Secret Paradise (Kimani Romance) (14 page)

Chapter 17

M
onica and J.D. arrived two days before the party. Lucian had designated a private villa for them nearby, but they preferred staying at the mansion. When the sisters saw each other, they hugged as if they hadn’t seen each other in years. J.D. went with Lucian into his private sitting room, while Nikki helped her sister unpack.

“You’re glowing,” Monica said.

“It’s the island.”

“It’s Lucian. Give the man some credit.” Monica sat on the bed. “Now, tell me everything.”

And she did. She shared about Callia’s dreams, Basilio’s secret and Iona.

“Wow, you
have
been busy,” Monica said.

“So you don’t think—”

“That Lucian could be a murderer?” Monica interrupted. “Absolutely not.”

“How about Basilio?”

“I don’t know him well enough to make an opinion, but Lucian’s a smart man. He knows who he can trust.”

“He made the wrong choice once.”

“That means he won’t again.” Monica patted her sister’s hand. “Don’t worry.”

“You’re right,” Nikki said, feeling better. If her sister didn’t worry, she wouldn’t, either. “The last couple of months have been wonderful, so I’m sure it’s all nothing.”

“I know the party will take your mind off of it.”

J.D. popped his head in. “Anyone want to go for a swim?”

Moments later they were all settled on the beach. J.D. lifted Monica in his arms and spun her around, making her laugh. Nikki caught Lucian watching them. She wanted to tell him that she didn’t care that he could never do that with her, that he was strong in other ways.

“They’re like young lovers again,” he said.

“Yes,” Nikki replied. But she didn’t want him thinking of them. Or comparing his skin to J.D.’s unblemished skin. She crawled onto his lap and rested her head in the curve of his neck. “Hold me.”

He did, kissing the top of her head and stroking her back. “Sometimes I wish—”

“I love you.”

His hand stopped. “What?”

She looked up at him. “I love you.” She brushed her lips against his, then laid her head back down. “So you don’t need to wish anymore.”

He didn’t say another word, but held her tighter, as if afraid of letting her go.

She loved him. Him. Lucian Kontos. Not his money or reputation, but him—the man. As he was. Lucian sat in his study, stunned. He held up his fist.
I will defeat you, Alana, and reclaim all that you stole from me.
One day he’d be able to carry Nikki to bed. He’d be able to join her on her morning jogs down by the beach. One day he’d walk beside her without a cane. The doctors and specialists said the damage was irreversible and that nothing could be done, that he’d always need to use a cane. But he’d prove them wrong.

He stood and set his cane aside. He took a deep breath and made his way to the door. His limp was marked but he made slow progress, but after a couple steps his leg gave way. He scrambled to catch himself on the couch but missed and collapsed on the floor with a thud.

Dante raced into the room and stared down at him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Lucian said, embarrassed.

Dante glanced up and noticed where Lucian had left his cane. “She doesn’t care, you know.”

“I care, dammit,” he said in a harsh tone.

Dante retrieved the cane and handed it to him. “Then I feel sorry for you.”

Lucian snatched the cane and slowly stood. “She deserves—”

“A man who loves her.”

“What?”

“Lucian, your leg may never recover, but is your heart irreparable, too?”

Lucian groaned, then playfully punched Dante on the chin. “I should fire you. You take too many liberties for a butler.”

“You can’t fire me. I know all your secrets.”

Lucian sobered. “Yes, you do.”

“And I will keep every last one.”

Basilio knocked on the door, then entered. “Dante,” he said in a cold tone, “you’re needed in the kitchen.”

Dante nodded, then left.

Lucian walked to his desk and sat. “You should watch your tone with him.”

“Why? He’s just a servant.”

“Nobody’s just anything. Everyone deserves respect—especially those who serve you.”

“I know he’s your favorite.”

“I also know I’m not the only one here who has a favorite.”

Basilio shoved his hands in his pockets. “What do you mean? What have you heard?”

“I warned you about Iona.”

“Did Nikki tell you—” He stopped when he saw his brother’s face change.

Lucian slowly stood. “Did Nikki tell me what?”

“Nothing.”

Lucian came from around the desk, his voice hard. “Did Nikki tell me what?” he repeated, demanding an answer.

“She misunderstood a conversation I was having with Iona, that’s all. I may have scared her a little.”

“She was terrified. You’re the one who put those bruises on her arm? No wonder she didn’t tell me. God, and I even suggested that she go to you.”

“I didn’t mean—”

Lucian raised his cane. “If you touch her again in anger, I will beat you with this stick until you beg for mercy. Am I clear?”

“Yes.”

Lucian set his cane down. “You never touch a woman in anger.”

Basilio hung his head. “I know.”

“You did that night.”

“I forgot.”

“There are certain things that are dangerous to forget.”

His head shot up. “I won’t do it again. I promise.”

Lucian rested against his desk. “Nikki kept your ‘misunderstanding’ to herself. It was Dante who told me.”

Basilio frowned. “Dante is a gossip who should mind his own business.”

“You
are
my business. There are certain things you don’t know. Whatever you have with Iona, I want it to end. Or I will end it for you.”

Basilio marched down the hall, wanting to punch something. His brother couldn’t do this to him. He wouldn’t let Lucian separate him from Iona. The woman he loved. Maybe she was right. He did let his brother watch him and baby him too much. Lucian had Nikki, who he paid to design his house. How was that different than him being with a maid? Iona made him happy. No, he would have her. He would do what she asked him, and then nothing and nobody could come between them.

“He knows,” he told her that night, using the empty villa that had been prepared for Monica and J.D.

“What are you going to do?”

“I’m going to do what you asked me to. We’ll wait until after the party and then we’ll get married.”

“Why not now?”

Basilio laughed at her eagerness. “I still have some things to do. I’ll have to get a job and a new place for us. It won’t be easy, but I’m ready.”

“You think Lucian will cut you off?”

“Don’t let it concern you.”

“Family means too much to him. Sure, he’ll be angry, but he’ll forgive you. I think we should just do it now.”

“No, and I told you why. I have to have a backup plan. I want to be able to take care of you myself.”

“Hmm.”

“Dante’s been watching me and reporting back to Lucian. Can you believe it?”

“Yes, Lucian likes to control the lives of everyone around him.”

Basilio pulled Iona close. “Well, he won’t control me. And he won’t control us anymore.”

They made love that night and Basilio returned to the house early the next morning. The first person he saw was Dante, who was outside smoking. He walked over to him.

“I know what you’re up to. You’re trying to poison my brother against me.”

“You sound like a jealous woman.”

“How does it feel to be a babysitter?”

Dante blew smoke in his face. “How does it feel to be an imbecile?”

Basilio punched him in the face. Dante staggered back, then lunged at him, and the two men began to fight. The screams of the maids alerted J.D. and Lucian. J.D. jumped in and parted the men.

“What’s going on?” he asked, looking at the two of them, bewildered.

Lucian didn’t give them a chance to answer. Instead he said, “Study. Now.”

Minutes later Basilio and Dante stood in his study and Lucian watched them with folded arms. “This is how you behave in front of my guests?”

“We apologize,” Dante said.

“Don’t apologize for me,” Basilio retorted.

“It’s too late for your mother to.”

Basilio moved toward him, but Lucian whacked him on the arm with his cane. “Sit down and cool off.”

Basilio rubbed his arm and sat.

Lucian looked at Dante. “You’re overstepping.”

“It’s not the first time,” Basilio said.

“And you’re getting on my nerves,” Lucian told him. “I don’t even care why you did what you did. But I don’t like disturbances. You don’t need to like each other, but you have to respect each other. Basilio, if you have an issue with Dante’s duties, you come to me. Dante, my brother is welcome here. Work on making him feel that way. Now shake hands.”

Dante stepped forward and held out his hand. Basilio just looked at it.

“Shake hands or leave this house,” Lucian said.

Basilio shook Dante’s hand, then stormed out.

“Your brother has a temper,” Dante said.

“Which you shouldn’t have ignited. That was foolish.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

“We can’t afford errors in judgment like that. What happened?”

“He punched me,” Dante said, taking out a cigarette.

“You’ve been punched before. If anything is distracting you, I can get—”

“I’m fine.”

“You know better than that,” Lucian said before Dante could light up.

Dante swore, surprised at his own carelessness. He never smoked in the house. “Sorry.”

“Do you need a day off?”

“No, I can do my job. This won’t happen again.”

“Good. I count on that.”

Chapter 18

T
he night of the party Monica helped Nikki dress with care. “You look stunning,” she said.

“I feel wonderful.”

“I’ll go down first and then you follow a few minutes later. No one will be able to take their eyes off you.” She kissed her sister on the cheek, then left.

Nikki checked her makeup and hair, then left the room. She took a deep breath before she descended the main stairs into the ballroom, which glimmered with lights and burst with extravagant floral decorations. She heard the sound of clinking glasses of champagne and soft music. As her sister had predicted, all eyes turned to look at Nikki. A quiet, uneasy hush quickly filled the room as all attention focused on her. Callia looked up at her and screamed.

The sound of shattering glass followed as Basilio dropped his drink. Lucian stared at her with abject horror.

“It’s her!” one person said.

“That’s impossible. She’s dead.”

Nikki looked at her sister, who looked as confused as she felt. She forced a smile and grabbed a drink from a waiter standing nearby, who also appeared paralyzed.

Lucian pushed his way through the crowd and grabbed Nikki’s hand. “Dear God, why are you wearing that dress?”

“What do you mean? You bought it for me.”

He glanced at the dress, then turned away, as if the sight of it hurt his eyes. “I’d rather slice off my hand than give you a gift like that.”

“You didn’t put this dress in my bedroom?”

“Absolutely not. Go take it off.”

Nikki blinked back tears, hearing the anguish in his voice. “Did I do something wrong?”

“No.” He briefly covered his eyes with a trembling hand. “Just take it off.”

“Tell me what I’ve done.”

“You’re wearing Alana’s dress.”

Blood drained from Nikki’s face.

Lucian squeezed her hand. “Please just go and change. Everything will be okay.”

Nikki didn’t believe him. She’d inadvertently reminded him of a woman he’d fought to forget. She yanked her hand free from his and ran back upstairs and closed the door. She tore off the dress and tossed it on the floor. Someone had played a cruel joke on her. But who and why?

Someone knocked on the door, but she didn’t answer.

Monica peeked her head in, then entered. “You have to come back downstairs.”

“No, I don’t. I can’t face them—him.”

“Nikki—”

“I’ll probably give Callia more nightmares, and did you see Lucian’s face? I might as well have started the fire all over again. All the happiness that was there is gone.”

“He’ll get over it. He knows it was a mistake.”

Nikki shook her head. “Now every time he sees me, he’ll see
her
.”

“It was just the dress that shocked everyone, not you. You’re not her.”

“Why would someone have done this?”

“I don’t know.”

“Callia said she’s still here somehow.”

“Then you have to fight her. Dupree women don’t flee. We fight.” Monica went to the closet. “Now, let’s find you something to wear.”

Nikki returned to the party dressed in a two-piece silk combo consisting of a sleeveless top trimmed with sequins and a straight, fitted A-line skirt with soft ruffles around the edges, looking less effusive than before.

“You look marvelous,” Lucian said, pulling her into a dancer’s embrace.

“I still feel awful.”

“Then listen to the music,” he said, his eyes piercing into hers. “And think only of me.”

Nikki barely remembered the rest of the night, instead moving through it as if in a fog.

Once the party was over, she again disappeared into her room, but this time she started to pack. It was time to leave. She had nothing to keep her here now. She’d completed her job and she needed to start afresh somewhere else. And Lucian? What would happen with him? She didn’t want to think about how painful it was to leave him, but could think of no other choice. She was pulling things from her closet when she heard the door open.

“What are you doing?” Lucian said.

“I thought I could leave with J.D. and Monica.”

“Why?”

“It’s a long trip.”

He crossed the room and covered her hand. “I’m sorry about this evening, but you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“But—”

He pressed a finger against her lips. “You looked stunning tonight. I was honored to have you at my side.”

Nikki lowered her face, but he lifted her chin, forcing her to face him. “Did you like the ice sculptures?”

“Yes.”

“The champagne waterfall?”

“Yes.”

“The music, the food, the flowers, the—”

“Lucian, I loved everything.”

His gaze fell to her neck. “Good, because I did it all for you,” he said as he slowly unzipped her skirt. “I’m glad you left this for me to do. I enjoy undressing you.”

A tiny glow of renewed hope and joy grew inside her. His hands caressed her skin as he pushed her skirt down.

“It’s not the same now,” she said, her skin tingling.

“What’s not the same?” Lucian said, removing her top.

“Every time you see me, you’ll see her.”

Lucian shook his head, his voice fierce. “No. Never,” he said, then kissed her with a ferocity that both stunned and thrilled her. “You’re all that I think or dream about, and that will never change.”

She kissed him back, arching her body into his, wanting her love to wash over him. Tonight she wanted to erase Alana from his memory. She didn’t want anyone or anything to come between them. Soon they were naked on the bed, their bodies moving in rhythmic harmony. Nikki held him close and gave her body completely to him, determined to make sure that she would be the only woman he ever remembered or wanted. She welcomed every part of him on her, over her, in her, swept away by her own intensive need for him.

He’d told Alana he loved her, but would he ever say that to her? Would he ever say he loved her? Did he love her? Did she need that from him? No. She had him now. That was what mattered. She opened her body even more to him, letting him fill her with an exploding ecstasy. No man had ever made her feel this way. And it had never been this way between them before. Somehow tonight their feelings were more intense, more urgent, deeper. But she wouldn’t analyze it too much. All that mattered was that she wanted to kiss him, lick him, consume him—no part of his body was ugly to her. He was all man and he was wonderful, his scars a part of him she couldn’t imagine him without. They were like medals—evidence of his survival, his courage, his heroism. She now wondered how she’d ever seen them as hideous before.

“You’re so beautiful,” she breathed.

Lucian laughed. “And how much have you had to drink tonight?”

“Not enough.” She licked her lips. “I’m still thirsty.”

“Want me to get you something?”

“No, you have all that I want,” she said, then slid down his body and wrapped her mouth around him and sucked until he climaxed.

Nikki wiped her mouth and winked. “That was fun.”

“I’m getting a little hungry myself,” Lucian said, then used his tongue to tease the sensitive part of her until she had to bite her fist to keep from screaming out. Soon teasing wasn’t enough.

“Don’t make me wait,” she begged.

“Are you sure? I have a few more—”

Her fingers bit into his back. “I want you now.”

Lucian didn’t need any more coaxing and soon he was sending her senses spinning again. She wanted the moment to last forever.

“I wish you never had to let me go,” she said, wishing she could be in his arms forever, because with him she didn’t just feel safe or beautiful, but also strong and needed. She knew he needed her and that they were meant to be together.

“So do I,” he said and he didn’t let her go and they lay together, hardly able to move.

Nikki felt as if her body could melt into the mattress. She wanted to think of nothing but him, but the incident with the dress floated through her mind. She sighed.

“What’s the sigh for?” Lucian asked.

“Someone made a fool of me tonight. I shouldn’t have worn that dress.”

Lucian hesitated, then said, “They didn’t do it because of you. They did it because of me.”

Nikki lifted her head to look at him. “What do you mean?”

His face became grave. “Someone knows my secret.” He looked up at the ceiling. “Alana didn’t start the fire.” He turned to her. “I did.”