no!”
“ You should honor your parents. He tried. He loved you,” Jack said, exasperated, turning away from her and stalking back to the dresser where he picked up the room key.
“ Stop fucking telling me how he felt! He didn’t tell me and that’s what we are talking about. What he actually did for me. He’s dead , and I feel sad, yes, but I’m also a little bit relieved. And that’s why you want me to shut up, because I’m relieved. I won’t miss him, I’ll miss the idea of him.” Her vision was blurry. Shit!
“ I knew that we would work it out, that somewhere down the line we would talk and have that moment where we realize how misunderstood we’ve been—blah, blah, blah—but that was bullshit and it didn’t fucking happen. It was never going to. And that’s why I’m sad, because the hope of fixing things is gone.”
She took a deep breath. He was looking at the ground hard as he slapped the key against his thigh.
“ But you know what? It’s almost a relief too. Knowing that he is at rest , and maybe he’s with her. He was a dead man walk—”
Jack exploded, “Then what am I? I’m the same fucking guy, right? So you want me because I’m like your father? The chance to get it right?”
It was a punch in the gut.
“ Go to the beach,” she hissed, finality in her words. Do it or else , was what she didn’t have to say. Do it , or there is no chance this will ever work.
And so he left.
Val sat down on the bed, feeling panic race through her. This wasn’t going to work. This was stupid and would ruin their relationship forever. No. She could make it work. It was only an argument. She’d find him, they’d go on the snorkeling trip and everything would be fine.
This was paradise.
Chapter 7
Water dripped onto the floor. Val looked down, surprised to see she was in her swimsuit and wet, like she’d just stepped out of the ocean and into someone’s expensive bedroom. Snorkeling has more fish. And water. Uh oh .
She knew this room. Lucas’ bedroom. And there he was, sitting before the fire in a chair. A book was open and draped over his thigh, his hand hovering above it. Had he just put it down or was he going to pick it up? Except that he was oddly still.
Lucas in freeze frame.
She shivered and couldn’t help but look at him. She’d seen him less than a week ago, heck she’d dreamed about him last night, but— and it fucked with her head to even think it— she was hungry for the sight of him. She didn’t just look at him, that was too tame, too ordinary. She devoured him with her gaze. A look wouldn’t be enough. She’d have to touch him.
He was beautiful, like looking at a favorite piece of artwork. Not something one can own, but something in a faraway museum, where she would have to go half way around the world, push through crowds of people, just to catch a glimpse of his unreal splendor.
And Lucas was still perfect. Still inhuman. Still a monster who could promise her nothing but pleasure and a life in danger. He was dressed in ‘old’ clothes again. Breeches that looked like suede, hose so white it was like snow in the sunlight. He turned and looked at her, eyes momentarily widening in what she thought was surprise.
Her whole body trembled and she began to cough.
“ Valerie?” he said quietly and with a fair amount of disbelief. He was suddenly before her, holding his robe out towards her, then wrapping it around her and leading her towards the bed. She couldn’t stop coughing, felt her face turning red , and became embarrassed. He was already out of her league, even without the Tuberculosis cough.
“ I think I’m going to be sick,” she managed to choke out.
His hands were firm on her arms as he set her down on his bed.
“ Wait. What if I yack all over your bed?”
“ That is not a concern. But hold and I shall get you a basin.”
Basin ? She hunched forward, retching hard, throat burning and then he was back, a bowl thrust
“ You should honor your parents. He tried. He loved you,” Jack said, exasperated, turning away from her and stalking back to the dresser where he picked up the room key.
“ Stop fucking telling me how he felt! He didn’t tell me and that’s what we are talking about. What he actually did for me. He’s dead , and I feel sad, yes, but I’m also a little bit relieved. And that’s why you want me to shut up, because I’m relieved. I won’t miss him, I’ll miss the idea of him.” Her vision was blurry. Shit!
“ I knew that we would work it out, that somewhere down the line we would talk and have that moment where we realize how misunderstood we’ve been—blah, blah, blah—but that was bullshit and it didn’t fucking happen. It was never going to. And that’s why I’m sad, because the hope of fixing things is gone.”
She took a deep breath. He was looking at the ground hard as he slapped the key against his thigh.
“ But you know what? It’s almost a relief too. Knowing that he is at rest , and maybe he’s with her. He was a dead man walk—”
Jack exploded, “Then what am I? I’m the same fucking guy, right? So you want me because I’m like your father? The chance to get it right?”
It was a punch in the gut.
“ Go to the beach,” she hissed, finality in her words. Do it or else , was what she didn’t have to say. Do it , or there is no chance this will ever work.
And so he left.
Val sat down on the bed, feeling panic race through her. This wasn’t going to work. This was stupid and would ruin their relationship forever. No. She could make it work. It was only an argument. She’d find him, they’d go on the snorkeling trip and everything would be fine.
This was paradise.
Chapter 7
Water dripped onto the floor. Val looked down, surprised to see she was in her swimsuit and wet, like she’d just stepped out of the ocean and into someone’s expensive bedroom. Snorkeling has more fish. And water. Uh oh .
She knew this room. Lucas’ bedroom. And there he was, sitting before the fire in a chair. A book was open and draped over his thigh, his hand hovering above it. Had he just put it down or was he going to pick it up? Except that he was oddly still.
Lucas in freeze frame.
She shivered and couldn’t help but look at him. She’d seen him less than a week ago, heck she’d dreamed about him last night, but— and it fucked with her head to even think it— she was hungry for the sight of him. She didn’t just look at him, that was too tame, too ordinary. She devoured him with her gaze. A look wouldn’t be enough. She’d have to touch him.
He was beautiful, like looking at a favorite piece of artwork. Not something one can own, but something in a faraway museum, where she would have to go half way around the world, push through crowds of people, just to catch a glimpse of his unreal splendor.
And Lucas was still perfect. Still inhuman. Still a monster who could promise her nothing but pleasure and a life in danger. He was dressed in ‘old’ clothes again. Breeches that looked like suede, hose so white it was like snow in the sunlight. He turned and looked at her, eyes momentarily widening in what she thought was surprise.
Her whole body trembled and she began to cough.
“ Valerie?” he said quietly and with a fair amount of disbelief. He was suddenly before her, holding his robe out towards her, then wrapping it around her and leading her towards the bed. She couldn’t stop coughing, felt her face turning red , and became embarrassed. He was already out of her league, even without the Tuberculosis cough.
“ I think I’m going to be sick,” she managed to choke out.
His hands were firm on her arms as he set her down on his bed.
“ Wait. What if I yack all over your bed?”
“ That is not a concern. But hold and I shall get you a basin.”
Basin ? She hunched forward, retching hard, throat burning and then he was back, a bowl thrust
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