Page 46 of Darkest Desire
“Because I’m a human being, not a dog for you to boss around.”
He cups my face in his hands and smiles down at me. Everything in me goes still. “Ah, Sasha. You are fun, aren’t you? But be a good girl for me at the party.”
“I’ll try to be,” I mutter.
“That’s as good as I am going to get with you, isn’t it?” His eyes drop down to my lips and back up again. Is he going to try to kiss me? Would I stop him if he did?
I’m afraid that I wouldn’t.
The doorbell rings. Nico drops his hands, stepping away from me. Saved by the bell.
His dinner party friends all arrive one after the other. Adrien is among them. He gives me a slight nod and a dangerous look that sends a shiver down my spine. He may be an incredibly handsome man but he’s someone I don’t fully trust. I don’t trust Nico either but at least I know Nico will save my life if I’m in danger.
With Adrien, there’s something… cold about him, despite the heat in his gaze. Something dark I don’t want to go near.
There’s ten of us in total. Me and Nico and eight guests. Adrien is with a different woman tonight – not the blonde fromthe maze party but a brunette who’s just as beautiful as the last woman. The other six people are ones I sort of recognize from the maze celebration but I never really got the chance to meet them.
The entire table speaks in Italian, of course, so I can’t follow any of the conversation. I pick up a few words here and there that I know from the Italian language book Nico got me but that’s about it.
Adrien is seated across from me while Nico is to my left, at the head of the table. I wanted to sit at the other end but that spot was claimed by one of the guests – a man named Jonathan, one of the Americans who lives here but works for Nico.
“I’m not sure your beautiful wife understands what any of us are saying,” Adrien says.
Nico snaps his eyes to him and they narrow a fraction before he looks at me. “You’re right. I apologize to my lovely wife.”
I give him a tight smile. “That’s all right. I was just enjoying the food.” I take a sip of the soup in front of me. “Tell Maria it’s delicious.”
“It is delicious,” the man next to me says. Antonio, I believe his name is. His accent is thick but still understandable.
I glance over at him to find him looking right at me. There’s something in his eyes that I don’t like. A hunger there, directed towards me. Am I going to be slaughtered at this dinner party?
“Antonio is looking at your wife like he wants to eat her,” Adrien comments.
“This isn’t a sacrificial party,” Nico says. “My wife isn’t on the menu.”
Antonio chuckles. “I am sorry. She just looks wonderful in her dress.” His eyes slide back to mine. “You really do.”
I shift away from him slightly but it seems that the entire table notices. All their eyes snap to me.
“Uncomfortable?” Adrien asks, sizing me up with his eyes.
“Sasha is fine.” Nico’s hand finds my arm. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be a comfort or a warning to stay still but either way, I find myself relaxing into his touch. While I have my issues with Nico, he is the only one I know will truly keep me safe here and that means out of everyone, I can trust him. God, I never thought I’d even think that let alone feel it.
I’ll never say it out loud though. Nico would have too much fun with that.
“She grew up sheltered,” Nico says. “She hasn’t attended many parties like the ones I throw.”
“An innocent then,” the brunette next to Adrien says.
“So she could be a sacrifice,” Jonathan says, laughing more to himself. “If she’s so innocent, then she must be a virgin.”
I take a long gulp of my wine.
“Careful,” Nico murmurs under his voice for only me to hear. “Jonathan, don’t talk about whether my wife is a virgin or not.”
“Why not? You throw orgies here. I thought we could talk about anything. So was your wife a virgin on your wedding night or not?”
I take another gulp of the wine and instantly, my head starts to feel fuzzy. I’ve never actually drank any alcohol before. My dad never allowed it and since I’m only twenty, I could never legally drink it anywhere with my family. Denis is even stricter than my dad was. He prohibited alcohol in our house after he moved in. I think that was mostly to hurt my mom who enjoys the occasional glass of wine here and there.
