Stealing Beauty (Stolen 1)

Then, he held out his hand. I reached for it immediately, craving more contact.

“I think dinner’s almost ready,” he said.

I glanced out the small window. A gorgeous sunset painted the sky pink as the golden orb kissed the azure ocean on the horizon.

I’d slept hard for a long time, completely relaxed in Adrián’s arms.

My stomach growled again as I became aware of rich, savory scents wafting through the bedroom door from the direction of the small kitchen. I really was hungry.

He reached out and smoothed my disheveled hair back into place, gently working out a few tangles before tucking the dark locks behind my ear.

“Come on.” He didn’t release my hand as he opened the bedroom door and led me back into the main cabin.

Mateo was already sitting at the dining table, reading a book. We closed the short distance to join him. Adrián helped me slide into the booth seating before settling down beside me, hemming me in.

“It’ll just be a minute more,” Jasiel said brightly, her cheeks pink from the heat of the stove. “We’ll all dine together, if that’s okay with you?” she asked Adrián, looking to him for permission.

“What about your son?” he countered, his hard expression making it clear that he didn’t want the young man to join us. We hadn’t laid eyes on Manuel yet, and it appeared Adrián wanted to keep it that way.

Jasiel waved a wooden spoon dismissively. “Manuel will eat later. He’ll stay up on deck to man the sails while we have dinner.”

Adrián nodded his agreement.

Mateo set his book down. I glanced at the title: One Hundred Years of Solitude.

“You like Gabriel García Marquez?” Adrián asked, noting the direction of my gaze.

I realized a small smile had curved my lips. “I do,” I replied. My own copy of One Hundred Years of Solitude was well-worn. I’d turned to it often while I hid myself away in the library on Hugo’s estate. It was the one room where he didn’t bother to look for me. My husband wasn’t a well-read man.

“We have more books on board, if you’re interested,” Jasiel told me. “We won’t be stopping for activities on any of the islands, since we’re sailing straight to El Porvenir. If you enjoy reading, you can read under the sun on deck during the journey.”

“I’d like that. Thank you.”

She giggled, her rounded cheeks turning a deeper shade of pink. “Unless your husband has other ideas to keep you occupied.”

I shifted in my seat, but I kept a genial smile carefully in place. Adrián squeezed my hand beneath the table.

“You can read while we sail tomorrow, if you want,” he allowed.

Some of the tension eased from my shoulders. He really didn’t intend to use me against my will. “Thanks,” I murmured.

“I didn’t know you liked to read,” he said, fixing me with a curious stare.

I supposed I hadn’t exactly been a bookworm when we were teenagers. I’d spent my time on my required studies, watching telenovelas, and playing chess with Adrián. Sometimes, we’d played rougher games. Ones that ended with his hands on my body, his touch burning me even through my clothes.

I focused on the present, mindful that our small talk needed to appear natural in front of Jasiel.

“I read a lot,” I replied. “I love getting lost in a good story.”

One corner of his full lips ticked up. “Yes, I remember how you used to love your telenovelas.” The glint in his eye let me know he was teasing me, just like he’d done when we were young. Despite his mockery, he used to sit with me while I watched the televised drama unfold onscreen. “Do you still watch them?” he asked.

“Do you?” I countered blandly.

Mateo barked a laugh. “No way,” he remarked, a wide grin splitting his dark beard. “You watched telenovelas, jefe?”

“He loves them,” I jibed, forgetting my bitterness and fear for a moment.

Adrián’s wicked smile made something tug at my heart. “I only ever watched them because you were so obsessed.”

“Don’t pretend you weren’t totally invested in Ines and Tomás’ love affair,” I quipped. It felt strange, this lightness in my chest. I was pretending for Jasiel, but the memories of those lazy days with Adrián on his father’s estate lost their bitter tang for a few sweet minutes.

Mateo laughed again. “This is pure fucking gold.”

“Watch it, conejita. You’ll ruin my reputation.” There was no bite in the warning. Adrián’s lips curved in an easy smile, his eyes sparkling with the mischief I recognized all too well.

“Are you two childhood sweethearts, then?” Jasiel asked as she began to set the table.

“Yes,” Adrián replied as my good mood soured.

We hadn’t been children for a long time, and this happy relationship we were presenting for Jasiel was a farce.

I tried to tug my hand free from his grip beneath the table. His fingers tightened around mine, refusing to let me go.