Page 43 of The Devil's Heir
Jackson chuckles. "I'm not as brave as you are, Liliana. If you want him to know that, you will have to tell him yourself."
I slowly pull the covers down and peek out at the guy. Jackson's been nothing but kind to me, and I should probably be a little nicer to him. Pushing myself up, I sit with my back against the headboard and study the man. Jackson looks to be around our age, and he's good-looking with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes.
"Why do you look so familiar, Jackson? Have we met before?" I ask, my brow furrowing in thought.
"Yes and no," he states, grinning. "We went to school together, but we never talked to each other. I was on the football and track team, so we didn't hang out in the same circle."
I notice the sad look on his face before he discards it and gives me his boyish smile. Even knowing that we went to school together, I still can't place him.
"Yeah, well, Jarek saw to it that I wasn't part of any circle in school." I climb from the bed and walk over to the table where Jackson placed a tray with a covered dish down.
"I'm sorry about that, Liliana. I can't imagine being treated that way." He sighs, then adds, "I'll help in any way I can while you're here, but I don't have any power. What I can offer is my friendship."
I smile softly. "Friendship will be great, Jackson."
"Good. So, does this mean you will eat for me?"
Sighing, my stomach picks this exact time to rumble. Jackson covers his mouth as he chuckles, and my face colors with embarrassment.
"I guess you have your answer. What are we having tonight? It smells delicious."
"Chicken Marsala with mashed potatoes and asparagus on the side. I would have brought you some wine to go with it, but Mr. Falcon made it clear that you are not to have any alcohol while trying to conceive."
"I'mnottrying to conceive; he's just trying to knock me up. There's a difference," I remark snidely.
Jackson snickers. "I understand, but that doesn't change the rules, Liliana. I need this job and cannot go behind my boss' back."
"I know, and I wouldn't ask you, too. Water will be fine."
I pull the chair out and sit while Jackson pours water into my glass. A throat clearing at the door draws both our attention. Sasha stands in the doorway in another sheer robe, this one a royal blue.
"Jackson, Master has summoned me to join him for dinner. Do you know whether his bitch aunt will be there, or will it just be the two of us?"
Jackson sighs before answering, "Ms. Carmen will not be at dinner."
"Oh, good. That means Master must want me to be his dessert." Sasha's eyes finally land on me, and I see the mischievous glint shining in them before turning and walking away.
"Don't let her bother you. She's jealous because her Dom has chosen you to carry his Heir instead of her."
"I really don't give a rat's ass about the woman. I can tell she's conniving; if I wanted to, I'd return the favor because I don't like her. I wouldn't care if he's fucking her, but it's the thought of him fucking someone else while he has me. I don't want to catch anything."
"Oh, well, Mr. Falcon uses condoms with his submissive unless she's giving him oral…"
I stare in disbelief at my new friend. "I don't care if he wears ten rubbers when he fucks her—the fact is—he's still fucking her."
"Please, Liliana, don't let it upset you. Just do your job and then you can leave here in a year."
Letting out a long, drawn-out breath, I pick up my fork and start eating. Jackson leaves with the promise that he'll return to get my tray, and then I'm left alone. I'm not sure I like being alone so much because my mind wanders to matters that I would rather not think about.
How am I supposed to give the asshole a kid and then leave that child here knowing what kind of life they will have? Sure, they will be pampered, but look how Jarek turned out. The kid won't be any better.
I try thinking back to our earlier days and even though there were times when Jarek was trying to be nice, it never turned out to be that way. I know it's the kind of environment the child grows up in, and the fact that Jarek had no qualms about shooting someone in front of me doesn't bode well for his Heir. Will he force them to watch that horror, too?
As promised, Jackson returns for my tray, but he doesn't stay long because Jarek walks in not long after Jackson. He chases my new friend away and then holds his hand out to me.
"Come, pauper. It's time for the rest of your punishment…"
TWENTY-FOUR
