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61

"What happened yesterday?" My voice came out in a shaky whisper as I try to calm my frenzy nerves.

"I'll tell you under one condition," he leaned forward again and took my hand into his. "Dance with me."

"You manipulating ass," I laugh, rising from my seat. He flashes that million dollar smile and whisks me to the large wooden dance floor placed on the grass. "So tell me." I place my left hand on his shoulder and tangle my our fingers together while his right hand rests on my waist and tugs me closer to his chest.

"The trashy woman spiked your drink with an unknown drug that she herself was on," he blurts out only loud enough for me to hear. My heart lurches in my throat as it goes sandy dry. "Don't worry! It wasn't lethal or anything because I tested you." He nods to my arm that rested on his shoulder. "I took some of your blood for testing and it had some essence of an unknown harmless drug that has the same properties and effects as alcohol. Only a small dose of it can hammer you completely and black you out. It just stays in your system for a few hours."

"Well, does she work for Astor?"

"No, I was with her trying to get information, but she's clean in that matter. Astor is still in hiding. I have my men at all the international airports in the country and at the borders too, so he's still in the states. We just have to find him."

He smiled and twirled me around, hauling me closer to his chest. "Did I tell you how breathtaking you look?" His minty, warm breath tickled my cheek as he kissed it softly. "You were literally killing me when you stood up there in that dress."

"May I have this dance with her?" Mike cleared his throat with Aunt Wendy beside him. "Don't worry, I'll take care of her while you take care of my woman."

Leo smiled at me as he passed me on to Mike while he gave Aunt Wendy a quick bow before kissing the back of her hand and dancing away with her. Mike grinned wide at me as he placed a hand on my waist and grabbed my other one. "How are you doing, Arie?"

"I'm doing great so far. What about you?" I smile up at his perfect white pearls that were on full display at this moment. "I heard you finally told her about your feelings."

"Well, I couldn't keep it in anymore and I also couldn't see myself without her." His soft brown eyes glance over at his love before retreating back to mine. "I thought long and hard about it, Arie. I even talked to mi madre about it and she told me that I'll regret the risks that I don't take rather than the ones I do take, so I heeded her advice and took the big leap."

"I'm glad you did." My mouth was grinning from ear to ear at this man who would hopefully be a part of my family. "She's really happy with you, the happiest I've ever seen her."

"She's my happiness too." He sighs and looks above for a brief moment. "I can't imagine a life without her anymore. In such a short period of time, she has taken complete control of my heart."

"God," I giggle. "You guys are so adorable together. It's so heartwarming." Smiling up at him, I squeeze his hand tight. "Promise me something."

"Arie, you're like the little sister I never had, so anything you want."

"Promise me that you'll never hurt her." I swallow hard and continue, "she has been through a lot, Mike. Please keep her safe."

"I promise." He kisses my forehead slowly. "I won't ever let a tear escape her eyes."

"Thank you!" I smile and place my head on his chest, laying it there for a while. She has found the perfect man, a man that will never let her go and my heart approves.

"So when are you going to tell Leo about your feelings?" He laughs as I pull my head away immediately. "Don't even think about denying it."

I let out a heavy sigh and roll my eyes. "Does he even feel the same?"

"Is that a joke?" He cocks his head back and let's out a hearty laugh. "Trust me when I say he feels more than you know." Noticing the hesitation in my eyes, he squeezed my hand and caressed it with his thumb. "You have to confess first because he's a stubborn son of a bitch." I chuckle and nod my head in agreement. "He will deny his feelings for you, but you will have to push as hard as you can to have him confide in you, to have him love you without any problems. Trust me, you have to stand up to him and not be scared to speak up which I think is the easy part for you, so you have to force his feelings out of him. Okay?"

"I'll try."

"Can I have my dance partner back?" Leo interrupts with a sleek smile on his face.

"Of course, she's all yours." Mike cheerily hands me back to Leo.

"Wait," I stop Mike before he fades away with Aunt Wendy. "Thank you!" I tiptoe up to his cheek and place a little sweet kiss.

He smiles and caresses my face. "Anytime, little sister." Turning back around, he twirls Aunt Wendy away. Leo doesn't waste a second and returns us back to our position before Mike intervened.

"What's up with mermaid?" He smiles cheekily, anticipating my answer.

I groan and roll my eyes for the hundredth time today. "I used to love Princess Ariel from the little mermaid when I was a kid because she was amazing and our names are alike. I'm very much over her though."

"I see." He swirled me around on his finger and leaned me onto him. "You're no less than a princess." I laugh and nudge him a little. "What? I mean look at you. You look like a bloody queen today, the most gorgeous one I've ever seen."

Heat runs up to my cheek and my right hand grips him tighter. "Stop saying that." I blush and nuzzle my head into his chest while we moved to the lovely music. His chest rumbled as he let out a chuckle.

"It's the truth," he urged me to pull away while he twirled me once again, slamming my back against his front. "You're the most beautiful woman here. No one can compete with you, my queen." The warm air emitted through his mouth travelled through my ear in the form of a soft whisper that warmed my core and tickled my lady below, forcing a smile on my face. He swiftly turned me back around while his blue orbs gazed into my brown ones with need.

His tongue lightly poked out and licked his smooth lips, curling them inwards; the same lips I wanted on me, the same lips I have dreamt of kissing. With my body pressed against his hard chest, his warm breath still lingered on my face while he just smiled at me, never leaving my eyes for even a second. His damn lips and those bloody eyes lured me in like a Siren singing for pirates to fall into her trap.

My heart thundered against my ribs as I slowly move my lips up to him. Before I knew it, my lips grazed his and pressed them together. A fuzzy sensation jolted throughout my body while pools of warmth drowned me. His lips didn't move with mine for a second, but then they claimed me as they sucked my lower lip sending another exceptional bliss scurry through my bloodstream.

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