by Marian Tee
He could keep her in line, could make sure she stayed in his life for good, as long as he gave her good sex. With that thought foremost in his mind, Stavros sought to prolong their lovemaking. He controlled the urge to come ruthlessly, focusing all his efforts instead on making her shatter over and over.
Inserting his hand between their bodies, he began to play with her little nub of pleasure, and soon, the signs were there. Her breathing punctuated by short gasps, her eyes dilating, her toes curling, her muscles flexing then squeezing his cock tight—
“Willow.”
It was as if she was only waiting for him to say her name, and when he did, she came with a scream. Her body buckled and rocked against his as she discharged creamy come out of her. The sticky warmth made him shudder, triggering his own release, and he came with a roar. Plunging into her sticky wet warmth again and again, he didn’t stop thrusting until he was completely spent, his cock drained dry of cum.
When it was over, he lay on his back and she rolled to his side, her body curled under his arm.
The room was dark, but both their eyes were open.
She touched his chest. I love—
Stavros suddenly sat up. “I should go.”
Her hand fell away. “W-what’s the hurry?”
“Business.” It was a lie, and they both knew it.
After a momentary pause, she said, “I understand.” That was also a lie, and they both knew it.
Switching the bedside lamp on, Stavros began to dress himself. When he was done, he hesitated by the door.
She forced a smile. “Fuck you tomorrow.”
Stavros visibly relaxed. “Count on it.”
When he was gone, she took her phone out of the drawer and called her dad. It rang and rang until voice mail picked it up. Her father’s voice came on the line, William explaining he was away for business and that he would call back as soon as possible.
She ended the call without leaving a message.
Her father had been out of town for almost a week, and he hadn’t even thought of telling her. Willow knew most people would be mad about it, but she just couldn’t. William Somerset would never be a perfect father, but at least he was trying his best.
After a moment’s hesitation, she dialed again. This time, her call went through and a second later, she heard Charmaine on the other end of the line. “Hello?”
“Mom, it’s—” But there was no point talking.
Charmaine screamed for fifteen minutes straight, hurling one insult after another at the daughter who had ruined her life so selfishly. But strangely, just listening to Charmaine rant and rave was...comforting.
At least she still had Charmaine in her life.
When her mother’s voice finally died down, probably due to sheer exhaustion, Willow’s own voice caught as she said, “Love you, Mom.” Tears stung her eyes as she said the words. God, oh God, who knew how much pleasure could be derived from simply saying the words?
Just when she thought Charmaine had hung up on her, she heard her mother say hoarsely, “Baby, is that you?”
Her tears stung even more painfully, but still she willed them away as she choked, “Yes.”
“Oh, my poor baby, you sound sad.”
Willlow started to cry. “Do you think I can ever make someone love me, Mom?” She closed her eyes. “Do you think I can ever make you love me?”
Charmaine’s heart ached. “I’m sorry, darling, but no.”
Willow cried harder.
“I’m sick, baby. I can’t ever love you, I can’t ever rebuild your hurting heart no matter how much I want to.”
“I’m just so tired, Mom. I don’t know how long I can last.”
“Just hang on, baby. One day, I know in my heart, you’ll find that person who can love you the way I can never do.”
Chapter Eight
“Free sex, Serenity, free—no, don’t cover your ears, you’re already nineteen, you should know about these things.” Willow pulled Serenity’s hands off her ears.
“Ms. Somerset, you are unbelievably pushy.” But her words lost its sting in the redness of her high-boned cheeks.
Despite her misery, Willow had to grin. “You’re unbelievably cute.”
From the opposite side of the room, Willem said dryly, “Ms. Somerset, will you kindly stop corrupting my intern? She is just nineteen.”
The three of them were in Willem’s private office in the east wing, which was luxuriously decorated in black leather and shades of brown. It was an intensely masculine room, and it was one of the few rooms in the palace that even the Queen of Contini herself dared not enter.
Two days had passed since Willow and Stavros had fucked on the deal. She had hoped by now she would be walking bow-legged or something because of too much sex, but no.
She slumped over her desk, asking morosely, “Tell me, Mr. de Konigh. Is it a matter of why pay for the milk when the cow’s giving it away for free?” And boy, did that have a double meaning now, thanks to Ingrid’s still-unforgotten insults.
The Dutch billionaire didn’t look up from his files as he said calmly, “I am not an expert on love, Ms. Somerset.”
“But whyyyyyyyyyyyyyy—”
Biting back an impatient sigh as it was clear his temporary employee wouldn’t be shutting up until she had an answer from him, Willem tossed his papers on his desk in resignation. “All right, Ms. Somerset. I’ll bite.”
Willow promptly shut up.
Leaning back against his seat, he said reflectively, “Since I’ve seen for myself how strongly he reacts whenever you’re concerned, it does seem strange that he wouldn’t take you up on your, err, generous offer.”
“Free sex,” she clarified.
Serenity covered her ears again.
“Yes, that. Only two things come to mind to explain his behavior.” Tapping his fingers on his desk, he said, “One, he’s ridden with guilt, feeling like he’s taking advantage of you—”
“Nix that,” Willow said. “He hates me. If he feels guilty about something, it’s probably that he didn’t do enough to make me suffer.”
“—or,” Willem continued, “he’s found, as you have put it, another source of milk.”
Willow burst to her feet. “Ingrid!” Her teeth gnashed. “That Dutch shit.” She started packing her things, hurriedly gathering her research papers and putting them back in her file case.
Serenity lowered her hands when she saw Willow packing up. “You’re leaving, Ms. Somerset?”
“Just thought I’d, umm, be able to concentrate more if I work from my room,” Willow mumbled.
“Going after a milkmaid,” Willem said at the same time.
Willow shot daggers at the billionaire. While she had no problems admitting all the wiles she had used to seduce Stavros, she had more than a huge problem admitting to wanting to get into a catfight with another woman. It just felt petty, and it was something she had never thought she’d be inclined to do.
Until now of course.
She mentally added another item to her growing list of grievances against Stavros. She planned to make him pay dearly for it once they were married and fucking happily ever after.
When she had everything back in her briefcase, she said awkwardly, “I’ll be off then.” She couldn’t quite meet their eyes as she hurried out of the room.
Fifteen minutes had passed when Serenity’s gaze fell upon Willow’s phone, which the older girl had left – and apparently forgotten – on the bookshelf directly behind their seats.
“She’s left her phone, Mr. de Konigh.” When she stood up to reach for it, pain shot up her leg, making Serenity wince.
She didn’t make a sound, but she didn’t have to.
“Serenity, dammit, will you stay put?” Willem was already bearing down on her, and when she still insisted on reaching for the phone, he laid his hands on her shoulders and pushed her back down.
“I should go after her, Mr. de Konigh,” Serenity murmured as Willem reached for the phone himsel
f. “What if Mr. Manolis calls her and it’s important?”
“Free sex is important?” Willem asked dryly.
Serenity’s mouth opened and closed while her cheeks flushed pink again. It was her first time to hear the Dutch billionaire say something so explicit. All she could hear was Willem’s lovely, accented voice saying the word over and over. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex. Sex.
The look on his intern’s face made him grimace. “Apologies, Serenity.” He paused, but whhen she didn’t correct him on his use of her first name, he shook his head in exasperation. “It appears she’s a corruptive influence on both of us.”
Several beats of silence passed before Serenity was able to recover her voice, but it still quivered as she said faintly, “The phone?”
Willem slid the phone into his pocket. “I need to head out and talk to Nic, anyway. I’ll look for Ms. Somerset myself.” His eyes narrowed. “As for you, it’s my direct order that you stay off your legs the entire day. Understood, Ms. Raleigh?”
The fact that he had voluntarily used her surname told her he meant business, and she nodded obediently. “Yes, Mr. de Konigh.”
When Willem left as well, it was Serenity’s turn to slump over the desk. Her entire body shook, but it was nothing to how she had reacted between her legs. Oh God, this was so embarrassing. And this was Willow Somerset’s fault. She had always managed to keep her reactions in check but ever since she had seen how Willow and Stavros Manolis were with each other—
She pressed her thighs together, but the wetness still stemmed, soaking her panties.
****
Stavros Manolis was in hiding.
In his entire life, he could never be accused of such a thing, had never even gone away to do proverbial wound licking when he had found out the truth about his parents. But this time was different. This time, he knew he couldn’t afford to face anyone until he effectively got rid of all the doubts wearing him down and the bewilderment that turned his mind into a haze.
That he needed time alone didn’t sit well with him at all, of course. It felt too much like an excuse, made him like one of those shallow, self-centered celebrities who flew aorund the world acting like they were the only one who knew what broken-hearted meant.
Even so, it was the truth.
He needed time to think, needed time to figure out why there was a growing sense of dread inside him, needed time to understand why all his insticts were screaming at him that everything was wrong. Completely wrong.
Taking hold of the paddles, Stavros started to row. It was one of his favorite pasttimes here in Contini, which had a number of hidden lagoons and secret caves.
The exertion calmed him, and the quiet surrounding Stavros, which was only occasionally marred by turquoise waters rippling under his boat, helped clear his mind.
For once, he tried to think logically about everything that had happened between him and Willow.
He had once thought her the most genuine woman in the world, someone who wouldn’t ever be able to hide her thoughts or stop herself from saying the truth.
Was that a lie?
He had also thought she wouldn’t be the type to go after a man for his money alone. Was that a lie as well?
His mind said yes, but his heart – his goddamn foolish heart that kept wanting to beat for the people who didn’t give a damn about him – his heart told him no. If he closed his eyes now, if he allowed himself to remember, all the memories would say the same thing his heart was insisting.
It hadn’t been a lie. She had felt something for him, the same thing he felt about her. The one thing they had never openly talked about.
Stavros started rowing faster, but it was no match for the pace of his heartbeat.
But what if they weren’t lies?
What if, for one moment, he considered that those weren’t lies? Then why had she betrayed him?
Was it because she was like him? Had she been motivated by an integral instinct to please her parents, the way he had once been, even though they had repeatedly rejected her? Had her desire to make her father proud of her accomplishments outweigh her desire to be with him?
And if that was so, what then? It didn’t make her evil, did it? It only made Stavros...second place.
His jaw clenched, and he let go of the paddles, allowing the boat to cruise freely. Second place wasn’t too bad, Stavros thought. It was...familiar territory. Reaching for his phone, he checked for any messages and calls from Willow but found none. Was she looking for him but too proud to let him know? Or did she not care at all?
This time, Stavros did close his eyes. This time, he let his mind drift back to the time Willow had first seen him with another woman.
Ah, God...
His chest tightened with pain. She hadn’t said anything, but the look in her eyes.
He remembered the time she had come knocking on his door, remembered the shock she wasn’t able to hide from him. She had really thought he was alone by then. And now, looking back, his anger no longer blinding him, Stavros saw it so clearly through his memories.
She had been hurt.
Whatever her reason was for betraying him, for selling him out, she had been hurt. She had looked at him and Ingrid, and the pain in her eyes had been crippling. Devastating.
Air eased out of him, and Stavros realized belatedly that he had been holding his breath all this time.
Slowly, Stavros reached for his paddles again.
Willow had betrayed him. Fact.
He despised her for it. Fact.
They could not live without each other. Fact.
But the last one was the most important, Stavros told himself, a truth that would never go away or fade in time. If they could not live without each other, then why should they? Stavros would simply take control for them both. He would not give her any reason to betray him. He would be the man she wanted him to be, and in time his hatred for her would cease. He might never trust her again, might never say what was in his heart, but they would be together.
Stavros slowly turned the boat in the opposite direction. He was heading back home. And now, he knew and accepted the truth.
Willow Somerset was home.
Chapter Nine
The first person Stavros saw when he was back in the palace was Serenity, the person who, next to her own employer, knew everything. And that was why she was exactly the person he needed to talk now.
“Ms. Raleigh, a moment please.” The girl tended to walk with swift grace most times he saw her, but this time, she was oddly slower, almost limping.
Halting in her tracks, Serenity turned towards the Greek billionaire, her every thought hidden by the deliberately blank expression on her face. “Yes, Mr. Manolis?” Since the connecting bridge between the east and west wing was under renovation, the sound of hammering and sawing required Serenity to raise her voice a little.
Although his first instinct was to ask about Willow, concern and good manners eventually won, and he asked, “Are you all right?”
Seeing Stavros’ gaze slide to her feet, she said stiffly, “It’s just one of those days where an old injury makes itself felt.” She changed the topic right after, asking briefly, “You wanted to talk to me, sir?”
“Ah, yes. I was wondering if you know where Ms. Somerset is? I need to talk to her.”
Now he looks for her. The nasty thought was extremely unlike her, and that was all Willow Somerset’s fault, too. She made it so easy to care for her, and Serenity hated caring for other people.
Looking at Stavros Manolis, disliking him for everything he had done to Willow, she found herself doing something rare.
She lied.
“Perhaps in Mr. de Konigh’s suite, sir?” Lying meant she cared, but for Willow’s sake, she just couldn’t stop herself. The man needed a dose of his own medicine, and who else could make him jealous other than Willem de Konigh?
Stavros’ face hardened at the answer. “His...suite.”
His voice had turned dangerously soft, making Se
renity swallow. She was definitely skating on thin ice now, but she told herself she wasn’t completely lying. Willow was in her employer’s suite. But what Stavros thought about it wasn’t her fault.
Raising bland eyes to Stavros, she said calmly, “Yes, sir. She’s been there for some time.” And that technically was the truth, too. Time was relative. Willow had been in the suite for minutes, but if Stavros thought it meant she had been there for days, well, that was his fault, too.
“I see.”
Something flashed in his eyes. Guilt stung her conscience, but she told herself she was doing this for the greater good. “Shall I give you directions to the suite, sir?”
Stavros’ gaze suddenly narrowed. “And you would like that, wouldn’t you?”
“I don’t know what you mean, sir.”
His lips twisted. “Of course you don’t. I’m not even sure why I’m surprised she has you on her side as well.”
“Ms. Somerset is a wonderful person, Mr. Manolis,” she said loyally.
“Wonderfully tactless, ill-mannered, and rude, you mean?”
She didn’t know quite what to say to that. The words were an insult, but the tone he used was...
Tender. But final. Like he had decided to cast Willow Somerset aside as a beautiful memory in his life.
She gulped. Oh, dear. She might have meddled too much. “Mr. Manolis, wait.” The Greek billionaire had already started walking away, and in her current condition, she knew she would never be able to catch up with him.
Stavros turned towards her, the polite look on his face a barrier in itself that made the words she had to say die down. “Yes, Ms. Raleigh?”
“Shall I call Ms. Somerset for you? She’s only been there for a few minutes to view the royal albums—”
His lips twisted. “Of course.”
She became more desperate. “Mr. Manolis, I—”
“You don’t need to make excuses for her. She is what she is, and I don’t...hate her for it.”
And she could see it in his eyes that he didn’t.
His hatred was gone, leaving behind...indifference.