Chapter 14
1025 Words
Eden's POV
The men part to let him through unhindered.
I stumble back and brace myself as he walks through the doorway, his sexy as f**k, yet dangerous body dripping wet.
A low growl leaves his chest as his wild eyes flick over me hungrily, and a throbbing delicious feeling aches between my legs.
I hardly know whether I want to fight him or f**k him.
My lips part to let out a small breath, and his eyes catch the subtle movement.
And it’s then the dam bursts.
He races for me.
His solid body crashes against mine before his huge arms lock me in their iron grip. He lifts me clear off the ground, his hand gripping the back of my neck, tangling in my hair as he pulls me forward to smash his lips against mine—
“Eden….”
All of a sudden, my senses jump back into my body with a startle, and my eyes find Con standing by the doorway, staring at me with a scowl on his face.
What the f**k just happened? Did I just drop off into a s****l daydream right in front of him? In front of this asshole?
I lift my hand to my head to feel that it’s slightly damp. “Huh?” I ask in a daze.
He narrows his eyes, his glistening body dripping large water droplets onto the creaky floorboards.
“What do you want?” I ask more assertively, trying to push my confusing innermost thoughts aside.
“I said…I’m going to wash up. I’ll take dinner in my bedroom,” he states coldly.
“Fine,” I answer, trying to maintain the same air of indifference; however, the truth is I can barely focus on anything, I’m so damn flustered.
I turn around quickly, rushing back downstairs to the relative safety of the kitchens. I burst through the door and walk over to the wooden table, clinging to the edge tightly while squeezing my eyes shut. It’s rare for me to have erotic dreams. I can’t remember the last time I had one. I’m not exactly what you would call experienced in that area… Well, not since Erix, anyway. Immediately, I picture his handsome face smiling down on me the first time we made love. His gentle hand lifting to sweep a stray hair from my face.
The memory knocks the air out of me, and a sudden pang of guilt fills my heart. Even after all these years, it hurts. It hurts to remember our time together. To betray his memory by thinking about another man in that way. Especially a man like him.
“Elf, take these plates upstairs for dinner.”
I snap my head to the side in surprise to see the two cooks staring at me.
Damn, I forgot they were here! I swallow hard and wipe my sweaty palms against my shirt. “Oh? I thought I wasn’t allowed to touch the food?”
They give each other a look indicating they have already discussed the matter.
“Seems the orders have changed. You'd better just get a move on,” one of them growls before turning around to carry on spooning out the rest of the food.
I lift four plates, balancing them in my shaky arms before I begin to climb the stairs from the kitchen.
My ears fill with voices from the living room as the men take their usual seats around the table. Clearly, dinner etiquette and proper hygiene aren’t exactly big priorities in this house. Some men have put shirts on while others just sit there. Wet and bare-chested. I begin setting the plates down, my mind too preoccupied to care.
“Did you like what you saw out there, elf?” Hunter asks jokingly, lifting a piece of bread from the center of the table. “I saw you watching.”
“Watching was she?” Rocco snorts, shaking his head. “More like spying.”
I roll my eyes in return. “Perhaps if you’d just let me go, you wouldn’t have to worry about me spying on you.”
“Hey Sweetie, if I had my way, you wouldn’t be here in the first place,” he answers, his icy blue eyes staring into mine.
“She’s serving us food now?” a man named William asks uncomfortably, directing his question to Zeke, who is sitting near the head of the table.
My eyes drift to Zeke, and he glances at me before shrugging nonchalantly. “As you can see.”
“But I thought we discussed it and agreed that wouldn’t happen? I don’t want anyone messing with my food!” William says defensively, looking me up and down with suspicion.
“Come on, Will. It’s not like she can do much damage anyway,” Hunter snorts, earning him a warning look from the other men at the table. “Who knows, maybe a sprinkling of rat poison will help spice this shitty food up!”
“That’s not the point,” William argues. “She hates us. How can we trust anything that she has prepared?”
Zeke casually tears off a piece of bread, leaning forward to place his elbows on the table. “Then don’t eat,” he answers simply, sticking the bread into his mouth.
William shakes his head in annoyance but doesn’t say anything more. The tense interaction lingers in the air for a few moments before the men begin to speak again, changing the subject. I take the chance to turn on my heels and return to the kitchen to collect more plates.
“We’ve got the rest,” one of the cooks says as I am about to fill my arms again. “You take this one to Conall’s room.”
He hands me a plate and some cutlery while I stand there like an i***t, frozen on the spot.
How will I look him in the eye after what just happened?
“Hello? Wakey, f*****g wakey, elf. Get a move on.”
I snap out of it and make for those forbidden stairs once again.
- Writer
