NOVA
"Hi…" a soft squeal slipped from the lips of the young woman beside him, her voice sugared and too rehearsed. My gaze shifted naturally to the man she clung to. After all, he is the only one I have business with.
Axel was frozen in place, his mouth slightly parted, brows furrowed as if I had just crawled out of his dreams and shattered reality.
"Ph… sorry," I offered with a half-smile, brushing my fingers over my cheek. "Is there something on my face?" I asked him straight.
He blinked quickly, dragging his gaze away like a man snapped out of hypnosis.
Mrs. Carter, Calvin's ever-smiling mother, stepped in smoothly to dispel the cold few seconds.
"Come on now," she said brightly, gently nudging Axel with the back of her hand.
"That's your aunt, Nova. The wife of your lovely uncle."
I smiled and folded my hands gracefully in front of me, keeping my posture composed. If I was going to be paraded around as someone's wife, I might as well play the part. The look on his face was priceless.
"This is my grandson… Axel," Mrs. Carter added, her voice tinged with pride as she introduced me.
I blinked, amused. Damn, grandma? You aged like a duchess. But I said none of that. Instead, I let my amusement stretch into a coy smirk and extended my hand toward Axel with deliberate poise.
"Wow… little one, it's nice to meet you," I said slyly.
But before his fingers could even twitch, the woman beside him whom I now presumed was the ever-clingy fiancée jumped forward like a soldier guarding her territory. She intercepted my hand and shook it with both of hers,
"It's so nice to meet you, Aunt Nova," she said with syrupy delight. "I am Theresa. Axel's fiancée."
Aunt. Ugh. That title felt like a rotten cherry on a poisoned cake. But if it's coming from them I am proud of that.
I smiled at her, gently pulled my hand away, and turned to Axel, whose gaze still hadn't settled. "Your uncle's always talking about you," I said smoothly, eyes flicking between the pair. "It's nice to finally meet you."
I stretched my hand toward him again offering him a chance to recover, to act normal but he didn't move. He just kept staring, like I had kicked open a locked memory he wasn't ready to face.
"No…" he muttered, his voice low and dazed, as if trying to convince himself I wasn't a hallucination. "Nova?"
He called my name with shock. Mrs. Carter arched her brow and gave him a firm pat on the back. "She's your aunt now, Axel. The wife of your uncle. Show some respect."
Axel flinched and pulled himself upright, but his eyes never left mine.
I tilted my head, folding my arms loosely across my chest. "Why are you looking at me like you know me from somewhere?" My voice was gentle, but the edge was unmistakable.
Theresa turned slowly, her hand tightening around Axel's arm as her expression shifted suspicion blooming across her face like slow poison.
"Well… you look like someone I knew," he said eventually, swallowing thickly.
I scoffed lightly. "I don't think we have met before," The smirk on my lips dared him to contradict me.
Just then, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me into the solid wall of his chest.
"Naughty boy," he murmured, loud enough for the table to hear. "Are you disrespecting your aunt already?"
Axex snapped to attention instantly. Yeah, he respects Calvin so much.
"Uncle." His voice cracked as he straightened like a soldier before a general. "I was just… she looked familiar. I thought I knew her from somewhere."
"Hmm." I gave a breezy shrug, feeling the possessive squeeze of Calvin's arm tighten.
"I get that a lot. Unique face, I suppose."
But Calvin's voice dropped into something colder. "I don't think my wife is someone you would have encountered before. So the next time she is introduced to you, show proper respect. Or deal with me. Understood?"
Axel nodded quickly. Theresa was nearly biting her lips in half.
Calvin smiled sharply and pulled me away from them
"Where are we going?" I whispered, yanking lightly on his grip. "I was just starting to enjoy the awkward reunion," I stated.
This made him stop talking abruptly, spinning me gently toward him. "Enjoying it? You said you could have any man you wanted…" His jaw tightened. "Don't tell me he was one of them."
I blinked, stunned. Did he remember that?
I smirked, forcing coolness into my expression though my pulse betrayed me.
"Well… maybe he is or is not. After all, I am still in my twenties. You are in your…what… almost pushing late thirt…?"
I didn't get to finish my word as he yanked me roughly against him, his eyes wild with something between fury and jealousy.
"Never talk about my age." I stared at him, stunned by the raw strain radiating off his body.
"You are mine, Nova. I won't stand by while you flash that smile or exchange words with other men."
I barely got the chance to retort before his lips crashed onto mine in the middle of the gathering, with the clink of wine glasses and the soft gasp of horrified socialites filling the space around us. I tried to shove him away, but his arm around my waist locked like iron.
"If you don't want me to take it further," he muttered darkly against my lips, "then return the kiss."
Humiliation flushed my cheeks, but I did it. I returned the kiss softly, and fast just enough to get him off me.
He grinned wickedly, then leaned into my ear. "That is more like it."
Just then Mrs. Carter's voice cut in sharply from across the room. "Calvin! This is a formal dinner, not your honeymoon suite. You can behave at home!"
I shoved him back, scowling at the smugness painted across his stupidly handsome face. I took a deep breath, trying to regulate the heat crawling up my neck. When I glanced around, my gaze locked with Axel again.
He hadn't looked away, and they gave me an oddly beautiful satisfaction.