Crimson Temptations

Extract

"That dress clearly makes you look like an elephant," Damien stated in a nonchalant tone, glaring at the maiden before him from head to toe.

"I don't need to be the one to tell you that's offensive when said to a woman. At least to her face," came Raymond's drawling voice.

"Because it is offensive!" snapped Imani, the only woman standing among them, with a disapproving grimace.

"But he's not too far from the truth," Elliot nodded in agreement.

"The four of you lack any ounce of respect for me as your oldest brother and my artistic efforts as a tailor," scowled Zayn, the eldest.

"You sewed the dress for her, Master Zayn?" Xavier exclaimed, his expression bewildered. "No wonder she looks so uncomfortable."

"She looked far better in mine," Damien couldn't help but boast.

Raymond shook his head. "Mine had more aesthetic."

Elliot grinned. "Bold of you all to assume she’d pick yours over mine."

"That's not fair! She promised to wear mine before any of you approached her," Xavier frowned.

"Enough!" Their lips sealed at Imani's harsh tone. A vein popped on her forehead as she clutched the sides of the fifth glamorous dress they had forced her to wear. "Tell me why we are still debating which gift I should wear to the Grand Ball?"

"Because we’re all too prideful to step down from which one you’d prefer," Zayn said flatly.

"I just want to wear a normal dress!" she retorted.

"Nope," Zayn shook his head.

"Never," Raymond added.

"Absolutely not," Elliot chimed in.

"Of course not," Xavier grimaced.

"Are you stupid?" Damien raised an eyebrow.

Imani dropped her shoulders, defeated by the prolonged sibling rivalry that had her stranded in the dressing room.

"Besides," Raymond finally stood up, "Your dress choice also determines which of us you'll be attending the Ball with."

Her eyebrows shot up. That was definitely not part of the agreement.

"So, who will you choose?" Elliot asked, narrowing his gaze.

The five brothers grinned, their crimson eyes glimmering.