To Love and To Lust

Chapter 4

Amelia

I stared at my father incredulously, my mouth agape. Did he just say 'wife'? Immediately, I started looking around the kitchen.

"Amelia, are you okay?" My father asks me, confused about my reaction.

"I am okay, Dad. I'm just looking for the cameras because this must be a prank," I told him, arms akimbo. He had a lot of explanations to make. My father's personal life was his, but over the years, we'd had the dynamic of sharing our most important events and milestones, so the fact that he got married without telling me, means that something must be behind the reason.

"It's not a prank, Amelia. Claire's my wife," Dad says, making my heart break even more. I can't believe that he would keep this from me.

Dejectedly, I turn away, ready to go upstairs. It's rude of me to ignore Claire, but at the moment, if I speak with her, it might not be pleasant. She might not even have known that Dad kept this a secret, and if that was so, it would be unfair to take out my frustrations on her.

"Amelia," Dad calls. I stop on the stairs and turn around.

"I just need a little time. I'll be downstairs soon," I tell him, watching as his shoulders sag in relief.

As I enter my room, I plop myself down on the bed and inhale deeply. About five minutes later, I take a shower and then dial Lily's number. She answers almost immediately.

"Hello."

"Lily, I need you to save me from committing murder," I tell her as soon as I hear her cheery voice.

"It depends. Who are you going to murder?" She asks, almost too seriously. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was serious.

"My father," I reply.

"Oh, hell no. I have to save you then," she chuckles, but has no idea how I feel at the moment. When I say nothing, she calls to me again, "Amelia, are you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here. When I tell you what my father did, you'll be very willing to help me hide the body," I tell her.

"What did he do?" Lily asks, curiosity lacing her voice.

"He went away on a business trip and got married," I say.

"Well, that's not a bad thing," Lily replies.

"Yea, it wouldn't be. If he had told me about it," I mumble through the phone.

"Let me get this straight. So, he left for a 'business trip' and came back with a wife and you had no idea about it?" She asks, the teasing tone in her voice disappearing.

"Yes," I answer simply, waiting for her retort.

"Knife, gun or hands?" She asks. I couldn't help but to burst out laughing. Lily always manages to cheer me up in any kind of situation and I love her for it.

"None of the above," I say as the laughter dies down. I sigh, "I just need to process that a woman, a stranger nonetheless, will be living with us from now on."

"Why don't we go out tonight?" Lily asks enthusiastically.

"Lily, I don't know about that. You know I'm not a party girl and even though I'm my own woman, Dad doesn't like it when I drink too much alcohol."

"I'm sure he'll understand. He's the reason you'll need to let loose in the first place," she says. When I say nothing, she continues, "Come on, Amelia. Please don't let me go partying alone. You know how disastrous it could turn out."

I sigh. I know alright. Liquor, plus Lily equals out of control.

"Fine. But I'm not staying long," I tell her right before I hear her shout in victory.

"Yes!"

A few hours later, a car horn sounds outside. Peeking through my window, I spot the car I called from the car service I use. Grabbing my purse, I take my time sneaking through the house to avoid my father and his new wife.

Successful in evading my father, I enter the car and immediately give the driver Lily's address. Half an hour later, we pick Lily up and departure to our night of fun.

As soon as I realize the direction that we're going, my brows furrow. We'd already been there today. I say nothing though because my heart races at the possibility of seeing Martin again, but almost immediately, I chase the thought away. He's a busy man who doesn't have the time for social activities.

When the car pulls up at MH Bar and Grill, I side-eye my best friend and scoff. She offers a broad smile, already knowing that I'm cursing her in her mind.

We get out of the car quickly, our matching red dresses fitting us like another skin. The only difference is that while Lily's has a spaghetti strap, mine is strapless. We both decided to go with clear heels, giving the illusion of naked feet.

I have to admit though, the place looks good. Better at night with a more seductive feeling. We enter and go straight to a table in the corner. Our waitress from earlier, Tanya, comes over and takes our order for two martinis.

"So," Lily says, taking a sip of her drink and, judging by her tone, I know it has something to do with s*x, "Do you see anyone that might get lucky tonight?"

What did I tell you? I know my best friend just as much as I know myself.

"No! None of these drunk, horny men will get into my panties tonight," I tell her, scoffing.

"I'm talking about for me," Lily says, causing me to shake my head and smile.

"I can't with you," I tell her.

"What? I haven't had s*x for a while now. I'm practically a virgin again," she says, shrugging.

"Lily, you had s*x two weeks ago," I tell her, rolling my eyes.

"Exactly!"

"You wh*re!" I laugh.

"You virgin," she retorts, making me laugh even more. The alcohol, coupled with the fact that I haven't had dinner, makes me hazy and, suddenly, I feel like dancing.

"Let's dance." I grab Lily's hand and stand, pulling her towards the dance floor.

Normally, she'd be the one to drag me there, with much protest, of course, but the alcohol is beginning to take charge, making me bolder than I usually am.

When we reach the dance floor, we grab each other and dance together as if we're a couple. This way, we keep the men far away from us. This doesn't happen for long though, because as soon as a handsome man comes up behind Lily, she turns and abandons me.

Damn traitor!

I turn my back to them, giving them privacy as I get lost in the music myself. I close my eyes, feeling the melody run through my bones. It feels all natural.

When I get the sense that someone is watching me, I open my eyes and scan the area. A gasp leaves my mouth at the pair of intimidating, lustful hazel eyes staring back at me. I thought I wouldn't have seen him here tonight, but I was wrong.

The way he is staring at me has my fearless side showing itself. I roll my hips even more. By the way his fists are suddenly clenched, I can tell he's being affected.

Deciding to be bolder than usual, I sway my hips as I walk toward him and place a hand on his chest. The hardness and definition surprises me tremendously.

His heart beating under my palm rapidly has me wondering what he would do if I tried to kiss him. Let's find out. As my decision becomes resolute, I raise on my tip-toes, place my hands around his neck and move towards connecting our lips together.