I can see her wheels turning and it brings an uneasy feeling over me.
“If you could all just cooperate and not bring any unnecessary negative press on us, that would be really great.”
“The press is obsessed with my wife,” Luka says.
I want to elbow him in the gut, but he’s already blabbing more.
“They love her. She’s created quite the following and—did you see? They’re calling her the people’s princess.”
“Luka, stop,” I whisper.
“What does that even mean? We’re all for the people,” Mara says.
“If you got to know them like she has, the media would be less inclined to show your bad side.”
Mara tugs on her hair and smirks. “I don’t have a bad side.”
Cece flings her notes on the table. “Enough, you two. We have work to do.”
* * *
The night of the charity, I try to send Luka to his own room so I can get ready. Ever since I was sick, he spends a lot of time in here. I always make him go to his room when we’re getting tired so he doesn’t fall asleep in here, and he pulls the wounded puppy act. Even now, he’s lingering, his arms on the top of the doorjamb as he watches me put on the finishing touches of my makeup. When I start twisting my curls into something manageable, he steps in closer.
“I don’t know how you do that.” He holds a curl between his fingers and kisses it.
I feel heat rise from the tips of my toes to the curl he’s kissing. My body has never stopped wanting him—it’s safe to say I want him more than ever. Sexy, bad boy Luka brought me to a steady burn; sexy, sweet Luka brings me to a raging inferno.
“Are we matching tonight?” he asks.
That’s become a running joke because we’ve matched for every event without even trying. Even when we’re just hanging out—classes or going into town—we coordinate.
“We’ll have to see. What fun would it be if we planned it?” I scoff.
He stares at my mouth and grins. “I know at least a dozen things that would be fun if we planned them…would you like to hear just one?”
By the look in his eyes, I know that I would love to hear it and that it’s the last thing I need to hear. “No.”
He steps closer and inhales my hair and my neck. “I feel like I’m lying in the farsynthia fields…are you drugging me, Mrs. Catano?” His lips brush against my neck and I squeeze my thighs together, closing my eyes to catch my breath.
“I assure you, I am not.”
He lets go of me and my body feels desolate. “Soon, beautiful.”
I open my eyes and he’s gone. I try to steady my fingers to finish my makeup and have to redo my lipstick three times.
Luka Catano consumes me.
He sets my soul on fire.
I don’t know what I’m going to do.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Another day, another formal,” Basile is saying when I step into the foyer.
He and Luka pause when they see me and both grin so wide.
“Well, well. Look who’s bringing the legs into royalty. Luka, are you ready to go down in history as the husband of the legs?”
“Fuck. Yes.” Luka’s eyes roam over me until I’m squirming and I walk toward the two of them, willing my heated cheeks to die down.
I asked Teresa to make a short dress for this event, unheard of around here for these formal affairs, and am pleased with the results. Red with off the shoulder sleeves, the bottom falls into two flouncy tiers. It’s fun and festive and I almost saved it for the ball but didn’t want to waste it on the family.
It looks like it wouldn’t have been wasted based on Luka and Basile’s reaction. I reach out and straighten Luka’s red tie, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from groaning.
“Are you sure you’re not conspiring with Teresa?”
“I swear.” He looks down at me and puts his hands on my shoulders, giving each cheek a kiss. “I swear you get more beautiful every day.”
“Oh, gross. Seriously, you guys are making me ill,” Mara says, coming to a dead stop when she sees what I’m wearing. “You can’t go in that. It’s not—”
“She can and she will,” Luka interrupts. “Come on, let’s go before we’re late.”
“I’m waiting for my date.”
“Who is it tonight?” Basile asks.
She rolls her eyes, but they’re gleaming. I wonder what she’s up to. “You act like I’m a slut…”
Basile shoots her a droll expression and she huffs, waving her hand at all of us.
“Just go already.”
“I thought Elias was out of town,” Luka says. He puts his arm around her and she leans into him.
“He is—” She swallows hard. “I haven’t heard from him in a while.”
Luka frowns. “Does he know you’re going out with…whoever this mystery guy is?”
She straightens. “I hope he sees my face all over the Internet tomorrow and suffers.”
She talks the talk, but really, she looks devastated. I almost feel a tiny bit of sympathy for her—almost.
We get in the car, Basile sitting across from us, and head to the Sanchuron Hotel. It overlooks the bluffs and is a stunning display of architecture full of history and elegance. I’ve been dying to go inside since the first time I saw it.
I’m relieved to have Basile as a buffer in the car. With the way Luka has been getting more comfortable with his suggestive comments lately and our history in cars, I was a little worried with how this night would go. He looks somewhat edgy, but when I ask if anything is wrong, he leans into my ear.
“I live in a constant state of discomfort when you’re around…even when you’re not. If you so much as lean that pretty ass into my cock tonight, I’m going to explode.” He leans back and grins, his eyes on my mouth.
I swallow hard and he grins wider. I have to look away.
When we arrive at the hotel, the cameras are primed for us. Harmi opens the door and Luka steps out first then holds his arm out for me to take. I look up at him and feel my courage return with his touch. We walk toward the building as the photographers go wild and I turn and wave one last time before we go inside. A low cheer goes up and builds and I laugh, feeling overwhelmed.
“They love you,” Luka whispers.
It’s as if we’ve stepped back in time once we’re inside. Gold inlays are in the wall and ceiling, antique furnishings of exquisite craftsmanship are strategically placed. We’re ushered to the ballroom where flowers and lights create a dreamy effect. We’ve only just sat at our table when Mara and her date walk up. I hear Luka’s exclamations of surprise and look up.
“What are you doing here?” I stand up and rush to Jadon, hugging him tight. “It’s so good to see you. Tell me you aren’t really Mara’s date,” I whisper in his ear.
“Technically I am, but really I’m just here to check on you,” he whispers back. He leans away and holds both of my hands. “Look at you. Marriage looks fantastic on you.”
Mara sighs loudly and we all look at her.
“How did you manage to keep this a surprise?” Luka asks.
“When it comes to your wife, I’m always scheming,” she says sweetly.
I don’t miss the daggers she points my way with her eyes. “Well, this time you’ve outdone yourself. What a perfect surprise!”
If she thinks I’m worried my brother will fall for her act, she’s in for a rude awakening. She must have had that in mind because she looks disappointed in my joy.
Jadon sits on one side of me and Luka on the other. He fills me in on everything that’s happening at home. He’s been given more responsibilities and hates it, and Ava is becoming quite the little swordsman.
“I bet Mother loves that.”
We laugh and he takes a drink of wine. “Oh, you have no idea. It’s helped turn her attention off of me, which is nice.” He sobers and I put my hand on his arm.
“Is everything really okay at home? Luka spoke with his father ab
out us coming for the holidays. Do you think it’s safe?”
His eyes light up. “I do. How soon can you get there?”
Luka leans forward. “I was going to tell Eden tonight, but I may as well say it now…we leave next week and we’ll be there the whole month.”
I turn to him, wide-eyed, and throw my arms around him. “Are you sure? We don’t have to stay for—”
“I got us out of it.” He leans his head against mine and we cackle like two little kids.
Mara and Jadon speak at the same time.
“Do I even want to know—” Jadon laughs.
“Knock it off, you guys. You’re embarrassing me—” Mara snaps. “Oh look, there’s Nadia.” Her voice is back to syrup and I freeze, backing away from Luka.
He turns my chin to face him again and stares at me. “Don’t shut me out.”
I lift my chin up and out of his hand and turn to Jadon. “I’m really glad you’re here.”
Nadia walks up to the table a few minutes later—I know it’s her before I even see her by the way Luka stiffens next to me. He tries to grab my hand under the table and I yank it away. I don’t need his guilt.
It feels like every eye is on us as she hugs Mara and turns to look at Luka and me. “Hello,” she says in her lilting accent. She really is stunning.
“Have you ever been formally introduced to my wife, Eden?” Luka asks.
Nadia gives me a strained smile and I don’t return it. “Hello, Eden,” she says quietly. “Luka, I wondered if I might have a word with you regarding the charity we did for MS last year. They’d like us to—”
“As I said in my email to you, I’m not interested.” His words are so cold, the whole table stops and looks at him. You could hear a pin drop.
She looks flustered. “If I could just speak with you—”
“No, Nadia.” He stands up and holds his hand out for me to take.
I take it numbly and he wraps his other hand around it, as if to guard me.
“It’s over, Nadia,” he says quietly. “It’s been over and you need to stop this insane pursuit. I was stupid to not see what I had in front of me.” He looks at me and I blink, wondering if I’m hearing him right.
Nadia presses her lips together and when I look at her, I can almost see the wheels turning in her head. Whatever she’s processing, she clears her throat and gets her composure back.
“Got it,” she says. “Public functions are never the time nor the place, are they?” The flirtatious look she throws Luka is not lost on anyone within view.
She does not buy one word he’s saying. And it hits me full-force that neither should I.
I try the rest of the night to engage, but my emotions are all over the place. Luka and I have gotten so much closer lately and even to myself, I’ve claimed that I was happy with the way it is, that I’m not going to let him in…keep him at a safe distance and protect my heart, all that.
I’ve been such a fool.
The hope was building inside me all along.
One night with Nadia around crushes all of that.
I need to make sure I never forget: this marriage is based on protection and financial gain.
Nothing more.
Chapter Thirty
I dance with Jadon and Luka and get through the night. Jadon is by far the best part of the night. When I hug him goodbye, I start to cry.
“You’re coming next week,” he says. “Ava will be so excited.”
“It’s just hard that this is what our lives have become…grateful for short visits and surprise trips.”
He gives me one more hug. “I know. You belong in Farrow, even though it does look as if you’re warming up to Niaps. Or maybe just warming up to Luka.” He pulls away and grins, his smile dropping when he sees more tears.
Luka is behind me, but he’s giving us privacy, so I’m able to speak to Jadon freely.
“I think it’s all an act. He’s been doting and sweet and—now that I think about it, it makes way more sense than thinking he’s actually fallen for me.”
Jadon looks over my shoulder. “The way he’s staring at you right now, and every other second of the night, I’m gonna have to disagree with you, little sister.” He leans closer. “I don’t think he’s just fallen, I think he’s completely sunk. Not even trying to swim above water, sunk.”
“You really think so?”
“I’m about 112% certain.”
Luka moves behind me then. “I’m sorry to cut this short, but they’re wanting a picture of all of us.” He motions behind Jadon to the photographers waiting.
We all turn and loop arms, smiling, while their cameras click.
Mara wraps her arms around Jadon and whispers something in his ear. I roll my eyes. I want him to shut her down so bad, but he just looks amused as he pulls away.
After we say goodbye to Jadon, I turn to Luka. “Can we leave now?”
He puts his arm around me and pulls me into his side. “Mara’s not the only one with a surprise tonight.”
“Uh-oh. Will I like it?” I look up at him and he looks sheepish.
“I don’t know.”
“Spill. This is making me nervous.”
“Okay, come on. I’ll let you see for yourself…”
He leads me away from the people and a guard escorts us to a back elevator. We get in and I hold my hand out.
“What did you do?”
He grins. “Just wait.”
The elevator climbs to the top floor and we step into a hall leading to the penthouse suite. He opens the door and I gasp. Floor-to-ceiling windows with the city lights sparkling over the water, a grand piano sits close-by, plush couches and pillows make the otherwise formal suite look more inviting.
“It’s beautiful.”
“I thought you might need a break from the Catano estate.” He puts his hands in his pockets and tries to read my reaction. “Is this okay?”
“It’s more than okay, but Luka—I’m not sure what you’re expecting from me.”
“Honestly? I want far more than I’m expecting.” He smiles and I relax a little bit. “But you don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do. I just want to enjoy our time together here, in this beautiful place, outside the claustrophobic walls of my house.”
“Are you gonna hurt me?” I whisper. “If I let you in, will you destroy me?”
He frowns and rubs his hand across his face. “Fuck, Eden. I never want to hurt you. I never meant to hurt you in the first place. This is a fucked-up situation. But I can assure you that my motives are honorable.” His voice is pleading and he looks urgent, like he’s begging for me to hear him and believe him.
“Honorable.” My lips quirk up. “I like it when you get riled up.”
His eyes lift and he looks at me with a growing fire. “I can get a lot more riled up than this, trust me.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Let me tell you…you are an ache in my chest that never goes away. I try to run and you’re there. I try to fill the empty hole you’ve left inside me and it never works. I try to stay busy and distract myself and I can’t because I’m always wondering what you’re doing!” His voice is rising and he grabs me and pulls me against him. “You’ve completely wrecked everything.”
I grin and he tilts my chin up so I can’t look away.
“You don’t have to say yes tonight, but…I hope you’ll give me another chance. I want that more than anything. Do you believe me?” he whispers.
“I want to.”
“What can I do to convince you?”
I close my eyes and feel his lips brush across my eyelids, my cheeks, my ear, my neck. I shiver and he smiles against my skin.
“Let me show you…”
I can’t think straight, much less come up with reasons to stop him when he’s making me delirious. He could be saying all the right things or he could mean them with all his heart, but either way, at this point, I deserve a night of seduction.
I can deal with the fallout late
r if there is one.
When his lips track their way back up my jawline and get near my mouth, I groan and tilt my face so his lips meet mine.
“I’ve been dying to kiss you for so long now,” he says against my lips. His tongue traces my bottom lip. “This mouth is my downfall. You are my downfall. I’m willing to dive headlong into oblivion as long as you’re on the other side.”
He devours me then, his tongue raiding mine with sweeping strokes. For the way he’s working my mouth, the rest of him stays chaste. His hands aren’t roaming, just holding me in place like he can’t get his fill.
I eventually take off his jacket and still, he keeps his hands on my face or around my waist. Coming up for air, I back away and look at him, chest pounding out of my skin.
“What do you want, beautiful?” He’s breathing hard too. He pulls my fingers up to his mouth and kisses each one, sucking on my last finger.
I close my eyes and when I open them, I feel lightheaded. “I want everything you’re offering.”
“I’m yours,” he says. “Whether we stand here kissing all night or I take you in every position against every surface of this suite, I’m yours.”
I push my hair to the side and turn my back to him. He puts his hands on my bare shoulders and kisses the exposed skin on my back before slowly unzipping my dress. I pull down the sleeves and the dress drops to the floor. I hear his sharp intake of breath and smile.
“It’s a good thing I didn’t know this was underneath that dress all night. I wouldn’t have been able to function.”
I guess the red thong and going braless was the right choice.
“Brace yourself,” he says and he picks me up and carries me to the bedroom, placing me carefully on the huge bed overflowing with pillows. “I’d like our first place to be here. I will worship you and then I’ll fuck you into tomorrow in the shower. What do you say?”
He reaches between my legs and feels the wet lace.
Satisfaction covers his face and he nods. “Yeah, I’m thinking you agree.”
He rips the lace off of me and buries his face between my legs, his tongue doing deeds that I can’t fathom. He stays right there for I don’t even know how long…however long it takes for me to scream his name and then he keeps going until my head is thrashing on the pillow again. All of a sudden, his mouth is gone and he drives into me with one long thrust. I scream again and he goes completely still while I pulse around him.
Downfall: Kingdoms of Sin, Book #1 Page 17