Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
NOVA
Sitting on the edge of the bed with a towel wrapped firmly around me, my eyes are trained on the door where Kellan left.
Did that really happen? The whole time I showered, I replayed the incident on repeat in my mind.
The more time that passes, the more I start to wonder if I dreamt it.
It’s too crazy to believe, and was I just as crazy for going along with his requests?
If it wasn't real, then why did I walk straight to the shower and do as I was told?
I open my towel and look at where I shaved everything off.
Now I'm completely bare and there’s this thrill, and maybe a little hope, that he'll be pleased with me.
I did what he asked me to do, so maybe he'll be proud and call me a good girl again.
This day is not going how I expected at all. As much as I want to show Kellan that I did as he requested, I'm also stalling going downstairs. I'm not sure I can trust myself. He told me to lie on the bed and spread my legs, and I did. Hell, I wanted to.
Part of me is surprised he didn’t take things further. When his hands drifted to the insides of my thighs, my heart was beating so loudly I was sure he could hear. My mind raced with conflicting emotions about what was happening, but I know when he pulled his hands away, I was disappointed.
My stomach drops and my heart flutters when there is a knock at the door. All parts of my body are confused on how we should be handling this. Then it clicks in my head that there is no way Kellan would knock.
That should be annoying and intrusive, but there’s something about his confidence and the tone in which he speaks. It has me sitting up straight and doing his bidding without a second thought. If his home is any indication, that skill set has served him well.
"Who is it?" I call out.
"Niles. You’re late for dinner."
"Oh crap,” I hiss and jump up. "Sorry, I'll be down in a second."
I hurry to throw clothes on and decide to go with the black pants and turtleneck that I pulled out earlier. I give myself a once-over before I rush out of my room and downstairs.
Niles is there when I hit the bottom step. "This way. Dinner is in the formal dining room this evening."
"I'm eating with everyone then?"
"With Mr. Eve and Ms. Aurora."
"Are you joining too?"
Niles' brows furrow together, letting me know he thinks this is a stupid question. "No, I will not."
So I'm the only staff member that is joining them? A thought hits me when we're almost to the dining room. Does everyone he employs at his home get an inspection? The thought sours my stomach.
“You’re late,” Kellan says when I step into the room. His eyes flick over my clothing.
“I’m sorry, I was in the shower,” I say nervously and lick my lips. “I wanted to complete the task you gave me earlier, and it took longer than I thought.”
Kellan’s eyes drift down my body, and I wonder if he’s imagining me bare. The thought shouldn’t make me wet.
“Sit,” Kellan orders and points to the chair at the head of the table. He and Aurora are across from each other.
“At the head?” I ask as Kellan stands to pull my chair out.
“We both wanted to sit by you,” Aurora says, taking a bite of her mashed potatoes.
“That’s really sweet,” I tell her and take my seat.
Seeing the table, I notice how nice everything is. When I pick up the fork and knife, I pause for a beat because I think it’s actually real silver.
"It looks wonderful." It appears to be baked chicken stuffed with something and paired with mashed potatoes and asparagus.
"I love chicken nuggets, but Chef Carl makes the yummiest things,” Aurora tells me as I take a bite.
"I love chicken nuggets too, but I'd definitely go for this over them."
"Yeah," Aurora agrees. "But sometimes you just need a Happy Meal."
A snort leaves me when I try to hold back my laughter. My family teases me that my laugh is loud enough to echo through our whole house and that they could find me in a packed auditorium from my laugh alone.
"You’re not wrong," I tell her and then peek over at Kellan.
He’s quiet as he simply watches us. I fight the urge to fidget under his gaze, but I do find myself sitting up straighter. He eats his dinner while Aurora and I go back and forth with questions.
“You have four brothers!?” She sounds amazed, and I grin at her.
“I do, and I’m the baby.” That might be part of why I’m still a virgin.
I grew up in a small town with four brothers that all played hockey.
No boy ever dared to glance in my direction.
I thought college would mean freedom to finally date, but perhaps because I wasn't used to talking to guys or getting their attention, I didn’t know what to do.
I’m not good at flirting, and I was never brave enough to venture out on my own.
"I always wanted siblings." Aurora pushes around the last few bites of chicken on her plate. Damn, I don't know how to respond to that. "Uncle Kellan doesn't want kids."
"I never said that," Kellan tells her, and Aurora gives him a very pointed look. One I would not dare to do myself.
"Before me, did you want kids?"
He pauses like he’s getting his words in order before he answers her.
"Before you, I had no plans for children." A stoic expression takes over his face. "But people say they don’t want something and change their minds. I didn’t predict having a child, and now that I do, I wouldn’t know how to live without you. ”
Aurora seems pleased by this answer. Kellan might be cold and rigid, but he didn't have to take in his niece. With his wealth, he could have shipped her off to a boarding school. He cares, and his actions show it. People will tell you who they are, even if they don’t say the words out loud.
"Do you want kids?" Aurora asks me.
"I love kids. I think being the baby of the family, I still feel like a kid at heart."
"So you do?"
"One day," I tell her, and Aurora's eyes widen as if a thought has occurred to her.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
“No.” Kellan snaps the answer before I can. There’s a beat of silence, and he clears his throat, softening his tone. “Have you had enough to eat?”
“Yes,” I say, and he nods.
“Aurora, why don't you head upstairs and start getting ready for bed.”
“I’ll help.” I go to stand with Aurora, but Kellan's hand comes down on my forearm, stilling my motion.
“We’ll be up shortly,” he tells Aurora, and her eyes bounce between us.
“Are you two going to talk about adult things?”
“Yes,” he tells her. I melt a little when he relaxes his expression and gives her a soft smile. I like that he tries to put her at ease. “Take your plate to the kitchen and then you can steal a brownie on your way up. Carl thinks he hid them, but they’re behind the flour in the pantry.”
“Score,” Aurora says as she grabs her plate and bolts from the room.
“Nova,” Kellan says.
“We should talk,” I say, cutting him off. It’s probably a bad idea, but Aurora has left the room, and Kellan’s whole demeanor changes when she’s not around. “I was thinking about Aurora's room. It might need to be updated. I think letting her decorate it would make it feel more like hers.”
“Have at it,” he responds instantly. It’s too bad I can’t distract this man when he’s intent on something. “Now let’s talk about your tardiness.”
"I'm sorry, sir," I whisper.
"Are you?" I nod, but wonder if I really am. "I think we should find out just how sorry you truly are."
I swallow hard as his dark eyes look me up and down.