Page 12 of Kaid's Empire

“Yes, I am, I would love to have a look around one of your boats, that would be great.” I smile before placing another delicious bite of salmon in my mouth. “God,” I moan. “I don’t think I've ever tasted anything so good.”

Ben smiles. “I can think of something you’d enjoy a lot more.” He winks.

I choke on my laughter. “Wow.” He laughs and shrugs.

I feel Kaid’s gaze and I make the mistake of turning and looking at him to see his gaze isn’t aimed at me but at Ben. He is pissed off, seething with anger. I don’t know what comes over me, maybe its temporary insanity? Under the table, I place my hand on Kaid’s thigh.

“Kaid?” I ask. His eyes snap to mine, and again there are no words spoken. He just places his hand over mine. I swallow nervously.

“Theia?” Ben calls me, completely obliviously to the situation.

“Sorry, Ben, miles away,” I apologise. I go to remove my hand but Kaid just grips hold of it, keeping it on his thigh. I glance in his direction, but he is turned away from me, talking to the person next to him.

“So, Monday?” Ben repeats.

“Yeah, sure, just ring my hotel and I will be ready.” I smile.

Dinner continues, and my hand also continues to be held hostage on Kaid’s thigh. I don’t understand what is happening. I feel an attraction to Kaid, a strong attraction that I have never felt before, but then there is the anger and fear I feel whenever I am with him. I want to run in fear and kick him in the crotch all at the same time.

“Theia, darling, come with me a second.” Allegra gestures.

I sigh, relieved to be removed from the situation. I stand, and he lets me go, thank goodness. I don’t look at him, I just smile and walk with Allegra. She links her arm with mine, leading us out of the room. “My sweet girl, he is the one from the lift, isn’t he?” she asks.

“Yes! How did you know?” I ask.

She turns around and looks back as we walk out the door. “Shhh, let’s get out of ear shot.” We walk through some glass doors and out onto the deck. She pulls out a cigarette and lights it. “Now, please don’t be angry at me, but when you told me about what had happened, I guessed it was Kaid,” she states.

“You what?” I ask in disbelief.

“Listen, my darling, I know Kaid, I've known him a long, long time. I was friends with his beautiful mother and Aleck was best friends with his father. I like you and I adore that boy, so I may have done a little match making tonight. Please don’t be cross with me,” she begs.

I place my hands on my hips and pace a little. “I told you what I felt with him, there's something dangerous about him,” I point out. She doesn’t say anything and just takes a pull of her cigarette. “Is there something dangerous about him?” I ask when she doesn’t say anything.

“No, no, he is a good boy,” she states, looking away.

“Well, to you he may appear that way, but I've seen the men that have been with him. They surround him like he's God or something… it’s odd,” I point out.

“He's sort of a celebrity in Russia… Well, he's known around the world actually but only known to people that follow him,” she answers oddly.

I frown. What does she mean? I will just google him later and see what comes up. She walks up to me and cups my face. “I know Kaid has this demeanour that some might be put off by, but I am not blind, my darling, I saw the way he looked at you, and I saw the way you reacted to him. I would never set this little thing up if I thought you would get hurt,” she states. “Now, I know we’ve just met, but do you trust me?” she asks.

I raise my eyebrow at her. “Allegra, I barely know you,” I say honestly.

“I understand, my darling, so I shall change the question. Do you have faith in me? And in the least believe I wouldn’t put you in any danger?”

I roll my eyes. “I don’t think you're a bad person, Allegra, I get your heart was in the right place, but please don’t set me up again. As for Kaid, he is handsome, he is tall, dark and dangerous, so if it’s okay with you, I am going to be giving him a wide berth. I don’t need my heart broken and I also don’t need a man.” Allegra tries to interrupt me, but I hold up my hand, stopping her. “I don’t need a man, I am perfectly happy on my own. I can do everything for myself, and I can do it better.” I smile. “I give myself better orgasms, multiple ones in fact, and I have yet to find a man that can do better than that.” I laugh.

Allegra throws her head back and laughs loudly. “My darling girl, how old are you?” she asks.

“Twenty-eight. Why?” I ask.

“Because take some advice from a fifty-seven-year-old woman. Sex just gets better with age. You’ve only been with boys, wait until you're with a man. A vibrator may scratch the itch, but a man will make sure that itch never returns.” She winks as she links arms with me and we make our way back inside.

“You make it sound like a sexually transmitted disease.” I laugh, and Allegra laughs with me.

“There you are, I wondered what was taking you so long,” Aleck asks, pulling his wife into his arms and kissing her.

“Just showing Theia the deck and having a little girl talk,” she answers.

---