Page 96 of Loving the Tormentor

We're surrounded by trees, but the sound of water delicately washing over the shore can be heard somewhere around. We drove through Stoneview, so I have no doubt that it's Stoneview Lake I hear behind the trees.

"My lake house."

He jumps out of the car and hurries to open my door for me, helping me out.

"This can't be real," I declare as I gaze up at the huge place.

It's covered in dark cladding that fits in perfectly with the forest surrounding it, and the gables on the second story give it a traditional look that invites coziness. For a second, I catch myself imagining what it could be like living my life here with my family. Taking my kids to the lake, cooking in a huge kitchen, spending Sundays with my husband walking through the forest or lounging on the sofa. It looks like such a beautiful place for ahome. For the kind of family I never had growing up.

Achilles guides me to a dark wooden entrance and shakes his head as we walk in.

"Why do you sound more surprised by this house than Bennett’s fate?"

I shrug. "Maybe I've seen more crimes than beautiful houses in my life. Ever thought of that?"

My statement, no matter that I’d never witnessed something like what he did today, doesn't stop him in his tracks. There's noshocking Achilles. Since we met, he's taken me as I am, and he doesn't seem to care.

"Get comfortable," he says as we enter the living room.

It has the kind of view of Stoneview Lake that you can't get anywhere else. On our side, the lakeshore isn't developed. We jump from cliffs in the summer and climb back out however we can. There's one pebble beach, but it's never safe enough to go to. The people who hang out there in the summer were always part of something shady, and I avoided the area.

But here, every lake house has a personal wooden pier for their boat. And theyallhave small-pebble beaches.

"Fucking ridiculous," I mumble without being able to hide the excitement in my voice.

I'm so taken by the view from the living room bay windows that I don't notice Achilles is gone until the front door shuts and he comes back with a sports bag filled to the brim.

"You've known luxury for way too long," I tease. "We should switch."

"Yeah, I have." He drops the bag on the sofa and comes my way. "But we're not switching. You're just joining me."

"Sure," I snort. "I'm homeless anyway."

Hands on my hips, he turns me around to face him. "I'm not joking. No one uses this place. I want you to have it."

"But—"

"It's not a question. It's not a suggestion. And since I know you hate people doing things for you, here's our transaction: You're going to rehearse here. With me. Every day, you'll spend time training so you can become the best goddamn violinist at SFU."

"That's no payment, Achilles. That's you giving me something else. Do you know how many people dream of being trained by you?"

A smirk pulls at his beautiful mouth. "Oh, if you knew the kind of training I'd like to offer you,mon trésor."

I pull away, going past him to check the bag on the couch, so he doesn’t catch the lust his words trigger.

"I'm not only doing this for you," he calls out. "You didn't let me finish."

Opening the bag, I recognize two SFU uniforms folded in there.

"You're going to help me finish my concerto, Nyx," he explains as he approaches me again, but from the rasp in his voice, I know he doesn't mean professional or technical help.

I take the uniforms out of the bag, trying to keep busy so I don't look up at him.

"I can't help you with that."

Achilles thinks of me as his muse, but there’s something inside me that knows it can’t be true. The new toy effect will run out soon, and then who knows what will happen to me? To my heart?

"You already did, and you know it." His lips press against the side of my neck. "You know how I get inspired."