38. Delilah
Chapter thirty-eight
Delilah
I sat with Tyler on my lap as Juliet greeted everyone. Uncle Eugene trailed in behind her and nodded at everybody; he didn’t say much. Kimi took Melanie out of Juliet’s arms as she directed the little girl to where the other children were beginning to gather. Tyler, seeing one of his cousins, wiggled off of my lap and wobbled over to the scene.
“Juliet, Eugene… It’s good to see you,” Killian said as he entered the living room, and I watched him wrap an arm around my mother. They began conversing as Shin entered the room with his wife, Hana, as well. Mom thought it was a good idea for Benjamin and Reginald to spend the night with their family, as she consequently left me and Kimiko in charge of taking care of the children.
Feeling eyes on me, I looked over to see Uncle Eugene now taking a seat beside me.
“Hey, kiddo,” he said, and I gave a small smile.
“Hey, Uncle Eugene,” I replied, and we sat in a silence that was a bit uncomfortable for both of us.
“What have you been up to? Aunt Juli has been talking about you being out for a good while… She seems very happy right now because of the dinner,” I prompted.
He seemed a bit startled by the question. “I’ve been busy. And how have you been?” he responded, and I noticed his small attempt to get me to let go of the conversation.
“I’ve been fine,” I responded, and I felt the tension rise even more as he narrowed his eyes at me slightly.
“Hmmm... You’ve been a bit absent as well. Brielle had mentioned you being busy with your studies, dance, and work.”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah, I’ve been a bit preoccupied lately.”
We stayed in silence for a while. Eventually, Juliet beckoned him over to her, and he stood up, leaving me alone. I let out a silent breath that I didn’t even notice I was holding, and only then did I realize how nervous I actually was.
“We can’t let him suspect that we know anything,” I heard Blaine murmur as he stood beside me.
I looked up at my uncle as I felt him grab my hand. “What if you and Uncle Shin are right? Why would he be working with Calvin?” I whispered.
Uncle Blaine sighed. “I don’t know, Dede. All I know is that he can’t keep this a secret for long. We’ll figure it out,” he said, placing a kiss on my forehead before standing to fix his collar. “Now, I have to get into character. I am the life of the party, after all,” he said with a wink.
I smiled as I pushed him away. “Have fun,” I said.
Eventually, all of our parents had bid us goodbye. I got up and began making my rounds as I wanted to keep everyone situated. I peeked into our other living room to see Zachary with Uncle Blaine’s older son, Nickolas, along with Ivory, who was speaking to Jin, Kimi’s brother.
I walked out of the room and entered the other one that held all of the younger children and Kimi. I sat beside them and watched as they attempted to get me involved in their little game. I smiled at them and tried my best to participate.
After about an hour, our home was no longer bustling with noise, but all I could hear were small snores. I stood up from the couch and smiled as all of the children were sound asleep on the sofas or with their blankets on the floor. Kimiko and I moved them to actual beds, and I sighed as there was finally a sense of peace.
Deciding to take a quick shower while Kimiko kept an eye on them, I walked into my room and took my hair out of its ponytail. After I finished in the bathroom, I got dressed in a long-sleeve crop and leggings. Leaving my wet hair down, I brushed it as my phone buzzed beside me. I looked over to it and opened the message from Archer.
Archer: What are you doing?
Brushing my hair… why?
Come outside.
My eyes widened at his request, and I practically threw the brush on the desk as I sprinted to the front door as soundlessly as I could. I ripped the door open before I closed it behind me as Archer leaned against one of the pillars of the front of our home.
“Are you insane!” I whisper-yelled, and he bit his lip as he gave me a quick head-to-toe glance. “What are you doing here!” I whispered again.
“I can’t come to visit my princess?” he asked.
I quickly placed a hand over his mouth as I looked around. “My father has about ten guards on duty right now and cameras everywhere! You can’t just show up. All of my siblings and cousins are inside right now; any one of them could see you.”
He moved my hand that was over his mouth and pulled me closer to him as he placed a kiss on my lips.
I tried to stifle the moan that was threatening to come out, but it was useless as one of his hands found the back of my neck, keeping me still as the other trailed toward my lower back. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I moved to the tips of my toes and flinched slightly as his hand that was making its way down grabbed my ass.
I finally let out the moan that was surfacing, and he chuckled as he pulled away and placed a kiss on my neck.
“My little princess smells so good.”
I shuddered at his comment and stuttered the next few words out.
“A-Archer, y-you’re not supposed to be here.”
He pulled me even closer. “I know, sweetheart, but I missed you… Haven’t seen you in a little while. Did you have a good day?” he asked, distracting me from my first concern, and I nodded softly as it was stupidly working on me.
“I did.”
“That’s good, baby. Mine was all right. Got much better when I saw you.”
I blushed at his statement while I played with the collar of his dress-shirt as my arms were still wrapped around his neck.
I didn’t mind the names he called me. “Princess” was usually how he addressed me, but the inflection and tone of his voice now, along with the other terms of endearment he used, caused me to feel a sense of excitement and passion.
“You just got out of the shower,” he muttered, noticing my damp hair, and I nodded. “I hope my bracelet isn’t off.”
He brought my arm down from around his neck, and I rolled my eyes as the diamond bracelet sparkled in the night sky.
“I haven’t taken it off since you put it on me, Lockwood. Then the ‘claim’ you put on me wouldn’t have been as effective, would it?” I retorted.
He chuckled. “That’s my girl.”
I rolled my eyes once again, but I flinched as the sound of something dropping was heard from around the corner.
I looked over in confusion as I saw no one, but when I turned on the entrance lights, my eyes widened as I found Ivory and Jin sitting together—or to rephrase better, Jin was casually sitting as Ivory’s legs laid across his while his hand rested on her knee.
I stared at Ivory, dumbfounded, as she looked at me, absolutely petrified. I was only partially concerned she’d caught me with Archer, but I was more concerned with catching the two of them out here.
“Why are you out here in the dark?” I asked them, and Ivory blushed as she removed her legs that were over Jin’s and crossed them at the same time as she crossed her arms.
“We were just talking before he walked over,” she said, referring to Archer.
I shook my head. “Ivory, you’re twelve—”
“I know that!” she said as the blush on her face refused to go away.
I crossed my arms. “You shouldn’t be out here at this time, especially in the dark with Jin.”
She groaned, annoyed. “Which is why we were just talking! Isn’t sitting out here better than in my room?”
“First of all, he will never be allowed in your room—”
“Which is why we were out here! All we were doing was talking. We didn’t want to wake up the kids.” Ivory trailed off, and eventually, panic rose in her face as she pleaded her next words. “Please don’t tell Dad! All we were doing was talking. If he finds out, I’ll never see him again!”
“You’ll obviously see him, Ivory. He’s Kimi’s brother.”
Ivory shook her head. “But you know Dad!! He’ll overthink things, and we won’t even be able to look at one another until we’re thirty!” she said, sighing.
Jin spoke up after a moment. “Hang on a minute… We’re not in the wrong here, because he shouldn’t even be here.” He pointed to Archer.
I bit my lip nervously as Ivory narrowed her eyes at us as the reality of the situation finally dawned on her.
“You’re dating!” she yelled, and I groaned.
“Yes, okay! We are, but this isn’t any of your concern!”
Ivory stood up and tilted her head. “Well, you have no right to get upset at me and Jin if you’re doing the absolute worst and dating our enemy!” she voiced.
Archer’s face contorted at the remark as I rubbed my temples.
“I’m sorry, Ivory. I shouldn’t have assumed anything, and you’re right. My situation is far more intense, and I should not be a hypocrite about it. Now go inside, please. We’ll talk about this later.”
She nodded, and Jin stood up. “You won’t tell Dad, right?” she asked, and I shook my head.
“I won’t tell if you won’t.”
Ivory nodded as she went inside, Jin not too far behind her. I felt arms around my waist, and I sighed as I placed one of my hands in Archer’s hair as I leaned into his hold.
“I feel like we’ve been finding out a bit too much lately. First, it’s Uncle Eugene, then it’s Ivory and Jin, and all the while we’re figuring out all of this, more people know about us. It’s only a matter of time before word gets out to my father and... I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.”
He nodded and pulled me in closer. “Let’s go on a vacation… a honeymoon, if you will,” he whispered.
I bit my lip as a smile came to my face. “We’re not married, Lockwood. I think you’re just purposely trying to forget that fact.”
He chuckled as he turned me in his hold and caressed my face.
“I’m serious, Princess. I’ll take you wherever you want to go… I know you, Delilah. I know you’re beginning to feel overwhelmed with everything you’re learning and trying to hide. Let me be the one to relieve your stress and worries.”
I listened to his thoughtful words, and a sad smile broke out on my face as tears came to my eyes. I wrapped my arms around him once again and shook as a small sob threatened to make its way through. He wrapped his arms around me and shushed me silently.
“It’s just too much sometimes. I’m afraid I’ll lose you, and I don’t want that to happen,” I whispered.
He shook his head. “Your father will not make or break this relationship… he’ll have to come to terms with it eventually, sweetheart.”
I nodded as I pulled him closer, my tears beginning to slow.
“...Take me to Bora Bora,” I muttered, and he chuckled as he placed a kiss on my neck.
“You’re so spoiled. Do you know that?” he asked, and I shrugged.
“You enable me, so there’s no reason for me to deny it.”
He smirked and rubbed my back with his other hand.
“I was planning this. I know how stressed you are, and I know how much pressure everyone is putting on you—including myself…” He trailed off and I shook my head as I held his face in my hands.
“You’re perfect. After working all day, you still find it in you to visit me and invite me on a ‘ honeymoon.’ Thank you,” I whispered.
He placed a quick kiss on my lips before pulling away. “By the way… George let me in and told me to be quick,” he muttered, and I scoffed as I slapped his shoulder.
“And you had me worrying for no reason?!” I yelled, and he smirked.
“You look so adorable when you’re angry,” was all he had to say to justify his reasoning.
I rolled my eyes. “Was there any real reason as to why you actually came here?”
He shrugged his shoulders. “To invite you to our honeymoon, of course.”
My glare intensified. “Stop calling it that.”
He held his hands up in surrender. “You just said, and I quote, ‘You’re perfect. After working all day, you still find it in you to visit me and invite me on a honeymoon—’”
I rolled her eyes as I cut him off. “I know what I said! Now go home and leave me alone! You’re starting to be annoying.”
He scoffed, “You’re pushing me away? Whatever happened to ‘Oh, Archer! How will I ever live without you? I don’t want to lose you.’”
I sighed in annoyance as he mocked me jokingly.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?” I asked, and he winked.
“Not even in your dreams, Russel.”
I shooed him away as I gave him one last kiss and went inside.
Sliding against the door, I sighed as my eyes closed.
“Be lucky I let you talk to him without interrupting,” Kimiko butted in the silence, and I could only laugh as I went over to the couch and plopped down beside her as she continued scrolling through shows to watch.