Page 19 of The Pakhan's Forced Bride
“Join me for dinner tonight,” he interrupts me, his eyes gleaming with triumph after catching me out with the snooping thing.
I snort indignantly. “I have plans,” I blurt out, spinning on my heel and marching away from him.
He might be gorgeous, but he’s a total asshole.
Chapter 6 - Ardalion
I smirk as I watch her storm away from the gym. She’s found endless ways to turn down my invitations for her to join me at dinner, lunch, or breakfast. She’s making a point of avoiding me—and when she can’t avoid me, she makes a point of starting the most useless fights with me.
Still, I find her amusing.
Even as she stomps away now, huffing loudly and throwing her hands in the air as she mumbles, no doubt saying terrible things about me, I’m smiling.
She’s cute when she’s angry.
Earlier, I caught a glimpse of her on the security camera in the library. It’s as though her intrusive thoughts get the better of her every time, and she can’t stop her playful nature from bursting out of her. She ran straight at that sofa and dived on it, landing like a starfish in the center, giggling like she was having the best time.
I often hear her little giggles around the house. She thinks she hides it from me, but she smiles a lot. Belle is that type of person; like this mansion, she’s full of natural light. The warmth of the sun.
Her enjoyment of all the little things around her is infectious.
Even the staff are drawn to her, and I’ve noticed that she already knows each of them by name, stopping to talk to them whenever she passes them in the house. They share private jokes, and she treats them like friends.
And earlier, when I watched her walk into the sunroom, it reminded me of the day I first walked in there. The awe I felt.
I couldn’t tear my eyes off the security camera as it recorded her reaching her hand out and letting a rainbow of light splash across her fingers as she smiled beautifully.
She wears her emotions on her sleeve.
She glows with happiness, which is what I think makes her so damn cute when she’s feisty. Even her anger is sweet.
I’m trying to ignore her.
I’m trying not to be distracted by her.
But I’m finding it impossible, and in some ways, I’ve even given in to just accepting it. Why not find amusement or entertainment in her presence? Why not make the most of it? She’s a beauty to look at. And when she stops fighting with me all the time, we might even be able to have a conversation.
Tonight, though, whether she likes it or not, she is having dinner with me. I have a plan for asking her in a way she can’t refuse.
Flexing my shoulders, I roll my arms in circles, loosening the taut muscles after my gym session. She was watching me for longer than she wanted me to know. The idea of her eyes on me—it’s hard to ignore how my body reacts to her.
It was never my intention to want more from her, but since she’s been in my home, I can’t stop thinking about pinning her beneath me.
I grab my towel and walk through the house in my gym shorts. It’s my tradition to jump in the ocean after a workout. The salt water is packed with magnesium, and I can’t think of a better way to refresh my body after pushing it so hard. Walking across the garden towards the gate that opens out directly on the stretch of private beach in front of my mansion, I can feel her eyes on me.
One glance over my shoulder and I spot her, up on the balcony of her bedroom. She’s standing in the sunshine, a gentle breeze teasing the edge of her dress. Mm. Maybe I can think of a better way to refresh my body. I’d do things to her she’s probably never experienced before.
I wink at her, and she throws me a sarcastic smile.
Guilt tugs at me for keeping her locked up all the time. I’d hate to be stuck in one place like that. Maybe tomorrow I’ll invite her to swim with me after the gym. I have to be careful, though. The closer I let her get to me, the greater risk I put myself in. It was never part of the plan. I never even intended to make her stay married to me forever. It’s just revenge. A way to taunt her brother and let him know he’s not untouchable despite his ego.
Hanging my towel over the bench outside my gate, I walk barefoot across the warm white sand and into the water. It’s not too cold today.
I wade into the gentle waves until I’m thigh-deep, then dive in. Instantly, my body relaxes as the ocean embraces me, salt water coating my skin and soaking into my blood.
When I surface, I roll onto my back and float with my arms stretched out, my eyes on the bright blue sky, counting the clouds as the sun warms my cheeks.
It’s been a very long time since anyone managed to intrigue me. Belle’s done that. She’s caught my attention in the short time I’ve spent with her, and now she’s taking up space in my thoughts.
