Wicked Love - Michelle Dare Page 0,92

which overlooks the sofa where I’m sitting, she settles. Micaela looks at me for a while before she pulls her feet up and curls into the soft, velvety cushions.

“You came,” I observe with a smile, before setting my book down. I wasn’t reading it anyway. Nothing I looked over stayed in mind.

“I just wanted to talk to you,” she says. “While I had a shower, I thought about this situation.”

“You thought about me while in the shower?” Quirking a brow at her, I grin when she rolls her eyes. “Sorry. Keep going.”

She sighs, but there’s a hint of a smile dancing on her lips. “I thought about what you said. When you spoke to me in the kitchen and told me Octavius did so much for you while you were growing up.” I nod slowly, unsure where she’s going with this. “Well, I think I should trust my father and make sure his wishes are something I can perhaps give him. He’s been good to me, even though his work is not something I agree with.”

“Fair enough.”

“I’m not saying I can love you, or will, but I’m willing to give this a shot. But,” she says, holding her finger up when she notices I want to say something. “We will take this at my pace. I don’t need you kidnapping me and locking me in a cage. I will go to school, study, and finish my degree.”

“A relationship on your terms?”

Micaela nods. “Yes. And if you do anything to upset me, our deal is off.” She squares her shoulders. Her negotiations went as she had planned in her mind, and for a moment, just one fleeting second in time, I can’t help but think about a future with her. A happy one. Where I could quite possibly have a family, happiness, and even see her carrying my children.

But the moment passes quickly. “I can live with that. I promise not to lock you in a cage, and you promise to give me a chance.” Even as I say the words, I wonder just how long this good, moral part of me will last.

14

Micaela

The past few days have been easy to deal with. Creed picked me up from school, took me to my apartment, and spent the afternoons and evenings with me. We’ve learned bits and pieces about each other, but I have a feeling there’s still so much more to this man than I’ve already discovered.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I expect it to be Creed, but when I pull it out, I find my father’s name flash across the screen.

“Hello?”

“Micaela,” he says, sounding ever so serious. “I’ve spoken to Octavius, and we feel it’s best you move in with them. I want you in the Haven household by this weekend. No arguments.”

“Dad, I just—”

“Micaela, I love you. I want you safe.” He falls silent, and I wonder just what he’s thinking. “I just need you to know that what I’m doing is best for you. Please, don’t fight me on this.” For the first time in a while, he sounds like my dad, the one I grew up loving.

Sighing, I nod. “Fine. I’ll start packing.”

“Good. I love you,” he tells me before hanging up and I have no choice but to obey his wishes once more.

“There she is,” Tamika says, as she settles across from me at a table in the quad of the school. It’s a beautiful day today, and I’m not looking forward to when winter hits us with its icy hand. “How are you and Creed doing?”

“Good,” I tell her. “It’s slow, taking it one day at a time.” I haven’t told the girls about my father’s insane plan to marry me off to Creed Haven. Just the thought of it makes me shiver, and admitting it to my friends will not go down well. Not because I don’t think they’ll support me, but none of them knows who I really am.

Only Creed does.

“What are you doing tonight? How about a girls’ night?” she suggests, and as good as that sounds, I automatically want to refuse. But then I pick up my phone and send Creed a text.

Micaela: I’ll be with the girls tonight. You don’t need to come over. I’ll see you in the morning.

“Sounds good.” We eat our lunch, chatting about guys. Tamika seems to be crushing hard on Keirin, but she’s scared of getting involved with him. Miriam joins us moments later, and soon, we’re all giggling about hot guys and