She shakes her head. “You’re a strange man, Simeon.”
The fact that my guards are enjoying the show causes me to groan inside. They will love this woman speaking her mind because until now nobody has, unless you count Jack, and that’s always in private.
Now I have Alice. She is my wife and free to speak as she wishes. However, I would prefer our relationship to be a private one, so I march across and grasp her hand, pulling her briskly along with me in my haste to get into the house.
As I do, I remember the massacre that must be decorating the upholstery of the car and say as an aside to the nearest guard, “Arrange for the car to be valeted. My guest had a nosebleed after the helicopter flight, and it’s made quite a mess.”
He nods, and if he believes my statement, I’ll take that as a win, but the fact Alice blushes deeper than one of the red roses nearby almost makes me chuckle.
“Thank you.” She whispers as we step inside the impressive hallway.
“You’re welcome.”
She sighs. “I could certainly use a shower.”
Jack appears like a mirage, and I’m relieved to have him beside me once more and I turn to Alice.
“Go upstairs, pick a bedroom, anyone you like, and make use of it. Jack has arranged for supplies to be delivered, including a change of clothing and some food. When you are ready, meet me on the terrace.”
Her huge yawn is contagious, and my eyes are heavy, reminding me I sometimes require sleep to survive. With a grateful smile, she heads toward the grand staircase and doesn’t look back once as she climbs it.
I wonder why I wish she would.
I watch her until she disappears and then, with a deep sigh, I turn to Jack and nod toward the living area.
“We have a lot to catch up on.”
He says nothing but from the understanding in his expression, I’m guessing I should practice my disinterest a little harder. The last thing I want is for anyone to realize I’ve caught feelings for one infuriating woman. It’s most inconvenient andI’m putting it down to lack of sleep and the fact she’s the only one around.
Things will return to normal when we, well, return to normal and I wonder how Alice will cope with what normal means in my world.
CHAPTER 24
ALICE
Iam finally alone and I can’t remember the last time I could really say that. I’ve always been around other people. I shared a room with my sisters for many years now, and only when I was a child and my father was alive did I have the luxury of my own room.
As I enter a little piece of paradise, I take a deep breath.
Everything has changed. I’ve changed.
The wedding ring lies heavy on my finger, reminding me I sacrificed everything for a man who is a stranger to me.
I married a man to keep others away. This ring is my protection.
Then why doesn’t it feel like that?
Because of him. Simeon Ravera. The surly, belligerent, angry god who has torn my world apart. He hunted me, saved me and claimed me, and I’m only kidding myself if I thought for one moment back in that car that I was claiming him.
I wanted to. I needed to and in his eyes, I probably did by taking the lead. I should be ashamed of how freely I disposed of my virginity but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It was on my terms and at my request, which almost certainly wouldn’t have been the case with any of the other criminals hunting me down.
My thoughts turn to my sisters, and my heart beats with concern for them. We are wearing the same noose around our necks, and I wonder if they will face the same challenges.
The world is a very scary place to be, and my anxiety is through the roof. I can’t even contemplate what has happened so far because if I did, I would be kneeling beside the bed praying for the tormented souls Simeon has already sent to hell.
The only way to move on is to push what happened to the back of my mind and turn my attention to what’s happening now, and I have decided a shower is the most important thing in my life. I head toward the impressive bathroom that I find off the main bedroom and spend way too long enjoying the decadence that a billionaire lifestyle brings.
I am too weary to enjoy it to its full extent and as I wash away my shame, my sin and my awakening, I wrap myself in a robe hanging nearby and without further thought, fall onto the huge comfy bed and slip between the cool crisp white sheets.
