Forbidden

Chapter Two

"What was that?"

Squinting against sunlight in the back garden of his parents cottage, Nik peered down at Daniella. He didn't seem upset but rather confused. She shook out of his grip to cross her arms, well aware she must look like a petulant child.

"Shouldn't you ask your father that? I didn't mean to be disrespectful, I'm sorry. But he just-"

"Oh trust me, I know. I didn't expect him to get a rise from you, though."

They sat down together on a nearby bench as Nik sparked up a cigarette. Its smoke wafted lazily towards her, making her cough. She'd always hated the smell of it; it reminded her of her father smoking in the house when she was a child. Just the thought made her gag.

"I couldn't stand how rude he was being. What really pissed me off was the fact you haven't seen him in 6 months - your first six months away from home, at Uni - and he was more interested in the patterns in the table linen."

"He's not the most conversational man, but I'll admit that today was something else even for him."

Nik's thick, rosy lips sealed around the butt of his cigarette, his cheeks hollowed as he sucked on the thing like he needed it to live. It was ironic really, Daniella thought.

"I thought you were quitting the cigs?"

"Yeah, I am. But I can't not smoke when I'm at home. It's so awkward here lately."

"So you decided to drag me into it. Thanks."

"You're welcome. We should go back in before my mum tries to ground me for not doing the dishes."

"You're a grown man."

"Like she gives a s**t about that when I'm under her roof."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

With Nik clearing up after lunch and Eva refusing to allow a guest to help clear up, Daniella was left to her own devices. She took the opportunity to unpack her things in the generously sized guestroom. It was larger than her entire dorm at home, with a newly fitted en suite and plenty of room to store things.

In the quiet of her room, the tension from the dining room couldn't feel further away. The window behind the kingsize bed gave her views of the vast fields bordering the house, with horses grazing nearby under the sun, unencumbered by clouds. The small piece of serenity she'd found was interrupted by a swift rap at the door.

"May I have a quick word? It won't take long," Eva asked, peering apprehensively into the room.

"Of course. But before you say anything, I want to apologise for being rude to your husband. I don't know what got into me."

"He has a gift for riling people up, Daniella. You aren't the first and you certainly won't be the last, so please don't apologise."

Whatever she had expected, kindness and understanding certainly wasn't on the list.

"That's very gracious of you," Daniella said.

Eva lingered for a moment, looking uncomfortable as though she had something to say. Closing the bedroom door behind her, she didn't move any further into the room. Instead she skirted uneasily by the wall, her fingers hovering by the handle to ready for a swift exit. Sure that she wouldn't be allowed to stay the week after her insolence, Daniella tried to think of something to say but failed.

"What do you think of the room?" Eva asked.

"It's beautiful. Thank you for letting me stay."

"No trouble at all. It's just nice to have another woman in the house, and to have Nik finally bring home one of his friends. He's rather fond of you."

This is why she looks shady, Daniella had thought. She could smell another attempt at convincing her to harbour affections for Nik. The woman was persistent when she wanted something, or so she'd been told, but Daniella had readied herself for the second arduous Nik-related chat in as many hours. Eva's brow furrowed as her eyes trained on a spot on the wood floor, discomfort written plainly across her feminine features.

"I know you've said that you and Nik share an innocent relationship, but I also know what it's like to be your age. If you do decide to take things... a step further... then please, be careful."

The words follow on from one another in quick succession, spilling from Eva's lips as she closes her eyes tight. If Daniella had had to hazard a guess at where the conversation would end up, it wasn't there. Mouth agape, she scanned Eva's face for any sign of humour, ready to laugh heartily at what had to be a joke. No humour was to be found as Eva shifted her weight from one leg to the other with her arms crossed.

"Oh, Mrs Vasilescu, we really don't need to have this conversation."

Quite sure it was possible die from humiliation that very moment, Daniella wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. When she had agreed to the weeklong stay, she didn't sign up for uncomfortable lunches and awkward speeches about safe s*x. It had only been a couple hours since their arrival, and she had already wanted to string Nik up by his testicles for putting her through what she considered to be an ordeal.

"Andrei and I had Nikolas when we were only 17 and 18 - I want to make sure he doesn't end up in much the same position," Eva said.

"I can tell you right now that isn't going to be an issue for us."

The thought of Nik and her sleeping together was ludicrous, and brought a furious blush to her face. Even when they had first met, there was no attraction there. He was handsome, sure, and fun to be around, but in the same way as a puppy. She wanted to hug him and maybe pinch his cheeks a little, not have her wicked way with him.

"Good. I'm glad we had this chat. I'll leave you to unpack."

As quickly as she had entered, she left. Pinching herself to make sure it was real - that she really did just have 'the talk' with her best friend's mother - Daniella was dazed.

With a stomach growling with nerves, she waited a few moments to make sure the coast was clear before leaving the guest room. The house was quiet, filled only with the distant chatter of Nik and Eva. Feeling like a trespasser in their home, she made a mental note to try and socialise with them once the embarrassment has worn off.

Daniella made off in search of a drink. The kitchen had enough storage that just finding a glass proved to be difficult. She rifled through each one, sure that if someone were to walk in right now she'd look like she was burgling them.

Victorious in her hunt, she turned to the sink only to come face to face with the very last person she'd wanted to be in a room alone with.

Mr Vasilescu.