like it.
He felt extremely uncomfortable at the thought, but a voice interrupted his thoughts.
Selena, oblivious to Alex's inner turmoil, reached the bottom of the stairs and turned to face him. "Well?" She asked, raising an eyebrow. "Are you just going to stand there, or do you have something to say?"
She did not know of his thoughts but she could clearly see him nervous. For a person from a fairly conservative society, this reaction was expected.
And this reaction was exactly what she wanted.
In her past life, she would not dare to wear anything like this. But now, she wanted to do everything she would never think of doing.
She was smiling at him, clearly enjoying his reaction.
Alex blinked, forcing himself to meet her gaze. He opened his mouth to respond, but the words got caught in his throat. After a moment of fumbling, he finally managed to say, "You look... Uh... Nice."
Selena tilted her head, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Nice? That's all you've got?" Would it be wrong of her to admit that she wanted him to compliment her more?
She wasn't sure what she had expected him to say, but "nice" felt far too tame for the effort she'd put into her appearance.
Alex rubbed the back of his neck, his blush deepening. He looked everywhere except at her. "You look more than nice. You look very beautiful," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
It was her first time making a man react like this. And she was happy that he was her first.
Satisfied, Selena nodded. "Good. And you don't look half bad yourself," she said, her eyes flicking over his suit. "The tailor did a decent job."
Alex chuckled, relieved that she hadn't pressed him further. "Thanks, I guess."
She would not admit it but he looked incredibly attractive, she held her tongue. The way the white and gold suit complimented his tanned skin... It was truly marvellous. He had always been a... Good looking man. She refrained from calling him hot again.
A sort of rugged handsomeness that would make any girl swoon. And those eyes... Those emerald eyes, whenever she looked at him and realised that he was looking at her too with those beautiful eyes, she had to fight the urge to look away.
She listed all these things before listing the things that caught her attention. His muscles! Most noble men were not this buff! This was a body that would come with tremendous effort she thought. Although the tailor did a great job, his muscles were just too eyecatching.
She had to look away. Or else she was getting not so nice thoughts!
"Well..." He stretched out his hand asking for hers. He was her escort for the evening after all.
"Oh-" Selena quickly came back to reality and placed her hand in his.
Before they could exchange any more awkward compliments, Lucien appeared in the doorway, his expression dark. He hadn't missed the way Alex had been staring at Selena, and it only deepened his distrust of the man.
Still, he said nothing, knowing that any interference on his part would be met with resistance from both Selena and their mother.
He felt a headache come on after seeing what his sister was wearing but he was too annoyed to say anything. She was a grown-up and if she didn't care about her reputation he wouldn't remind her.
It was annoying that no matter what he did, the Whitlock's name would forever be stained do her actions.
"It's getting late. Let's leave." He had to stop himself from scowling. Without waiting for them, he walked briskly towards the carriage.
Selena looped her arm through Alex's without hesitation, her chin held high as they followed Lucien out the door. Alex felt a strange sense of pride as they stepped into the night together. Whatever awaited them at the ball, he was ready.