I did mind but a selfish part of me also wanted to see Jake. I didn’t know what the future held for us back in Boston. Whether he would be like he is now or he’d go back to ignoring me as he had in the past and keep dating and eventually marrying Catalina. So I wanted to steal a moment of a fairytale for myself. “No, it’s okay. I’ll find him.”
He gives me a quick hug and disappears into the crowd of vibrant colors. After Jo rushed out, I asked around and one of Aryan’s cousins had seen Jake heading towards the guest quarters a while ago. Since the celebrations would run late, the King and the Queen were kind enough to offer us to stay the night at the palace instead of going back to the hotel late at night since everyone would be tired. Also, they wanted to lavish us with their hospitality. I only said yes, after Jake and Jo agreed. Honestly speaking, I was just glad that the day had gone by smoothly except for a few glitches that Sean had called me about.
So I make my way to the guest quarters, clutching the file of documents and the sari in my hand and jog to the other side of the palace where the rooms were located. Why would he leave while everyone was still out there celebrating? I wondered and passed corridors after corridors. Reaching the quarters, there were several rooms and I didn’t know which one had Jake behind them. It would be absurd for me to go knocking on all doors looking for him. I see a woman coming out from the room next to mine on the right side of the corridor. Upon closer inspection, I recall it was one of Aryan’s aunt who had come in from another state in the south. Don’t ask me which one because I won’t even be able to begin pronouncing it.
I say a quick hello to her with a smile and ask if she’s seen him. She frowned and shook her head at me mutely. Shit. She didn’t speak English. “Uh, Jasmin’s brother, Jake Vandervaal?” I try it again.
The aunt became agitated and stressed because she couldn’t understand me. I bit my lip and started describing Jake. “He’s quite handsome and tall. He’s dressed in black and gold.”
“Ah.” Recognition dawns on her face. “Handsome.” And then she pointed at the room opposite mine. So that she understood. Seriously? I thank her and rush to the door and knock on it, hoping that her handsome turns out to be my Jake. I tense. My Jake? What the shit, Emma? I mentally smack myself and tell the stupid voice in my head to shut the hell up. The door clicks and swings open revealing the striking face of my . . . of the man who has haunted me for years. “Emma.” He said.
Thank heavens he finally decided what to call me. If he had said, Ms. Duvall again I would have hurt someone. “Hi,” I said. This part of the palace was quiet since all the music and crowd were on the other end of the palace.
“Come in.” He opened the door wider.
“Thank you.” I walked inside and waited as he locked the door behind him. “Are you okay? People saw you leaving soon after everyone came inside. Didn’t you like the celebrations?” I asked as he stopped next to the sofa and picked up a glass of the golden liquid he had been drinking.
He gulps it down in one shot before answering me. “The palace, the hotel everything is just wonderful. You have outdone yourself, Emma Duvall. I should have had more faith in your skills, just like Jasmin and Joseph.”
I blushed at the compliment and murmur a thanks again. “Then why did you leave?”
He loses the small smile that had been playing at his lips and strode past me to the small bar to pour himself another glass. “Can I get you something to drink?” He asked looking back.
I shake my head. “Jo wanted me to pass these documents to you.” I lift the file.
“Please leave them on the table.” He said and downed his glass.
Something wasn’t right with him. He was acting strange and it gnawed at me. “Jake, what’s wrong? Did something happen?” I go to him and lean against the counter laying a hand on his arm. His jaw tightened at the touch and closed his eyes tight, a small frown marring his face. “I’m about to sin.” He whispered.
“What?” I ask because I could barely hear him. “What are you talking about?”
His face contorted as if in some terrible unseen pain and opened those dazzling eyes that reflected the same agony and hunger that made thrill course through my veins. He examines me from head to toe in a slow appraisal before coming closer. “Jasmin was right. You look so damn beautiful in that dress.” I wet my suddenly dry lips and lower my eyes. “But what she doesn’t know is that with your face and your body, you’d look good anything. I should have known to resist you was futile. There has always been something between us, hasn’t there? You felt it too as you stood there watching me sip coffee in my kitchen.”
Silence prevailed and I looked back up at him as he towered over me, still looking surreal. Even more so in such proximity.
“I tried so hard to stay away from you.” He said, voice thick with emotion. “Tried to avoid you, to remove you from my mind, my heart but I couldn’t. I see you everywhere, Emma. You’ve become entwined with my soul and I should stay as far away from you as I can, but the truth is, I don’t want to. Because I want you. I want you like I haven’t wanted anything else. Anyone else.” He leans forward, his hand wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer. “I shouldn’t do this to my little brother, because I love him. And it’s wrong to want this. To want you. So fucking wrong, but I can’t do it anymore. I can’t stay away. I need you with me to draw my very next breath. I’ve never asked for anything in my life before. But now I want to. I want to beg my brother to give you to me. To free you. Do you know why, Emma?”
“Jake . . .” I breathe out.
“Because I’ve fallen in love with my brother’s girlfriend.” And then he kissed me.
His brother’s girlfriend? Wait, that’s me! Well technically it was Sarah but Jake didn’t know that. As far as he was concerned I was dating Jo. Don’t ask me how I didn’t faint at the confession and why my heart didn’t fly out of its cage because his confession had freed something in me. Jake continued to ravish me in a passionate kiss that made my blood sing. His hand travels up to my hair and frees it from its binding letting the pins drop in abandon on the carpeted floor and my strands fall in loose waves over my shoulder.
Jake moved and pulled down the sari over my right shoulder, exposing the skin and started showering feather-light kisses over it. I whimpered at the sensations he was wrecking on me and I tried to move back and explain things to him before we did anything. He needed to know he wasn't doing anything wrong. “Jake wait, we need to talk.”
Chapter Ten
His hold tightened on me as if afraid that I might leave any second. “Please Emma.” He said tortured and his lips and light stubble left a blazing trail across my collarbone. “No more talking tonight. No more words. For God’s sake let me forget the harsh reality that awaits me outside this room. The truth that you aren’t mine, no matter how much I fucking wished you were.” I fisted my hand on his expensive clothing as he unhooked my dress from the back and hoped to God I wouldn’t fall to the ground from trembling so hard.
“But . . .” I tried again but he didn’t let me. He took my lips again, effectively shutting me up in the process. Not for a moment did he make me feel that he had had a better woman in his bed. The love and hunger for me that I saw in his eyes proved that this was as new to him as to me. Laying me on the carpet, he explored my body at his leisure and just having the heavyweight of his hard and fit body crushing against mine had pleasure rocket through me. His eyes caressed me warmly and I blushed so hard my face felt searing to touch. His hands and lips were everywhere and just as he had done, I explored his muscular body as I had only done in my dreams and they were a cheap fabrication to the real thing. This man was what fantasies were made of. He held my hands down with his own near my face and kissed me as if he couldn’t get enough of doing so.