Page 6 of Snow's Charming
“You guys are scaring me—what don’t I know?”
“Didn’t your dear old dad tell you any wolf stories before bed when you were a kid, Sesi?” said an unfamiliar voice that rang out from the shadows.
As the male figure stepped into my view, each of his features revealed themselves in the moonlight. His cheekbones were just as chiseled as his chest. Why was he shirtless? Not that I minded because damn—what agorgeous sight that shirtless chest was. The guy sported an 8-pack, and I had to summon all my inner strength to rip my eyes away from each taunt ripple on his chest. And why? Well, it isn’t nice to stare—even if the guy looked like an Adonis.
The male’s eyes were now boring into mine. They glowed like blue topaz in the moonlight. His gaze was so intimate, it was as if he was undressing my very soul with each deep pool. I lowered my gaze, embarrassed he might find out all my secrets at first glance. The thought sent shivers throughout my body. He smirked at me as his hand glided up from his waist to his peck and I bit my lip to bite back the moan that was forming deep within my diaphragm. It was as if the boy, who didn’t seem much older than me, awakened my inner goddess with just one glance. He mouthed to me with a cocky grin, “Like what you see?” and I almost lost my balance from weakening knees.
“Sylus, you aren’t supposed to be here.” Said Chary.
“What, Dad? Can’t I meet my Luna?”
“She doesn’t know about any of that yet!” Chary said through gritted teeth. He seemed to do a lot of that and that was a little alarming, especially now that it seemed to be his tell. Or rather, his lack of telling what was going on.
“All of y’all are freaking me the fuck out! What is it? Did Dad secretly stash all the family’s inheritance here at the inn?”
I asked, more in a joking tone, though my innervoice kept telling me to stop joking around. I needed to listen to her. But then that same inner voice was distracting me because visions of making out with Sylus plagued me. All I wanted at that moment was to press my mouth to his. Ugh! Tame yourself, girl! Heel! Why was my inner voice so vocal? It had been especially loud since my father’s passing. Until now, I chalked up that voice as to not wanting to deal with Jackie’s bullshit.
But now that voice wanted to jump into Sylus’s arms, and I wasn’t the type of gal to get hot and heavy with someone I’d just met. Oh—who am I kidding! I’m technically still a virgin. The rape didn’t count. At least that is what I kept telling myself. After that blind date that Jackie set me up on, I stopped dating completely. And even when I’d dated before the rape, it never led to anything serious enough to make it past date two.
Probably because I kept waiting for that spark I hear about so much. I guess I read far too many romance novels and hoped it would happen for me. All I wanted to experience was what it felt like. My dad always told me to hold out for a spark. I’m convinced that was his way of keeping me a virgin. When I asked him how he knew mom was the one, he replied, “You just do, princess.”
Princess was his term of endearment for me and he said it with each of his replies. It was something I was accustomed to as I grew up.
“My princess has a right to hear the truth, Dad!” Said Sylus with a low growl.
My jaw dropped momentarily as his growl vibrated the surrounding ground. Was this growling grunt hereditary or what? It was a little weird. So was the dude calling me princess.
“My father used to call me princess—why are you calling me that, Sylus? We just met?”
Chary let out a huff while Sylus crossed his arms. There was no mistaking the pointed glare in his eyes which was directed at his father, Chary.
“Dad, it’s time you let me straighten this out. After all, Baseline entrusted the best huntsman here to ensure her safety.”
Chary held out his palms to his son as if to give up. I crossed my arms. This pissing match had to stop. I deserved answers.
“I’m asking again, and this time not so nicely—what the fuck is going on? Why did Dad leave me this instead of the house I grew up in? It’s clear all of you are hiding something, so spill it already.”
Sylus uncrossed his arms and let out a steady breath before responding.
“Because this compound, scratch that, this empire, is worth far more than any human’s material possessions.”
I shot my hands in the air in protest. None of this was making any sense, especially since I left with barely two changes of clothing. Material possessions, my ass! Another bra and at least an extra pair of underwearwould have been fucking nice! Especially since Dad’s will had left me with no cushion of income. I was hoping for enough to tide me over until I found a job. How can I live off of the literal clothes on my back for the next few days—let alone a month?
It would take that long to get a paycheck from the local StarCoffee or TeaTime! How the fuck would I make getting a job work with a pair of jeans, two tees, and two sets of undies? Surprisingly, Jerry gave me my two most expensive sets from Samantha’s Secret. I was beyond grateful for those because they’d last, but one was a black set and the other an aquamarine one. It was strange that he put those two into my bag. I mostly had unmatched bras and panties that I purchased off of HaloHanger with my allowance from Dad. Why Jerry handed me the expensive stuff was beyond me—unless his wife and maid Josie packed the bag—that was always possible.
“Dad—give me some privacy with my princess, please?”
“Fine. But don’t overwhelm her on the first night. We just got her back!”
“Noted.”
I crossed my arms again as Sylus turned to me. His eyes did that undressing of my soul thing again. I rolled my eyes and let out a huff. He can’t be sexy! I wasn’t having it. Nope! Not happening! Fuck his come hither bullshit stare! I need answers.
After his father was a safe distance away from earshot, he faced me. His gaze seemed to pin mein place. I watched his dark, thick, curly short locks bristle in the cool breeze. I instinctively wrapped my arms around myself as a shiver crept through me, and I couldn’t help but wonder if his sexiness had something to do with the electricity running through my body and my lower belly.
“Are you cold?”
He instantly placed his hands on my shoulders and rubbed them and my arms briskly. The heat it provided was a warm welcome, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to let him or any of my father’s friends off the hook yet. I still knew nothing and him touching me was making my head spin. I placed a hand on his chest to put some distance between us so I could think. And damn it! That was the wrong thing to do!
