Page 60 of When Night Falls
"What kind of meeting?" I decide to ask anyway, not really wanting to takenofor an answer. I can't say I tried if I don't put my all into it.
"Not of importance, Lucynda." Again, irritation scratches my skin like sandpaper, annoyed that he won't even lift his stupid-handsome face up to look at me.
And maybe that's a good thing. Because even though I played him like a fiddle the other night—or maybe I'm delusional to think so—I still can't get his touch out of my mind.
The way his rough fingers played gently between my legs, and how he drank from my neck. How fucking euphoric it felt and how I wanted more despite trying my absolute hardest to act like I had no idea what he was doing to me. But in reality, what he was doing to me gave me so much more pleasure than I've given myself, teeth in my skin and all.
I shake the nefarious thoughts from my head as I try to focus on the task at hand. That's when I remember what Troian had said to me about the treaty.
"Might it have anything do with the rogue vampire or the concern of treason?" I risk angering him if only to get him to listen to me, to talk to me. To let me in. I want him to know I can be a useful part of this kingdom if he lets me.
Though, it doesn't take much for me to see the look in his eyes. Confliction.
I'm realizing that I'm not the only one with a roller coaster of emotions when it comes to this arrangement, which is another reason why I want to push this one last time. I can't read his mind, but I can tell he's trying hard not to cross a certain line that I just so happen to want him to cross.
"Troian," he grits out through clenched teeth, projecting anger toward his sister.
"How can I help?" I decide to step further into his office even though he didn't ask me to, putting on my best solicitous voice.
This finally gets his attention, and a look filled with shadowed anguish paints his expression.
"No offense, little one. But you can't help." Rivian starts to clean up his papers before shoving them back into a manilla folder and locking it away in one of his drawers.
"Why not? Because I'm human?" I stop my slow footsteps in the middle of the office, not wanting to fully invade his space, for his sakeandfor mine.
Everything smells like him. Deep cedar and amber smoke. It's intoxicating.
"No. Because it's none of your business. I have it all under control." His words are harsh, and his tone is stern. He really wants nothing to do with me, does he?
"Do you, Rivian?" I cop a bit of an attitude this time around. "It seems to me, from what I've heard, that your kingdom might be under scrutiny because of your lack of title." I can feel his snarl from here. He doesn't like my mention of that at all and I feel immediate regret at bringing it up. I don't want to undermine him but he has got to stop treating me like I am useless.
"That will change in two days," he reminds me.
I feel a draft sweep across my bare legs, noting that it's a lot colder in the mansion than it is outside in the midst of fall.
"Thanks for the heads up by the way. I had to hear about my wedding date from your sister at the dress try on yesterday." I wait for him to say something. Anything. But he doesn't look at me, he doesn't speak. He just grabs an expensive looking bottle of gold liquid and pours an inch into a crystal glass.
When Rivian doesn't answer me, it aggravates me. I hate feeling like I’m being ignored, so I approach him with my sarcasm to hopefully light a fire under his ass.
"Which went well, thanks for asking." This time, I stand a little taller and hold a little more confidence in my voice, feeling that surge of edge I love to wield around.
"I heard you paid for the dress." He caps the bottle and puts it back on a shelf behind him.
My body heats up wondering if Troian also told him that I chose a dress of a supposed curse’s color.
"It was that or steal from the poor boutique. Just because your sister can compel free shit out of people doesn't mean I want anything to do with it. They're people who need to make a living." I can't imagine how much of a commission she would have lost out on if she had let us take it for free.
"The dress was paid for already," he tells me, staring down at his glass.
"It was?" Something invades my body in a swarm of heat. Of course, Rivian had already paid for the dress.
"I'll have the money redeposited into your bank account later today." He swirls the liquid around in his cup before pressing the glass to his lips and swallowing the contents in one sip.
"Rivian, that's not necessa-"
"Don't argue with me.” His demand makes me shiver. I hate it when he tells me what to do, but I’m cynical for loving it just as much.
"What do you want, Lucynda?" Rivian sets the glass down only to add more alcohol to it, still looking down at the desk and not at me like I need him to.