Descent From Grace: A Luxe Novella Book 1.5 Read Online Free PDF Page A

she’s been rubbing it, or something’s been rubbing it.
      “You told my dad you’re with me for the money?” I snap. I was never going to say this, but after seeing her face, I’m livid.
    Quietly, she says, “What?” while embarrassedly glancing at the movers. “What’re you talking about?”
    Fuck, I want to kiss her. I want to kiss her so she remembers what I can do to her and she forgets whomever she’s been kissing. And so help me god, if it was my father, that man won’t live to see another day.
      “I spoke to my father.” I’m trying to act like I know everything and that she should come clean.
  “Okay.” She slowly nods, still confused.
    Not sure what to say, I kind of stammer.
      “I didn’t say I was with you for the money, Ian. Why would you say that? Did he say I said that?” The way her face drops, I can see her feelings are genuinely hurt. 
    Shit. My dad always does shit like this to me.
      “He insinuated it, and. . . .” I wait for her to fill in the blank.
    She’s looking at me like I’m stupidly insane. “And what?”
      “Did he try anything?” The petulance in my voice makes me cringe at myself.
      “No!” she snickers. “He put his hand on my knee, but I brushed him off. Those feelings from before.” With a glance toward the movers, she pulls me toward the kitchen. “I don’t have those anymore. Your father is an asshole, Ian. A very attractive one, but he’s still an arrogant prick.”
  “I know,” I say softly. “I’m sorry I let you go—”
  “How’s Karen?”
      “She hurt her knee, but she’ll be fine. I have a bed being delivered today for the office room and her sister is there for the night.” When I look at her it’s killing me not knowing who she’s been kissing. There’s no doubt that’s what those red marks around her mouth are. I know because I’ve done it to her before.
    Her hand gently lands on mine, resting on the countertop.
      “Ashley’s coming and she’s staying the night.”
    I love her so much. How could I do this to her?
     
    *LUXE*
    Wanting a night with his fiancée at the new condo alone, Ian wasn’t happy his sister was coming. There was no reason he couldn’t stay, but he knew Ashley would consume most of her time.
      “Lily,” he softly said, swiping his thumb over her lips, wanting her to tell him whom she’d been kissing.
      “I saw Sloan.”
    Ian took an apprehensive step back and his eyes enlarged.
      “Mac?” It was all he could think to say.
      “Of course.” She scowled at him like he was senseless.
      “Where?”
  “I went to the apartment,” she admitted. “Your father reminded me a lot of him and I had to see—”
  “See what!” he screamed, startling her. “What the fuck did you need to see?” His continuous shouting got the attention of the movers.
    Lilith glanced at them, humiliated; one man was smirking and another seemed worried by Ian’s behavior.
      “Leave,” she whispered as her eyes went back to Ian’s.
    His angry face immediately softened and the perplexity that took over told her he wasn’t expecting that.
      “Leave!” she threateningly growled, pointing to the door. “Do not step foot in this house again today! Leave!”
    He stormed one way and she stormed the other.
    Ashley arrived at six, interrupting Lilith aimlessly organizing her shoes.
    Pressing her hand to Lilith’s forehead, Ashley told her, “You don’t look good.”
  “Today’s been awful. Can we go back to Barbados?” The forced smile on her face wasn’t convincing.
  “You too? I’ve had the worst block. I seriously drew a stick figure today. A fucking stick figure!”
    Laughing with Ashley eased some of Lilith’s anxieties. Smoking a joint helped her unwind, until nausea consumed her because kissing Sloan kept slipping into her thoughts, along with her fight with Ian. He hadn’t tried to contact her, and she was too stubborn to get ahold of him. Having Ashley lay in