Page 24 of The Good Girl

With her fingers still biting into my face, I groan. “Oh wifey, I’m going to be all up in that bubble.”

Dominant Lena was something I’d only fantasized about. She was capable, strong, smart and sexy as hell. I don’t know why I assumed she’d be meek when it came to the bedroom, but the repartee between us should have been an indication that my ice queen was actually a firecracker.

A violent one. “Try it, I dare you. I’ll have this fork separating you from the crown jewels before you’ve even blinked.”

With a quick glance down, as much as her grip on my face would allow, I can see the fork hovering just above the growing bulge in my jeans. When had she stolen it from the plate? How hadn’t I noticed?

Fuck, Lena was going to be the death of me.

And I welcomed it.

Lights fill the room, and we both turn as a car pulls up to the front of the house, breaking the tension between us. With a small nod, Lena stands, slips her shoes back on and leaves the room without another word, probably running from the rush of power she just experienced.

Chapter Twenty-One

Elena

“Wow, I can’t believe that this is the first time I’ve ever stayed at your house.” Serena stands, mouth open, looking around as I close the front door behind us. I’d promised her she could come over, and for the first time in our friendship, I felt genuinely uncomfortable.

I try to picture it from her point of view, taking in the navy and cream entryway opening out to a large grand staircase with gold railings and a garish chandelier. A family portrait from when I was around thirteen hangs on the wall, and I flinch at how happy and domestic we look. I remembered that day, because it was the one when they’d told me I was going to marry Tristan Radcliffe. I mean, I’d always suspected it was in the cards, and the way they kept pushing us together made everything obvious, forcing me to distance myself from him. But on the drive to the photography studio is when my father decided to officially drop that bombshell, and kill any hope I had.

I motion for Serena to hand Mrs. Leeks her coat and don’t miss the once-over the woman gives my best friend. Unlike Hunter’s family, we didn’t have a butler, instead we had a housekeeper who made sure everything ran smoothly. Sometimes we brought in extra staff, if we were hosting The Council dinners or political functions, but otherwise, my father liked to keep staff to a minimum, relying on Mrs. Leeks and her husband, who was our chef.

She catches my eye, obviously unimpressed with Serena’s gawking as I shrug awkwardly. “I don’t really have many people over, my parents are pretty busy.”

Serena chuckles, and nudges me in the ribs with her elbow. “Yeah, I can imagine, running Silvercrest and all that.”

I swallow, unsure of why I’m suddenly anxious until Mrs. Leeks lays a hand on my shoulder gently. “Your father will be in meetings all afternoon, and asked me to pass on the message that he will be unlikely to return this evening.”

The relief that courses through my body is instant, and I nod in acknowledgement. It would be easier having Serena here, knowing that my father wasn’t going to be here, parading around with his mayor personality. He needed everyone to adore him, and Serena would be no different. Once she left, he’d accuse me of making him feel uncomfortable, unable to relax in his own home since she was an outsider.

“Would you like me to bring some refreshments up to the home theatre for you girls?” Mrs. Leeks asks kindly, and Serena grins at me as I nod again.

I lead Serena past the staircase and towards the back of the house, where my mother had converted one of the rooms into a home theatre, with a huge screen and several large swivel cuddle chairs and bean bags placed around the room. She said it was to keep us Legacies entertained, but I know for a fact it’s so she and Cassia can get drunk and watch Cassia’s latest films on a large screen without any paparazzi or tabloids lurking. Tabitha’s mother was a beautiful actress, which is where she got her looks from.

Serena rushes forward, excited, and jumps onto one of the large swivel chairs. I grab a fluffy throw from the shelves on the wall and climb onto the chair next to her. I loved these seats, they could fit four people snuggled up easily, and when it was our turn to host the dinners, Tabi and Attie would force me to be the filling in their sandwich as we watched utter drivel. Apparently, I was allowed to waste time with my cousins when it was considered ‘hosting’, and therefore my father encouraged me to relax and make them feel welcome.

“This is so cool!” Serena’s voice breathes next to me, and she gives my arm a gentle squeeze as we settle in and pick a movie.

A few moments later Mrs. Leeks returns with a small cart. I can see several cans of soda, some cheese and crackers with a dip, popcorn and some chocolate that she must have rustled up from the back of a cupboard somewhere since I wasn’t normally allowed sweet things.

“Do you have any chips?” Serena asks, looking over the bowls with a slightly disappointed expression.

With a glance in my direction, Mrs. Leeks replies, her face tight. “I’m afraid not, I can send someone out for some if you’d like?”

With a dismissive wave, Serena pulls the large bowl of popcorn into her lap. “No, it’s cool.”

Mrs. Leeks raises a brow and I cringe at Serena’s rude attitude. I know staff are staff, and in The Society, everyone is expendable, but there’s something about the way she waved away my housekeeper that makes me flinch.

“Dinner will be tacos, so try not to fill up on snacks.” Her voice is flat and Serena doesn’t even look up, just shovels a handful of popcorn into her mouth as the opening credits of the movie begin.

“Thank you,” I mouth before dimming the lights, and with a small nod, Mrs. Leeks leaves, closing the door softly behind her.

* * *

After dinner, we hang out in my room in our pajamas as Serena rifles around in my closet, exclaiming excitedly every time she comes across a designer piece. Which is every two minutes.

Holding a pink Alexander McQueen dress against her body as she fingers the geometric design, she looks at me from beneath her eyelashes. “So…you seem to be spending more time with Tabitha Black and the Hawthorne twins.”

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