Page 8 of Beautiful Sinner

I frowned; it sounded an awful lot like the one Dominik had been sent to, although I thought his had an actual name. Still, I was no dumb girl. He was purposely keeping the information from me. “Fascinating.”

“It can be, although I find all the pomp and circumstance of it boring. What are your plans for the future, Giada?”

“I’m going to be a famous musician.” The statement had a dramatic flair and I tilted my head, fluttering my hand.

“Oh, yeah? Rock and roll.”

A giggle burst to the surface. “No, silly. I’m going to Julliard one day. I’m a violinist.”

“Interesting.” He didn’t seem interested at all. In fact, he seemed just as bored to death as being in his classes.

“What about you? What are you going to become? Some infamous lawyer?”

“Oh, hell, no. I’m going to take over my family’s businesses, becoming the leader. That might take me a few years, but it will happen.”

“Oh, that’s nice. A family business.” The conversation was far too awkward, but there was something about him I liked. He seemed to be a loner like me. He was well dressed, well spoken, and seemed to have manners. That was unlike every other boy I knew.

“It’s dangerous but that’s what makes it exciting. Do you like danger, Giada?”

“As much as the next girl.”Oh, yeah, lie to him.I wouldn’t know real danger, my world was so completely protected.

“Somehow, I don’t think you’re like other girls.”

“No, I’m not. I’m not frilly, as my mother would say. I’m the girl who prefers climbing rocks instead of playing with dolls. It drives my mother crazy. She says I could find a mud puddle anywhere including in the desert.” I heard the angst in my voice and cringed.

As we stepped onto the pathway leading into the forest, it seemed like something changed that I couldn’t put my finger on.

“That’s not a bad thing. There is no Prince Charming and we don’t want to track down a goddamn glass slipper.”

“I’ll keep your advice in mind if and when I allow a boy to enter my life.”

He laughed, more jovial than before. “I hope you do.”

We walked in silence for another few paces.

“I love the forest. The trees. The scent. Don’t you?” I tipped my head, watching him. It seemed like he was searching for something, antsy.

Sevastian took a deep breath. “The forest is where people can disappear.” He turned toward me sharply, giving me a hard look.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if he was here under false pretenses. “The forest is where you can be anybody you want to be.”

“Really?” He walked closer.

I backed up.

He came even closer, his long, muscular legs in my periphery of vision.

I took two long strides backward, hitting a tree. Then I laughed from seeing the sly smile on his face. “Who are you, Sevastian?”

“I’m not certain you want to know the answer,printsessa.”

I froze, suddenly realizing where he was from. Russia. A sick sense pooled in my stomach even though I was drawn to him. “I do. I always want to know the truth, no matter how ugly or demanding.”

He planted his hand on the tree, giving me another hard look. I tilted my head, making certain he knew he couldn’t intimidate me.

“What do you wish for, Giada?” he asked, the tone of his voice changing altogether.

“I don’t know.”

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