by Rivi Jacks
“Watch me.”
“I understand that you’re upset, but you are not leaving,” he repeats with more emotion.
“You can’t make me stay here.”
“The hell I can’t!”
I finally look at him, knowing he’ll see the tears in my eyes. I draw a long, anguished breath. “I want to go home,” I murmur, looking away.
When he doesn’t say anything, I glance back. His handsome face is hard with anger. “This is your home,” he says through gritted teeth, and I see a muscle jerk along his jaw line.
I lick my dry lips. “Is she your girlfriend?” I ask, in a weak voice.
“She has never been my girlfriend.”
I remember the words she used. “Your lover,” I state in an anguished whisper.
He watches me intently. I hold my breath, waiting for his answer. “Yes.” I close my eyes and a tear rolls down my cheek. I swipe it away. “But not since I was here in November.” He pauses, letting me think about what he’s saying. “Since I first saw you, there has been no one else. I broke it off with Lizbeth. I have not seen or spoken to her since—until today.”
I want to believe him, but I’ve known all along he’s keeping something from me. “Your mistress.”
“No. I’ve never kept a mistress.”
“What am I?”
“Sofie,” he laughs harshly, “you sure as hell are not my mistress.”
His words don’t make me feel any better, if anything, I feel worse when he doesn’t say anything else. I wrap my arms around my middle, trying to stop my shaking. My stomach tightens into a hard knot, and I lower my gaze to the floor. A pounding on the front door makes me flinch.
“You’d better go answer that,” I tell him.
He stands in silence, watching me. “Do not leave this house,” he orders in a hard voice. As the pounding increases, he strides from the bedroom.
I close the door, move the suitcase off the bed, and crawl onto the mattress. Lying down, I pull the throw over me. Am I a fool wanting to believe someone like Lucas Santiago could be satisfied with only me? Now that I’m aware of his sexual appetite—the man is insatiable—I have reason to wonder. I roll onto my back and look at the ceiling. I am a fool. I draw a long, shuddering breath and close my eyes. The old hurts are never far below the surface.
When I wake, the room is in semi-darkness. The fireplace, with its low flame, keeps the dark at bay. I look out the window, the night has moved in while I’ve slept. For a moment, the old feeling of abandonment puzzles me before I remember why.
A sudden movement startles me before Lucas says, “It’s me.” He’s sitting in one of the high-backed wing chairs in the shadows. He doesn’t say anything more.
My voice doesn’t come out as strong as I want it to, but it still has an accusatory tone. “Who was at the door? Another lover?”
He moves so quickly, I don’t have time to realize the danger. He grasps my arms, jerks me off the bed, and pulls me against his hard body. I cry out in alarm.
“That’s enough!” He enunciates each word, glaring at me. He brings his mouth down on mine in a punishing kiss, bruising my lips and forcing them to part for his demanding tongue. He grasps my hair, wraps his hand in its length, and holds my head in place. The kiss is rough and hot. Burning hot. I moan into his mouth and squeeze my legs together as a jolt of desire shoots through me. He raises his head, and I see his knowing smirk. It’s embarrassing how quickly I succumb to his sexual prowess.
He abruptly grasps my waist, lifts and tosses me back on the bed, and comes down on top of me. He presses me into the mattress and roughly pulls my arms above my head. I can’t move, and he knows it. I think he enjoys letting me know I can’t do a damn thing to stop him. I turn my face to the side, avoiding his gaze.
He’s quiet for several moments, but I can feel his anger. “I told you the truth,” he says in a hard voice. “There has been no one else since I first laid eyes on you.”
“You expect me to just believe you?” I turn back to look at him. Surprise flitters across his face.
“What have I done to make you suspicious of me?” he asks softly.
You sent me away!
“Why would that woman just show up here if you haven’t seen her in months?”
“She doesn’t matter, Sofie. She is in the past,” he says firmly.
“There’s something you’re not telling me,” I state.
He releases me and stands by the bed, looking down at me. I swallow with difficulty, my tears near the surface. I don’t want to fight with him any longer. I just want him to hold me. He tilts his head to the side. “I’ll tell if you tell,” he says mockingly.
I inhale sharply. Knowing he is aware I’ve kept secrets is one thing, but for him to say it out loud while I am accusing him of the same is more than a little humiliating. Hot color floods my cheeks.
Instantly he leans over me. “What’s this, Sofia, chagrin?”
To help me through my shame, I get mad. I scoot down to the foot of the bed and stand. “Don’t be so... self-righteous!” I fling at him as I move toward the bathroom, but his hand shoots out, grabs my arm, and pulls me against him.
He places his mouth close to my ear. “I’m not the one making accusations, my sweet.” His dark voice sends tiny shivers racing over my skin.
“Stop it!” I try to pull away, but his arms encircle me like iron bands. He kisses the spot behind my ear, which he’s taught me is so incredibly sensitive. His lips trail down to the side of my neck where my pulse beats and his tongue darts out to lick the spot. I close my eyes, a distressed whimper escapes my lips. “Please stop,” I beg in an anguished voice.
He does, and he turns me to face him. He lowers his head and captures my lips in a soft and gentle kiss so sweet it brings me close to tears. There’s a soft knock at the bedroom door. Lucas raises his head slowly, his eyes locked on mine.
“I’ll be right there,” he calls. He tells me, with regret in his voice, “I have some business I have to attend to.” He moves to the door and looks back. “Perhaps,” he says softly, “I’m keeping from you the one thing—I know will make you see me as a monster.” His beautiful silver-green gaze holds mine. He turns to leave.
“Lucas?” There are tears in my voice, and he stops to look back. “Maybe I’m doing the same thing.”
“Sofie, you could never be a monster to me, even if you came from the depths of hell.” His voice is soft and tender. He leaves, quietly shutting the door behind him.
I NEED A LITTLE SPACE FROM LUCAS, BUT JUST THINKING OF NOT BEING WITH HIM MAKES IT HARD TO BREATHE. I NEED TO THINK OVER WHAT HE SAID TO ME. I HAVE NO REASON NOT TO BELIEVE HIM. Do I? And where did Lizbeth come from? Did she follow him here… from wherever he was before?
My cell rings, and I answer, welcoming the distraction. “Hey, Emma Rae, what’s up?”
“Andy called to tell me that we’re going out with you and Lucas tomorrow night!” What? “Fun, huh?”
“I... He hasn’t asked me out.” I’m not sure if a date is such a good idea right now.
“What?” she exclaims. “What’s wrong?”
I sigh deeply. “Emma Rae, I can’t talk about it right now. Maybe I just have cabin fever.”
“Well then,” she replies, “this is what you need. Dancing, fun, a lot of alcohol, and the company of gorgeous men.”
I laugh. “I’ve been with these gorgeous men too much already.”
“Sofie, you’ve always hung with the guys. Come on, I neeed to see Andy,” she pleads. “It’s not as if I’m asking you to go out with some schlep.”
“You mean the way you did in high school?” My voice holds laughter.
“All right, we’ll go another time,” she says. I can tell she’s trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice.
Well, hell.
I squeeze my eyes shut. I need some space from Lucas, not a date. “Okay, but you owe me—majorly.”
“We’re going to have so much fun!”
/> “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Assuming Lucas even asks me out.
“Impulse is a great bar. I know we’ll have a good time.” Her happiness is contagious, and I catch myself smiling. “What are we going to wear? It’s gotta be something hot and skimpy.”
“In this weather, if we wear something skimpy, it’d better be hot,” I reply.
“Sofie, the women that go there dress up.”
Great! Lucas has probably gone out with most of those dressed-up women. He does spend a lot of time at Impulse. “Can I talk to you tomorrow about what we’ll wear?” I ask her.
As I walk to the kitchen, I consider that Lucas might be mad enough he won’t ask me out, and that causes an ache around my heart. The kitchen lights are off, which is strange since they are always on day and night. A blast of frigid air comes from somewhere. As I turn on a light, I see the back door to the sun porch is open, with the outside door wide open too. I close them both, and as I come back into the kitchen, I notice the door to the basement is also open. I’ve never been downstairs, but I know the basement has a rec room, which the men use, and an extensive wine cellar.
I see a light on in the hallway below, so I stand at the top of the stairs listening but don’t hear anything. Someone obviously came through both back doors and the basement door and was unable to close them. Were they carrying something heavy? What might that be? Something is not right. And where is Max? I haven’t seen him all day.
I decide to check out the basement. I probably should find Lucas, but I don’t want to interrupt him for something as innocent as someone leaving a door open. Well, three doors open. The stairs are carpeted with a deep, cushiony rug that absorbs my steps. I move slowly to catch any noise. When I reach the bottom of the steps, I see a door directly to my left and another to my right. A hallway lies straight ahead with a door at the end. About half way down the hall are two more doors, one on each side.
I choose the door to my immediate left first. I lay my ear against the metal, and when I hear nothing, I turn the doorknob and ease the door open. I push until it lies flat against the wall, not that I’m afraid of something hiding behind the door. Not much anyway.
The room is dark and chilly. My hand moves along the wall until I find the switch. This room is the wine cellar. Impressive. Each wall holds racks of bottles, and shorter racks are placed a few feet in front of them. Every rack is full of bottles. A large square table, butcher-block style, sits in the middle of the room with a couple of stools. I flip the light off and shut the door.
I cross the hall. When I find the switch, I see a large room with a pool table, a bar area with chairs, and a couple of couches scattered about the room. A variety of arcade games are lined up against one wall. Is that Space Invaders? I definitely have to come back down here. I turn the light off and close the door, moving down the hallway to the next door. In that moment, the hall lights go out, plunging me into total darkness.
My breath catches in my throat and I instinctively flatten against the wall. I stand perfectly still as I hear a door open. The door to one of the rooms I just checked. In the next instant, I hear a low snarl and a hiss. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I have a quick moment to wonder what the hell is down here with me. I’m not too far from the next set of doors, and I decide to go for it. I don’t want to stay in the pitch black with whatever made that noise.
Three things happen.
I hear someone moving around upstairs. I push away from the wall to move to the opposite side of the hallway. As I do, something grabs my shoulder, and I scream one of those high-pitched girlie shrieks that girls do so well.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
I guess that was four things.
I hear a familiar voice say my name and I hear Lucas yelling for me. Then he’s storming down the stairs, and the hall lights come back on. Taylor stands beside me, a strange guy is at the wine cellar door, and Lucas takes the bottom step into the hall. He looks ready to do battle.
“Taylor!” I place both my hands over my heart. “You scared the bejeezus out of me!” He looks amused.
“What is going on?” Lucas demands. He doesn’t look amused.
I hear a man’s voice calling down to ask if everything is okay. The strange guy at the wine cellar door heads up the stairs, and I hear him reassuring whoever is up there.
I take a couple of deep breaths. “It’s okay,” I say, looking at Lucas.
“Sofie, I’m sorry I scared you,” Taylor says. Funny, he doesn’t look sorry. I narrow my eyes at him. He looks like the type who finds it amusing to wait around a dark corner to leap out and scare the living hell out of a person and then laugh hysterically. I sock him in the arm as I move toward Lucas’ outstretched hand. I look up and catch the look he gives Taylor. “It was an accident!” Taylor laughingly explains.
After we all come upstairs, Taylor shares his version of what has happened with Lucas. The other man, who was downstairs with Taylor, stands in the doorway to the dining room. He steps over to the cupboard where Lucas stores extra liquor, takes out a bottle, pours a shot in a glass, and brings it over to me.
“Sorry,” he says, offering me the drink.
“Thanks.” I look him in the eye. Is he apologizing for scaring me or snarling at me? Taking the glass, I down the contents. I sit down at the island, and the stranger sits opposite me with the bottle and another glass. He pours us both a shot.
I hear Taylor talking to Lucas. He’s saying something about recognizing my scent. What the hell is it with everyone noticing how I smell?
“My name is Christian,” the stranger says, offering his hand.
“I’m Sofie.”
He smiles. “I guessed as much.”
“Are you okay?” Lucas puts his hand to the back of my head. He sounds a little amused.
“I am.”
“Sofie, I am sorry.” Taylor sounds serious this time, but when I look at him, I see a twinkle in his eye. “You have a great girlie scream, by the way.”
“Har-de-har,” I say, and he laughs.
Lucas pulls me close and kisses my temple. I immediately feel better. It seems he’s over his anger. “I need to go see to my guest, but I shouldn’t be much longer,” he says. “Do you want to stay in here?”
“Yeah, I’ll hang with Taylor.” I look over at Taylor and smile sweetly.
“Now you’re making me nervous,” Taylor jokes as I watch Lucas leave.
I wonder who is brave enough to travel in this weather to see him. “Where is everyone?” My second shot sits untouched in front of me. Christian snags Taylor a glass, and he pours them both another shot.
Taylor hesitates. “On patrol.”
“Everyone?”
“Most,” he replies.
Patrols usually run in shifts. “What’s going on?” I ask.
Taylor knocks his drink back and pours another one. “Word came in that something’s up, so everyone’s on alert.”
“Does my family know?” I’m sure he can hear the concern in my voice.
“Yes. Jake is with Andy, and your cousins are with a couple of the Guard. The rest of your family has been notified too.”
“Thanks... for telling me.” I do appreciate his honesty. That is one of the things I like most about Taylor. That, and the fact that he is so easy on the eyes.
“You’re welcome. Lucas told me to tell you.”
“He did?” Taylor smiles. Oh. “I need food,” I announce as I stand.
“Me too, I’m starved,” Taylor declares.
We find roast beef and fix a couple of sandwiches. Christian declines my offer to fix him one.
“So, have you managed to stay out of trouble?” Taylor asks. “I mean, besides tonight.”
I stick my tongue out at him. “There’s not been much going on with this snow, and I feel a little cut off from everyone.”
“You’re safer here than anywhere else.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “You’re in on the conspiracy, aren’t you?” Both men laugh.
“Why thank you, Taylor.” I ignore the “slow” remark. Compared to him, I am slow.
He smiles warmly at me. I hear the front door open and Lucas talking to someone while I continue to listen to Taylor reminisce about our trip through the woods. I look up as Lucas enters the kitchen. My breath freezes at the heat in his eyes. The impulse to kiss him is so strong, I have to look away.
“Well, we need to go check some things out,” Taylor says. He and Christian stand.
“It was nice meeting you, Sofie.” Christian smiles at me. He is handsome in a subtle way. “I hope next time is a little calmer.” Lucas and Taylor both chuckle. They leave after Taylor says he’ll see me tomorrow. The house is quiet after their departure.
“What’s going on tonight, Lucas?”
His lips twitch with a smile before he answers. “It doesn’t take you long, does it?” I don’t comment, and he continues. “We received a tip. We’re just taking extra precautions.” He steps toward me. “Let’s go sit by the fire.”
I sit on the couch in front of the fireplace and pull my legs up under me.
“Would you care for a drink?” he asks from the liquor cabinet, where he is pouring himself one.
“No, thanks, I had plenty with Taylor and Christian.” I see a smile lift one side of his lips. “What is Christian?” I ask.
Lucas pauses while screwing the top on the liquor bottle. “What do you mean?”
I snort softly. Okay, he’s going to play stupid. Lucas sits at the other end of the couch and angles his back into the corner. He raises his legs to rest across the cushions, one leg on top of the other, with his feet hanging off the end near me. He brings his glass to his lips, drinking me in over the rim.