Chapter 6
Y ulianna – Age 16
Nothing had ever felt as difficult as walking down my grand staircase, seeing Eddie, and not smiling. Pretending not to care about him while he was around was…painful. All I wanted to do was hold him and never let go. At any moment, it felt like the world would open up at my feet, swallow me whole, and I’d never see him again. The thought terrified me.
“Ah, there you are, Yulianna. Please don’t keep our guests waiting,” Father said as I reached the bottom step. I somehow managed to put one foot in front of the other with my eyes on my father.
Eddie’s heated gaze caressed my face and my heart was a runaway train in my chest. If I wasn’t careful it was going to careen right off the tracks and give us away.
“My apologies, Father.” I gave a small bow to Eddie and Mr. Genovese. “I meant no disrespect.”
“None taken,” Mr. Genovese said, offering a smile. “It is lovely to see you again, Yulianna.”
“Likewise.”
I turned my attention to Eddie finally and gave him the same disapproving glance over that I’d done every single time we saw each other since I was nine.
“Edmundo, I guess it’s good to see you again.”
“What? No Eddie to annoy me this time,” he said, lifting an eyebrow.
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat. He was so incredibly sexy. I’d watched him change right before my eyes over the years. He was no longer the cute boy with messy hair that I liked to tease. Eddie had grown into a man whose eyes alone could reach into my chest and stop the beating of my heart.
“It’s the new me. We all have to grow up sometime.” I flicked my hair over my shoulder as if dismissing it as easily as I was him. It was all for show. Every second of every day, waiting for this moment, had been excruciating.
He smirked and looked toward the windows. “I think this is the warmest weather I’ve experienced while visiting,” Eddie said.
“Would you like a tour of the grounds? My father has a proud new stallion in the barn. I’m sure his rider wouldn’t object to showing him off.”
“I’d like that if you’re agreeable, Mr. Mikhailov,” Eddie said.
“Yes, of course. We’ve expanded our breeding operation, so be sure to look at the new foals. You might see one you like,” Father said.
“I’m sure that I will. I like them high-spirited,” Eddie said, smiling.
My father chuckled.
Eddie looked at me, and I bit the inside of my cheek. The world outside could crumble to dust, and it wouldn’t matter as long as we were together.
His grey eyes promised to sweep me away as I deliberately looked at his father.
“Mr. Genovese, would you like a tour as well,” I offered.
“No, thank you. Vadin and I have a few things to discuss.”
“If that is the case, I don’t need a tour. Do you want me to stay,” Eddie asked, looking so sincere that I couldn’t tell if he really wanted to remain in the house.
“No, son. Tomorrow is for meetings. Let the old men be old men for a little while,” Mr. Genovese said with a twinkle in his eye.
“Watch who you’re calling old,” Father said.
I glanced up at Eddie, and his gaze locked with mine. Even though his expression remained cool and indifferent, the heat in his eyes told me he was holding it together about as well as I was.
Frida cleared her throat, and I jumped, forgetting she was right behind me.
“Shall we go for that walk, miss? Then I can help you prepare for tonight’s meal.”
I turned and nodded at my best friend.
“Yes, that would be wonderful, thank you.”
My father glanced at Frida. Seemingly satisfied that I wouldn’t be alone with Eddie, he left with Mr. Genovese.
Frida watched the two men walk away and then smiled.
“Miss, would you like me to venture off in another direction, perhaps toward the gardens by the pond?” Her voice was a whisper as the corner of her mouth pulled up in a devious grin.
The pond was on the opposite side of the property from the stables, but the guards would think we were with her…if we were cunning about it.
“You have the best ideas,” I said.
“Very well, follow me,” Frida said.
As soon as we were out of sight, inside the servant’s corridors, Eddie grabbed my hand. We clung to one another as we made our way through the house, but it wasn’t enough. I’d been starved for his touch and needed more.
We stepped outside, and Frida pointed.
“Follow that path to the barn. The stable hands are done until night feed and the guards never patrol that area at this time of day. I’ll go the other way.” She looked between us. “Be careful.”
“We will. Thank you.” I gave her a quick hug.
As casually as possible, we went our separate ways. I kept my eyes open for any guard or worker who happened to be off their routine, but just as Frida said, no one was lingering. We slipped inside the cool shade of the barn. The scent of hay and the soft whinnies of the horses made me smile. Dragging Eddie past the stalls reminded me of when we were kids, and he would follow me on all my wild adventures.
He had not only believed that I could climb a tree but had helped me get to the very top so we could look out at the world. We sat there for hours, and I never wanted to get down from our little hiding spot. He’d also been the one to show me how to handle the horses. His father had some at home to ride along the beach, but my father refused to let me near them, saying they were too dangerous.
Eddie didn’t see me as a pretty doll to be put on display. No, he encouraged me to do the things I loved, to follow my dreams, and not let anyone hold me back. I’d always been strong, but now I knew that I could do anything. I loved him all the more for it.
We climbed the stairs to the hay loft, and as soon as we got inside, I slid the heavy wooden door closed and latched it in place. Turning to face Eddie, he took me by surprise, cupping my face and devouring my lips. We’d shared a few small kisses that were more pecks than anything else, but this…this was storybook-worthy. It was exactly how I’d dreamed it would be.
My head spun, and I moaned, needing more. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I gave myself over to the desire coursing between us. We were electric when we touched. The world sang and it felt like I could breathe even though he took my breath away.
He picked me up like I weighed nothing, and my legs wrapped around his waist. It was only then that I realized how much taller and stronger he’d gotten since the last time we were together. It might have only been eight months, but it felt like a lifetime of torture. Our lips never parted as he walked across the massive loft and laid me down on a pile of straw.
I’d never been this close to anyone. I’d never touched someone so intimately. Feeling the weight of his body against mine was exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time.
“God, I’ve missed you, anima mia ,” Eddie said against my lips.
“I’ve missed you more.
Getting a little braver, I ran my fingers through his hair. Eddie closed his eyes, groaning. The sound shot through my body and made me shiver.
“I’ve fantasized about holding you like this, of touching you and tasting your lips,” Eddie said, softly kissing my lips. “Now I fear that I’ll never be able to stop.”
“Do I taste how you imagined,” I asked, blushing.
Eddie smiled, his stormy eyes shining as he stared down at me.
“Better...like sweet passionfruit.”
He licked his lips, and I bit mine.
“That’s my lip gloss,” I said, unsure of my response. I was out of my depth.
“Lip gloss, no lip gloss…you’d taste just as sweet to me.” His lips grazed my cheek, making me shiver.
How did he manage to find such beautiful words? I couldn’t even seem to put two logical thoughts together when he was near me. I searched his face and then looked away as a nagging voice of insecurity crept inside my mind. I wasn’t ready to go any further, and he was seventeen. What if he had girls throwing themselves at him all the time? Maybe that was how he got so good at saying all the pretty words. We only saw one another once or twice a year, and I knew that boys had needs, and…my head was spinning.
“Hey…where did you go?”
My gaze darted up to his.
“Have you been with anyone,” I asked, not really sure I wanted the answer.
“Is that what you’re worried about?” He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. “Why Ana Mikhailov, is that jealousy I detect?”
Eddie pushed up and laid on his side, running his fingers up and down my arm. I rolled over to face him.
“Don’t make fun. I’m serious. We don’t see each other often…and I know you must want to or have already, and?—”
“Stop, Ana. I don’t want anyone else.” Reaching out, he cupped my cheek, and I leaned into his touch. “I love you. That doesn’t come with conditions. Yes, girls hit on me.” My anger flared, and jealousy spiked, making Eddie smile. “Oh, how I love that look in your eyes. I really like this side of you. Maybe I should tell you more about how they flirt instead of how I turn them down.”
Sitting up with a snarl, I glared at him.
“Ugh, I hate you.”
Before I got to my feet, Eddie yanked me back down, trapping me under his body.
“I love how fiercely you love me,” Eddie said, as his eyes roamed over my face.
“Does that mean you turn them all away?”
His lips touched my neck, and my pulse fluttered erratically.
“Every last one,” he whispered against my skin, and I arched up into his touch. “Has anyone flirted with you?” His voice was rough with a thread of anger.
“Many,” I said, which was a lie, but I wanted to give him a taste of his own medicine.
He growled, and I melted on the spot. He could’ve done anything he wanted to me, and I wouldn’t have resisted, but that wasn’t Eddie.
“I’ll kill them. You’re mine, Ana. You’ve been mine for seven years, and I plan on making it forever.”
“Forever? Do you have a plan to get my father to agree? I’m so scared that he’ll refuse you. That he’ll force me to marry someone I can’t stand. I won’t do it, Eddie.” My eyes filled with tears.
Sitting up, Eddie brought me with him. He picked all the strands of straw from my hair before gently wiping the tears from my cheeks.
“We will find a way to be together, Ana.” Reaching into his suit jacket, he pulled out a box, and I gasped. “Is that…is that what I think it is?”
“Officially, I can’t make an offer for at least another year, but Ana…I want you to marry me. I’ll do whatever is necessary to make this moment just the beginning. My love for you has grown every day since we met years ago. Anima mia, when I picture my life, it’s not complete without you.”
I loved it when he called me that. He refused to tell me what it meant, but I looked it up once and knew that he was calling me his soul.
He cracked the lid, and there, nestled in the satin, was a beautiful gold ring with a stunning opal in the center—my birthstone. I held out my right hand so Eddie could slide it onto my finger. It was a perfect fit.
“Eddie, it’s gorgeous. I love it. I’ll never take it off.”
“This ring is my promise to you. I’ll do everything in my power to make sure I’m worthy of you.”
“Eddie, you are worthy.”
He shook his head.
“No, not yet. You’ll be eighteen in two years. I have until then to gather enough power and influence to ensure your father agrees to our marriage. If you’re not sick of me by then, of course.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I attacked his mouth. He held me tight and for these few stolen, sacred moments the world was perfect.
“Thank God you’re here for a week. Everyday, I want to do something special with you. We need to make our time count,” I said breathlessly.
“Any time I spend with you is precious. I’m just not sure how to keep my feelings about you hidden while I’m here for so long.”
“Here? Are you staying in the house?”
“We are. We all are. Your father arranged it that way. He didn’t want our meetings to garner attention in the city. These aren’t legal dealings.”
“Well then, I’ll teach you how to sneak into my room,” I said, smiling, and moaned as he nipped my bottom lip.
“Those are instructions that I will pay very, very close attention to. But Ana…I don’t want you to think we need to have sex. In fact, I want to wait.”
“You do?”
Eddie nodded. “I want it all with you. The massive ceremony of your dreams, our parents supporting us, and a wedding night that we’ve waited to share. You have always been it for me.”
I shook my head, relieved. There was no doubt in my mind that Eddie was the love of my life, but sex…I wasn’t there yet.
“Does that mean we can’t try other things,” I asked, and Eddie smiled.
Wrapping his arm around my waist, he pulled me onto his lap, and I giggled.
“Oh, I intend on doing many things. Starting with kissing these irresistible lips.”
This time, when we kissed, every ounce of emotion I felt for this man poured out of me.
My love for Eddie burned bright like the North Star, guiding me on a dark night. But the fear that my father wouldn’t accept him loomed like a shadow in the back of my mind. We couldn’t let that happen. We were soul mates. I could feel it and I was never letting him go.