Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 470(@200wpm)___ 376(@250wpm)___ 314(@300wpm)
“It doesn’t matter right now,” I murmur, my hand on his cheek, his stubble rough against my palm. “You did the only thing you could, and that is all that matters.”
He kisses me, soft and lingering, his lips a quiet vow. I wonder if he is going to leave, but he doesn’t. Instead, his body curls around mine. He pulls the duvet over us, and it is like a shield against the world. I melt into his arms, my body spent, my heart breaking with how full it is. The heat of him is the home I’ve missed for years.
Eventually, my eyelids grow heavy. The rhythm of his breath is like a lullaby as I fall asleep, safe in his embrace, the grief, the longing. I’ll have no choice but to carry them through these stolen weeks while Sara is away.
Chapter
Twenty-Two
MAX
The moon still hangs low, its silver glow seeping through the purple drapes, casting a soft halo over Amelia’s sleeping form when I force myself to leave her bed. I stand and look down at her. Her blonde hair spills across the pillow, her lips are parted, her breath slow and even, a quiet rhythm that soothes my heart. Under the duvet are delectable curves and skin flushed from our passion. Her taste, her moans, the way she trembled under my mouth, burn in me.
But dawn is creeping closer, and I can’t risk Jason finding me here.
My bedroom is a cold contrast, the bed a stark expanse of white sheets. Sara’s absence rings like a quiet accusation in the darkness. I collapse onto the mattress. I should sleep, but I can’t stop thinking about Amelia.
Is that going to be the only time?
The very thought makes me want to turn violent. I fall back on the pillow, frowning. The whole world can go to hell. They can judge me as much as they want. I feel no shame at all. Fuck them all. I didn’t choose this. I was deceived by our father. It is his fault. He watched us grow close and said nothing. By the time he told me she was my half-sister, I was already irretrievably in love with Amelia.
As for Sara, we have an understanding. As long as we are both discreet, we are allowed to sleep with whoever we want. That is our arrangement. She agreed to it and she has already taken advantage of it, at least twice that I know of.
I know I can’t have Amelia forever. But I can have her until Sara comes back. I will use that time to carve out memories for both of us that I will carry in our hearts until the day I die.
I think about the ramifications of my decision. All the live-in staff, the housekeeper, the tutor, the maids, even the gardeners are too present, their eyes too watchful. I need us alone, truly alone, in this big house, free to love her without fear of discovery. They are going to have to go away for a while. A brief holiday. Two weeks paid vacation. Then it will just be the three of us, Amelia, Jason and myself. My heart pounds with the thrill of it.
I lie awake, staring at the ceiling until the sun’s first glow filters through the blinds. I allow myself to nap then, but not for long. An hour later, I rise. Taking a shower, I pull on a black T-shirt and jeans.
The house is silent, the hallway dim as I move downstairs. In the kitchen, I find Maria brewing coffee, her gray bun neat, her apron crisp. I ask her to call the staff for a meeting in my study. They gather, their faces a mix of curiosity, surprise, and concern. I stand, my hands in my pockets, my voice casual.
“Good morning, everyone. I’ve got some good news. You’ve all been working very hard, and to show my appreciation, I’m giving everyone a two-week paid vacation. You can come back when Sara gets back. Your vacation starts today, actually …” I stop and glance at my watch, “it starts right now. Take the time to rest, visit family, go on holiday, do whatever you want. We’ll manage here.”
Maria’s eyes widen, her hands pausing mid-fold in her apron. “That’s… very generous, but are you sure, sir? Who will cook? Who will clean?”
“Absolutely sure. There will not be much cooking or cleaning, as I plan to eat out a lot with Jason and Amelia,” I reply with a broad smile. “Go enjoy yourselves. We’ll see you in two weeks.”
Lisa and Meghan, the maids, nod happily.
“A vacation?” Miss Steadman mutters doubtfully. “I have planned the year’s materials for Jason. Two weeks will affect my schedule.”
“You can give him a few extra lessons over the next month, and I’ll get my accountant to pop something extra in your salary packet.”