Lana and her mom were in hysterics at the situation, and I joined in with them begrudgingly before our laughter died down.

"You cannot keep him waiting, Ella." Mrs Armstrong said.

Going down the stairs first was Lana. I was close behind with Mrs Armstrong, but we held back to watch Lana smile sadly at Brennan making polite conversation with her dad.

Then like a magnetic pull, my eyes went to Stone.

His eyes were on me. I felt my body heat up as his gaze trailed slowly down and then back up. The dark irises covered every inch of my body. He looked almost hypnotised. His obsidian orbs held me in place, freezing me and grounding me.

The bone in his jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed infinitesimally as his attention lingered on my legs.

It was so intense and luring that I felt myself being pulled towards him.

"I have never seen anyone look at anyone like the way he does at you." Mrs Armstrong whispered from beside me "I knew it the first time you brought him here. That boy loves you more than anything."

I smiled but I did not take my eyes from him. I was not tearing away from our heated eye gazing match.

"I did not bring him here." I pointed out "He came charging into my life and demanded a place in it but I would not have it any other way."

"You glow when he is near." The woman's smile was noticeable even from my peripheral view as she said it.

I think I did glow when he was near.

Mrs Armstrong's attention fell to my bare feet as she asked, "What shoes are you wearing?"

"I have got my green converse."

Her expression changed to one of almost disgust "Green converse?"

"They are my best pair." I shrugged while wincing at the idea of wearing heels all night.

Brennan stood up from the sofa and made his way across the room to his girlfriend who was fidgeting with a red thread on her dress.

He smiled but it did not reach his eyes as he looked at Lana "You look nice."

"Thanks." She replied quietly.

My attention shifted back to the large figure who was still looking over my way.

Stone never took his eyes off me as he walked across the living room with large, determined steps. When he was in front of me, his arms wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me close. He kept a small distance between us so he could study the whole of me further.

"I think you are meant to make some sort of nice comment about what I am wearing." I joked, feeling flushed at his unfaltering gaze "Even if it is a lie."

"You look beautiful. Always too fucking beautiful." His mouth moved up slightly as he said it but then his jaw clenched again "I should be there with you."

"Why?" I smiled up at him.