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CHAPTER16
Eden
Bastard.
The word was easy to think in my mind, but I couldn’t say it out loud. Everything about him seemed entirely different. Or maybe he was finally allowing me to catch a glimpse of his real personality. While the night had been exciting, passionate, and mind blowing, I’d never thought he’d keep me prisoner. I should have followed my instincts about him.
I held my arms, chilled to the bone from the ugly realization he’d locked me in the room. As I turned in a circle, I was reminded of the damn plug he’d shoved my ass. Was this his sick way of asserting control, proving he was the dominant in the relationship?
Hold on.
Relationship? Who was I kidding? We were playing with fire and nothing else, moths floating around each other, destined to succumb to the flame. When I’d looked into the mirror this morning, able to see his eyes clearly in the bright LED lights, another moment of nagging had settled into my mind.
I knew him.
Or the girl before had known him.
Our meeting hadn’t been by chance.
No, he’d sought me out on purpose, his intentions nothing like he’d presented. Or maybe I was making too much out of the tickling in my mind. I rubbed my eyes, turning in another full circle. I felt as if I was a caged animal. Maybe this is what he’d intended all along.
As soon as he’d heard about Talon and the threats, he’d changed. Maybe he was trying to protect me. Whatever the case, I had the same need as I had all those years ago.
Get the hell out.
“Damn it!” The words didn’t resonate in a room with thick velvet drapes, full of sexual devices, some of which I’d never seen even on the internet. I was no prude nor was I naïve in any manner. What my father hadn’t made certain I was made aware of I’d schooled myself in to never fall victim to a predator.
And what had I done? Fallen head over heels for one.
Oh, dear God. Now I was thinking that I was in love with the man. That wasn’t possible. I didn’t know him.
I shuddered as I thought about his touch, the changes he’d gone through during the night of passion. What we’d shared had been unlike anything I’d ever experienced, few couples ever able to let go of all their inhibitions. He’d been so real, acting as if I was his life’s blood, his hunger knowing no bounds.
Had I fallen for bullshit and nothing else?
No. He’d been there. The connection was real.
Then why did I have a terrible feeling he was lying to me about everything? His intentions. His name. His entire reason for being in New Orleans.
I closed my eyes, my head aching as I tried to visualize any possibility of where and when.
Then a fleeting image skittered into my mind. My mother. She was standing… At the piano. Watching me as I played my cello. Oh, God. The dreaded hours of practice. Then we’d been interrupted. I took a deep breath, holding it as another series of images rushed into my mind.
“Keep going, Carmella. You need to keep in rhythm. The recital is next week. You don’t want to make a fool of yourself in front of hundreds of people. Do you?”
“Mama. I’ve been practicing for two hours.”
She tapped her foot on the floor. “Thirty more minutes.” While she smiled brightly at me, I sensed her disappointment. She was angry with me for the piece I’d chosen and for the fact I’d rather do anything else but practice. While I loved music, I wasn’t going to be a concert cellist. That was my mother’s pipe dream.
I gritted my teeth, flexing and curling my fingers to try to relax them. They ached from the time spent. Maybe if I concentrated, blocking out her insistent tapping, I could fall into the chorus. I took a deep breath, wrapping my fingers around the bow, imagining a beautiful romance. Yes. As I whispered words from the movie, I was able to slip into the world.
Parting is such sweet sorrow.
I suddenly felt every moment of anguish, every heartache flowing through my fingers. Everything else was drowned out. No sounds. No interruptions. Nothing but sweet peace of knowing how much they were in love.
If only I could find my Romeo.
“I’m sorry. I’m looking for Devon.” The strange, deep male voice broke the reverie. I took a shallow breath, lifting my head, noticing how angry my mother was at the cause for the interruption.
