I considered that. Anna was starting college in Chicago this fall but she was one of the few allowed to do so. Given Danilo’s past experiences with my sister, I doubted he’d like me being on a campus every day.
“I like aerobics and swimming, but that’s not really something I’m pursuing as more than a hobby. But maybe I could start by learning to cook? I feel at a disadvantage since my husband can cook, and I can’t.”
Danilo’s mouth twitched. “I won’t say no to that. We have a few fine dining restaurants in our portfolio. I could ask one of the chefs to come over and teach you.”
“That sounds good,” I said. I could already imagine Anna rolling her eyes at me for wanting to learn to cook, but it was a start. Once I’d found my place in Indianapolis and didn’t feel quite so lost anymore, I could figure out what to do. “I’m thinking about taking a few college courses next semester.”
Danilo looked surprised. “All right. What did you have in mind?”
I hadn’t expected him to be open to the suggestion, so I hadn’t really put much thought into it. Maybe his desire to make it up to me was why he was so open-minded. “Maybe creative writing.” I’d always had a colorful imagination, and even if most of my scribblings couldn’t be considered literature, I liked the idea of creating art with words one day.
“I suppose you’d have to wait for the spring semester. If that’s what you want, we’ll figure it out. A bodyguard would have to be with you at all times, of course.”
“Of course.” I searched his face, trying to figure out if he was only agreeing to placate me or if he was being serious, but his expression didn’t give anything away.
He met my eyes, and I flushed. I wasn’t even sure why. We were close and he was half-naked.
“As for your swimming, there’s an indoor pool on the first floor.”
“Really?” I asked excitedly. We never had a pool at our mansion, so I always had to let Samuel drive me to a swimming pool in an Outfit-owned gym. He refused to let the bodyguards accompany me because then they’d have seen me in a bathing suit.
Danilo reached for me and brushed a strand of hair from my cheek. “You’ve got a bit of syrup on your cheek,” he said roughly.
I flushed and pulled back, wary of my body’s reaction to the fleeting touch. My heartrate had picked up and heat raced through me. “I’ll wash it off. Will you show me the pool?”
He dropped his hand, his smile wavering. “Of course. Just let me grab a shower first.”
We got out of bed, and after I’d wiped the syrup off my cheek, Danilo headed into the bathroom. To my surprise, he didn’t close the door but left it ajar. I got dressed in one of my favorite lilac summer dresses and put on some makeup while the shower ran, but eventually curiosity got the better of me and I casually walked by the bathroom, risking a peek inside.
Danilo was in the shower, his eyes closed as he rinsed shampoo from his hair, his head tilted back slightly. Rivulets of water ran down the hard planes of his body down to his cock. My core tightened with a mixture of desire and anxiety. I was curious to know what it would feel like if I allowed Danilo to touch me and make me feel good. How it would feel if he buried his face between my legs like he’d mentioned? Some of my scribblings had been short stories about Danilo and me, and how I imagined our intimate encounters.
My cheeks grew even hotter.
I wouldn’t go down that road for a while. I hurried past the open door and left the bedroom. I hadn’t paid much attention to my surroundings last night, so I had a hard time finding the stairs in the huge house. Eventually, I found myself in a huge living room. Like the bedroom, this room, too, was furnished in a modern, sleek style, contrasting with the old house. My eyes were drawn to the French doors that opened to a beautiful patio and an even more stunning garden with a cascade leading down to a pond. I opened the door and stepped out, following a pathway of white steps down to the pond. Pink and white waterlilies floated peacefully on its surface. I squatted down to touch one of the gorgeous flowers when a huge orange head bobbed out of the water. I cried out in surprise and fell on my butt on the lawn. More heads burst through the surface. Large goldfish from the look of it.
“They’re harmless. They thought you’d feed them.”
I turned my head toward Danilo who headed down to me, obviously stifling amusement. “What are they?”
“Koi fish,” he said. “My father used to collect them. When he died, I took them in. My mother doesn’t like animals much.”
He held out his hand to me, so he could pull me to my feet. I gave him an embarrassed smile, brushing grass from my butt. I tried to see if I still had dirt on my dress but couldn’t twist my head all the way around. Feeling daring, I presented my butt to Danilo and asked, “Did I get all the dirt?”
He took longer than necessary to assess my backside for any stains, then he shook his head and growled, “It looks fine.”
I turned back to the fish and stifled a laugh. More had now gathered near the surface.
Danilo took a box with pellets out from a small wooden box hidden among the reed lining parts of the pond. He poured a small heap on his palm then squatted next to the water. He held his hand in the water, but not deep enough for the pellets to drift away. Immediately several Koi fish appeared and began eating out of his hand.
My eyes widened in surprise
