Free Starved For Love by Annie Nicholas Page A
Authors: Annie Nicholas
came from behind and tugged on the short hem of the dress, exposing the flesh again.
I glimpsed Adele wiping her eyes, a small sob escaping her. “Del?” I twisted around.
Tears had smeared her mascara. She held me at arm’s length. “Our baby sister is going on her first real date.” She squeezed my shoulders. “Maybe you shouldn’t give it up tonight. Make him wait a little.”
“Are you crazy?” Rose pushed Adele away. “You take him to bed and make him beg for mercy.”
My dread returned. I wanted to make my family proud but would this courtship cost me my happiness? I could end up trapped in a loveless marriage if I wasn’t careful. “This isn’t helping.” I tried to storm from my room but the black strappy stilettos made it hard. I wobbled to the door instead. This was why I wore wedges. “Can’t I wear a different pair of shoes?”
As one they turned. “No.”
I descended the two flights of stairs, taking each step with care and repeating Sin’s last piece of advice— tact and grace, tact and grace .
Hoel, escorted by my dad, came from the study. Neither appeared thrilled at my arrival.
I pressed a kiss to my father’s cheek and looked around the empty foyer. My sisters and mothers hadn’t followed. The cowards.
My dad leaned by my ear and whispered. “You can change your mind any time.”
A breath hitched in my chest. He was the one who understood me the most. After Pierre had dumped me, my birth mother had told me that my father had once fallen in love with a mortal woman, long before he met any of them. Of all of my parents, he knew how much heartbreak hurt. Unlike him, I hadn’t had the strength to survive it. I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. Offering him a crooked smile, I nodded, then followed Hoel out to his car. The night had warmed from this afternoon, a hint of Indian summer in the air.
He held open one of the rear doors, his gaze traveling along my curves. “Good thing you weren’t wearing that yesterday when I fed you or I’d be looking for a new job.”
“Thanks, I think.” What did that mean? I was still the same person inside no matter the dress and shoes I wore. It seemed men wanted me to be more like Rose and Adele, not like Pia.
I sat in the car and watched the city pass by through the window. What did Val want? He had rejected my sisters. Maybe letting them dress me wasn’t such a hot idea. I pulled at the straps of my dress and tucked some my cleavage back inside.
We pulled up to the front of Val’s building and Hoel helped me out—literally. He held my arms until I could find my balance on the stilts my sisters forced me to wear. His gaze kept wandering to my breasts.
I wished I’d brought a sweater. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to place you in such an awkward position. I need to find more suitors. It’s irresponsible of me to think three males should be enough.”
“Oh.” He scratched his chest and stared at his shoes. “No problem.” Then he chuckled. “It was a little awkward with your father afterward.”
I laughed. “It was his idea, so don’t worry about him. It’s our way. He’s just looking out for me. You did well.”
“I wanted to crawl in a hole.” He glanced up, a lock of golden hair hanging across his hooded eyes. “He made it very clear you’re his baby girl, but from where I stand you’re very much a woman.” He gave me a small bow and left me gaping on the sidewalk.
I shook my head and went inside, riding the elevator to Val’s hotel room.
The door was open when I arrived and I stood at the entrance. “Hello?” A clatter of pots responded to my greeting.
Val sauntered around the corner, a dish towel over his shoulder, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled to his elbows. His steps faltered as he saw me in the doorway. The crooked grin on his face froze as his gaze traveled from my face, tracing over my curves. My nipples hardened as if he’d caressed them and they
I glimpsed Adele wiping her eyes, a small sob escaping her. “Del?” I twisted around.
Tears had smeared her mascara. She held me at arm’s length. “Our baby sister is going on her first real date.” She squeezed my shoulders. “Maybe you shouldn’t give it up tonight. Make him wait a little.”
“Are you crazy?” Rose pushed Adele away. “You take him to bed and make him beg for mercy.”
My dread returned. I wanted to make my family proud but would this courtship cost me my happiness? I could end up trapped in a loveless marriage if I wasn’t careful. “This isn’t helping.” I tried to storm from my room but the black strappy stilettos made it hard. I wobbled to the door instead. This was why I wore wedges. “Can’t I wear a different pair of shoes?”
As one they turned. “No.”
I descended the two flights of stairs, taking each step with care and repeating Sin’s last piece of advice— tact and grace, tact and grace .
Hoel, escorted by my dad, came from the study. Neither appeared thrilled at my arrival.
I pressed a kiss to my father’s cheek and looked around the empty foyer. My sisters and mothers hadn’t followed. The cowards.
My dad leaned by my ear and whispered. “You can change your mind any time.”
A breath hitched in my chest. He was the one who understood me the most. After Pierre had dumped me, my birth mother had told me that my father had once fallen in love with a mortal woman, long before he met any of them. Of all of my parents, he knew how much heartbreak hurt. Unlike him, I hadn’t had the strength to survive it. I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek to keep from crying. Offering him a crooked smile, I nodded, then followed Hoel out to his car. The night had warmed from this afternoon, a hint of Indian summer in the air.
He held open one of the rear doors, his gaze traveling along my curves. “Good thing you weren’t wearing that yesterday when I fed you or I’d be looking for a new job.”
“Thanks, I think.” What did that mean? I was still the same person inside no matter the dress and shoes I wore. It seemed men wanted me to be more like Rose and Adele, not like Pia.
I sat in the car and watched the city pass by through the window. What did Val want? He had rejected my sisters. Maybe letting them dress me wasn’t such a hot idea. I pulled at the straps of my dress and tucked some my cleavage back inside.
We pulled up to the front of Val’s building and Hoel helped me out—literally. He held my arms until I could find my balance on the stilts my sisters forced me to wear. His gaze kept wandering to my breasts.
I wished I’d brought a sweater. “I’m sorry about yesterday. I didn’t mean to place you in such an awkward position. I need to find more suitors. It’s irresponsible of me to think three males should be enough.”
“Oh.” He scratched his chest and stared at his shoes. “No problem.” Then he chuckled. “It was a little awkward with your father afterward.”
I laughed. “It was his idea, so don’t worry about him. It’s our way. He’s just looking out for me. You did well.”
“I wanted to crawl in a hole.” He glanced up, a lock of golden hair hanging across his hooded eyes. “He made it very clear you’re his baby girl, but from where I stand you’re very much a woman.” He gave me a small bow and left me gaping on the sidewalk.
I shook my head and went inside, riding the elevator to Val’s hotel room.
The door was open when I arrived and I stood at the entrance. “Hello?” A clatter of pots responded to my greeting.
Val sauntered around the corner, a dish towel over his shoulder, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled to his elbows. His steps faltered as he saw me in the doorway. The crooked grin on his face froze as his gaze traveled from my face, tracing over my curves. My nipples hardened as if he’d caressed them and they