Page 143 of Wisteria and Cloves
My breath caught.
A delicious shiver danced down my spine. I turned my head just enough to meet his gaze. The heat in his eyes was unmistakable—and matched by the matching flicker of desire I felt in myself.
I set my mug down carefully, never looking away, and murmured, “Then what are you waiting for?”
Christopher's eyes darkened, his pupils expanding until only a thin ring of gray remained. He straightened, his hand trailing along my shoulder as he did so.
"Patience," he murmured, but the word held promise rather than rebuke. "Finish your breakfast first."
Julian cleared his throat, his expression shifting to something more controlled as he took a seat at the table. "Before any... extracurricular activities, we should discuss what Mara sent over this morning."
I felt a flicker of tension return to my shoulders at the mention of our publicist. "What happened?"
"Nothing catastrophic," Nicolaus assured me, sliding his tablet across the table. "Your parents made another move, but it's weaker than their previous attempts."
I looked down at the screen to see a carefully worded statement from my mother, expressing "deep concern" about my "ongoing isolation" and suggesting that my recent behavior suggests someone who is not in control of her own decisions." I read the statement aloud, my voice growing steadier with eachword. "She's really doubling down on the incompetence angle, isn't she?"
"It's predictable," Julian said, his tone matter-of-fact. "And easily countered. Mara's already drafted a response highlighting your recent public appearances and the positive reception to your social media presence."
Christopher leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. "The cooking video from yesterday has over ten thousand likes now. The comments are overwhelmingly supportive."
"People can see authenticity," Miles added, his hand finding mine across the table. "Your parents' manufactured concern feels hollow in comparison."
I squeezed his fingers, drawing strength from the contact. "What's the next step?"
"We continue posting every day shots, showing a different story," Nicolaus said, sliding another tablet across the table. "But we also need to be prepared for them to escalate. They're losing control of the narrative, and desperate people make desperate moves."
I nodded, feeling the familiar knot of anxiety start to form in my chest. But this time, it was different. Instead of the paralyzing fear that used to consume me at the thought of my parents' disapproval, I felt... prepared. Stronger.
"Let them escalate," I said quietly, surprising myself with the steel in my voice. "I'm not the same person who left their house. I won't be intimidated back into their version of who I should be."
Julian's eyes flashed with something like pride. "That's exactly what we hoped you'd say."
Christopher pushed off from the counter, moving to stand behind my chair. His hands settled on my shoulders, solid and warm. "But we're also not going to let you face this alone," headded, his thumbs making small, soothing circles against the tension there. "We'll be with you every step of the way."
The sensation of his touch was grounding, and I found myself leaning back into it, seeking more of that steady comfort. The fear that had begun to build dissipated under his careful attention.
"I know," I said softly, tilting my head to look up at him. "That's what makes me brave enough to stand my ground."
Christopher's smile was tender as he looked down at me, but there was something else in his eyes—a hunger that made my pulse quicken. His fingers trailed up to the nape of my neck, tangling gently in my hair.
"Finish your tea," he murmured, the simple instruction carrying weight I raised the mug to my lips, watching Christopher over the rim as I sipped slowly. The tea was perfectly brewed—floral with a hint of honey, just how I liked it. His eyes never left mine, the intensity in his gaze making my skin flush with anticipation.
"Good girl," he said softly when I set the empty mug down. The simple praise sent a shiver through me.
Julian cleared his throat, rising from his seat with fluid grace. "I have calls to make. Nicolaus, I'll need your input on the financial report before the meeting tomorrow."
Nicolaus nodded, understanding the unspoken message. He stood, pausing to brush his fingers lightly across my shoulder. "Don't forget to look at the journal," he said quietly. "I think you'll like what I put in the back pages."
Miles was the last to rise, his knowing smile making my cheeks warm. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to my temple before murmuring, "Have fun. He's been thinking about this since he taught you to make pasta."
Within moments, the kitchen had cleared, leaving Christopher and me alone in the sunlit space. The air between us seemedto thicken with possibility as he moved around the island, his movements deliberate and unhurried.
"Come here," he said softly, extending his hand toward me.
I rose from my seat, drawn to him like gravity. His fingers closed around mine as I approached, tugging me gently into his space. Up close, I could see the flecks of silver in his gray eyes, the slight stubble along his jaw, the way his lips curved into a smile that was equal parts tender and predatory.
"He is right….I have been thinking about this," Christopher murmured, his free hand coming up to trace the curve of my jaw. “Though, I should ask if you even feel up to it. I know Miles…he probably wore you out.”
