Page 71 of Bastian

I’m sitting in the dark. The only light coming from the digital clock Benjamin placed next to my chess table, I take a deep breath, and for the first time since I moved to this house, the atmosphere feels right. No longer bittersweet, but…right.

Because that’s exactly how it all feels now that she’s here–hating me or not– it feels right. Tonight’s events play through my mind like an old home movie I wish I could keep forever. How beautiful she looked dressed in all white with that dress that was so tight on her it almost looked like a second skin, tempting me and tormenting me, making me wish I had her for dinner instead of the pizza.

Her hair was what did it for me.

Long, wavy, and framing her perfect face. It reminded me so much of the girl I fell in love with the moment I first laid eyes on her.

Golden waves, green eyes, and ruby red lips.

Perfect altogether, the brat.

And as much as her beauty has me under a spell since that first moment I saw her, and will most likely keep me under for eternity, it’s her mind that gets me every time. God, that mind of steel and that sharp tongue of hers, too.

Most men prefer the quiet, soft, and demure ones who light up their world with just one sweet word but not me.

No.

Insults, sass, and sarcasm are what does it for me, and that air of superiority that comes from her in waves.

I have fallen addicted to it.

Then I think back to the way she felt right at home, even when she was visibly nervous sitting there making a million scenarios in her mind as to why she doesn’t belong at my table, in my home, in my goddamn world. But she fits right in as if no time had passed.

Then there were the tears.

I’ve done a lot of shit in my life wrong, and yes, most of it I don’t regret. Not for a second and tears never did move me but the tears coming from Arianna, whether they were happy tears or not, made me want to cut my own heart out and hand it to her on a silver platter.

Because there was love in her gaze today, yes, but there was so much pain.

I did that.

But I’m trying to make it better.

Make us better, and I don’t intend for her to forgive me easily. She wouldn’t be the woman I fell in love with if she did. I expect her to raise hell and give me her worst before I am awarded her best, but that is how I know I am completely gone for this woman. Arianna’s worst is still the best I ever had.

Her worst days, her good days, I want them all.

The soft click of the door brings me back to the now. Raising my head, I take a sip of my whiskey and enjoy the burn. Placing the glass back down on the table to my left, I say aloud. “Leaving so soon?” I felt her before seeing her. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it is.

Because I didn’t lie to my daughter when I said that Arianna makes the impossible possible for me.

“I should leave, but I won’t.” She comes closer, but darkness still hides her from view. “For her, of course.”

Chuckling, I look down at the table in front of me and move a piece of chess forward, prolonging the game. I could have made a checkmate twenty minutes ago but I chose not to end it so quickly. Sometimes the long game is more exciting. “Of course,” I mumble, trying to conceal how humorous I find her fight. “Couldn’t sleep?”

Her voice is closer now. “I was thirsty.”

I continue playing my game. “You could have asked one of my men to get you some water, darling.” The staff is under clear instructions to treat her as if she is one of us because she is. Arianna is part of my daughter and me. This is her home. Every place I end up in will always be her home.

“My hands work just fine, Mr. President. I can get it myself.” She says haughtily.

“It’s Sebastian, to you.” Rolling my eyes, “And as you wish.” I suppress the urge to laugh at her extremely adorable bratty behavior.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me.” The woman has supervision or something.

I laugh softly. “Right…”

“What?” Then there she is. Standing right in front of me on the other side of the small table like a vision in white with her long hair up in a messy twist, free of makeup, stealing my breath from my lungs. An image sneaks up on me where she is wearing white and walking towards me with a brilliant smile on her face. Fuck.

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