Slowly, she shook her head. “No. They’re actually a nice family.”
“And he allowed you to take these, no questions asked?” Admittedly, I found that a little strange. If the cuffs were fake, then it was understandable, he wouldn’t worry. However, judging by the stamped trademark I recognized on the back, these were the real deal unless he didn’t know.
“He just said, pick something you like, and I did.” She shrugged, walking off before I could ask her a more important question.
Stuffing the small box into my jacket pocket, I grabbed my bottled water and went after her. She was in the kitchen pouring herself a glass of milk. “You want some?” She held up the filled glass.
“I’m good, thanks. Levana, why did you give me those cufflinks.” Curiosity had gotten the better of me and I needed to know. “What prompted you to buy me a gift.”
Her eyes on me, I watched the movement of her throat as she drank the milk, set the glass on the counter and licked her lips. Those beautiful blues burning with the same fire I’d seen the night of the ritual, just before I’d doused it with my icy words,
“What the fuck are you doing here? Get out. There’s the fucking door. Go. You’re not welcome here!”
I’d wanted her gone only because I’d feared her and the hold, she had on me, from one barely there meeting. Having called myself all kinds of fucked up for craving a schoolgirl. Unmasking her had indeed weakened me. Thankfully, I’d grasped whatever shred of decency I’d possessed and sent her away.
Now, as I watched the tip of her pink tongue slide seductively over her bottom lip, some part of me decided my decision was too hasty. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say, her innocence was an act. This girl knew what she was doing to me, and I didn’t think that small action could elicit a response from me, but it did. My cock twitched and I was hard-pressed to make an adjustment to my trousers.
Gulping down the remnants of my water to ease the sudden dryness in my throat, I lifted a brow, reminding her I waited a response.
She sidled nearer then drew imaginary flowers on the countertop. “I’m in love with you, Sebastian.”
“What?” The bottle fell from my hand with a soft bounce before it rolled away. “Are you up to one of your tricks, Levana because that’s a pretty shitty one,” I scolded, steel lining my voice.
She frowned. “I’m not teasing you. Don’t you have any feelings for me.”
Christ, shewasserious. “Levana,” I exhaled her name on a sigh. “You’re not in love with me and I’m not in love with you. You’re a beautiful girl whose company I enjoy. My feelings for you are pure friendship.” Fuck, I was lying through my clenched teeth. Every fucking day I spent in this house, silently watching her was sheer torture. At school, while she kept to herself, she was ironically enamouring to the people closest to her. I was going to hell for the things I wanted to do to her.
Maybe, I was already there.
“All this time I thought you liked me,” she whispered, dragging me out of my sudden mindfuck.
That doe-eyed look unsettled me. My stomach churned. The last time I hurt her was unintentional, I’d wanted to protect her, save her from me—a potential monster she might not survive. Arguably, my reasons hadn’t been selfish then, neither was it now.
“You’re not in love with me, Levana. You’re in love with the idea of you and me together. I made you feel real, made you believe in yourself, and its natural you’d feel drawn to me.” I tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear, and I heard the strangled sob she tried to hide. Sliding a finger under her chin, I lifted until she looked at me, her watery eyes now a deep blue with pain. I sighed. “The most messed up thing fate can do to you, is let you meet the right person, at the wrong time.”
“Why would you say that?” Disappointment dipped her shoulders slightly and that sparkling smile I’d come to love, disappeared. “Is it because I’m too young for you?”
Slowly, I stroked my thumb over her bottom lip. “Age is just a number. Where you and I are concerned, it’s something I can’t explain. I came to San Francisco looking for one thing and found another.”
“What’s that?”
“Levana!” her father’s call before he walked into the kitchen, prevented me from answering. Perhaps it was for the best. Admitting to something I clearly didn’t understand myself, might get me into trouble. While a part of me wished it was the real thing, another part was afraid to give due credence in matters in which I lacked insight.
Levana turned away to hide her tears and held her glass under the running tap. “Yes, dad.”
“Have you seen my blue baseball cap, sweetheart,” Dean asked.
“It’s in the car, remember,” she replied over her shoulder.
“Old age.” He grinned. “Thanks, sweetheart.” He leaned forward to kiss her cheek. I assumed her pretence at washing her glass at the sink worked until Dean pulled back frowning. “Lee, are you okay? Your cheek’s wet.” He glanced my way for a second, searching for an answer I couldn’t give him.
Fuck.I internally winced.
Levana laughed. “I must’ve splashed water on it,” she replied without turning to look at him.
Her father wasn’t easily fooled. “Look at me, sweetheart.” I heard her sigh as she slowly turned. It amazed me how a parent could pick up when their child was hurting. He took one look at her face and shook his head. “What’s wrong, Levana?” he demanded. “You’ve been crying.”
“Potential boyfriend problem,” I muttered, earning a scowl from him and a curious look from her.
