Page 142 of Villainous Kingpin
She stirred in my arms and her eyes fluttered open. Our gazes connected and her lips curved into a smile.
“Hey,” she murmured sleepily.
For a fraction of a moment, she reminded me of that girl from nine months ago. Her eyes fluttered shut again and a contented sigh left her lips.
“Morning, principessa.”
Her eyes opened again and she jerked up into a sitting position. The air stilled, her gaze darting around the room. She blinked slowly, then wiped a hand over her eyes.
“I slept all night,” she murmured absentmindedly and confirmed my suspicion about her nightmares.
“You did,” I confirmed.
“Did I-” she hesitated before she continued, “Did I keep you awake?”
I shook my head. “I just woke up.”
Relief flashed across her face, but then she looked away. My throat tightened and my mouth filled with a bitter taste. It was like she couldn’t bear to look at me. Then she shifted away from me, combing her fingers through her hair and looking anywhere but at me.
Like she couldn’t stand the sight of me.
“We fly back to New York today,” I bit out harsher than I intended. She instantly paled. “I have a penthouse I just bought. Nobody else knows about it, so we’ll stay there until the wedding.”
“Nobody?” she asked quietly, nibbling on her lower lip nervously. “Not even your father?”
“Nobody,” I confirmed. “Not my father. Not even my sister and cousins.”
“What about the wedding?” she rasped. She pushed an unruly piece of hair out of her face, a small tremor in her hand. “Will your father be there?”
“No.”
What the fuck happened that day?
* * *
Half a day later, we were in New York, taking the elevator to the top floor of my new penthouse.
The elevator beeped and came to a stop to open to the space that was already decorated but fairly empty. On the way here, I ordered a delivery of groceries, clothes for Wynter and myself as well as an early dinner.
I motioned for Wynter to enter and she took hesitant steps into the large foyer.
“I’ve never stayed here, so there will be things missing,” I told her. “Let me know whatever you need and I’ll have it ordered.”
She peered at me from under her lashes. “If you get me a phone, I can order it myself.”
Truthfully, I had already ordered her a phone, AirPods, and an Apple Pro. Why didn’t I give it to her? Because I was worried she’d take off.
Fucking sue me. I never claimed to be a good guy.
She refused to open up, which left me suspicious of her real intentions.
Her eyes roamed the room and she stepped up to the large French windows. Emory had gotten her a pink sweater dress that came down to her knees and white Ugg boots. It made her look like a true winter princess.
And unfortunately, the girl made me rock-hard. All the goddamn time.
She took two steps to the left and opened the door, then headed out on the large rooftop terrace. I followed and watched as she leaned over to check the steep way down.
“No climbing down from here,” I said as I leaned beside her.
