So what if she didn't want Frank, there were lots of other men here. The music changed, and Isabelle found herself swept into someone else's arms. She forced herself to keep smiling through the shudder of revulsion sweeping her when the tall brunette wrapped his arm around her waist. At least she was having fun dancing, and if she kept on going, she would find someone who made her feel like Stefan did. She was sure of it.
Stefan stood on the sidelines watching as Isabelle went from one man to another. He had to set their drinks down before he crushed them both. He saw the looks in the men's eyes, the way they stared at her, and it took everything he had not to march across the floor, rip her out of their arms, and destroy them. Gritting his teeth, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath to steady himself.
He opened his eyes and immediately focused on her as lust tore through him. She looked stunning as she danced and smiled; the lights played off the golden highlights in her hair and emphasized the startling violet of her eyes. The simple black dress she wore was more enticing to him than any lingerie. All he wanted was to slip it off and reveal the treasure beneath.
He tore his eyes away as lust and rage threatened to consume him. He glanced over the dance floor, noting the admiring looks he received. He began to rethink the way he’d been going about getting Isabelle. He was chasing after her, trying to force her to bend to his will. The more he got to know her, the more he realized trying to force her to do something wasn't going to work.
He would eventually wear her defenses down, but it would take longer than he was willing to wait. However, if she began to realize on her own she wanted him, she might not fight as much. If she felt even an ounce of the jealousy he did, she would come to him. Besides, if it didn't work, he could at least find someone here who could ease his need.
Stefan smiled as he made his way out to the dance floor, making sure he stayed near Isabelle so she could see him, and so he could kill anyone who tried anything with her. He grabbed the first girl he saw and swept her into his arms. She grinned at him as he pulled her against him.
Her hips ground against his as her chest pressed against him provocatively. All it did was cause a wave of revulsion to sweep through him. What was the matter with him? The girl was pretty enough, and more than willing, but he found himself sickened by her overt movements.
He wanted Isabelle, even cared for her, but he would be damned if he didn't want other women too. No one had that kind of power over him, and she wouldn’t have it now. His new plan with Isabelle was completely forgotten as he resolved to get her out of his mind and find someone who could arouse him as she did.
Maybe she had the right idea after all; they should avoid each other. So what if he never had her? He'd had many disappointments in his long life. This wouldn't be the first, and it sure wouldn't be the last. It was probably better for both of them if he left her alone.
Involuntarily, his gaze darted to Isabelle as she laughed with the tall, brunette man she danced with. A bolt of sizzling envy swept him. His hands clenched on the tiny girl in his arms. She seemed to take it as an invite as she pressed against him. He resisted shoving her away in disgust, storming across the dance floor, and pulling Isabelle out of here.
He would not do it; he would not let her get to him that way. He refused to. He realized then he needed to get as far away from her as he could. It wasn't just a need to bed her anymore; it was becoming an obsession. One he would be free of. She was beginning to ruin his control and his life! Tonight he would go back to the house, get his stuff, and leave.
As he thought it, he found himself feeling a strange sense of loss. He didn't want to leave her, wasn't even sure he could leave her. He ground his jaw more brutally. Yes, he could leave her, and he would. She was just a woman for crying out loud, a woman like the thousands of others he'd met.
The song ended, and he released the girl he'd been dancing with. Isabelle was quickly claimed by someone else. The small girl before him moved back toward his arms, but he turned away, searching for someone else, anyone else who could spark some lust within him.
Isabelle danced for well over an hour. She passed between many men, none of whom aroused her in any way. With each new one, she became more and more determined to feel something for one of them. Dancing was becoming less fun as her aggravation mounted along with the discomfort in her feet.
She had seen Ian and Jack dancing happily. And she’d seen him. Jealousy threatened to strangle her when she’d spotted him dancing with another woman. It fueled her determination. She flirted more outrageously and danced more suggestively with the men, but the only thing she experienced was a growing sense of revulsion and an urge to move into his arms. She refused to do it. He seemed quite content without her, and she would be damned if she was the one who went to him.
Instead, she wanted to get off the dance floor where she could find a place to curl up and give in to the tears of frustration threatening to choke her. It was all
