Page 41 of Gilded

MALIA

A ffection curls deep inside me, and I smile. He’s about to kiss me again when a knock sounds on the door, the sound so forceful, it makes me startle.

The softness in Luka’s gaze vanishes in a flash of annoyance. “ Occupied .”

“Get out here.” It’s Soren. Soren . And he’s angry. Or I should say, still angry. The look he gave me when I turned away from his kiss earlier was ice-cold. “ Now .”

I watch fury replace annoyance on Luka’s face. One that makes me go equally as cold.

“He’ll be lucky if he lives until—” Luka cuts himself off , lifts me to pull out, then sets me on my feet and turns toward the sink to grab hand towels.

I feel liquid warmth slide down my thighs in a slow crawl, and I’m momentarily confused. I’m expecting blood, but it’s not red. Which is when I realize Luka didn’t put on a condom.

Luka didn’t put on a fucking condom .

He shoves towels into my hand and cleans himself up while Soren continues to threaten us from outside the door.

“Luka—” I start.

He swoops up my torn panties and stuffs them in his pocket.

Before I can say any more, he opens the bathroom door to face Soren. “Keep your voice down, you idiot.”

I move behind the door and use the napkins Luka gave me to wipe his cum from my thighs. Did he just forget? Does he not care? I’m fighting to get my mind to function so I can remember the details of getting pregnant—something about where a woman is in her cycle—but I can’t think straight.

My mind is skittering from thought to thought, while Soren and Luka argue in the next room. To all the ramifications if I were to get pregnant with Luka’s child. That brings a flurry of conflicting emotions that make zero sense.

“You’re the one who wanted me to train a slut.”

Luka’s menacing, disparaging statement hits me like ice water. I’ve spent my whole life listening to men degrade women. I expect it from my father and Soren, but I absolutely don’t expect it from Luka. And it hurts.

I drop my skirt, fist the napkins, and step into the doorway to find Soren, three of the six bodyguards here tonight, Luka, and Jairo.

Of all the people in this group, the sight of Jairo hits me hardest. All the other men have been exposed to the dark underbelly of my life, and while Jairo must know most of the dirt, having him get this up-close-and-ugly view makes shame burn up my neck and into my face.

“I was teaching her how to fuck in public.” Luka tosses the comment out like a grenade. “Don’t tell me that’s not something you want her to know how to do. At least she won’t embarrass you now.”

My heart clenches and stutters. I stare at Luka in shock, searching for the man who just said he cares about me. I know this situation is fucked-up, but that doesn’t keep those words from hurting and shaming me.

A bomb of emotion explodes inside me—fury, disgust, pain. So much pain. I slam the door with as much strength as I have and lock it. “ Get out ,” I yell. “ All of you .”

“Malia—” Luka says.

“ Get. Out. Now .”

I hear their argument growing quieter until the library door closes, and I’m left with my back against the door, staring at my reflection.

Most people would never suspect my inner scaffolding is crumbling by looking at me, but I’m shaking and tears swim in my eyes. Things I have to control. Fast.

I start to use the towel in my hand to wipe my eyes, but as soon as it’s near my face, I smell the musk of sex. Sex with Luka.

The last twenty minutes play back in fast-forward, highlighting all the weapons Luka just wielded against me—selfishness, slights, shame. My affection for him. My naivety of men and sex. All right after showing me affection and thoughtfulness. Generosity and sweetness.

I suddenly wonder if any woman can truly know any man. I wonder if all men are cruel in this way. Wonder if they can honestly have kind feelings toward women or just fake them to get what they want.

I grab another towel and press it to my eyes before my makeup smears. I shake my head, feeling naive and foolish. I want to leave. Hide. Lock out the world. But the auction is coming up, and that auction will fund the rest of my life.

A life I need now more than ever.

I pull my shit together and refocus. On getting away. From everyone. At this point, Iceland is looking like a great spot to settle. Or the Australian outback. Off the grid.

I open the bathroom door and find Jairo standing at the window, his back to me, hands in his pants pockets.

Shame raises my body temperature.

He glances over his shoulder, assesses me, and returns his gaze to the window. “Looks like a storm is coming in.”

I have to be as red as a beet. The skin of my face feels like it’s literally burning. I pause, clasp my hands, and search for who I was before all this happened. It was such a short time ago, but it feels like a lifetime.

“I’m sorry you had to hear all that.”

He turns and leans his hips against the windowsill. He’s got a relaxed vibe that settles me a little. “I’m sorry you’re having to go through all of it.”

Jairo is like Luka in his kind words and confident air. But, given all I’ve learned about men over my lifetime, I have to assume he’s just like all the others.

“I need to go,” I tell him. “The auction is about to start.”

He nods and falls into step beside me. Movement draws my attention to the way my pussy aches. I can still feel the burn of Luka inside me. His cum still slides down my thighs.

“Luka has no excuse for what he just did,” Jairo says, his voice low. “He’s usually far more…controlled. I think you unravel him.”

I don’t know what that means, but I also don’t care. Nor do I believe him. “That won’t be a problem anymore. After tomorrow, I doubt I’ll ever see him again.”

Despite my anger toward Luka, that realization still rips me open.

When we reach the end of the hallway, I stop before stepping into the main living area to take a steadying breath.

I glance at the grand staircase to my right and find Luka at the bottom near the entrance of the apartment, speaking with a man I’ve never seen, and the intensity of their conversation adds one more layer of concern to my already overwhelmed mind and heart.

“Who is Luka talking to?”

Jairo’s gaze is already on Luka, but his answer is a shake of his head.

“Thank you for the escort,” I tell him. “Excuse me. I need to prepare for the auction.”

“I’ll be here if you need me.”

Half an hour ago, that would have meant a lot to me. Now, it means nothing. I’m painfully aware I’m as alone as I’ve always been.