end of the day, when all was said and done, I’d leave there knowing I had my friends’ backs. Money, smarts, social status—none of that mattered if you didn’t have true friends. Right?
“Do you think he had anything to do with her disappearance?”
At the sound of his question, I sat up and put my feet on the floor. “No. What makes you say that?”
“Luyu, he loves you and would do anything for you.” His voice hardened. “If you were stressed out about that book, don’t you think he’d do everything in his power to put a stop to it?”
“Hmmm. I hadn’t thought about it this way. Jay Austin is too much of a goodie-goodie to harm anyone, though.” I got up from the bed and walked over to the bar cart to make myself another cocktail.
“How many drinks have you had tonight, Luyu?” His gaze searched my face for an honest answer.
“A few.” I shrugged. Probably more than a few. “What’s it to you?”
“Nothing. I just worry sometimes that you drink too much.” He let out a long, audible sigh of disdain.
I filled the glass with ice, poured the thick, clear gin over the cubes and watched them settle before adding a splash of tonic. My soul was similar to the ice-cubes: frozen and harsh with square edges, but once one poured the liquor over them, they’d soften. “Mind your own business, Seneca.”
“Come here, Luyu.” He held his arms wide, staring at me seductively, so I crawled on top and straddled him. When I went to take a sip, he took the glass from my hand, placing it on the nightstand.
“Sen—” Gritting my teeth, I leaned over to get it, but he grabbed playfully at my wrist.
“Why do you drink so much?” he asked with a thread of impatience, pulling my face up to his. These glimpses of determination for me to be real with him caused my heart to beat more rapidly, so much so that the intensity in his dark brown eyes made me look away.
I’d never shared my past with Seneca, or Jay Austin for that matter. It wasn’t as if I were hiding it from them. Any time you Googled me or my besties’ names you’d see headlines such as, “Avon Porter Kills One of Their Own,” or “Pregnant Farnworth Firewater Heiress Butchers Lover.”
That headline stung the most. I didn’t butcher anyone.
“You know why I drink, Seneca. Drop it,” I reflected with some bitterness.
“Luyu. Tell me about it.” His stare—intense, caring, perhaps even loving—drilled into me as never before.
Shifting my weight on top of him, I lowered my face against his muscular chest and raked my gold, glittery nails against his tan skin. “I don’t enjoy talking about my past. I’d much rather discuss my future.”
“Okay, Luyu. What do you want for your future?” His silky voice held a challenge.
“Hmm...To be married one day, have a big, white wedding with Lex, Taddy and Blake as my bridesmaids…maybe over at St. Bart’s on Park Avenue. You know that cathedral. I just love that church. Then after a year of traveling, seeing the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and so on, I’d like to start a family.”
I expected him to laugh or mock my words. Most boys did when I shared this with them, but not Seneca. Instead, his lips caught mine, kissing me passionately and sending spirals of ecstasy through me. Ohhh. Lawdy. I think I’m in love with this man.
When we finally parted and my toes were beyond curled, he dipped his chin to look at me, our eyes locking as our breathing came in unison. The moonlight shone through the window, creating a warm glow between us. Normally, I’d run out the door when things got deep. However, Seneca had a way of keeping me focused.
“You’d make a great mother, Luyu.”
A knot formed in my throat. Tears, hot and wet, streaked my flushed cheeks. Overwhelmed by this compliment, I started to fake-laugh but realized he was on to me, and I stopped myself. Instead, I glared at him, searching for a response. I could barely see him through the wetness of my eyes, but
“Do you think he had anything to do with her disappearance?”
At the sound of his question, I sat up and put my feet on the floor. “No. What makes you say that?”
“Luyu, he loves you and would do anything for you.” His voice hardened. “If you were stressed out about that book, don’t you think he’d do everything in his power to put a stop to it?”
“Hmmm. I hadn’t thought about it this way. Jay Austin is too much of a goodie-goodie to harm anyone, though.” I got up from the bed and walked over to the bar cart to make myself another cocktail.
“How many drinks have you had tonight, Luyu?” His gaze searched my face for an honest answer.
“A few.” I shrugged. Probably more than a few. “What’s it to you?”
“Nothing. I just worry sometimes that you drink too much.” He let out a long, audible sigh of disdain.
I filled the glass with ice, poured the thick, clear gin over the cubes and watched them settle before adding a splash of tonic. My soul was similar to the ice-cubes: frozen and harsh with square edges, but once one poured the liquor over them, they’d soften. “Mind your own business, Seneca.”
“Come here, Luyu.” He held his arms wide, staring at me seductively, so I crawled on top and straddled him. When I went to take a sip, he took the glass from my hand, placing it on the nightstand.
“Sen—” Gritting my teeth, I leaned over to get it, but he grabbed playfully at my wrist.
“Why do you drink so much?” he asked with a thread of impatience, pulling my face up to his. These glimpses of determination for me to be real with him caused my heart to beat more rapidly, so much so that the intensity in his dark brown eyes made me look away.
I’d never shared my past with Seneca, or Jay Austin for that matter. It wasn’t as if I were hiding it from them. Any time you Googled me or my besties’ names you’d see headlines such as, “Avon Porter Kills One of Their Own,” or “Pregnant Farnworth Firewater Heiress Butchers Lover.”
That headline stung the most. I didn’t butcher anyone.
“You know why I drink, Seneca. Drop it,” I reflected with some bitterness.
“Luyu. Tell me about it.” His stare—intense, caring, perhaps even loving—drilled into me as never before.
Shifting my weight on top of him, I lowered my face against his muscular chest and raked my gold, glittery nails against his tan skin. “I don’t enjoy talking about my past. I’d much rather discuss my future.”
“Okay, Luyu. What do you want for your future?” His silky voice held a challenge.
“Hmm...To be married one day, have a big, white wedding with Lex, Taddy and Blake as my bridesmaids…maybe over at St. Bart’s on Park Avenue. You know that cathedral. I just love that church. Then after a year of traveling, seeing the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and so on, I’d like to start a family.”
I expected him to laugh or mock my words. Most boys did when I shared this with them, but not Seneca. Instead, his lips caught mine, kissing me passionately and sending spirals of ecstasy through me. Ohhh. Lawdy. I think I’m in love with this man.
When we finally parted and my toes were beyond curled, he dipped his chin to look at me, our eyes locking as our breathing came in unison. The moonlight shone through the window, creating a warm glow between us. Normally, I’d run out the door when things got deep. However, Seneca had a way of keeping me focused.
“You’d make a great mother, Luyu.”
A knot formed in my throat. Tears, hot and wet, streaked my flushed cheeks. Overwhelmed by this compliment, I started to fake-laugh but realized he was on to me, and I stopped myself. Instead, I glared at him, searching for a response. I could barely see him through the wetness of my eyes, but
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