Kiss of Ice (St. James Family) (25 page)

“
For Christ's sake. He was my mentor!” Annata couldn't stop her voice from rising. Miranda grabbed her arm, dragging her to an alcove in the foyer.

“
I was wrong and I apologize.” she said in a hushed tone.

“
Goddammit, Miranda. What do I look like?” Annata hissed back.

“
I said I was sorry!” Miranda sniffed. “I was wrong about you.”

“
You should be sorry. But it was the right decision.” Annata couldn't stop herself from glancing back to the ballroom. She couldn't see him, but she could hear him, still on stage with his father. “Christophe was born to run International.”

“
Are you in love with him?” Miranda asked.

“
For once, mind your business,” Annata said, stinging behind her eyelids signaling the onset of bothersome tears. “I have to go now.”

“
Just wait. A few minutes. They'll be off-stage soon,” Miranda pleaded.

“
Merry Christmas, Miranda.” Annata turned and fled as stoically as possible, before the tears came.

Chapter 27

Bang
.
Bang
. Annata opened her eyes a crack, then closed them again. She ignored the knocks on the door. The fluffy duvet covered her head, surrounding her with comforting, dark warmth. She'd lost track of how long she'd been in the bed, but the light flooding the windows told her that it was daytime. She pulled her knees up to her chest, as the memories rushed to her. Christy was gone. On a trip with his new girlfriend. She'd blown her last chance. She scowled, a wave of nausea hitting her. She wondered how long she would have to lay in bed before she could move again.

She heard the door open. “Nat. You're not going to stay in bed all day are you?” Toni asked, her voice muffled.“What happened last night? Did you get drunk?” Annata ignored her. She heard the floorboards squeak as Toni moved around the room. “You looked so pretty. Was Christophe Van der Kind there?” Annata groaned inwardly. Hearing his name was like a kick in the chest.

“Leave me alone, Toni,” Annata grumbled.

“
I have some pastries from the bakery. Your favorite.” Toni must be shaking the bag, because Annata heard the crinkling of paper. Two seconds ago, the thought of food was too much, but the possibility of pain au chocolat was too good to deny.  Her stomach grumbled its dissent. She folded back the duvet, revealing half of her face.

“
Leave the bag,” she said. Toni smiled and plopped the bag on the bedside table.

“
You must have him whipped. He knew exactly what you would want,” Toni said, a devilishly innocent look in her eye.

“
He who?”Annata felt a jolt down her spine.

“
Christophe Van der Kind, dummy.” Toni rolled her eyes. “You're not sick are you?” She crossed her fingers in front of her, warding off any germs. “I have an audition tomorrow and I can not be sick.” Annata sat up, her hand immediately flying to her hair, which must be a hot mess.

“
What about Christophe?” Annata asked, blinking her eyes in the bright room.“He's downstairs. He showed up about ten minutes ago, with those.” Toni motioned to the bag of pastries. Annata froze, her brain hiccuping information. Christophe. Here. Now. “He's not moving in is he?” Toni asked, checking her makeup in Annata's vanity mirror.

“
What?” Annata asked, finally drawn out of her stupor.

“
He had bags with him. Nice. Italian leather, I'd guess.” Toni opened the closet door. “I knew the first time I met him he was in love with you. You always try to pretend you're made of stone, but I saw it when you looked at him.” Toni tossed Annata's robe on the bed. “What are you waiting for? Get up!” Toni said.

Annata tossed the duvet off and set her feet on the ground. She stood, her muscles aching in protest. “What time is it?” she asked.

“Almost two.” Toni smiled and headed for the door. “Don't worry. I'll make myself scarce. In case you want to...you know. Hump.”

Annata tossed a throw pillow at her sister's head. Toni giggled and darted down the hallway. Annata slipped on the robe and, after running a quick comb through her hair,  padded down the stairs. She could smell his cologne, wafting through her house. Her heart leapt into her throat. Sure enough, his bags were by the door. She bent and ran her hand over the worn leather. Did he stop on the way to the airport? What did he want? She found him in the kitchen, in front of the open refrigerator. He wore a black t-shirt and designer jeans, hair mussed, hanging out like he owned the place. She crossed her arms over her chest, her heart beating through her skin. He glanced back at her, a smile crossing his lips.

“Damn, woman, don't you have anything to eat?”

“
Damn, you going to pay my electric bill?” she asked, her voice not quite as strong as she would have preferred. He slammed the door shut and leaned on the countertop, turning his blue eyes on her. She faltered, her stomach jumping.

“
Good thing I brought something to eat. Unless you already ate them?” He raised an eyebrow.

“
No. They're upstairs.” She furrowed her brow.

“
In your bedroom? I haven't seen your new bedroom. I think I'll go up and get them.” He moved around the island, coming towards her, mischief on his face. She grabbed his arm, stopping him.

“
Wait,” she said.

“
You have another man up there?” He cocked his head.

“
Christy, what are you doing here?” She looked at his chest, not able to bring herself to look him in the eye. He brushed his knuckle along the curve of her cheek.

“
I decided to stay in the city for Christmas. Brazil is crazy this time of year.” He shrugged. Annata felt her heart skip a beat.

“
But—,” she began, her heart suddenly racing.

“
You have a problem with that?” He took her chin is his hand and tilted her face so that her eyes met his. She shook her head.

“
No,” she murmured.

“
Oh! I brought your present.” He dropped her chin and went to his bags. He crouched down and unzipped the front pocket of the smaller one.

“
I don't need a present,” she said, moving to lean against the cold marble countertop of the island. She still couldn't believe Christy was in her house. He moved back toward her, holding something behind his back. Then he slid a black velvet box across the counter toward her. Her breath caught in her throat. He moved to stand behind her, sweeping her hair off her neck and kissing the exposed skin.

“
What is it?” she asked, knowing full well what it was. Could it be? No.

“
Open it,” he said, his breath tickling her neck. She reached out for the box, hands shaking as she opened it. She let out the breath she'd been holding, her shoulders sagging. Her pearl earrings. She felt him chuckling behind her.

“
You jerk!” she said, running her finger over the tiny pearls. “How long have you had these?”

“
Since last summer. I kept waiting for a good time to give them back.”

“
Why didn't you mail them?” She set the box back on the counter, feeling relief? Disappointment? Something.

“
Because I couldn't give up my last piece of you.” He snaked his arms around her waist. “I couldn't let them go.”

“
But you can now?” she asked, keeping her voice light, feeling uncertainty creep down her spine.

“
Yeah. Cause I'm never going to let you go again.” He held up a ring—a vintage diamond ring, set in platinum, surrounded by swirls of tiny pearls and blood red rubies.

“
Jesus.” She murmured.

“
Is it too much?” he said. “I saw it and thought of you.”

“
How long ago?”

“
Hmm?” he said, nuzzling her neck.

“
How long ago did you buy it?” she said. He hesitated for a long moment. She could practically hear his mind working, debating if he should tell her truth. “Tell me,” she prodded.

“
Last Christmas.” He admitted.

She sighed hugely, letting herself lean into him. How much time they'd wasted! She wondered if she would have been smart enough or brave enough to say yes then if he'd had the chance to ask.

“If you say no, I'll buy a castle and lock you in the tower,” he whispered in her ear. “I'll never let you out.”

“
What's the question, exactly?” she asked, wanting to be very sure.

“
Damn, you're going to make me work hard for it, aren't you?” He chuckled. He took her left hand in his and slipped the ring over the tip of her ring finger. The metal was cold, but quickly warmed to her skin. The gems glinted in the light. “Annata Elizabeth St. James, will you marry me?” He said, his voice low.

“
And what if I say yes?” She whispered.

“
Then we'll live happily ever after.”

“
Promise?” she said.

“
I promise,” he said.

“
Wait.” Annata closed her hand, holding the ring on her finger, and turned to face Christy. His face was blank, his eyes darkening, ready for disappointment. “You want to marry me, and I've never even told you I love you?”

“
I love you, you know that,” he said. “With all my fucking soul.” He glanced down at her hand, his ring still on her finger. “I'm tired of being without you. And for what? Why?”

“
Christy.” She drew him to her, kissing him softly on the lips.

“
I'm sorry about yesterday. I'm sorry about Thanksgiving.” He clenched his jaw as she trailed kisses along it.

“
Shut up. Don't be sorry.” She ran her hands through his hair. “I'm just fucking thrilled you asked.” He smiled, his eyes lightening by the second. “Finally.”

“
So you're saying yes?”

“
Duh! Jerk.” She slid the ring the rest of the way down her finger and looked  down at it. “It fits.”

“
Of course it fits. I know your ring size, your shoe size, and your dress size.” He took her hand and kissed it. Watching his lips on her knuckles, she shivered with happiness, but tsked at his self-assured words. “Even your size in a sexy little bath robe.”

“
You smug little—”

“
What? Say it.” He ran his teeth across her knuckle. She imagined him doing that to her nipple...to her clit...she shook her head, clearing out the cobwebs.

“
Okay two more things and then we can go upstairs and I'll show you my bedroom.”

His eyes lit up and he dropped his hands to her ass and pulled her into him. “Bedroom now.” She could feel his hardness against her and couldn't resist dragging her hand up the growing bulge in his pants. “After last night, I thought I was going to die from lack of climax.”

“First of all, were you on your way to the airport when you had this change of heart?” She cupped his package. He let out a gust of air, his eyes closing.

“
Yes,” he admitted, cracking open one eye to gauge her reaction. She swatted at his chest with her free hand.

“
You were going to go on the trip?!” She raised an eyebrow.

“
I was in a car heading to the airport and I realized that I was going on the trip just to spite you. It's always about you. Everything comes back to you. And I thought, why did she come to the party? What did she want? And I got a bit of hope. Maybe she wanted me,” he said. “So I had the driver turn the car around, went home, got the ring, and came to find you. Because I want you.” He looked at her then, and she saw all the love in his eyes. She felt the sting of tears coming on. But she didn't feel ashamed or self-conscious. She didn't have to hide herself from him anymore. And it was so freeing.

“
Did you at least call Marta and tell her you weren't coming?” she said, laughing a bit, even as a tear made its way down her cheek.

“
Yes. God. I'm not a total asshole.” He laughed too, pressing his forehead to hers as she continued stroking him. She kissed him then, not so softly. She heard a low growl in his throat and he shifted, pressing her ass against the back of the couch. She snaked her arms around his neck, a thrill running through her as he opened her robe and cupped a breast through her thin gown. His thumb stroked her hard nipple and she gasped. “That's the last time we talk about Marta or any other woman. Okay?” he said, tweaking the nipple. “You're the only one for me.”

Annata nodded and lifted her leg against his hip. He held her there, his fingers on her knee, bucking his hips a bit. She moaned as his erection connected with her clit. “Now, what's the second thing?” he said, his voice low in her ear.

“Second thing?” she said, her mind cloudy.

“
You said two more things before the bedroom. That was one.” He bit her lower lip and sucked on it.

“
Oh. I love you. That's all.”

“
That's all, huh?” He looked down at her through his lashes. “A whole year I've waited for those three little words, and you toss them out so casually.”

“
I love you. What's a better way to say it than that?” She batted her eyelashes.

“
No words. Show me.” He lifted her up by her ass, and she tightened both legs around his hips with a squeal. He carried her toward the stairs, then stopped at the bottom step. “I changed my mind. Say it again.” His blue eyes found hers.

“
William Christophe Bern Van der Kind the Third, I love you with all my heart,” she said. He sucked in a breath.

“
That's more like it.” He smiled, wide, and then continued up the stairs. She pressed her face into his neck, barely able to contain her own smile. She'd let Christophe in, and they'd both won. They'd both won. She took a deep breath, filling her lungs with his scent. Time could stop at that moment and she wouldn't care.  Not at all. A thought occurred to her and she tapped his shoulder.