Raya
A FEATHER-LIGHT TOUCHskims along my foot, rousing me from sleep.
Against my will, my eyes flutter open, and…I hold my breath.
Shit.I must have dozed off after dinner, meaning to rest for just a moment.How long have I been out for?
That’s not why I’m holding my breath, though.
Not only is Stefano Castello sitting on the same couch I’m curled up on, but my feetare on his lap.
How…when…why?
He’s reading, fully absorbed in a small leather-bound book, his free hand resting on my feet.His thumb sweeping slow, absent strokes, back and forth, along the arch of my foot.Sending a quiet thrill through me.
What’s happening right now?
Outside the windows, the deep blue sky is fading toward dawn.Damn, I’ve been asleep here all night?Why didn’t anyone wake me?
While Stefano is lost in his book, oblivious to my wakefulness, I take the chance to surreptitiously admire him.In all his brutal perfection.
His suit jacket’s gone, but he’s otherwise fully dressed, the sleeves of his crisp white shirt rolled to his elbows.Given the hour, he likely just got in from his nightly lording at Black Gold.
He’s infuriatingly divine.
Handsome to a fault.
My heart is so unreasonable when it comes to him.So reckless.Its obsession with him is senseless and confounding.No rhythm, rhyme, or reason.
I’ve been with men more beautiful.I’ve bossed men more powerful.Stefano Castello is no more ruthless, formidable, magnificent, or impressive than the legions of avaricious demons I’ve encountered in my short life.
So,why him?
What makes my heart latch on to him?
I loathe it.Resent it.Resenthim.
Once I’ve had my fill of him, I close my eyes and emit a soft moan, shifting as if I’m just waking.His thumb stills against my skin, then disappears entirely.
Feigning a sleepy yawn, I flutter my eyes open and begin to stretch, then pause, blinking at him in mock surprise.
“Am I dreaming?”I croak.“Or am I dead?”
His unreadable gaze meets mine, belying nothing.“This is my favorite reading spot.Everyone in this house knows that.But you wouldn’t.Because you don’t live here, do you?”He flicks his attention back to the pages of his book.“And I won’t forgo my morning reading just because you’ve decided to take up space here like the annoying pest that you are.”
Dramatic as always.All he’s missing is a billowing black cape.
“You could have just woken me up,” I say.
“Oh, but you snore so beautifully.”
What a lying liar!“I donot.”
“Such mellifluous white noise.”He taps my foot.“Go back to sleep.It was helping me focus.”
“No, I’ll just head back to the house.I’ve outstayed my welcome,” I say.“I didn’t mean to fall asleep in your space.I was just tired and needed a moment...”
A full minute passes, but I still don’t move, and he doesn’t shove me off the couch.His hand settles on my feet again.Stays there.His focus never leaving the pages of his book.
