Climbing the tile steps, I lean down and pick up my towel and when I stand up, Luka is there. Right there. I think I see the familiar want in his eyes, but there’s something else too. He can’t keep from looking me over, his tongue swiping his lower lip before he bites down on it. He shocks me by letting me pass without saying a word as I walk away. Grabbing my hat and pants, I feel the heat of his gaze and try my best not to stumble.
Once I’m in the safety of my room, I take a shower then crawl back into bed, reaching for a banana I swiped from the bowl in the dining room. I grab my phone and do a search for our pictures. I want to study them without his eyes on me. I see the pictures he showed me earlier, along with new ones, and one in particular catches my eye. He is looking at me while I’m looking straight ahead and the look on his face is like pure wonder. I stare at it the longest. That can’t be real.
Someone knocks on my door and I sit up, chest heaving. “Yes?” I clear my throat and try again. “Yes?”
“I’m supposed to make sure you’re ready in an hour for a family portrait,” Mara says through the door.
I fall back on the bed. “An hour?”
“Yes, don’t be late.”
I groan. “Is this something else you were supposed to have told me sooner but conveniently forgot?”
I hear her chuckle. “I don’t know what you mean. Don’t be late.”
I grit my teeth together and force myself to get up. “What are we wearing?” I ask, but she’s already gone…or chooses to ignore my question.
I pick out a white dress that looks classy yet modern … it’s one of the few that isn’t revealing in one way or another. I allow my curls to do their thing around my face and do my rose updo so I don’t have to dry my hair. The rest of the time I spend on my makeup.
Finally, pleased that I’m even halfway put together, I open my door and Luka is standing there, ready to knock.
“Very proper,” he says, smirking. He’s wearing a navy suit and looks so delicious it makes me angrier.
“Don’t speak to me. Don’t look at me.”
I see his Adam’s apple bob up and down as he looks in my eyes. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he almost looks ashamed. But I do know better—he’s not capable of true emotion.
“You know, it’s customary to get irritable when you’re horny. There’s a remedy for that. A couple, actually. Would you like to hear them? Try them out later?” He’s found his swagger again and is grinning wide, his blue eyes twinkling like I’m in on the joke.
I’m tempted. I am. What a fool. “Back off. Just stop with the innuendos, okay?”
He pulls back, serious again and his forehead creases in the middle. “We don’t have time for an argument right now. Family’s waiting. But we will continue this.” He holds his arm out for me to take and I hold my long skirt as I swish past him.
I don’t get very far before I realize I don’t know where I’m going. I wait until he moves next to me. “Where?” is all I say.
He points ahead. “The gardens.”
I speed-walk through the house and open the large doors; everyone is out there already. Cece acts deeply affronted that we’ve kept them waiting and I glare at Mara, who gives a little shrug and smirk. And then I see that they’re all in navy.
“Why are you not wearing your navy dress?” Cece spits out. “You’ve already kept us waiting.”
Juan steps out of the shadows, carrying one of his larger cameras. “It’s perfect. She’s the new bride. She should be the only one in white.”
I smile at him in gratitude and Luka fumes next to me. Mara looks as though she’s ready to trample me. I have to endure an hour of a prickly Luka. I cringe every time he touches me and he gets angrier as the hour passes.
Having to act like a loving couple is hard when I hate my husband. Or whatever this feeling is that is pulling me into a downward spiral.
The minute Juan says he has enough pictures, Luka grabs my arm and pulls me further into the garden, away from everyone else.
“What’s going on with you? You’re acting even worse than last night…or this morning. What’s changed?”
My shoulders cave and I feel absolutely exhausted. “I’m tired. I can’t keep up with your mood swings and I guess I’m acting the same way now. We’re horrible together.” I turn around and walk away. When I reach the family, they’re all quiet, watching me, clearly eavesdropping. “Show’s over,” I tell them.
Mara does a slow clap and Cece taps her arm, stopping her.
Luka isn’t far behind and he yells after me. “Eden, wait.”
I hold up my hand and escape to my room. What could he possibly say that would be worth hearing? The tears start when I take my dress off. I remove my makeup in a trance and give up trying to be strong.
I shouldn’t have to be this strong.
Chapter Twenty-One
It’s much later when I hear a knock on the door. I’ve napped and now I’m exercising along with online videos. I reach for a towel and wipe my forehead, opening the door.
Basile stands there, looking solemn. “May I come in?”
I open the door wider and step aside, making room for him to enter. Once he’s inside, he moves to the round table with two chairs near the windows and takes a seat. I sit across from him.
“Did they send you to force me to behave?” I look out the window instead of at him.
“Something like that.” He chuckles. “More like another event coming up. It will be at the Lancaster estate. You may have heard Mara mention Elias Lancaster a time or two.” He gives me a deadpan look and I giggle. “He’s an advisor to your father-in-law.”
I have heard her mention him multiple times and have wondered if he’s as obsessed with her as she is with him.
“When? What is the occasion?”
“Tomorrow night. It’s Elias’s twenty-fifth birthday and you and Luka are invited.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it, but okay. I suppose it’s as good a time as any to figure out what is in my closet. Is it formal attire?”
He smiles. “Yes. My sister has a way of going overboard. Hopefully the clothes suit you. If not, you can always arrange a meeting with Teresa. I happen to know firsthand that she enjoyed working with you…and liked the way you stood up to Cece and Mara.” He winks and my eyes widen.
Basile seems to know everything that goes on in this house, yet, he doesn’t seem particularly close to his sister and brother-in-law. It’s all very interesting. I wonder if I will ever find out how this family works.
“No time for a new dress tomorrow night but maybe for the next event…”
“Very well. And Eden? About behaving? You’ll need to be on your best behavior with Luka tomorrow night. There will be eyes on you from all over the world.”
I feel a chill at the thought. I’m about to ask what he means when he stands up and leaves. I wander to my closet and decide the rest of the day I will do beauty treatments on my hair and skin. I guess that’s the bonus of not having to share a room with my husband. I try on a few dresses. There are so many lovely ones, but I settle on a royal blue dress that’s fairly simple in the front—low cut but nothing too crazy—and then the back has the sparkle. The straps in the back are diamonds and it’s cut out into a V low enough to be enticing yet still classy. I try it on and it fits like a glove. This is the dress.
* * *
I feel the best I’ve felt since arriving in Niaps. By the next day, I even feel somewhat relaxed. I received a massage after breakfast, which was served in my room. My skin feels like silk and my hair is extra shiny from the treatments. And the best part is that I haven’t had to see a single member of the family all day. I’m saving up for tonight. When it’s time to get ready, I sip champagne, turn on some music, and enjoy the time to myself. I was offered a hairstylist, but I said no.
When I see the finished result, I hate to admit it, but I’m the slightest bit excited for Luka to see me. I’ve arranged my hair in a side fall of curls
to show off the back of my dress. My hair is cooperating and I have a flashback of Luka touching my curls when we were underwater. I shiver and press my lips together just as Luka raps on my door.
“Eden, are you ready to go?”
“One sec.” I grab my jewel-encrusted clutch and open the door. He leans against the doorway and doesn’t bother to hide the fact that he’s checking me out.
“You’ve outdone yourself,” he says. “Which Eden do I have tonight? Will you bite or will you purr?”
“I could ask you the same thing.”
He holds his hands out. “What do you think? Am I suitable to be by your side?”
“You clean up okay.”
He smirks and steps closer to me, pulling me flush against him. “Keep playing the cool act. I know it shouldn’t, but it gets me so hard.” He presses into me to prove his point.
“Have you been drinking already?” I frown.
“This is me stone-cold sober.”
“So there’s nothing to excuse your behavior.”
His hands go lower and when he still feels my skin, he frowns. His hands go lower still until they find material, which happens to be hugging my backside. He thrusts into me again and leans his forehead against mine.
“You don’t want to excuse my behavior. You like me best this way. Hot and salivating over you. Admit it.”
I shake my head. “You need to take a step back.”
He exhales a shuddering breath and drops his hands, stepping back. “We’re going to be late. Let’s go.”
I shiver from the loss of his hands and the chill in his voice. I can’t win with him.
I expect to see Mara in the car, but she must already be there. On the ride over, I relive the moments in the car with him the last time, in Pravia, and try desperately to rid myself of the memories. I grab a piece of paper and fan myself.
“There’s no hiding from me, Eden. Now that I’ve had you, I know.”
I turn to him and scowl. “What does that even mean?”
“I know you’re dying to quench the ache between your legs. I know how wet you are right now. I know you think about me at night when you’re lying alone in your bed and put your fingers where mine should be right this minute…”
“Stop. Why are you doing this?”
“There should be at least one thing beneficial to us…they’ve taken everything else from us. Why let them have this too?”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?” He puts his hand on my cheek and the car comes to a stop.
I’ve never been so happy to step out of a car.
* * *
Elias Lancaster is a stunning man and I don’t know what surprises me most about him—that he has manners and is a gentleman when we meet, or that Mara isn’t gushing over him the way I expected her to. She is aloof and he certainly seems aware of her. Maybe she’s right and there will be a wedding soon. He’s friendly to everyone, though, so it’s hard to be sure.
Luka and I find a tall table and he goes to get me a drink. He’s gone so long I start to look around the room. I nearly choke when I see Mara and Nadia laughing at something Luka is saying. He’s smiling—a smile brighter than I’ve seen on him in a while—and Nadia reaches out and grabs his arm as she laughs harder. Mara turns then and sees me looking and her smile gleams with malice. Nadia leans up and whispers something in Luka’s ear and he goes still. He looks across the room and sees me watching and says something to her. She looks over her shoulder then, right at me. I stare at her brazenly until she looks away.
“I never imagined Luka would get married before me.”
I turn and it’s Elias, standing next to me.
“He’s younger, never wanted to settle down…just seemed like it would be me.”
“Our families had other plans.”
“How’s it working out so far?”
“Does the fact that he’s talking to her right now instead of by my side tell you anything?”
We both turn and Luka and Mara are heading to our table. I don’t see Nadia.
“The fact that he came running when he saw you talking to me tells me a helluva lot.” Elias smiles. “Shouldn’t keep a beautiful woman waiting, Prince,” he says when Luka reaches the table. “You never know what kind of sharks are nearby.” He grins when Luka’s eyes flash and reaches out to take my hand, kissing it. “You come find me should your husband go missing again.”
Mara chokes on her drink and Elias puts his arm around her. “Are you okay? You look pale.”
“I’m fine.” She shrugs his arm off of her and walks off. Probably to share grievances with Nadia.
Elias lifts his glass and goes to talk to someone else.
“What did he want?” Luka growls.
“I thought the two of you were friends.”
“We are.”
“Then why are you so angry that he’s being friendly to your wife?”
“I don’t like the way he’s looking at you.”
I shrug. “Someone has to look out for me while you fawn all over Nadia. It’s embarrassing.”
His cheeks flush and he looks down. “I’ve known her for years. Much longer than I’ve known you.”
“You think I don’t know that?” I take the drink he brought over for me and guzzle it down. “Makes it all the more humiliating.”
He shuts his eyes and bites the side of his cheek. When he looks at me again, I’m scared of what I see in his eyes.
“What?” I demand.
“You don’t need to worry about Nadia. It’s…not your concern.”
“Not my concern…” I repeat. “Wow. Sometimes I forget how heartless you are.”
“I don’t mean—I’m just saying…she’s a friend, she’s in our circles. She’s not going anywhere. We’ll run into her from time to time…” He swallows hard and I get a sick feeling in my stomach.
“I want to go back to the house.”
“We need to at least stay until the cake.” He attempts a grin, but it’s not quite working. “You’ll appreciate the cake.”
We stand there, not speaking to each other, and barely able to keep conversation going when people come by to talk to us. When the cake is cut, Luka gets us both a slice. I take a bite and it’s delicious, but I’m too nauseated to eat it.
I’m not cut out for life in Niaps.
And I’m certainly not cut out for life with Luka.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Another car ride.
More awkward silence.
I don’t even fully know why I’m angry with him tonight. Well, I do…seeing him laughing with Nadia stung, but it’s more than that. I’m weary of the constant charge between us, tired of keeping up with his moodiness, unable to manage my own…and instead of falling into bed and sleeping due to this exhaustion, I lie awake night after night.
When we reach our bedrooms, he says, “Father says our instructors will be arriving this week. We can start classes on Monday.”
“Okay.” I turn the knob to my door and feel his hand on my arm. I look at him, waiting.
He hesitates before speaking, pausing so long I almost say something. “Would you want to go for a swim?” He sounds nice, sweet almost, and I’m tempted. So tempted. It feels like a peace offering…
“Another night, maybe? I’m really tired.” And far too vulnerable.
He looks disappointed but nods. “Yeah, okay. Good night then.”
“Night.” I open the door and step inside, closing the door and leaning against it.
He’s right. I am tired of the constant war between my brain and the ache between my legs. If this is what it’s going to be like all the time, I’ll go mad.
I listen for him to close his door, but instead, I hear his shoes clicking down the hall. I look out of my far left window and am about to turn away when I see him step outside and walk to the car. He gets inside and drives away. My heart falls to my feet. Is he going back to the party? Is he going to her?
It’s da
wn before I hear him come back and I finally give in to sleep.
* * *
I hardly see Luka for the rest of the week and when I do, it’s in passing. Each night I listen for his door to open and watch as he walks to the car and drives away, not returning until early the next morning. More and more isolated, I venture into the halls, seeking any distraction to clear my mind. I’m not sure what the family does with their time. It seems they’re always off to a luncheon or a charity and I wonder when I will be forced into the same hectic schedule of appointments.
Today the house feels empty and the marble floor feels cold against my feet. It’s too hot to go outside, even for a swim. I’ve got to watch the sun; earlier in the week I didn’t put on enough sunscreen and my shoulders are still burning.
I venture into a wing I’ve never been in and wonder if this is where Luka was talking about when he said we could move to our own wing to get more privacy—that feels like forever ago.
I stop when I hear voices and try to turn around quickly, but the door opens and a good-looking guy my age or maybe a little older fills the doorway. He sees me and puts his fingers to his lips for me to be quiet. I stare at him and back away, quickly turning around and walking toward my room. But not before I hear Cece from the bedroom.
“Be quick with your exit,” she says.
I round the corner and fly to my room and run straight into Luka. He holds my arms until I get my balance.
“Whoa, what’s the rush?”
I shake my head and stutter. “No-uh…no rush. Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”
“You’re shaking. What’s going on?”
I hesitate for a moment and then come out with it. “I was taking a walk and saw a guy leaving. He startled me, that’s all.”
Downfall: Kingdoms of Sin, Book #1 Page 12
