Stealing Beauty (Stolen 1)

“Oh, that’s wonderful,” Jasiel gushed, oblivious to my sudden discomfiture. “And now, you’re married. How sweet. Since you’re on your honeymoon, you really should enjoy the islands a little. We are going to have to make a quick stop tomorrow, so Luis and Manuel can catch our dinner. You should go for a swim around the coral reef.”

“I’d prefer if we didn’t stop,” Adrián said, a touch coldly.

“It won’t be for long,” Jasiel promised. “We’ll still make it to El Porvenir the morning after next. You’ll be able to catch your afternoon flight back to Panama City on time.”

“All right,” Adrián agreed. His pale eyes focused on me. “What do you think, cariña? Should we go swimming tomorrow?”

I flinched at the endearment. That was what Hugo called me.

“Don’t call me that,” I snapped before I could think better of it. To hear the mockery of affection issuing from Adrián’s lips was a knife to the gut.

He stared at me for a heartbeat, his eyes flaring with shock at my sudden outburst. I drew in a sharp breath, fearing his retribution. I was risking our little charade by challenging him.

To my surprise, he ran his thumb over my knuckles in a soothing gesture. “Sorry, conejita. I forgot you don’t like that,” he lied smoothly to cover the awkward moment. He had no idea why the term had upset me. “Do you want to go swimming? Or would you prefer to read?”

I blinked at him. Why was he asking what I would like to do? Was this part of the show we were putting on for Jasiel, or did he really care about my preference? Ever since he’d abducted me, he’d barely spoken to me directly at all. When he had, it had been to issue orders.

“I, um… Both sound nice,” I hedged, worried this was some sort of test. I didn’t want to fail, especially not after snapping at him in public.

He rubbed his thumb over my knuckles again. “We’ll do both, then.”

“Wonderful,” Jasiel interjected, approaching with a loaded plate. Enormous, fresh-caught lobsters had been cooked to perfection, paired with steamed cabbage.

“Luis!” she called out to her husband. “Dinner!”

The balding captain joined us, his weathered face creased with a broad smile. We tucked into our meal, making small talk. To forestall any more prying questions about our supposed relationship, I chattered with Jasiel, asking about her life. She lit up, clearly pleased at the opportunity for conversation. The woman liked to talk, and dinner passed by quickly as she regaled us with stories about other guests they’d entertained and their adventures sailing over the last twenty-two years.

When she’d cleared away our plates, she returned to the table with a heavenly chocolate cake.

My mouth watered at the sight of the rich, creamy frosting. I hadn’t been allowed such a delicious dessert in years.

I shot a worried glance at Adrián, trying to read his expression. Should I refuse? It felt wrong to indulge in front of him. Chocolate was my one small, secret defiance.

For years, I’d begged one of the maids to keep a bar of dark chocolate hidden in the kitchen cabinet for me. Every day, I’d sneak a single square, allowing the sweet to melt slowly on my tongue in my few minutes of forbidden bliss.

I couldn’t allow myself more than that small sample, or Hugo would know I was cheating on my strict diet. But the sliver of pleasure I found in my daily sin was the best thing I had in my life.

It seemed pathetic now. A whole world of possibilities was opening up before me. Once I escaped Adrián, I could eat as much chocolate as I wanted.

I looked to him, waiting for him to turn down the dessert on my behalf. He cocked his head at me, trying to read me, as well.

Jasiel cut the cake and set an enormous slice down in front of me.

“I really shouldn’t,” I murmured, still looking at Adrián.

His brow furrowed. “Of course you should. Don’t you like chocolate?”

“I love it,” I said quickly, taking a huge bite before he could change his mind. The decadent flavor hit my tongue, and my eyes closed on a low, involuntary moan.

When I opened them again, I found him staring at me, his green gaze glowing.

My cheeks flushed, and I set my fork down. Clearly, I’d overindulged.

“Finish it,” he rumbled. “Every bite.”

I took my time, savoring the cake. While part of me didn’t like having Adrián’s permission to eat it, I was too busy reveling in the rich flavor to care all that much. He picked up my conversational slack as I indulged my sweet tooth for the first time in years. It seemed he was almost as adept at making small talk as I was. In fact, watching him smiling and chuckling along with Jasiel at the appropriate moments, he seemed practically charming. This man was bafflingly different from the intense, half-mad drug lord who had been holding me captive. Which version was the real Adrián? He’d always been intense around me when we were younger. But he’d also laughed, his eyes gleaming with boyish, innocent pleasure that he only indulged when he was with me.