The soft sound of her snoozing is a caress of calmness washing over me. Her blonde hair is silky between the tips of my fingers, and I love how vulnerable she is in this moment, completely oblivious that the devil is lying beside her.
She’s at my mercy now more than ever, and for the first time since meeting her, I wish that wasn’t the case.
I wish I wasn’t the one about to break her heart.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Hevan
Azrael flew us into Italy during the night, and at some point during our journey, I fell asleep in his lap and only woke when he shifted me in his arms. The love he emanates, he’s completely unaware of, but I have faith his feelings will prevail and he’ll become the man I know he can be.
“What are you thinking?” he asks, stroking a finger down the bare skin of my chest.
Moments ago, he brought us breakfast to eat out on the balcony, but I’m too cozy in bed to move. Though, the sun streaming in from the open terrace is quite inviting, especially given I’ve barely left the same four walls for months now.
“Are you not hungry?” he asks, tilting his head when I don’t move.
“I’m starving, actually.” His pupils expand, and he peruses my body, causing me to giggle. “You’re so bad!” I slap at his arms playfully and love the way amusement plays on his lips as if he’s internally battling with smiling or not. “Can you feed me from here?” I stretch out like a cat over the white sheets.
The room is white, clinical, but the splash of color on the opposite wall to the bed in the form of a blue sea painting snags my attention.
“I sent it here. I saw it in an art auction recently and the color reminded me of your eyes.”
“Well, at least it wasn’t one of your usual auctions,” I chastise, then push off the bed. His laugh follows me as I head toward the chair with the robe draped over it. “It’s very pretty.”
“It is,” he says, then his arms are around me, pulling me against his chest. “Just like your eyes.” I melt at his words.
What the hell has happened to the Azrael I know?
Then, just as quickly, he pulls away, leaving me sagging at his loss. “Come. I’ve laid out all your favorites.”
“You?” I ask, and he leads me outside onto the balcony. He pulls out a chair for me, I take a seat, then he scoots me closer to the table. “Thank you.”
After he takes a seat opposite me, he fills my plate with the fresh tropical fruits he knows I love and appreciate. “Yes, me. I didn’t want any staff in the house. I want you to feel like we’re normal.” He hands me the plate, and I take it from him, and he’s completely unaware of the emotion swirling inside me.
He wants us to pretend we’re normal.
“Have you ever done this before?” I ask, then his head snaps up to mine, and he holds my stare.
“No.” He dabs the corner of his mouth with the napkin, then leans forward and pours me an apple juice. “I don’t normally eat breakfast with any of the women I purchase or own. Nor do I whisk them away to another country.”
My heart thuds against my chest, and electricitycrackles between us. I want to ask himwhy now? Why am I so different? But I don’t and won’t because I’m terrified of pushing him away. Instead, I tell him what I know he wants to hear. “Thank you, I appreciate all of this.” His shoulders relax, and a smile plays on his lips.
After finishing the pineapple, I take a sip of the apple juice and take in the view. It’s stunning, the most perfect view I could ask for, with pure privacy.
Luscious gardens provide a Mediterranean canvas as a backdrop for the swimming pool. “Do I get to swim in the pool?” I gesture toward the sparkling water.
“If you wish. I need to make some calls this morning anyway, so once we’ve finished breakfast, go ahead.”
I chew on my bottom lip; I want to ask him to join me, but with him in his black shirt and pants and his hair styled, I can’t imagine him even considering it, so instead, I delight in the freedom he’s granted me.
Azrael
The sound of her splashing in the water has me craning my neck, but I can’t see a damn thing from this office.
“Czar, I’ll call you back.” I end the call before my brother can respond, and move onto the landing where the perfect view of the swimming pool comes into focus. Fuck me, thank God I kept the guards on the outside of the grounds.
My cock twitches at the same time fury ignites my veins. She’s swimming naked. Fucking naked!
