Not waiting for any further objections, I nodded to John to have the utensils removed.
Trevena paled. “You can’t be serious, Xavier.”
After helping Mikaela with her napkin, I looked at the other woman. “This dinner tonight was by invite only, and seeing as your father chose to bring you along without seeking my permission, you’re more than welcome to find the main door, Trevena. I’m sure you know where it is.”
Her cheeks turned positively red, her eyes jumping from one guest to the next, silently pleading for their protest. Next to her, her father sent me a relieved look of gratitude. Trevena was a bit of a glamour queen. Her father had long given up hope of ever changing her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he saw my unorthodox intervention as a Godsend.
“Fine,” she muttered. “I’ll eat with my hand.
I caught Mikaela’s look of surprise before she picked up the single shrimp cocktail and popped it into her mouth. Just like me, everyone watched her and followed suit. Only my eyes stayed riveted on the slow slide of her tongue over her bottom lip before she licked her fingers. Stunned by my body’s response, I looked away, shifting in my seat to get comfortable.
Therein lay my first mistake. I was drawn by submission and defiance only when I allowed it. Was it wrong that Mikaela was slowly peeling back the layers I’d coaxed over the Dom in me? She was a girl shrouded in mystery and pain—something I unleashed for pleasure yet not to the sadistic extent Kabir adopted. Of course, it was wrong.
How do I stop it, then?
As if in answer to my question, her eyes lifted to meet mine, and I could’ve sworn those dual-colored irises begged me not to, or perhaps it was my distorted imagination looking for something I shouldn’t even be thinking about.
The next course was set down, distracting me. Mikaela picked up the bowl of soup and slurped some of it. Enjoying the taste, she groaned and downed the rest. When she set her bowl back down, it was to find all eyes on her. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she chewed her bottom lip, looking at me. The uncertainty was back in place.
With a soft laugh, I picked up my bowl. “What are you waiting for, ladies and gents? Drink up.” I slurped some of the soup, strangely enjoying myself, and when I set the bowl down, I found Mikaela watching me, the iridescent sparkle in her eyes unmistakable. She was happy.
I didn’t understand this inexplicable need to watch over her constantly. Even my office duties were becoming a chore, and the excuses were beginning to sound relatively pathetic to my ears. The good thing about being the boss, no one could question me. The bad thing, I was starting to lose my heart.
Therein lay my second mistake. So far, I’d learned three essential things about my little house guest. She never smiled or cried, and everything was pretty—no other description fit. The woman might not know how to smile; her radiant eyes would light up the entire castle on a dark stormy night, and I wanted to get lost so she could help me find my way back.
Rhett leaned close to whisper something to Mikaela, drawing my attention. I felt the strangest twist in the pit of my stomach and had the silliest urge to ask her to go back upstairs and sit with me in her room, where it had only been the two of us since she arrived at my home. Mentally admonishing myself, I listened to the discussion on the opposite side of the table, yet my gaze drifted back to Mikaela and Rhett’s conversation.
My nephew was not only young and good-looking, he was also an excellent barrister coming into his own and proudly so, yet for the first time in my life, I felt like an absolute fool for thinking ill thoughts against him.
I needed air.
I stood, and immediately Mikaela sprang to her feet, shocking me that she’d paid attention to my movements despite looking intrigued with Rhett’s chatter. “You can stay, love. I’m just going to get some air.”
She shook her head, her eyes darting around the table. Rhett might’ve charmed her a little, but she wore her distrust like a protective jacket. I wasn’t sure if I felt reassured or regret. Pleased for her trusting only me and guilty for not introducing her to more people so she could build her trust in others.
“You can sit with me,” Rhett coaxed.
“No.” Her hand slipping into mine got a few surprise eyebrow lifts and shocked whispers.
By their curious expressions, I knew what everyone wanted to know. Who was she? And why was she acting so childish in their books?
“You’re behaving like a child, Mikaela.” Trevena voiced my thoughts out loud, rolling her eyes. “Do you need to go potty with Xavier too?”
I wasn’t in the mood to entertain Trevena’s level of immaturity. Instead, I smiled down at Mikaela. Come.”
“Oh my God, Xavier, must you indulge the girl?” Trevena asked as we were about to turn away.
I was surprised when Mikaela paused, bringing me to a halt with a tug on my hand. Glancing down at her, she squeezed my hand and looked at Trevena. The other woman appeared uncomfortable with Mikaela’s silent stare. I didn’t blame Trevena. Mikaela’s deadpan face would make anyone who didn’t know her question her intentions. Coupled with her inability to smile and cry, it made her someone to be wary of.
Releasing my hand, she took a step closer to the table. “I might be a girl who has a lot to learn and someone who will never be as beautiful as you think you are or as intelligent as the people at this table only because they all had an education I was deprived of. But you need to understand something about an intensely innocent, quiet girl like me. My other side is just as intense, dangerous even, and it’s the hell I survived that allows you to see my placidity. So don’t mistake my restraint for weakness, my silence for stupidity, or my scars for ugliness because I’ve healed myself more times than you can ever imagine in your obscure little life you call perfect.”
She shocked the entire table, including Rhett, who was usually outspoken. As for me, I was still trying to pick my jaw off the floor when she slipped her hand back into mine, tightened her hold, and her eyes found mine. I stared at this amazingly strong woman coming into her own as we walked away.
Silence reined before she asked, “did I do something wrong?”
I frowned. “Why would you think that?”
She dropped her gaze to my chin. “Ever since I walked into that room tonight, you seemed upset, like you didn’t want me there.”
