The Vessel - Jenika Snow Page 0,32

that we waited. It made the anticipation and excitement build. Besides, I didn’t want special treatment just because he was my boss and made the rules. And although this was all so fresh and new, I’d never felt anything more real in my life, had never experienced a more powerful pull toward another person like I felt with Lucius.

I looked at the clock, getting ready to end the day, excitement moving through my veins at the prospect of Lucius being the one to take me home. I enjoyed that time we had together, leaving his house, going through the city. He held my hand the entire ride, the conversation light as he asked about me. I felt like I talked so much about myself, but he encouraged it, even told me he wanted to hear more. And so I divulged everything, all the little bits I could remember, things about my childhood, all the way through high school. I told him about the few classes of community college I’d taken, how a structured schedule like that had given me anxiety.

I wore a no doubt goofy smile on my face as I cleaned up my items and headed to the storage closet that kept the majority of the cleaning items. Merla was already in there, and when she heard me, she turned, her dark eyes locked on mine.

She wore this serious expression, and I didn’t have to think too hard on what she was about to say. I felt like she saw everything, even the things that weren’t obviously spelled out, as in Lucius and me being in a relationship.

The times Lucius and I did pass each other at the estate, there wasn’t anything obvious to indicate we were in a relationship. But there were gentle touches, his fingers moving along mine as we passed, or even the way he leaned in close to brush the tip of his nose along my hair.

A chill raced up my spine, but I pushed it aside. I felt uncomfortable thinking about Lucius and those things around Merla. They were private, just for him and me.

“Excuse me, Merla,” I muttered as I slipped past her and started putting the items away on the shelves. I could feel her gaze on me, but I ignored it. Maybe it was my own paranoia settling in, this feeling like I was doing something wrong, even though I knew I wasn’t.

“The staff is talking,” she finally said, and I stopped what I was doing to turn to face her and look her in the eye.

“What do you mean, the staff is talking?” I wasn’t going to be intimidated, but Marla was one hell of an intimidating woman on the best of days. When she had suspicion, she was downright terrifying.

“About you and Mr. Blacksmith.”

I curled my hands into tight fists at my sides and shrugged. “I don’t participate in workplace gossip.” I wasn’t going to confirm or deny anything. The fact was, she didn’t make the rules. Lucius did, and he was more than happy to break them. I was coming to realize… so was I.

“It’s not appropriate, Elise, and you being a newer employee shouldn’t be an excuse.”

I felt my anger grow. “Thank you for your concern, but what I do with my personal life is no one’s business, and I find it tasteless my co-workers are discussing it behind my back.”

Nothing was said for long moments, and I wondered if she was surprised I hadn’t just rolled over and submitted. I was just about to walk by her when a dark shadow passed across the opening of the storage room. And then there was Lucius, looking so damn sexy in that three-piece suit of his, his pose muscular and imposing as he took up the entire space of the doorway. He had his hands shoved in the front pockets of his slacks as he looked between Merla and me.

She looked over at him, and I saw her eyes widen momentarily as she realized it was him who stood there. She straightened and took on her stern, professional demeanor. “Mr. Blacksmith,” she said in a polite albeit monotone voice.

“Everything okay in here?” Lucius asked, and I knew he was directing it at me. I had no doubt he heard what Merla said.

“Everything is fine.” I meant that. Now that I’d given myself over to my desire for Lucius, not caring that we were breaking rules—even if they were the ones he made—I’d come to the realization that I