The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,14

I looked around the tiny-ass yard. I set my glass down and shifted once more.

“I love the garden. I bet the flowers attract the butterflies.” I was doing anything to keep the topic off me and Lucius. “The marigolds are new.”

If I didn’t move this conversation along, I’d end up saying something I regretted.

Like how I’d seen Lucius naked.

Or how he watched me like he was starving and I was the only thing that could satisfy his appetite.

Or that I wanted him in the most unprofessional, sexually explicit way.

My aunt looked at the little flower bed in question, and I saw her lips purse.

“What?” I asked.

She looked at my mother, who wore an equally annoyed expression.

“Landlord Asshole says we have to take the raised bed down.”

My hackles rose. “What? Why?” I instantly grew pissed.

“Said it can deteriorate the concrete pad of the patio.”

I scoffed. Oh for fuck’s sake. “I’ll talk to him.”

My mother was shaking her head before I even finished. “No, Elise. Don’t worry about it. He’s not going to budge. Frannie already tried, telling him that it wouldn’t ruin anything, and if it did, we’d pay to get it repaired.”

My aunt grumbled something under her breath.

“But he’s a stubborn old bastard, a real gem.”

“Yeah, listen to your mother.” Although my aunt was agreeing with my mom, I could hear in her voice she was also pissed. I’d gotten my stubborn, fiery streak from my aunt; that was for sure.

“I’m not going to let him stronghold you on something that shouldn’t be an issue.” I looked between the two of them and shook my head. “That garden is something you guys love doing. Getting rid of it doesn’t solve anything but stroke his need to be in control.” I scoffed again. “He’s such an asshole.” I couldn’t wait until I had enough to be able to get them out of this place.

My aunt crossed her arms over her chest, looking equal parts proud and pleased at the same time.

“Honey,” mother said softly. “Seriously, just let it go. We have the potted flowers. We don’t need the raised bed.” I didn’t say anything after that, because I didn’t want to upset my mom. But I wasn’t about to let this go. I’d talk to him, make him see reason. Surely, he couldn’t be that much of a prick that he took a small raised garden away from two older women.

I might not be very outspoken, but when it came to making sure Mom and Auntie Frannie were happy, I’d do anything to get my point across.

10

Lucius

She’d hauled ass out of my room so fast I hadn’t been able to help but smirk. I embarrassed her, but more so, I turned her on. I’d seen that proof written across her face, in the way her body language changed.

Even from the distance that separated us, I’d seen her pupils dilate, watched as her pulse beat hard and fast at the base of her throat. She shifted on her feet, her mouth parted, that Cupid’s bow mouth of hers pink and… kissable.

God, she was gorgeous, so fucking attractive I knew I’d never seen—never would see again in my life—a more beautiful female.

That had been two days ago, and since then, I hadn’t seen her. I felt like I was in withdrawal not being able to see her, but maybe it was for the best.

So I’d thrown myself into work, staying longer at the office, knowing by the time I came home she’d be gone. But the truth was, I couldn’t get her out of my mind. Ever since our interaction in the kitchen, followed by the clearly awkward exchange—for her at least—in my bedroom, she’d been like this broken record in my mind playing over and over again.

It wasn’t just sexual desire I felt and thought about regarding Elise, but so many other things... deeper things. I wanted to see if her hair would be soft between my fingers. It looked like spun silk, like liquid onyx. I wanted to run my nose up the side of her neck and inhale deeply at the spot right below her ear, seeing if she put a little dab of perfume there, wanting to take that scent into my lungs. I wanted to take her hand in mine and see how much smaller it was, how smooth her skin was.

Fuck, I just wanted her.

I focused on the present and glanced up at Michael. He sat in the leather chair across from me in the boardroom at