Filed To Story: The Trap Of Ace Book PDF Free
“Em?
Emerald?
Is that you?”
Caleb asked, recognition flickered in his caramel eyes.
“Oh my God.
It is the infamous Emerald Hutton who didn’t even give a call to this poor abandoned man all these years?”
I managed a smile.
“Hey, Caleb.”
He engulfed me in a bear hug.
And I couldn’t help but return his endearment.
He was like a big brother to me.
But in the process of distancing myself from a certain person, I cut ties with everyone involved with the Valencians.
He pulled away and put his hands on my shoulders.
“Did anyone tell you what a beautiful woman you’ve grown up into?”
Chuckling, I shook my head.
The grip around my glass remained firm.
Any moment now.
“If you’ve stopped flirting with my sister, can I hug her now?”
Tess raised her brow at Caleb.
Grinning, he placed a kiss on her temple.
“You know I only have eyes for you, right?”
Rolling her eyes, she pushed him away and threw her arms around me.
“You’re looking lovely!”
“So are you,” I said.
Her gaze locked with mine.
Something close to regret flashed in her eyes, and then something else which I couldn’t decipher.
“Emerald, I—“
“It’s time to dance,” Caleb interrupted.
He gave Tess a look that didn’t go unnoticed.
What’s going on?
“Shall we?”
Blinking, Tess cleared her throat.
She smiled and placed her hand on Caleb’s and together they skipped off to the dance floor.
Mom and Dad got busy in conversation with some other couple.
Warner’s phone rang, interrupting him as he went to say something.
Excusing himself, he walked away to attend the call.
Tobias noticed my wary glances.
My uneasiness.
“Relax, everything will be fine.”
“What?
Why did you say that?”
I feigned confusion.
He sighed, shaking his head.
“Nothing.
You need another drink?”
He jutted his chin at my empty glass.
I wanted to tell him to stay with me, but decided against it.
“Sure.”
Nodding, he went to the bar to get us drinks.
I didn’t need anyone for support.
I could deal with it alone.
I wasn’t that na?ve teenager anymore who would fall at his feet with just his one glance.
The hair at the back of my neck stood up.
Goosebumps pricked on my skin.
Turning around, I observed my surroundings.
Nothing seemed unusual.Then why did I feel like someone was watching me?
As the colorful lights moved around the mass of chattering people, my gaze went to the first floor and stuck there.
At the furthest corner, a figure stood there; his face in the shadow.
With his hands in his pockets, he stood unmoving, his body facing mine.
Even if I couldn’t see his face, I could tell he was looking at me.
And for some reason, it unnerved me.
Even then, I couldn’t tear my eyes.
Who is he?
“Em?”
Jumping in fright, I whirled around.
“Whoa!
Relax, it’s just me,” Warner said, putting his hands up.
Breathing out a sigh of relief, I turned back again.
He was gone.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.
You just startled me,” I replied, wetting my lips.
“All right.
Dance?”
he asked, giving me his hand.
I looked for Tobias, who was laughing with some girls with two glasses still in his hands.
I shook my head at my brother.
Giving Warner a small smile, I took his hand.
I didn’t want to be alone right now.
Once on the dance floor, we started to sway under the dim lights and slow music.
And then I felt it again.
That stare, the burning gaze watching me from afar, following my every move.
Warner tucked a strand behind my ear, but my ardent gaze was searching for something in the crowd.
“Em?
You sure you’re all right?
You look a little disturbed since last night.”
He frowned.
“Yeah.
Don’t worry.
Just the jet lag,” I lied.
I didn’t want to.
But I couldn’t tell him why my nerves had gone haywire since I heard of this party.
“If you say so.
But you know you can tell me anything and everything, I will listen, right?”
This time, my smile was genuine.
I nodded.
“I know.”
His lips turned up as he took one of my hands and placed a kiss on the back of it.
A throat cleared behind me.
“May I have the chance to dance with this beautiful lady?”
A deep hard voice asked.
Distant Greek accent.
I stiffened.
Warner looked up over my head, and his eyes widened slightly.
Recognition flashed into his eyes as a polite smile tugged at his lips.
“Sure.”
Stepping away, he glanced at me.
“I will wait for you at the bar.”
Then he disappeared from the dance floor.
I wanted to tell him not to leave, but I couldn’t move or say anything.
I didn’t even turn around.
Didn’t dare to.
My heart pounded in my chest as I felt his heat behind me.
A pair of big, calloused hands covered mine, placing them before me together, with his arms engulfing me.
A gasp slipped through my lips at the electricity that ran in waves into my veins.
When I didn’t move, he took control and swayed us both with his enormous frame around me in slow moves.
The heady combination of his exotic cologne tangled with smoke filled my senses.
Still the same.
My brain stopped working.
Hot breath tickled my neck, making my knees weak.
An uncouth swarm of emotions crashed over me.
Something clenched in my chest as a shaky breath left my lips.
We stayed silent as we swayed under the music.
All I could hear was the music, my deep breathing, and the pounding of my heart in my ears.
My hands trembled under his.
I couldn’t do this.
I needed to go away.
Moving his arms, when I tried to pull away, he grasped my hand and swirled me around, pulling me in.
My chest collided against him.
Gasping, when I looked up at him…
My breath caught in my throat.
Those stormy gray eyes…
After seven years, I was looking into them.
And it was what I feared.
They held me captive, just as they used to do years ago.
Those gray pools peered into my soul, compelling me.
His face was inches away from mine.
Breathless, I took in his other features.
And I was lost for words.
Strong chiseled jaw, prominent chin, beautiful sharp nose, firm desirable lips, and a wide forehead.
Not even a strand of his jet-black hair was out of place.
He wore it long, the ends touching his neck.
Just like a Greek god.
Gone was that charming boyish look.
Everything about him now screamed man.
A powerful, rough man.
I was breathless.
My gaze couldn’t move from his face.
I didn’t know age made people that much beautiful.
No, beautiful wasn’t the word.
Words couldn’t describe Achilles Valencian.
He was… out of this world.
Raising a hand, he brushed a single strand away from my face, and I didn’t feel the shiver when Warner had done it earlier.
His eyes roamed every inch of my face, as if memorizing them.
They seemed in some kind of trance.