Page 79 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“Why?” he asked as if we weren’t discovered.

“They are probably talking about us right now and how they found us,” I mumbled and just the thought of it, flamed my face.

“We are on our honeymoon,” he pulled me closer. “They’d expect nothing less.”

I frowned at his words. Why did this feel so real? Less than a week ago, we’d been making it a business deal to help each other, and now we were sleeping together. Should I have pointed it out or just go with it? I really loved him this way and the freaking sex was amazing, explosive.

It’s all fun and games till someone gets hurt, my mother’s words came back to me again. She used to say that to me all the time. What if she was right?

Chapter Thirty-Five

Liberty

Four days alone with Alexander turned out to be some of the best days of my life. We spent the nights exploring every inch of each other’s bodies. And we spent the days exploring the countryside and beach on his property. As if we had an unspoken agreement, we did not talk about our business arrangement, his publishing house, or work. The only thing he mentioned on our second day of honeymoon was that he hired the best attorney in London to ensure nothing goes askew with getting custody of Brandon. He made me feel safe. I didn’t know him well, but I knew without a doubt he’d ensure nothing happened to Brandon or me.

We were sitting on our favorite spot by the cliff with a view over the Mediterranean stretching for miles. I laid on the blanket with my face tilted up towards the sun, Alexander’s hands playing with my hair. I enjoyed the warmth and tranquility, the only sound coming from the waves crashing against the rocky shoreline and seagulls. We decided to just relax today instead of going to the beach. Turned out fall weather in southern France was a perfect time to visit. Still warm enough to enjoy the beach and not get burned by the sun.

“How come you never talk about your father?” Alexander’s question made me slightly stiffen and sent a pang through my heart.

With my eyes still closed, I answered nonchalantly. “I don’t know who my father is.”

Silence stretched on, and I was tempted to open my eyes to see his expression, but I resisted the urge. I didn’t want to see disdain or distaste from him about a person that didn’t know who her father was.

“Ever wondered who he is?” he asked quietly.

I opened my eyes, turned my head towards him to see his face, shielding my eyes from the sun. There was nothing on there but mild curiosity. It was peculiar how he seemed to hit all my vulnerable points. The entire time I dated Callen, he never once asked about my parents, not a single question about either one of them.

“Yes,” I told him, lowering my hand down onto the soft grass and closing my eyes. “In college, I had this ridiculous genealogy elective class. I had to trace the family tree on the paternal and maternal side back two generations at the minimum. It was supposed to be the easiest project ever. My tracing started and ended with my mother. She refused to tell me anything else about him or my grandparents. Naturally, that made me want to know who he was even more.”

I thought back to our last encounter, all the horrible words I said to her, calling her selfish. And it was me that was being selfish. She was struggling mentally and physically, trying to save her publishing house and I didn’t even know it. I was so wrapped up in myself and what I wanted. “Anyhow, we had many arguments about it, but she wouldn’t budge and then she died.”

But not before all those horrible things I said to her as I walked out the door, never giving her a hug or kiss goodbye, only angry words that stayed behind.

My eyes remained closed, wishing I could erase the images of my last visit with my mom. They were playing in my mind on loop, blaming me. Then, they all stopped when I felt Alexander’s lips on mine. The kiss was feather light; comfort and warmth all wrapped in the shape of his soft lips on mine. He ended the kiss too soon, leaving me slightly disoriented.

Then I remembered, “What about your father? I feel horrible, but I really don’t remember him from the wedding.”

“He wasn’t there,” his reply was curt and I thought this was the end of the conversation. His fingers roamed my back and then he started speaking, his voice cold. “My parents didn’t have a good marriage. He was in love with another woman; he discarded his family for the chance to be with her, chase her. He wasn’t willing to let her go. It was hard on our grandfather.”

It wasn’t what I expected to hear from him. There were no emotions on his face, his demeanor cold and detached. But it was exactly that which made me believe he was bitter about it and resented his father. The fact he wasn’t at our wedding was a firm testament that Alexander hadn’t forgiven his father.

My heart ached for him and there were no words I could possibly tell him to make it better. So instead I showed him wrapping my arms around him and showering his neck with light kisses.

The next day, we were back in London, in Alexander’s city residence. I felt I still knew so little about who Alexander Caldwell really was, even though we shared some of our past with each other. I assumed he lived in a penthouse apartment. I would have never guessed there was such a large estate in the city.

A large set of iron, electric gates adorned on either side by gargoyles opened as we drove through the gate, a brilliant white massive palace rose in front of me.

The car pulled in front of the entrance to the house and both Alexander’s and my side of the doors opened. I barely stepped out of the vehicle and I heard a happy squeal.

“Livy,” Brandon threw himself into my arms. “You are back.”

Maxim strolled in behind him with his big smile. “Ever since we came back from Scotland yesterday, he couldn’t wait to see you,” Maxim said.

I hugged Brandon tight. “I’m back,” I kissed him on the forehead. “I missed you.”

“I missed you more,” he mumbled into my stomach, his arms wrapped around my waist.

“I missed you too, sis,” Maxim announced as he kissed my cheek, surprising me with that move. Then he turned to Alexander and added. “And I missed you brother, but only on some days. We missed Liberty every day.”

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