Page 35 of The Empress

I’ve already prepared pastrami and cheese on ciabatta rolls for a light lunch.

Haven sits down on the same stool as yesterday and immediately reaches for the glass of orange juice I’ve poured for her. She almost downs it in one go, and it has me muttering,“You can help yourself to anything when you’re thirsty or hungry.”

I take the seat across from her as she picks up the roll, and I watch as she focuses all her attention on eating.

I’ve decided to give her some space, but as I stare at her, all I want to do is ask questions until I know everything about her.

When Haven drinks the last of her orange juice, I set my glass down in front of her so she can have it, then continue to stare at her.

Her face is pale, and it makes her look even more feminine.

She probably didn’t sleep much. The lunch will help her feel better.

After she takes the last bite of her roll, she lowers her head, and her hair falls like a curtain around her. Her body tenses as she swallows the food, then she asks, “Please, let me go.”

Not answering her, I stand up, and gathering her empty plate and the two glasses, I take them to the sink.

I hear the stool scrape over the tiles, and when I glance over my shoulder, it’s to see Haven looking at me with the saddest expression I’ve ever seen. The instant I feel a glimmer of compassion for her, I stalk out of the kitchen.

“Leo,” she cries, then she surprises the fuck out of me by coming after me.

I head for the sliding doors so I can leave the house, but suddenly Haven grabs hold of my arm. “Please, Leo,” she begs as she darts in front of me. “Let me go.”

The second my eyes lock with hers, she lets go of my arm and takes a step backward. My hand darts out, and gripping the back of her neck, I tug her closer to me.

Haven lets out a startled gasp, her gaze widens with fear when her face stops an inch from mine.

Slowly, I tilt my head as my gaze burns over every inch of her before stopping on her parted lips.

The urge to kiss her so I can taste if she’s as sweet as she smells almost overwhelms me.

I lean closer until I’m able to draw my nose along the curve of her jaw. “Cocoa, sugar, creamy mascarpone, vanilla, and coffee,” I murmur, desire deepening my voice. “You smell like my favorite dessert. Tiramisu.”

Haven trembles severely, and when I let go of her, it’s to see terror tightening her features.

Grabbing and sniffing her didn’t do me any favors.

“Stop asking me to let you go,” I say with a firm tone while I step around her and let myself out of the mansion.

I walk across the veranda, the air cool because of a storm that’s brewing in the distance. It eases the heat of desire burning beneath my skin.

When I take the stairs down to the beach, I glance over my shoulder. Haven is gone, and knowing she’s returned to her bedroom, I glance up at her balcony.

As I come to a standstill on the soft sand of my private beach, I keep staring at the shut balcony doors, and only when lightning hits the choppy waters to my right do I return to the mansion.

After I pull the sliding doors shut, my phone vibrates with the reminder I’ve set for the meeting with the alliance.

I walk to the couch, and once I’ve taken a seat, I go into the link Dominik sent.

It takes a few seconds to connect, then the screen shows the boardroom on the island, with Santiago and Dominik sitting at the desk.

“Hey,” Santiago says with a grin. “It’s been a while. How are you?”

I shrug as I relax against the couch, crossing one leg over the other and resting my ankle on my knee. I prop my hand on my thigh so I won’t get tired of holding the phone, then say, “Things are busy on my side. How are you?”

“I’m good. Ciara is due any day now.”

A smile curves my lips. “Are you looking forward to becoming a father?”