Page 10 of Secrets & Desires
“Where’s hetakingyou?”
Livia sighed. “We’retakingeach other…I don’t know. We haven’t discussedthatyet.”
“Too busysuckingface.”
Livia laughed aloud. “Well, do you blame me? Have you seen him? Now, go away, I need to finish up here and you’redistractingme.”
Moriko hopped down, grinning, and tapped a closed drawer. “Plenty of condoms in there. Take a handful. Better safe thansorry.”
Livia pointed out at the door and, grumbling but grinning, Moriko left her alone. Livia shut the door behind her and sighed, leaning against it. Her whole body felt as if she were wired up to the National Grid. If Nox even touched her once, she would jump him. “Calm the fuck down,” she muttered to herself. Still, when she’d finished getting ready, she grabbed some condoms from the drawer and shoved them deep into herpurse.
Nox was five minutes early. “Sorry,couldn’twait.”
Livia saw Moriko make a crude gesture behind Nox’s back and glared at her. “Do excuse Moriko, she was raised bywolves.”
“All the best people are,” Nox grinned at Livia’s friend, who smiled backathim.
“Look after her,” she said. “Later, lovers.” She disappeared back into her bedroom while Livia’s faceburnedred.
“So,” she said, trying not to look flustered in his presence, “what’stheplan?”
“Well, last night your roommate told me you hadn’t been in New Orleans for long, so I thought maybe we could take a steamboat trip. We could see the city and talk at the same time. What do youthink?”
Livia smiled at him. “I think that soundsperfect.”
The Steamboat Natchezwas full of tourists as it began to float down the Mississippi River, but neither Nox nor Livia cared. They sat out on the deck, the weather still very warm despite it being November, breathing in the fresh air. Nox asked Livia about where she hadcomefrom.
“Southern California, so I’m used to hot weather,” she grinned. “It is different heat here, more humidity. Sultrier. New Orleans is a verysexycity.”
Nox laughed. “If you say so. I’m NOLA born and bred, but I have to admit, sometimes the heat during the day gets to me. So why did you leaveSoCal?”
Livia looked away from his gaze. “No family to speak of, and Moriko was here. I managed to get a scholarship to the University, so that made it official. I haven’t regretted it once.Especiallynow.”
They smiled at each other and Nox leaned in to kiss her again. “Livia, that night at the party…I haven’t felt a connection like that inyears.”
“Really?” She was delighted, then frowned. “No, I mean, really? Look at you, you could haveanyone.”
“I’m fussy,” he said lightly with a grin, but she could see something behindhiseyes.
“You don’t give away a lot, do you? I mean, I could see the sadness in your eyes when we met… You can talk to me,youknow?”
Nox’s expression changed for a split second—fear?—but he shook his head. “I’m a firm believer in the past staying in the past. What I want now is for us to get to know each other. Is that something you’d like,Livvy?”
She studied him, leaning on the railing of the steamboat. “Charvi was right about you. Youareanenigma.”
“Charvi? Charvi Sood?” Nox’s eyes lit up and Livianodded.
“Yes, she knew yourmother?”
“I’ll say. Charvi was my mom’s best friend.” He looked so excited, like a little boy. “I had no idea she was back in NewOrleans.”
“She is. She’s my tutor, my mentor, really. I’m sure she’d love toseeyou.”
Nox gave a short laugh. “Why wouldn’t she come to see me herself?” He frowned to himself, obviously deep in thought, and Livia wondered if she had made a mistake mentioning Charvitohim.
Nox shook himself. “Well, yes, I’d love to see her.” He smiled at Livia. “So, you’re a masterpianist?”
She laughed. “Oh, no, I’m really just a beginner, at least when you consider the scope of the craft. My focus is on jazz piano, for this program at least. But, really, I love all classical music. And rock, and blues, and onandon…”
