Page 26 of Secrets & Desires
Odelle staredat Roan for a long moment, and then reached into her purse for a cigarette. Roan waited, his heart thumping against his ribs. Odelle lit her cigarette andstudiedhim.
“Why?” Roan’s mouth hitched up in a smile. “Why else do people get married? I want to be your husband, ofcourse.”
Odelle didn’t smile. “Roan, I think we both know this isn’t a love match. Why else would you be fucking other women ifitwas?”
She had a point and Roan nodded. “I admit, I have been. I’m immature, Odelle, and that’s not an excuse. I canchange.”
Odelle gave a snort of laughter. “Be honest, Roan. I marry you, you get my father’s money and you’ll be back to your old ways within a year.” She sighed. “I deserve better. I deserve what your friend and that waitress have. Did you see the way they were looking at eachother?”
“We used to look at each otherlikethat.”
“No, weneverlooked at eachlikethat.”
Roan sat back in his chair. “So, you’resayingno.”
Odelle half-smiled. “I didn’t say that. I’m saying I’ll think about it. Prove to me you can stay faithful. Do this. I’ll give you one week to finish whatever you’ve started with your whores. One week’s grace. Fuck them and tell them goodbye. Do that, and I’ll agree to anengagement.”
Roan nodded. “Fine.” He got up and went to her, trailing the back of his fingers down her porcelain cheek. “Odelle, we can make this work. I’m sorry I’ve madeyoufeel…”
She looked at him steadily. “Secondbest.”
He shook his head. “You wereneverthat.”
“Then never make me feel that way again, Roan, or you won’t know what’s hit you.Agreed?”
He nodded, his blue eyes serious for once. “Agreed.”
Livia grinnedat Nox’s text message as she pushed her way into hermusicroom.
Good to know you’re on your way to practice your ‘fingering.’ I hope to do the same later. I loveyoux.
She giggled. Since Thanksgiving and their declaration of love, their relationship had become even more fun, anddefinitelydirtier. They’d fucked in practically every room of his mansion—except for those two rooms he kept locked. She never mentioned them, guessing it was where his family had died. She did wonder why he had continued living there after the deaths. She would ask Sandor or Amber if she could—both of them had quickly become her confidantes and Livia was delighted that Nox’s friends accepted her so readily. Tonight, it was her friends’ turn to meet Nox—Marcel and Moriko, plus another couple of staff from the restaurant—and now Livia was hoping to persuade Charvi tocometoo.
The music room was empty as she dumped her stuff on the floor and sat down at the Steinway. She ran her hand over the smooth surface of the piano, wondering again at Nox’s generosity. She closed her eyes and thought back to this morning, to waking up in his bed, his mouth on her nipple, then her belly and finally his tongue lashing around her clit until she came. Livia sighed. Her body still ached from the night before; they’d made love all evening and most of the night until they were exhausted, and now her vagina ached from the pounding of Nox’s huge cock. He owned her body when they made love and shelovedit.
“Hey…” Livia opened her eyes to see Charvi frowning at her. “Do you feelbetter?”
Livia wasconfused. “Huh?”
“You said you were sick and wouldn’t be intoday.”
Livia shook her head. “Notme.”
“You didn’t call the adminoffice?”
“No.”
Charvi shrugged. “They must have gotten the names mixed up. Damn it, then the room is doublebooked.”
“Oh.” Livia was disappointed. “No matter, I’ll come back later… Shoot, no, scratch that. I promised Marcel a couple of hours at the restaurant. Well, it doesn’tmatter.”
“Sorry,honey.”
“Can’t be helped.” Livia started to pick her things back up. Charvi smiled apologeticallyather.
“Hasn’t Nox bought you a Steinway for homeuseyet?”
Livia grinned. “Where the hell would I put it? And no. It’s one thing for him to spend that money on the music department, quite another to spend it on apersonalgift.”
