Total pages in book: 27
Estimated words: 25622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 128(@200wpm)___ 102(@250wpm)___ 85(@300wpm)
And then I remind myself that she’s also my half-sister.
The distressing thoughts loop in my mind, on a never-ending track of futility. Stewing over her presence and what it might mean for Sebastian and me won’t help me now. And it won’t change the fact that I have to live with Lilith Astor, because from the looks of those trunks and the personal assistants she brought with her, she’s here to stay.
“You’re late,” Vance tells her as she slides into her seat across the table, her gaze going through me as if I’m not in the room. The tilt of her chin tells me how insignificant I am in her world.
“I couldn’t settle in and get ready for dinner all in an hour.” She reaches for the glass of red wine next to her plate and takes a long sip. “You didn’t have to wait for me.” She nods to his untouched food. “I can’t guarantee I’ll make it to every dinner, so it’s best that you don’t hinge your plans on me.”
“You’ll be here,” he says, taking on a stern tone. “Every night at six. Is that clear?”
Deeming me worthy of her attention, she tilts her head in my direction. “You’re confusing me with the queen. I’m not under contract to follow your orders.”
Vance rises, and her bravado slips as he bends down and grabs her chin. “I don’t think you understand, love.” He flashes his teeth, a hint of saccharine and a dash of devious in that grin. “If you want in my bed, you’ll follow my orders.”
Pure stubbornness tightens her mouth. “You’re under the mistaken impression I want in your bed.”
“Then why are you here?”
“I was bored.”
With a scoff, he lets go of her and reclaims his seat. “Always with the games, Lilith.”
The irony in his accusation doesn’t escape me. Sebastian said something along the same lines. As I pick at my salad, I study her from under my lashes. She doesn’t seem like the type of woman who bores easily. Her eyes are too calculating, the lift of her chin too demanding. Everything about her screams high maintenance.
“I don’t eat uncooked spinach.” She pushes away her salad in disdain.
“If you’d been on time, you could have asked the staff to bring you something else.”
“It’s fine.” She dismisses the salad with a wave of her ruby-red polished nails. “So I’m assuming you have ulterior motives for summoning me while she’s here?”
There’s a challenge in her question, but Vance only smiles. “Can’t sneak anything by you,” he says.
“You forget that I know you.”
“I didn’t forget, love.”
“So you intend for her to watch?”
“Naturally.”
Eyes wide, I ping-pong my attention back and forth.
Lilith scowls. “I won’t take part in your escapades, Vance. Find someone else to perform for the queen.” Chin jutting in contempt, she scoots her chair back and stands.
“Sit down.” Vance’s order thunders through the room, and I startle in my chair. Lilith reclaims her seat without complaint. The doctor clears his throat, seemingly to find his composure. “I won’t force you into my bed, but just know that if you deny me, you won’t get another chance.”
“You’re bluffing.”
He raises a brow. “Am I? Do you want to risk it after all these years of wanting to see the inside of my bedroom?”
I take a bite of salad and chew, entranced by the exchange going on in front of me. Part of me can’t help but feel elated that Vance is knocking Lilith off her high horse. The other part of me is uncomfortable at witnessing what should be a private conversation between the two of them.
She finishes her wine and stands again, her mannerisms calm despite the fire in her gaze. “Consider your bluff called.” She stalks out of the dining room, and Vance laughs.
“God, I love a challenge.”
Chapter Nine
The following evening, dinner doesn’t go much differently. Vance and Lilith engage in more verbal sparring as the hour passes, and she storms out before we cut into Vance’s birthday cake.
With a sigh, he rubs the bridge of his nose. “Please forgive her behavior. Trust me, it’s not you, my queen.”
I don’t know how to respond to that, so I don’t. We eat dessert in silence, the kind that’s far from the companionable type we usually share during dinner, and then Vance excuses himself, leaving his birthday treat half-eaten.
“Come to my quarters in an hour,” he orders.
I blink. “You want me to come to your bedroom?” I’ve passed by the double doors several times on my way to his home gym to use the treadmill, but I’ve never seen the interior of his personal space.
“Yes.” Jaw rigid, he glances in the direction Lilith disappeared ten minutes ago. “You won’t need clothing for what I have in mind.”
My eyes widen as he exits the dining room. Appetite now gone, I push away the rest of my cake. Except for my first night in his house, when he made me watch him stroke himself to climax, he’s been a perfect gentleman, leaving me untouched.