Page 46 of The Devil's Heir

Liliana

I'm not sure what's going on. After my big surprise and finding my friends at the door, Jarek left me so I could visit with them privately. He came to find me as he was getting ready to leave, pulling me from the sitting room, where I had been catching up with Fran and Heidi.

Closing the door behind us, Jarek pinned me to the wall and took possession of my mouth as if he were ravenous. I returned the kiss because—well—because I wanted to, and I wanted to thank him for bringing my friends here.

The kiss was passionate—the most passionate kiss he's given me to date.

It was nothing like the previous ones, and I responded to it.

I raised my hands to cup his neck and put just as much effort into it as Jarek did.

It was a lover's kiss—deep and meaningful, leaving me with many unanswered questions.

When he finally released me, he cupped my face and said, "I've got to go. You will be a good girl and not go anywhere without Jackson and your friends, won't you? I need to know that you will be safe while I'm away."

"Yes," I replied softly while nodding.

And then, the devil got down on one knee and kissed my flat stomach and whispered something to his unborn child. The action made my stomach flip, and my insides flutter. Who is this guy? I remember thinking at that time before watching him stand.

With another quick kiss to my forehead, Jarek was gone, and I was left standing outside the sitting room, trying to figure out what the hell had just happened.

Hearing my friends on the other side of the door laughing, I stared at it briefly before looking in the direction Jarek had left.

A sadness took hold at the thought of him leaving, but then I pushed it aside, replaced it with a smile, and walked back into the room.

We had been talking and catching up for the past couple of hours before the topic I had been hoping to wait on was brought up.

"Oh, my God, girl! What have you gotten yourself into?" Heidi's grinning from ear to ear. "I knew he was rich, and you were coming to work for him, but what's this about a baby?"

I blink. I didn't know Jarek had told them I was expecting. I wish he had warned me. All I can do is smile nervously but answer them honestly. "I didn't know at the time that this would be part of the deal when I agreed to it."

"Leave it to a fucking Falcon to trick you!" Fran scowls.

I grab my old friend's hand and reassure her, "It was my choice to stay and continue with the contract or leave. I chose to stay and help with what he needed."

"Well, of course, you did! He had dangled all that money in front of your face—it's not like you could give it up." Fran pulls me into her embrace as she adds, "I only came here to make sure that devil doesn't trick you anymore."

I giggle and pull away. "It's been a rollercoaster for sure, but I think things are good now—Jarek has changed, and I don't think he's anything like his uncle."

"For your sake, I hope he's not," Fran states grumpily.

"Oh, Fran—stop," Heidi chastises, throwing her arms around mine and Fran's shoulders as she smiles. "We're all together again, so let's make the best of it. Besides, how can you be mad about being at a place like this?"

"It's the principal, Heidi—you wouldn't understand," Fran replies, frowning.

"Even so…" Heidi ignores Fran's mood and continues to say, "I've never had anything like this ever offered to me, so I'm going to accept it gratefully and enjoy it for as long as I'm able to. "

"I love the both of you, but you're so na?ve…" Fran states. "I'm going to have to keep a close eye on the two of you. You're too pretty and trusting for your own good!"

Heidi and I share a knowing look and smile. Fran may be a bit hard around the edges, but she has a good heart. She's more experienced in the world than we are and acts more like a mother to us; we don't have an issue with that. Fran is more than either of us had growing up.

"Well, I, for one, am happy that you're here to keep me on the straight and narrow." I hug my friend tightly before stepping away altogether. "It's getting late. I can't believe we've been chatting all this time. We should probably call it a night."

As if on cue, Heidi lets out a big yawn. "Yeah, it's been an exciting day for me."

"I bet," I say, grinning. "Come back in the morning and have breakfast with me. Then I can show you around before I take you both shopping."

"Shopping?" Heidi gasps. "We don't want you spending your money on us, Lily."

I roll my eyes. "I don't have money, silly. Well, not my own—not really—but I do have a credit card with no limit on it, and I want to treat the two of you."

"Well, if it's Falcon's money, count me in!" Fran cackles, and I give her a cheeky grin, shaking my head.

I'm just coming out of the bathroom after another bout of morning sickness when I hear my phone ping with an incoming text. It's early yet, a little before six in the morning, but I know only one person would be texting me besides Jackson—Jarek.

I feel a flutter in my stomach as I reach for my phone and catch myself smiling when I see his name.

It was lonely sleeping by myself last night, and I never realized just how much I looked forward to seeing Jarek each day until I woke up this morning to an empty bed.

I don't know when everything started changing and I'm still uncertain whether I should let my guard down, but one thing I can say for sure is—I like Jarek Falcon .

Him calling me beautiful in his text only solidified my response. I will give him a very proper thank you when he gets home. With that said, I want to get something special to wear—something sexy that he hasn't already seen.

Breakfast with my friends filled those cracks of loneliness I was feeling upon waking up, and it took my mind off the devil for a few hours.

They had never seen such an array of food for just three of us.

When I told them about my conversation with Jarek about leftovers, their response surprised me and broke down another piece of the wall, already starting to crumble.

Jarek had Jackson take my friends food that night, even after he argued with me about it. The little things he keeps doing for me never cease to amaze me, and the fact that he does them without my knowledge only endears me to him even more.

I'm still thinking about Jarek as we pile into an SUV. Jackson, accompanied by Seth, waits in the front seats. Once we settle in, I grin at Seth.

"Hey, Seth. I didn't know you'd be joining us today."

He shrugs. "The boss thought it would be safer if there were at least two of us," he explains.

I roll my eyes. "I think your boss overreacts just a tad bit."

Jackson's eyes take on a serious look when they meet mine in the rearview mirror, and he states, "Mr. Falcon has every reason to be concerned. Just humor him, okay."

Sighing heavily, I reply, "Fine."

"Good girl." He winks at me through the mirror, causing my lips to twitch just a little as I flip him off. "So, where to?"

"The shopping center. There are a few stores I would like to stop at," I tell him.

"Sounds good."

My friends play twenty questions with each other while I sit back and enjoy the camaraderie. I feel all warm and fuzzy inside, never having had this feeling before in my life. Is this how it is to have good friends? I've missed out on so much growing up and hope to rectify that.

Jackson doesn't pull into the parking lot like everyone else. Instead, he drives around to the back and stops by a door. When he sees my raised brow, he grins and says, "I'm just following orders."

We go in and out of stores, trying on different clothes and acting like teenagers.

Even Fran loosens up and joins in. People in our position will never be able to experience something like this—not everyone is as lucky as I was.

Thinking back to years ago, when I was being bullied and chased into the streets, the last thing I'd call myself was lucky, but they say everything happens for a reason.

If it were not for Jarek, who knows where I would be today? I definitely would have never met Heidi and Fran. Jarek is changing not only my life but theirs as well. It makes me happy that I get to do this for them.

The last store we enter is the lingerie store.

Jackson and Seth stand guard outside while we shop.

I find the perfect black and red set that I know Jarek will love.

The thong is red with a black bow on the front, and the top is a black and red corset.

But what makes this set unique are the chains in the back and the set of cuffs that come with it.

My lower region tingles just thinking about Jarek seeing me in this, even if I can only wear it a few times before I get too big. When Fran rolls her eyes at the set, I ignore her and laugh at Heidi's reaction. My friend squeals and claps her hands in delight when she sees me in it.

"That is so perfect, Lily!"

"It is, isn't it?"

"Next thing you know, Falcon will be having you dancing in one of his clubs," Fran mumbles.

Wanting to mess with her just a little, I bump her with my hip and tease, "Oh, come on, Fran—would that be so bad?"

My friend's eyes bulge, and she's about to respond when I wink at her. She's silent for just a split second before she bursts out laughing.

We're still laughing as we walk out of the store, but then a familiar voice ruins the mood .

"Oh look, the gold-digging whore is doing what she does best." The snarky words come from none other than Carmen. "What? My nephew leaves the country and you decide to spend all his money?"

"Ignore her, Liliana," Jackson scowls as he steps in front of me and addresses Jarek's aunt. "I don't think Mr. Falcon will like hearing you talk to Miss Sumner like that. I suggest you go about your business, Ms. Falcon."

I love Jackson for how he protects me, but I'm not afraid of Carmen, and her words do not hurt me one bit. She's a bitter woman, and from the little bit I've learned from being in the mansion, she doesn't matter.

I step around Jackson and smile bitterly at the older woman.

I study her from her perfectly coiffed hair down to her shiny Jimmy Choo heels and then back up to her cold eyes.

I know her type. She thinks she's above everyone, and people must kneel before her.

Well, I don't get on my knees for anyone—except for Jarek—I'll get on my knees for him in order to pleasure him sexually.

"Carmen, you can call me all the names in the book and think that I'm a gold digger all you want, but the truth is, your nephew is the one who wants me.

He chose me for a reason, and you're going to have to…

" My sentence trails off as I glance over Carmen's shoulder and see another familiar face smiling menacingly at me. "No!" I whisper and take a step back.

"Liliana? Are you okay?" Jackson asks and then looks around for the source of my distress.

"I need you to take me home now ," I tell him, and he doesn't hesitate.

With Jackson and Seth flanking both my sides and my friends following close behind, we leave Carmen standing there as we rush from the shopping center and into the SUV. It isn't until we're blocks away that Jackson once again asks me what's wrong.

"I saw someone from my past," I reply.

"Who?" Heidi asks, concern evident in her voice.

I turn to look at her, my pulse racing like never before, as I say, "Heath, my old foster brother."