Read Relish: A Vicious Feast Book 2 for Free Online

and Silvia, I might have starved long ago.
    “Yes, the Spring Showcase.” He smiled warmly. “The pictures must be spectacular.”
    No matter how much I wanted to ignore the warm feeling spreading across my chest, I couldn’t. Seeing him sitting on my couch after what seemed like years when really it had only been months cracked my defenses. It was all I could do not to run into his arms and inhale the spicy sweet scent of his.
    “The Showcase opens today,” I forced myself to say around the lump in my throat growing larger the longer I looked at him. “I don’t suggest you go because you’ll cause a riot.”
    He threw his head back and laughed. But it wasn’t the carefree sound I’d gotten used to hearing from him. This laugh seemed sadder somehow, like he held something back. Still, the smooth, deep notes danced around me, almost touching me physically.
    “Shouldn’t you be on tour?” I moved forward with the conversation. Getting stuck meant losing what little self-control I had left. How could I delude myself into thinking I’d begun to let go last night while at the exhibition hall? The mere sight of him broke me all over again. I hated how weak I felt in that moment. The walls of my apartment seemed to be closing in, trapping me. I couldn’t allow this to continue. He’d already taken more than I was willing to give.
    “I needed to see you. I needed to know that you are alright.”
    “Well,” I sucked in a sobering breath, “you’ve seen me. And it might not look like it right now with me shaking like a spooked terrier, but I’m fine.”
    “I told myself I’d stay away. Leave you alone,” he continued as if he hadn’t heard me. “I hurt you that night. My being drunk isn’t an excuse.”
    “How’d you manage to down three bottles of gin anyway? Most people would have died from alcohol poisoning.” Okay, I sounded like an idiot, acting all normal and curious. I blamed it on the shellshock of seeing Luka again.
    He barked another one of those sad laughs. “I have a high tolerance for many things.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for hurting you. You have every right to hate me.”
    “Oh, don’t sugarcoat it. You broke my heart, you asshole.” The anger I’d been waiting for finally came. Everything I’d wanted to say but never got a chance to spilled out now. “You pulled me into your sick and twisted mind games. Getting me to like you to the point where I actually considered renewing my contract only to drop the bomb that you’re in love with someone else. This someone else who’s already in love with your cousin. That’s low, Luka. I didn’t think you were capable of something like that.”
    Luka entwined his fingers together as if in prayer. “I’m capable of many things. But I’m man enough to admit when I’m wrong. When I’ve made a terrible mistake.” He met my gaze again. “You don’t have to believe me, but I promise you, I’m working on getting better. Being better.”
    “And how’s that supposed to affect me?” I took a step forward. My anger gave me the courage and strength I needed. “I’m done with Vicious. After defending my introspective at the end of the week, I’m hopping on a plane and starting my round the world trip, which Yana actually paid for because of all those promo photos she made me take. So, thank her for me.”
    Fear flickered in Luka’s intense gaze. “You can’t leave.”
    “What do you mean I can’t leave?” Flashbacks of Luka throwing a tantrum in the music room because I left Lunar Manor for a day taunted me.
    He pushed off the couch and stood a foot away from me in three long strides. “Don’t do this. Please.”
    The desperation in his tone confused me. “What? Live my life? Come on, Luka. You know I’ve always wanted to travel the world and take pictures.”
    His hands circled my arms so roughly that I flinched at the cold rings digging into my skin. “You don’t understand,” he hissed. “You