William placed his hand on the small of my back prompting me to follow him. Too stunned to think, I took a few steps blindly until I realized that if I walked away now, if I didn’t stand my ground, she would win. And I wasn’t going to allow that to happen. Not now, not ever.
I walked back to the table and stood in front of all of them. I took in their expensive clothes, the air of arrogance imbedded in their features, and raised my chin proudly. “You’re right. You and I don’t run in the same circles. I grew up in a trailer in an area of Albany that you’d probably think beneath you. My father and mother were drug addicts who died of an overdose when I was barely three.” I clenched my hands to stop myself from shaking. “My aunt raised me as her daughter while trying to support us on a waitressing job. I love her, and I’ll never be ashamed of that no matter how you look at me or what you say.
“I have no money and no fine name like yours, but I’m damn proud of what I’ve accomplished. I finished high school at the top of my class, and now I’m attending my dream college on a full scholarship. So, you can sit there judging me all you want, but I’ll say it again, I’ll never be ashamed of who I am and where I come from.” I focused on William and his green gaze. “I love your brother. And I would continue to love him even if his name was John Smith.”
“I’ve changed my mind, William.” The grandmother watched me approvingly, a curious light in her eyes. “I like her. She’s got spirit. You’ve done well for yourself, my darling boy.”
“I know,” William said, taking my hand. “Now if you’ll excuse us.”
I followed him silently inside the house. He guided us to a bedroom on the second floor and shut the door behind us. Before I knew what was happening, my back was flat against the wall and his lips were devouring mine. When we came up for air, he cupped my face gently in his hands. “I love you, Val.”
“What?” I asked weakly. “What did you say?”
“I love you.”
A sob escaped my lips as I grabbed him by the shirt and began to cry on his chest. “I-I thought you we-were going to break up with me,” I cried. He laughed throatily making me punch him in the arm. “It’s not funny you big brute of a man.”
“I love you, my crazy, wild, beautiful Valentina.” William wrapped his arms around me, pulling me in for a hug that left me breathless, and kissed my tears away one by one. “Will you marry me?”
My heart stopped beating as a starburst of emotions exploded inside me. Happiness. Awe. Disbelief. Love. “But what about your family? They won’t be happy with this.”
“I don’t care about them.”
“I don’t know, William. I don’t fit in your world. We’re too different.”
“How?”
“Look at you … Look at me.”
“I am looking at you. Trust me, darling. You’re all I see, all I want. Do you love me, Valentina?”
I kissed his chest, right where his heart was. “Of course, I do.”
He kissed me thoroughly, making me forget about all of the reasons why it wouldn’t work. “Then say yes, Valentina. I won’t let anyone ever hurt you.”
“Promise me?” I hated the fear I heard in my voice, but I couldn’t believe this was actually happening to me.
“Yes, my love. I promise.”
Many years later, he broke the one promise that mattered to me the most.
I toss and turn, burying my head under the pillow, but it won’t work. I can still hear the music coming from the apartment above me. I reach for my phone on the nightstand and peek at the time. It’s past eleven, for goodness sake. Groaning, I lie back down and stare at the ceiling as I consider calling the police. However, I dismiss the thought as quickly as it comes. I wouldn’t even know what number to call. I close my eyes while covering my ears as a poor excuse to tune out all the noise. And like the pillow, it doesn’t help at all.
Wide awake now, I give up all pretenses of sleep and spend the next few minutes watching the vibrations of the bass shake the crystal chandelier. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Enough.
I shove the duvet to the side, get out of bed, grab my cashmere cardigan, and go in search of whoever is blasting the music, ready to give them a piece of my mind. I don’t even care that I barely know enough French to order food, let alone make a complaint to a neighbor. I’m sure I’ll manage. The musique is too fucking loud, vous understand? I’m angry. Tired. And completely sober.
I skip the elevator, going for the stairs instead, and I am now standing outside the offending apartment. I pull my cardigan tighter around me as though it is armor and I am off to war. Lifting a hand, I knock a little too forcibly. For the few moments it takes the person to open the door, I try to picture who it could be on the other side. Maybe it’s a kid having a party while his parents are away or an older person who can’t hear too well. With that thought in mind, I mellow down a little.
The last person I expect to open the door is Sébastien. I swallow hard, my eyes widening. A very naked Sébastien. My God, you’re beautiful.
He smirks cockily, trying not to laugh. “Thank you.”
Oh, God. Please don’t let me have said that out loud. Please. Please. “I said that out loud, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
Figures.
I clear my throat uncomfortably, changing the subject. “You’re not wearing a shirt.”
His gaze along with mine slides down his naked torso, following the exposed muscles of his solid chest. Streaks of paint in different colors cover his right pectoral and some of the grooves of his six-pack. He’s breathtaking. Blushing as though I’m showering in fire, I bite my lip and ball my hands into fists to stop myself from reaching out and tracing the perfect, deeply carved V between his hip bones or the happy trail disappearing under the waistband of his jeans. Everything about him from his gorgeous arms to the perfect thick grooves and muscles of his golden chest screams man, man, man. All fucking man. Forget about fallen angels. He’s the King of the Underworld showing you how magnificent, how exquisite it would be to sin with him. An image flashes in my mind of me on my knees, a willing slave at his feet, while my mouth, my tongue, my fingers explore every wicked part of him. I catch the direction my thoughts are going and blush even more.
Smiling a slow, intoxicating smile, his eyes come back to meet mine. “Yes, it appears that I’m not.” He places his forearm on the door, lazily leaning on it. “May I help you with something, Valentina?”
The way he says my name sends a delicious chill running down my spine. I suck in a breath, shaking my head. Get your act together, woman. What are you? Seventeen?
“I can’t sleep.”
He leans forward ever so slightly, and I swear I can feel the heat emanating from his body. “I can think of a few very entertaining ways to help you with that,” he says, his voice inviting, his gaze flat out wicked.
“Yes, I mean,” I stammer, cursing my clumsiness. “No, no, that’s not what I meant. Your music. It’s keeping me awake. I was wondering if you could turn it down a little, please.”
“It depends.”