Loving the Enemy (Seven Forbidden Arts Book 0) Read online

  They were both spent. Lily fell over him, resting her arms on the back of the couch, her breasts in his face as he lay back, not a stich of energy left in him. He lifted his heavy arms around her back, stroking her silky, slick skin. He traced every single one of her ribs with his fingers. Shivers ran over her body as her skin broke out into goose bumps.

  He kissed first the one, then the other nipple, and then he lifted his head to plant a kiss in her neck. He wanted the moment to last, to never let her go, and in that physical act he saw the truth like never before. He wouldn’t let go.

  “That’s how you belong to me,” he said against her ear. “That’s the difference.”

  She stilled. She even stopped breathing for two seconds. She sat back, and he felt a great, inexplicable satisfaction at the fact that their bodies were still joined.

  It looked as if she was going to say something, but instead she only offered him a sad kind of smile, one he didn’t like, and then she got off him and broke the contact, his softening cock slipping from her tight pussy.

  “I need a shower,” she said as she turned and walked away, her head high and her shoulders straight.

  Chapter Twelve

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  Only in the shower did Lily cry. This time, it wasn’t only for Father Brice, but also for Jacob. She thought, for a terrifying moment, that he was going to die. It had been so hard letting him go. And now she’d have to do it all over again. He kept on telling her not to love him, and she wasn’t stupid. If Jacob didn’t want her affection, it was because he didn’t trust himself with it. He was incapable of returning it. She wasn’t foolish enough to think she could change him. If there was one thing she had learned from her father, it was that a leopard couldn’t change his spots. She was in love with Jacob. She couldn’t help it. But she could choose who she was going to love. Obviously, it wasn’t Jacob. He had already made the choice for her when he told her he wanted her body, but not her heart. The easiest way to deal with this, was to walk away, again, this very moment. But Jacob had saved her life, for a third time, and she owed it to him to stay, at least until he was well again.

  She got out of the shower and wrapped the towel around her. When she looked up, Jacob was leaning in the doorframe.

  She jumped. “You gave me a fright.”

  “Sorry.”

  She waited for him to say why he was there and not lying down, but he only stared at her.

  “Is everything all right?” she said. “Are you in pain?”

  “You could say that.” He grimaced.

  Her hand went to her mouth. “I didn’t think of asking that vet to give you painkillers. That was stupid of me.”

  “You’re not stupid. If I wanted any, I would have asked.”

  “You should be lying down. Why don’t I help you to the bed?”

  “You know they’re going to find us here.”

  “I know. We’ll be gone before then.”

  He lifted an eyebrow, suddenly seeming amused. “First a zoo, then a hunting cabin. What do you have planned next?”

  “I don’t know yet, but I’ll figure it out.”

  “I promised I’ll get you to Paris, and that’s what I’ll do.”

  She looked away. “I’m not going to Paris any longer.”

  “What?” The word echoed off the tiles.

  “I said, I’m not going to Paris. I was only going to find my father because I believed he could better protect me, but when you said I’m my father’s daughter, I realized something. I realized that even if I love him, I don’t want to be his daughter. Going back to him would mean going back to my old life. I don’t have the excuse of ignorance any longer. I can’t pretend my dad’s crimes don’t exist. As long as he can, he’ll control me. He’ll lock me up in my fairytale tower just like before and expect me to turn a blind eye to his dirty business. I don’t want to be that person.”

  “Don’t you think your dad is looking for you, as we speak? You said yourself your father is powerful. Eventually, he’ll find you. It’s better that we find him first.”

  “And then what?”

  “Then we deal with whatever comes.”

  “You honestly believe he’ll just let me go?”

  “He won’t have a choice. You’re with me now, Lily.”

  For a minute she gave in to her unreasonable fantasy. “Why can’t we just run away? We can start over, build a new future, somewhere where nobody knows us or my father.” Maybe Jacob can even learn to love her.

  “There are no picket fences for people like us. No matter where you go, he’ll try to find you. And eventually, baby, he will. No one can run forever.”

  She clutched the towel to her body, like she desperately wanted to clutch to the world as she knew it before Lupien had walked into their house, before her father had fallen from the pedestal on which she had placed him. Jacob was right. Again. She had to face her father and claim her freedom. Then, she’d ask Jacob to set her free. If he couldn’t love her, he didn’t deserve her. And if he didn’t oblige, well, she was her own woman. She had run away once. She’d do it again.

  Jacob swayed. He grabbed the doorframe to steady himself.

  Lily rushed to his side. “Come to bed.”

  She took his arm and led him to the room. She undressed him carefully and made him lie down on the bed. After giving him a sponge bath, she covered him with the sheet and cuddled next to him, the revolver on the nightstand within reach.

  His hand played up and down her arm, drawing patterns on her skin. “We’re going to Paris, Lily,” he said softly. “There’s no other way.”

  She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath. At long last, she said, “Not until you’re strong again.”

  “I’ll hurry then.”

  “Take your time.” Because Lily had a feeling that between now and then was all they’d have.

  It took a week for Jacob to regain his strength. The wound was still painful–he still flinched when Lily touched it–but it was more bearable. She cleared the plates after their breakfast, aware of Jacob’s gaze on her as she walked between the sink and the table.

  He grabbed her wrist as she moved past him and stared up at her. “I already want you again.”

  During that week they had made love only twice more, as Jacob said she’d be sore if they did it more. After that first explosive session on the couch, he had been slow and gentle, forcing her to look into his eyes as he poured his soul into her with long, patient thrusts.

  “So do I, but I have to pick up groceries, and pay and renew our lease for a few more days before the landlady kicks us out.”

  “I’ll go.”

  “You’re not well enough yet. Not to drive to the village on your own.”

  “I can get us another car. That van is a major risk, Lily.”

  “I’ll park at the station and go in with the tram. Don’t worry. No one will see it. It worked last time.”

  “The last time was in the night, in the dark. This is broad daylight.”

  “Fine. Teach me how to hotwire a car and I’ll bring us home another ride.”

  He shook his head. “You’re something else.”

  She smiled. “I’m learning from the best.”

  Before he had time to argue more, she grabbed some money, shoved it into her pocket and headed for the door.

  The landlady had a strange look on her face when she opened her door. “This is a coincidence. Was just about to pop over to the cabin. There were some men here asking about you. Left only a couple of minutes ago.”

  Lily went hot and cold. The world tipped, but she maintained her stoic expression. “Really? Me?”

  “Had a lot to say about a couple who robbed the zoo, and locked the employees in a lion cage.”

  Lily forced a laugh. “That sounds terrible.”

  “Showed me a photo from the security camera, too.” She studied Lily’s hair. “Told the men I couldn’t see much the night you came, as it was dark and the light dim.” She adjusted her glasses. �
��But now I have to say, it looks an awful lot like you.”

  Damn. She hadn’t noticed the cameras. “I’ve never been to the zoo. My husband and I are doing this road trip for our honeymoon, like I told you, and we’re not spending much time out,” she gave a shy smile, “if you know what I mean.” She took the money from her pocket and held the cash to the woman. “If I was a criminal, I wouldn’t have come back to pay you.”

  Had she known the police had been knocking on the landlady’s door with a photo of her, she wouldn’t have come in the first place. There was no point in securing the cabin for longer, now.

  The woman took the money without seeming convinced. “I guess. The men said they were cops. Private detectives. I gave them directions to the cabin. Must be on their way over there now.”

  “Okay,” Lily said cheerfully. Maybe they weren’t cops, but the men from Sky Communications, or the cronies of the man who killed Father Brice. “Well, I better go warn my husband then that cops are on the way. Wouldn’t want him to have a fright.”

  “You do that,” the woman called after Lily.

  Once she was around the corner, she started running. She couldn’t get to Jacob fast enough. She kept on looking back, but nobody followed. Instead of running back to the tram station, she flagged down a cab. She gave quick directions, and told the driver to hurry.

  A few miles from the cabin, she asked him to pull over. He glanced at her in confusion, but when he saw the revolver she was pointing at him, he did as he was told.

  “Get out of the car,” Lily said.

  “This taxi has a tracking device, ma’am. There’s no point in stealing it.”

  But it would take the driver at least an hour to walk back to the village, unless he was lucky enough to catch a lift. With an hour head start, she and Jacob could steal another car and be well on their way by the time the real cops got to the cabin.

  “Just do it.”

  He got out, his hands lifted in the air.

  “Where’s your phone?” she said.

  “In my pocket.”

  “Take it out. Slow.”

  The man removed his smartphone.

  “Leave it on the ground.”

  When he did as she had instructed, Lily crushed the phone under her cowboy boot.

  “Hey! What did you do that for?” the man said.

  “Start walking.”

  The man turned and started walking, uttering a string of profanities.

  Lily took the driver seat and broke the speed limit trying to get to Jacob. About a mile from the cabin, there was a figure in the distance standing on the side of the road. She slowed as she neared, and recognized Jacob’s jeans and T-shirt. The rifle was in his hands.

  “Oh, thank God.”

  She pulled up next to him, throwing the passenger door open even before the car had come to a stop. Jacob was scarcely seated before she took off again.

  “Fuck, Lily.” He pulled his hands through his hair. “I went looking for you. They found us.”

  “I know. The landlady told me about the men. Do you think they’re police?”

  “Not a chance. They didn’t come with search or arrest warrants. They came with weapons that are meant to fight armies.”

  “Sky Communications?”

  “Don’t know. They weren’t in uniform and I didn’t get close enough to look for tattoos.”

  “Who was the man who killed Father Brice? He wasn’t from Sky Communications.”

  All Jacob said, was, “No, he wasn’t.”

  “I came back as fast as I could.” She looked him over. It didn’t appear as if he had been fighting. “How did you get away?”

  “I heard them coming.”

  “Heard them? Are they getting slack?”

  “They brought dogs.”

  Her jaw dropped. “That means they could have you sniffed out in seconds.”

  “Yeah.” He grinned. “Looks like you saved me in the nick of time.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  “No. But you stealing a cab is.”

  Her fingers tightened on the wheel. “I left the poor driver on the side of the road.”

  “Baby, you’re priceless.”

  “I hate doing this, you know. I hate stealing, and cheating, and fighting.”

  His eyes softened. “I know. I’m just trying to make light of a fucked-up situation.”

  “Thanks.” She sighed. “Thanks for trying.”

  “Where to now?” He watched her with an amused expression.

  “How the hell should I know?”

  “I just can’t wait for what you have in store for us next.”

  “Cut it out, Jacob. This is serious.”

  “Exactly.” He caressed her neck. “If you want to survive, you’ve got to keep your cool, understand? If you get tense, and your brain won’t work, think of something funny.”

  “Seriously? That works for you?”

  “Every time.”

  “Okay. No luggage, huh?”

  “Nope. No time to pack. Looks like we’re starting from scratch. But I’ve got our fake passports,” he lifted the rifle, “and the weapon.”

  “Good thinking.”

  A hypermarket came into sight. On impulse, Lily pulled into the parking. “The taxi is tracked. How fast can you steal a car?”

  Jacob only gave her a wicked smile.

  Less than a minute later, they were driving a yellow Audi down the highway. The signpost indicated Versailles. After a short drive, a big building appeared on the horizon, the façade lit with white and yellow lights.

  “Look,” Lily said, “yellow, your favorite color.”

  Jacob studied the edifice. “It’s a casino,” he said with obvious surprise as Lily took the exit.

  “Welcome to our next hide-out.”

  “No no no no. Security cameras everywhere.”

  “Only in the gambling halls.”

  “How do you know that?”

  “I watch television.”

  “This isn’t a movie.”

  “Neither was that. It was a reality show.”

  Lily parked the car at the back of the lot, where there were plenty of cars. Ensuring that no one was looking, she locked the rifle in the trunk and hid the revolver under her shirt.

  She held her hand to Jacob. “We’re just a couple on holiday, that’s all.” She was saying it more to herself, than to him.

  Inside the hotel, Lily’s hope dwindled when she spotted the camera in the corner of the ceiling. Turning her back to it and lowering her head, she asked the receptionist for a room for the night, and paid cash.

  “That was an extortionate amount,” Jacob said once they were out of earshot.

  “We’re running out of cash. We need some more.” Lily pulled Jacob to the boutique on the lobby level. Before he could find his bearings, she was holding a black sequins dress up at him. “How about this, honey? Like it?” She wagged her eyebrows.

  A shop assisted immediately scooted over to them. “Would you like to try it on?”

  “I’m sure it’ll be a perfect fit. I’ll take it.”

  “It’s a thousand Euros,” the lady said.

  “She’ll take it,” Jacob said, his voice hard.

  “Wonderful.” It sounded more sarcastic than ecstatic. The lady took the dress and marched to the cash register.

  “Put it on our room,” Lily said, handing her the room key. “We’re winning big tonight.”

  “If you say so. I’ll just need to swipe your credit card for security.”

  “Oh, we don’t believe in credit cards. We only pay cash.” Lily took five hundred Euros from her back pocket. It was all the rest of the money, everything she had saved up and stolen from the zoo. “How about a fifty percent cash deposit? We’ll pay the rest with our room when we book out.” She cocked her hip. “Unless it’s a problem? We can call hotel management to settle it. We’re good clients.”

  “Of course,” the woman said. “The customer is always right.” She snatched
the money from Lily’s hand and wrote out a deposit receipt. She dropped the piece of paper with the dress in a bag and handed it to Lily. “Enjoy your stay.”

  “Thanks. We intend to.”

  Lily was shaking just a bit as they exited the boutique.

  “What are you doing?” Jacob hissed in her ear.

  She pressed the button to call the lift. “Getting pretty.”

  “What for?”

  “We’re going out.”

  When they got out on their floor, Jacob flinched and touched his shoulder.

  Lily laid her hand on his arm. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Doesn’t look like nothing to me.”

  When they entered the room, Lily locked the door behind them and made Jacob sit on the bed. She unbuttoned his shirt and pulled away the gauze covering the wound. The skin was inflamed and yellow puss leaked around one of the stitches. Lily’s breath caught.

  Jacob stared at the scar. “Shit.”

  “It’s infected.” She covered her mouth with her hand. “You need to go to a hospital.”

  “No. No hospital. Or we’ll be dead before they’ve treated me.”

  “You’ll be dead if we don’t get this looked at. Properly.”

  She refused to let Jacob take a bullet for her and survive it, only to die from an infection. The antibiotics from the zoo weren’t working. They needed a prescription from a real doctor.

  “My dad has private doctors who travel with him. He’s always been obsessed like that. I guess if something happens to him, he can’t go to a public hospital. We need to find him quick.”

  “We need money. You’ve just spent all yours.”

  “I’m going to get us some.”

  “How?”

  “We’re going to the bar.”

  He stared at her for a while and then his face transformed into a slow frown. “No. I won’t allow it.”