The Glass Secret (Chain of Secrets) (44 page)

“Here, I can do that myself.” I cumbersomely pulled my arms back, along with the towel, causing it to fall. He swiftly retrieved it and handed it back to me. “Thank you.” I quickly added, trying to remember my manners. I patted my arms dry then draped the towel over the edge of the spa. I noticed his jacket had fallen to the floor, and so I placed it neatly on the pedestal stair. His ardent eyes followed my every move.

“Where would you like me to deliver the spa to?” he asked, tilting his head toward the spa. He winked at me with his sexy bedroom eyes for the umpteenth time today.

“But, I thought you said, it’s not for sale...”

“I would like to make you a part of the legend. I want to give you the bathing tub.”

“Seriously? That’s so generous, but I’m not sure...it’s just so,” I said, my voice cracking, hardly able to contain my excitement.

“So, you don’t want it?” he said teasingly.

“No, yes, I do,” I replied. “I’d be honored to accept your gift, but it seems inappropriate. The spa is so extravagant. Why would you want to give it to me?”

“When I saw your eyes light up like a bonfire, the second you saw it, I knew you were the perfect one to give it to.”

“Why because I can't afford anything else in your store?” I asked half-jokingly.

“No,” he said apologetically, flashing me a sexy, stern grin. 

I peered at him suspiciously. “Did you make up the legend because I told you I cannot afford your prices?”

“Never would I lie to you, the legend is one-hundred percent true.”

“So, you really have to give it to some poor-unfortunate girl?”

“That’s right. Why not you?” he asked.

“Yeah, why not, I can’t think of any other reason.” I wanted to be the chosen one for reasons beyond the legend. “I guess I fit the criteria.” I quipped condescendingly. “A girl with no money.”

“I don’t see you as unfortunate, Brielle,” he clearly affirmed, realizing that he may have touched a sensitive nerve ending in me. Although, anytime he’d touched me it caused my body to tingle all over in a delicious way.

“Thanks,” I said, recovering from my thin-skinned overreaction. “I would be honored to receive the bathing tub. I’m just a little embarrassed because I didn’t realize that they were so expensive when I stumbled into your store, literally.” I laughed. Of course, he didn’t understand why I had laughed. One day I hoped I’d get the chance to tell him how the wind had essentially led me down the narrow road and into his store. “I should have done some research on the prices of spas first.”

“Shhh, you don’t have to explain. The pleasure is mine.” He nodded in sync with his words. When lowering his head, his eyes dipped, seductively, landing on my mouth. I stared at his mouth, wondering what his lips would feel like kissing mine.

“Aww, thank you. This is so unexpected.” My voice swooned into a high pitch that I didn’t recognize. “Sorry, it’s just I’m so overwhelmed, not only because
you
want to give it to me, but the story is, well...” I sighed, not realizing until seconds later that what I’d said had come across as a sexual innuendo. My libido was acting out on its own, shifting into overdrive. “Are you sure about this?”

“I can’t wait to give it to you, Brielle,” Rain de’ Bluche said in the most monotone penetrating voice. A sexy darkness washed over him. His eyes smiled with a smoky glint of passion, swallowing me whole.

I almost fell over when he clearly made a sexual play off of what I had said. There was no mistaking it as I had previously and naively considered; he was no stranger to the power of seduction.

Damn him!
What had I gotten myself into?

I had seconds to decide if I should fall at his feet and pay homage to his amazing body or say something quickly, more ladylike. I mixed it up just a bit, dropping a fairly subtle hint to let him know I was interested, but he’d have to make the first move.

I blushed, mustering up the courage to challenge his covert pass.

“And, I can hardly wait either.” I paused for a millisecond, smiling and inadvertently flashed him my signature wink then boldly said, “What I love the most is the legend you told me, it makes everything that much more special. You have made me feel special, too.”
Did I just say that?
I silently questioned myself.

Why did I blurt out my words without thinking first? I hated myself for behaving like an open book. Again, I feared I had appeared like a harlot in heat to him. I was sure of that. I’d just met this man, for God’s sake, but it felt as if I had known him all my life. My breath lodged in my throat, waiting for his delayed reply. I was highly aware of every second that ticked by between us.

“You are a very special woman.” His words melted on his tongue like candy-sugared hearts, leaving sweetness, and any self-doubt I’d felt, behind.

An elated beat filled the silence between us; hope tiptoed into my heart.

Could he be the one I’d been waiting for all my life?

“I have never won anything in my entire life.” I said, smiling, intermittently batting my eyelashes, flirting. My excitement bubbled to the top. “Thank you. I don’t know what to say other than thank you.” And, without hesitation, I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around him tightly, and he gently embraced me back.

He whispered in my ear, “I am glad to see you so happy.”

The warm wisps of his breath tickled my neck, causing a tantalizing sensation to crawl over my skin. My entire body began to shiver, definitely not because I was cold.

He leaned his face a bit forward and kissed my cheek, barely noticeable, but I noticed. My stomach muscles, fingers, teeth and legs, and even my elbows vibrated uncontrollably. He noticed and pulled me into him, closer.

I closed my eyes and inhaled his scent. God, he smelled so good. I didn’t want to let him go.

“You’re so cold. Would you like to go for a dip to warm yourself?”

“Now?” I said feeling somewhat taken back, releasing our embrace, still shivering like a leaf.

“Well, I just thought a hot bath would warm you and besides I think it would be a good idea if you tried the spa first to be sure that you really want it. It’s such an investment.” His eyes shifted down to my shoes. “I’m sure you tried on those before you bought them, right?”

“Yes, but I thought—”

Rain answered my question before I had asked. “Semantics—The bath is yours. It’s my gift, free and clear if you want it.”

“Oh, yes, of course I want it.” My pitch heightened, forgetting for a moment about the bathing spa. I wanted him, as well.

“Brielle, there’s one thing I didn’t tell you, and that I mus
t
share before you make your final decision.”

Here we go,
I thought.
Another catch!

“When you become a part of a legacy, such as this...it too becomes a part of you.”

“What do you mean?”

“I must warn you that you can never sell the bathing spa and if you decide for any reason to give it away, you must remember the legend and pass it on.”

“I would never give it away. Except, maybe, if...and one day to my children.” I shrugged, flashing him a soft grin.

“Very well, as long as you understand—remember the curse, and also when you receive it there’s one wish you will be granted within three days of asking.”

“Yes, how could I ever forget? Even, without the wish come true, I would still be honored to own it, either way.” I batted my lashes. “I can’t believe you’re going to give it to me.” I wasn’t just referring to the spa. There were sexual passes, inadvertently flying out of my mouth. He was too much of a gentleman to notice all of them. He was more concerned with the fact that I understood everything about the covenant.

I had noticed
 that he had a particularly serious side. He was everything I had ever dreamed of rolled into one amazingly gorgeous man.

“And, you must also understand that energy never dies, and neither does the power of love. The groom's love was incredibly strong, and you will feel a strong energy surrounding the spa—and if you accept the spa, you too will absorb this energy and the love that lives on in this legacy—as I have. Their love will somehow always be with you as it is with me. But, you must make this choice on your own. As anyone has that accept
s
one of his gifts.”

“Okay...” I nodded. He was so damn serious. Perhaps, at the time, I should have asked one pertinent question...what is the curse?

“So, I thought you may want to try it first, see if it feels right for you...before you decide.”

After hearing his words of caution...he had a point. I shrugged my shoulders, looking down at my clothes. “I don’t have a swimsuit in my purse." I grinned. "If it's your intent for me to try it first—I need something to wear.” I turned my head slightly, glancing around the room. Did he think I was going to strip down butt naked—here?

“Oh yes, of course...”

He took me by the shoulders with the palms of his hands and turned me in the opposite direction. His touch radiated a powerful energy—he was like a magnet, and I was being drawn into him. I tried to put the brakes on my escalating heartbeat.

He stood extremely close behind me. It was a good thing that his hands still lingered on my shoulders; otherwise, I would have lost my balance and would have gladly fallen into his arms.

I had
 always been particularly sensitive to raw energy and my surroundings; maybe the spa did, in fact, have a notable effect on me. It was one effect I welcomed!

In addition to the steeping heat from the spa, which caused me to think heady, there was no doubt at all that I could also feel his rising manhood against my ass, stealing my attention.

Even though, I haven’t had a lot of sexual experiences, I could tell Rain was one well-endowed man. He asked me something, but his voice seemed far away and muffled.

He asked again, “Will that work?”

My body shivered against his, and my knees felt like rubber bands. Looking into the misty direction he faced me in, I tried to focus on answering him. But, I couldn’t speak, for…out of the darkness, a thin slice of light beamed down exposing a white chair in front of a small vanity dresser with an attached mirror.

I didn’t see the vanity when we walked in, and not once did I didn’t question him on how things appeared like magic before my eyes. As a matter of fact, I hadn’t questioned anything that Rain acquainted to me. I was in a state of euphoria and under his spell.

I traced my steps toward the vanity set. As I neared, I could see a large silver barrette on the top surface. A silk, ivory robe was draped over the arm of the chair. Hesitantly, I reached out and ran my fingertips across the robe to see if it was actually real.

I felt Rain’s presence enveloping me from behind.

“It will fit you perfectly.” Rain whispered into my ear. His breath was warm against my cool skin. “I’m going to give you some privacy to slip off your clothes and get into the spa. You simply must try it before you decide. I will return once you are comfortable beneath the water.”

He inched in closer to me, caressing his cool fingertips down the length of my arms, sending chill bumps to every part of my being. His body temperature seemed to fluctuate to meet my needs. When I was cold he provided me heat and the other way around, when I was hot he...well, you can get the picture. He slipped a small gold key into the palm of my hand. I closed my fingers over the token.

“I am not sure why, but I am feeling a little nervous about all of this,” I said, confessing to him my trepidation.

As his arms encased my petite frame, I closed my eyes in order to contain the desire in me that wanted to turn around to claim him, right on the spot.

“My sweet comet, I know you well—you must feel with your heart—if you accept my invitation to bathe in the spa this is for the door; no one else can enter after you have chosen to use it—it’s yours from this day forth, and you must keep this key with you at all times,” he precisely instructed.

What the hell!!! What the hell was he talking about?

Here, he was instructing me to make wise choices and almost warning me about the science of energy. Why? Most men would have tried to take advantage of me by now.

All I wanted to do that afternoon was buy a spa—never realizing I couldn’t exactly afford one, but nonetheless. Then when he brought me into the chamber...time ceased, and my thoughts became clouded. I had never felt so bemused and loving the feeling of it at the same time.

I rotated my body to melt into his chest, but before I could agree, or disagree, or even thank him again, he had vanished into thin air. Talk about a disappearing act. A feeling of uneasiness rose in me. My eyes fell upon the small key that I held in the center of my palm.

Slowly, I walked to the arched door. For a second, I thought I saw the same opaque stream of air that I had seen earlier outside the store. It was streaming into the keyhole. As I moved closer, I figured the steam inside the chamber had mixed with the air conditioning from the hallway on the other side of the door, causing this effect.

I heard Rain’s voice; it was an audible whisper and close to my ear...