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.