The Agreement (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 1) by Bethany-Kris (motivational books for men .TXT) 📕

Right?

She rubbed her hand over her face in an attempt to wipe off what remained of the water dripping down from her hair. Giving him one last look, she stepped past him without another word exchanging between them.

He didn’t know what made her get out of the water or why she was running away. Her departure would be just as unexplained as her appearance in the pool, it seemed

Roman still had questions.

Who wouldn’t?

Most importantly—if she left now, would he see her again?

EIGHT

Karine was sure he had bewitched her somehow because the man who was standing there at the edge of the pool appeared out of nowhere when she looked up from the water. He had bewitched her with his eyes. Dark, despite the clear blue, and deep, hooded heavily with sharp brows that furrowed while he watched her.

Unlike most people she encountered in her daily life, this man didn’t seem to want anything from her but to watch. She had to go towards him, closer to him—it was like the water was pushing her in his direction and yet she didn’t know what he was doing there—unable to ignore the need to find out who he was.

The only explanation for his unusual presence was that he was one of her father’s men running an errand. Karine hadn’t been entirely aware of the words that spilled from her mouth as she went towards him. He didn’t seem to be much of a talker, and so she kept rambling in hopes that he might finally say something back that made sense.

Whoever he was—she couldn’t help herself.

He just stood there looking like the most beautiful man she had ever seen, seemingly curious enough to remain there the closer she came. His strong jaw—and a mouth with lips she wanted to watch move, so she talked so he would do the same—was framed by a thick, dark beard, trimmed neatly. She found herself wondering what his pillowy lips might feel like pressed to hers, how they might taste, even.

Then, she saw Masha.

Over the man’s shoulder, Masha came running toward the glass door of the pool house, and Karine knew ... once again, she had done something that could get her in trouble. It happened to her quite often. She just wandered away ... distracted by a thought or something interesting that caught her wandering, wild eye. It was usually Masha who found her every time and brought her back to earth.

But the spell had broken.

Whatever trance the man had put her under faded fast at the idea she was going to have to explain her current state and situation. Pulling herself out of the water, Karine stood in front of him for a few moments, long enough for her to appreciate the sight of him that close, and then she headed away from him without a look back.

Masha made it through the door of the pool house before Karine could exit. A long fluffy towel was thrown over her one shoulder while she kept a tight grip on Karine’s forgotten dress and shoes in her other hand.

It took one look of Masha’s face to see the worry etched there. She almost felt bad.

“There you are,” Masha said in a rush, meeting Karine halfway to the door. “I’ve been searching for you. I found your clothes in the spa next door.”

The grass underneath her damp feet allowed Karine to imagine that she was free in a meadow somewhere far from here. Except Masha was there to drag her back into reality, and responsibility.

“You must stop disappearing on me like that, Karine,” Masha continued, throwing the towel around her without warning. “You know what that does.”

As the woman rubbed her gently up and down, trying to dry Karine’s body and her wet hair, she stood stock-still, allowing Masha to do whatever needed to be done. She couldn’t help but notice the way Masha threw a glance at the stranger over her shoulder.

“Who is—”

“No one,” Karine said quickly. “He’s fine.”

Wasn’t he?

For a second, she had thought she looked into the man’s soul, and she trusted him. Even though she didn’t know him—she did. Somehow.

“My God,” Masha muttered, not at all satisfied with the job the towel was doing to clean up. “What were you thinking?”

The answer to that was easy, and it came rushing out of Karine just as such.

“I like the pool, no, I love swimming in this pool. I’m weightless ... suspended. Free of everything,” she said.

Masha looked up at her, nodding her head lightly as though she understood Karine's rambling and eccentric ways, but still disapproved nonetheless. She was always so worried about Karine—her first priority was to keep her out of trouble. God knew the woman worked hard to diffuse the ups and downs that chased Karine throughout the day.

It was yet another thing to scare her—she knew all too well how much she needed Masha. How much she depended on her. And yet, she doubted that she would be allowed to bring Masha with her when she married Dima.

Masha had never truly belonged to Karine.

She was still just her father’s slave.

“You were supposed to meet with the planner, and then Di—”

Just the prospect of hearing Dima’s name was enough to send chills down Karine’s spine. However, Masha’s words were cut off by the door of the pool house opening, and her father stepping in.

All at once, Karine understood what Masha had been trying to avoid. Her father finding her in the pool house in nothing more than her underwear, soaking wet. She probably still looked like quite a sight. Even though she had managed to slip back in her dress, with some help from Masha, her father gave her the same look he always did—as if her mere existence dissatisfied him, and just being within visual distance left him unable to hide his displeasure about it.

His silent judgement had her staring anywhere but at him, even down at herself where she noticed how the lace dress clung to