The Emperor (The Tarot Club 2)

Chapter Nineteen : Controlled Chaos

Corinne

Dimitri’s side of the bed had already cooled by the time I had woken, and I had a feeling that Doc Benson’s instructions had been all for naught.

I glimpsed the raging flame from the bathroom vanity and something in my chest eased. Lauren’s three nights of hell had not yet begun - the candle hadn’t fully burned down yet.

I pulled myself from the sheets, surprised to see that I was still fully clothed, meaning that Dimitri didn’t have his way with me whilst we slept. Disappointment ballooned in my chest and I mentaly had to chide myself - reminding myself that the man was still recovering. The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, and I was only just now coming down from the high of it all.

I dressed quickly and efficiently, sweeping my hair up into a top-knot on my head before finally leaving the safety of our room. It was strange how it was our bedroom I now felt most comfortable in - the most secure in. As I stepped onto the landing at the top of the stairs, the sound of muddied conversation and altered tones washed over me. Dimitri was speaking to someone in the kitchen, and that someone sounded decidedly female.

I didn’t think I would have been the jealous type, but as my bare feet hammered down the stairs, I learnt otherwise.

I was met with beautiful auburn hair that lit up in the places that the sun streaked across it as soon as my bare feet hit the cold tiled floor of the kitchen. Her off-white suit should have looked out of place, and yet she looked composed and put together. Dimitri, in contrast, was hunched over the counter, and I was fairly certain that if I walked around and took in his expression, there would be a scowl of annoyance clear as day on his face.

“Well, this is a new look for you.” Brenna hid her smile as she brought her mug up towards her lips. As I stood before her, I knew that I was a vastly different person to the one that she was accustomed to - the one that she knew. My shorts were artfully tatty, my t-shirt showing the hint of skin where the hem should have met the waistband of my jeans.

“Hello, Brenna.” I grinned broadly - because even if I was unsure about why she was here - she was here!

I seated myself next to Dimitri and was greeted with the scowl that I knew would be on his face. As soon as I sat down, his warm palm pressed against my thigh, and suddenly the art of breathing became that much easier.

“Not that I don’t love seeing you…” I allowed my question to hang in the air as Dimitri slid my own mug of steaming caffeine towards me. God I fucking loved this man. Loved? Did I love Dimitri? That was an internal question for another time, because Brenna had not picked up on my unasked question as she simply sat there, her large chocolatey gaze staring at me questioningly.

“But why are you here?” I added the second part of the sentence, and watched her expression remain unscruitable.

“Are you daft?” Her voice was cold and brittle, and I did not miss the way Dimitri’s palm squeezed my thigh. Brenna was all rough edges and minimal tact, making it difficult to like her on a good day.

“You asked me to help with your wedding. Honestly, Corinne, when Dimitri was making you some coffee, I chose to explain the higher benefits that Oolang tea offered as a substitute, but perhaps I was wrong. Perhaps you do need coffee because we spoke only yesterday.”

Dimitri’s soft growl had my teeth grazing my bottom lip as I fought the smile that threatened to expose exactly how much I enjoyed Brenna. What I hadn’t expected was how much I would enjoy watching Dimitri with the members of the Club - it was annoyingly delightful.

“Yes.” I nodded as I pretended to fully agree with her. “But you said that you would be flying in next week.”

I saw only a hint of a blush spreading across Brenna’s high cheekbones.

“The Sun rises early - you know that.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, her tone one of haughty arrogance, and I couldn’t stop the snort that came out of my nose as laughter wracked through my body.

Dimitri angled his body towards mine, and this time he was more perplexed than annoyed.

I was finally able to formulate a response through gasped giggles as Brenna’s gaze met mine - cold, flat, and wholly unimpressed.

“That was lame - even for you.”

She sat with a stillness that should have been frightening, and if I did not know her well enough, I may have been afraid. But I knew the truth - Brenna was fighting her feelings of embarrassment. It had always been this way - for the longest time that I had known her. She had always been uncomfortable with that emotion, as if those feelings were somehow an indicator on their own that she had done something in a way that was less than perfect.

“Her Club name is The Sun.” I turned to Dimitri, offering my own explanation - a sliver of insight into the Club.

“I see.” He spoke with the grace of a gentleman, but I didn’t miss the flash of that dimple before he hid his smile entirely.

“You asked me for my help with the wedding, and honestly the way you sounded - like you knew absolutely nothing about our wedding traditions, made me hop on a plane as quickly as I could so that I could save you from yourself.” Her tone was condescending, but I didn’t miss the brittleness in her gaze.

“Of course.” I smiled at her with reassuring ease. “Should I show you to your room so that you can get settled in?

“I’m going to head into the office.” Dimitri brought himself to his full height, and I couldn’t stop my gaze from taking him all in - searching him for any sign of discomfort or distress.

His lips grazed mine for but a moment before he moved towards the staircase.

“The home office, right?” I called after him - a gentle reminder that he was not cleared to go back to the office, even if he had been threatening Madame Elise last night. He nodded once, his steps slowing only marginally, and I knew he hated the restriction, hated the reminder.