Blue-Eyed Devil

Author's Note- Read "Dance with the Devil" before you read this because the story continues from that book..

Also this books comes to GALATEA in January 2025..so the first five chapters are on here..

You can find it on GALATEA here: https://hyzr.app.link/TCdwatyGmCb

Enjoy!

CATARINA- 12 Years Ago

I pulled off my headphones to hear the sound of splashing water and laughter outside by the pool area.

I rolled off of my bed where I had been listening to my favourite Backstreet Boys album and thumbing through a teen beat magazine- my usual routine during summer vacation, to peer out the large bay window of my bedroom.

I wasn’t surprised to see that my older brother Lucian was home from college and tossing a bubblegum pink, bikini clad blonde into the pool. What did surprise me was the guy next to him.

My eyes narrowed in curiosity as I studied the stranger from afar. He was tall- taller even than my brother who was already over six feet. He had golden blonde hair that fell over his eyes much like Leo who I’d just been fantasizing over in my magazine, and his body was lean but athletic as if he regularly engaged in some kind of physical sport.

My perfectly shaped eyebrows rose in appreciation as I ogled his body in his navy board shorts that ran low on his hips. I wished he would turn in my direction so I could see if his face was as gorgeous as the rest of him.

Lucian rarely brought friends home with him- male friends that is. He was four years my senior but always came around whenever I needed him. He was the one person I could always count on and made sure that we spent time together bonding, especially during the breaks from school.

Our father, Sebastian De Angelis ran a billion dollar empire and was always working. Our mom Mariella passed away almost six years ago and the loss forced my father to somehow withdraw from us even more. I always felt like it was Lucian and I against the world.

I padded down the long, winding staircase in my flip flops, frayed denim shorts and tank top and headed out back to the pool. I stopped abruptly in front of the hallway mirror to smooth back my long, dark ponytail and grimaced when I saw my reflection. Sure I was pretty enough I suppose, having been the product of good genes. I had long black hair and sapphire blue eyes exactly like my brother, but my frame was more willowy than curvy and more than once I’d been told I had the body of an editorial model- but I was still too self conscious to put myself out there like that. Besides my father would have a stroke if I did. Lucian and I were to be the heirs to his throne. Well Lucian was, but I had to be there to support him, that was the family way according to my father. I was planning to prove him wrong and show him that I was more than capable of running the De Angelis empire. All he had to do was give me the chance.

I ignored the bodyguards patrolling the house and walked out onto the patio immediately drawing the attention of my brother and his guests.

“Cat! Come over here, love.” Lucian pulled himself out of the pool, water sliding down his chest and washboard abs and with a mischievous grin- made a move to hug me.

I squealed and jumped out of reach but Lucian caught me up in his arms hugging me tight. I laughed, not noticing the way the blonde guy watched me curiously.

Lucian pulled away to slip an arm around my shoulders to face his guests.

“Cat, that’s Linda over there.” He said pointing to the girl-of-the-week in the pool who waved back, “And this,” He turned me towards the blonde guy so we were barely a few feet apart, “Is Aidan Callaghan from my Tort class. Remember I told you about him?”

So this was Aidan. I recall Luc had told me about the guy who was never shy about answering questions in class.. or flirting with the female teachers. His clear grey eyes met mine evenly and a shiver of awareness crept up my spine.

He was gorgeous.

He had a typically straight Anglo nose, square jawline and slashing eyebrows that highlighted that intense smoky gaze. I could already feel myself being drawn to him and we hadn’t even been properly introduced.

I put out my hand and he took it in his. The contact searing me so that I almost gasped. I could see the answering response in his eyes that he was trying to keep carefully hidden.

“Little Cat.” he murmured, his thumb absently running over my inner wrist stoking a fire deep in my belly, “Finally we meet.. except you’re not so little as your brother described.”

I gave Lucian my best fake scowl and punched his arm playfully and he let me go to join Linda in the pool leaving me alone with Aidan.

“I’m seventeen.” I said firmly facing Aidan again and crossing my arms over my chest. I couldn’t help but notice the way he cocked his head as he studied me from head to toe making me acutely aware that my clothes were now soaked thanks to Lucian, but hopefully not transparent.

His lips quirked as if my response amused him.

“I can see that.”

“Are you staying with us for the summer?” I asked innocently as I dipped a toe in the pool testing the temperature, so I missed his frown.

“Just for a few days.” He told me expression shuttering, “Then I have to spend some time with my family back in England.”

I turned back to him in surprise.

“I love England! Is that where you’re from? You don’t seem to have much of an accent.” I knew I was rambling but couldn’t help it.

He didn’t seem to mind at all. He just slipped on his wayfarers and smiled at me distracting me with his dimples smack middle in either cheek.

“That’s because I’ve been attending school in America since I was six.”

I opened my mouth ready to ask a hundred questions because he was just so fascinating but Luc splashed water on us making me shriek.

“You guys can chat later, come on in!”

Aidan gave me a shrug and cannon balled into the pool to join his friends.

For the next few days, Luc, Aidan and I did practically everything together and I was surprised that they didn’t mind having me tag along with them whether it was to the movies or hitting the gym. Now and again Luc would have a girl join our new group, but not Aidan. It was during these times that we got closer. Learned so much more about each other.

I’d found out that his father was also a big deal across the pond and also ran his own multi-million dollar business. Aidan as the only child was expected to take over when he finished law school, just like Luc. He spoke fondly of his mother but hinted at a very strict upbringing. I got the impression that his father was very hard on him. When he fell into the sombermood I was quickly becoming familiar with -when he thought about his family, I would tease him out of it.

When that week ended and Aidan had to leave for England, I’d felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest. Little did I know that what started off as a teenage crush would eventually turn into something so much more…

CATARINA - Eight Years Ago

Luc threw a party for me at his new penthouse the night of my twentieth birthday and invited all of my college friends, but there was really only one person I wanted to see.

My father was in Europe on business again but it didn’t matter, I didn’t expect him to come home for my birthday anyway having never done so before. In fact I was used to his absence. I did receive a large bouquet and the latest Gucci bag I’d been eyeing this morning at the house though.

Over the last four years, Aidan and Luc had gotten pretty close and were thinking about opening their own Law Firm together. My father wasn’t going to like that at all. However, it was because of their close relationship that I also got to spend a lot of time with Aidan myself, at dinners or hanging out at Luc’s penthouse having just moved out of our family home a few months ago.

My kitten heels clicked loudly on the marble floor as I made my way to Lucian’s office where he was currently holed up after getting a work call. I was just nearing his office when I heard him raise his voice through the open door.

“You know she’s expecting you Aidan. You have to come. Cat will be disappointed if you don’t.”

I pressed my back against the wall in the corridor so as not to be seen as my heart plummeted in my chest.

Aidan didn’t want to come to my party? But why? I thought he cared about me.

Maybe I was wrong. Who was I kidding? He probably thought of me as his little sister the same way Luc did.

I pushed off the wall determined to get Aidan off of my mind and went in search of my friends to distract me. There were so many guys there, I didn’t need Aidan.

I plucked a flute of champagne off the tray of the nearest waitress and made my way over to a group of guys from my economics class doing tequila shots out by the pool. They toasted to my birthday as they did their next shot and soon I was joining them. The alcohol made my brain fuzzy and forget thoughts of golden haired playboys.

Half an hour later, one of the guys had his arm around my waist to keep me steady while he walked me over to a corner of the room.

He pressed me into the wall, smelling like potato chips and tequila. His lips were barely an inch from mine, when out of nowhere he was yanked away from me. Fully expecting to see Lucian being an overprotective brother, my eyes widened when I saw Aidan’s furious face instead.

“Beat it.” Aidan told the guy through clenched teeth. He took one look at Aidan’s face and scurried off to meet his friends, leaving me to fend for myself.

“What the hell are you doing?” I demanded pushing off the wall to face off with him.

He looked perfect in a black turtle-neck sweater and charcoal grey dress pants. His blonde hair was brushed back neatly to avoid spilling over his eyes which were smoky fire as he glared down at me.

“I’m the one that should be asking you that question.” His voice lashed. “What did you think you were doing letting that boy kiss you?”

I scoffed and shook my head at his tone.

“I’m not a child Aidan. Besides, I don’t have to answer to you.” I muttered, turning on my heel to walk away. But he was faster, his fingers snapped around my wrist and he started pulling me along the corridor.

“Let go of me.” I tried to twist my hand to break contact but it was futile.

“Stop fighting me, little Cat. We’re just going to have a chat.”

He pulled open the door to Lucian’s movie room shutting the door soundly behind us. The lights automatically came on, dimmed, creating an almost intimate atmosphere. My body hummed of its own volition and my breathing got shallow just from being alone with Aidan- its usual response around him.

“What are you even doing here?” I asked, angry at him. Angry at myself for feeling so mixed up about him when he on the other hand, still thought of me as a kid.

“I came to see you.” His voice dropped, stirring up the butterflies in my belly.

This room was sound proofed so we couldn’t hear anything happening outside. It was as if we were in our own little world.

I licked my lower lip so that his gaze lowered to them, eyes becoming heavy lidded.

“You told Luc you didn’t want to come. I heard him on the phone. I don’t need your pity Aidan.”

He muttered a curse.

“Is that what you think?” He asked, voice rising.

When I remained mute, my eyes searching his, he went on.

“Do you know why I didn’t want to come tonight, Catarina?” He started, “It was because I didn’t know how long I can continue to be close to you and keep my fucking hands off of you.”

My swift inhalation of breath was audible in the quiet of the room, my body stilling in surprise at this revelation. But his body language was also very revealing. The way his fists were clenched at his sides, the way his body seemed taut as if strung tight. He wasn’t happy about his feelings for me. That was as much of a surprise as his words.

I took the one step that brought me close to him, almost touching but not quite, deliberately enticing him to make the first move.

“You know I feel the same way Aidan.” I said softly and watched him swallow hard, “Why are you so upset?”

He took my shoulders squeezing roughly as if he had to touch me then let me go just as abruptly.

“You know why Cat. You’re my best friend’s little sister.” He grimaced as if saying the words physically hurt him.

My lips tightened.

“I’m twenty Aidan.” I told him firmly, “I can make my own decisions.”

He brushed his fingers along my cheek reverently.

“It doesn’t matter. Nothing can happen between us Catarina. I’m sorry.”

I stepped back and away from him and watched the surprise flare in his eyes.

“Then why would you tell me you want to put your hands on me if you weren’t going to do anything about it?” I asked him letting my temper show.

He sighed but I could see there was an inner struggle taking place inside of him also.

“I didn’t want to lie to you Catarina.”

“Just lie to yourself then.” I shot back at him, and watched his nostrils flare at the challenge.

But I needed to make my point and I knew exactly how I was going to do that. He’d already showed his hand. That was his mistake.

I stood in front the door blocking his retreat and then reached behind my strapless tube dress to tug the zipper down quickly letting the dress fall to the floor at my feet.

“What the fuck are you doing Cat?” His pupils dilated, making his eyes glow as they took in my body covered only in a black sheer demi bra and matching thong.

“You want to touch me?” I arched an eyebrow at him and opened my palms at my sides “Go ahead. Touch me.” If you dare.

It was like dangling a glass of water to a man dying of thirst.

I watched as indecision warred inside of him for a full second before he bit out an angry curse and took the two steps that had him slamming his mouth down on mine.

His lips were scorching, seeking, his tongue darted out to sneak past my parted lips and slide against my tongue.

I moaned and rubbed my body against him wantonly, feeling him harden instantly against my lower belly as I opened to him and let him take charge. His hands left their death grip on my waist to slide through my hair tugging my head back so his teeth could graze my neck.

Aidan pushed me back so I was lying on the sofa, his body covering mine, as he teeth tugged the cups of the bra down. His tongue dipped, swirled around an already hard nipple.

I gasped as lightening darted from my nipple to my core as if held by a live wire.

His lips teased my skin, sliding down my stomach to hover over my core. Aidan’s eyes met mine and I watched captivated as he lowered his head and slid his tongue over my wet slit through the lace. I bit my lip and my hips arched seeking more.

He hooked his fingers into the waist band and was about to pull it down when a sharp rap at the door had us both bolting up.

“Aidan? Are you in there?”

Lucian’s voice fell like a bucket of ice cold water over us.

“Fuck.”

I scrambled off the sofa to pull up my bra and put back on my dress and caught a glimpse of Aidan running a hand through his now dishevelled hair, messing it up even further. I was so enthralled by him that I hadn’t even noticed that Aidan had locked the door.

I couldn’t get the zipper back up so Aidan just turned me around and did it for me and then without a word he turned to the door. I grabbed his wrist stopping him so that he turned back towards me, his eyes softening a fraction.

“Happy birthday little Cat.” He lifted my hand and brushed his lips against my knuckles, “But this cannot happen again.”

With that he opened the door and walked out.