Page 103 of Lilies from Hell

“I have to make a phone call,” he mutters, then leaves for the nearest bathroom.

“He’s a bit elusive, isn’t he?” she asks with a frown, and I let out an annoyed snort before speaking.

“You’re embarrassing me.”

“I’m just trying to be nice. I want to get along with my son-in-law,” she says cheerfully.

“I’d appreciate it if you treated him like a normal person, not like someone trying to corrupt me or something like that.”

“Don’t blame me for your father’s attitude. I’m a modern, young mother. I understand that you have boyfriends and an active sex life. Although we haven’t talked about that yet,” she murmurs with a raised eyebrow. My cheeks flush again, and I cover my face with one of the cushions. “You can stay for dinner, you don’t have to leave so soon.” I lift my face from the cushion so quickly that I almost twist my neck. He gives me a quick glance, then turns back to my mother with another forced smile.

“It would be my pleasure,” he says. I almost squeal with happiness when I hear him say that.

Although I don’t think my father will let us be in the same room together; he’ll probably send him to dinner in the basement. When we are alone again, I approach him at a safe distance, but he manages to trap my body in his arms.

“I can’t stand being more than an inch away from you, and I don’t think your father would like that very much.” I’m not quick enough to stop his lips, but the kiss only lasts until arms pull me away from him by force.

“It’s rude to start eating before everyone else,” Jason murmurs amusedly, immune to my boyfriend’s angry eyes. “The table is already set.”

“What do you think you’re doing?” I ask under my breath.

“Since you didn’t appreciate my guardian duties before, I’ve switched sides. Now I’m with Ray,” he says, shrugging his shoulders. “I’m willing to make amends for just a small reward plus interest and an apology,” he replies with a wink and an outstretched hand.

“Fuck off,” I reply. His smile widens, but I don't wait for his comeback, disappearing through the dining room door and leaving him behind.

“You here. With me,” my father says with a smile from ear to ear when he sees my intention to sit next to Alek. He is almost at the end of the table next to my mother.

I bite the tip of my tongue as I sit down next to him. As we wait to be served in the dining room, there is a silence that could be cut with a knife. Judging by my mother and Jason’s smiles, they are probably taking it as a funny anecdote. It is not.

“And when did you two start dating?” My father practically spits out the last word.

With my teeth digging into my lower lip, I glance sideways at him, waiting for his answer.

“June 3,” he replies, picking a random date.

“What the fuck do you want with my daughter, Novikov?” I purse my lips at my father’s harsh tone.

“Ray!” my mother protests, giving Alek an apologetic look.

“I just want to make her happy.”

Jason next to me pretends to feel nauseous, but just as I’m about to punch him, one of the waitresses serves us our food. Thinking that the interrogation is over, I focus on the fish in front of me, but my luck doesn’t last long.

“I’ll tell you something, boy,” my father warns, waving the knife between his fingers and pointing it at him. “Until Lena takes your last name, you won’t touch her. If I find out you do, I’ll cut your balls off. Understood?” His gaze is fierce, one that tells you he won’t think twice about keeping his word.

The fork I was holding falls onto the plate as my cheeks flush violently. If only he knew that rule was broken a long time ago and because of that I ended up in the hospital...

Jason tries to stifle a laugh behind a fake cough that no one notices, and I give him a hard kick.

“Ouch! What did I say now?”

“Got it,” he replies, nodding his head.

I move the vegetables on my plate with the fork, feeling my stomach tighten. Then I get up from the table and collect my dishes to take them to the kitchen. When I feel arms wrap around me from behind, I turn around with a start.

“You scared me,” I say with a small smile, but he doesn’t seem to hear me. His eyes stare intently at my lips as he leans in until he finally kisses me, letting out a moan.

I can’t pull away when he holds my face with both hands and pins me against the counter, deepening the kiss until he starts kissing down my collarbone and his fingers slip inside my shorts, squeezing my arse.