The Cursed Pharaoh's Bride

Chapter 36: Ex's and Oh's Pt. 1

Author's Note: Hello, Readers! It's another Double-Chapter-Monday! I just wanted to take a moment to thank all the readers who have been following my story so far. I'm a new author on Wattpad and this is the first story I've posted. I never would have dreamed that it would really get seen by anyone so I'm grateful to the support I've been receiving so far! I hope you all continue to enjoy the story because there is still so much more to come!! -- M.H.

Carolina

"I can't believe Elijah Seka has a spa in his home," Tori gushes as she slips into her bath robe.

"You don't have to be dramatic, it's not a spa. He's just letting us use the largest guest bathroom for a little pampering," I protest as I watch her take a seat in the plush chair next to me.

One of the manicurists Elijah hired starts working on my feet. I told Elijah I wanted to have a girls' day with Tori. I've been cooped up in Elijah's home for over two weeks, and while it's a nice place, I'm becoming restless. Elijah, however, doesn't want me to go out anywhere unattended, and I think deep down he's still struggling to trust Charles to handle his bodyguard duties alone. So, he suggested inviting Tori over to have a girls' day in instead.

"I'm sorry we couldn't go out today," I say while trying to get comfortable in my chair.

"Relax, Carol, this treatment is way better than any spa or salon we could've gone to," Tori insists. Her manicurist is just starting to smooth down the skin of her feet while a masseuse starts rubbing her shoulders. Tori looks like she's completely enjoying herself, while I'm silently resisting the people who are trying to pamper me.

"I'm honestly glad we got to see each other," I mumble.

"Is everything okay, Carolina?" Tori asks. "You seem tense. Trouble in paradise?"

I know her question is innocent and comes from a place of concern. But I have to fight the urge to roll my eyes at the word "paradise". Anyone would think living in all this luxury is paradise.

"I'm just feeling kind of stir crazy," I say. "This was all nice for the first week, but I miss going to school and being around other people."

"Don't you have your mummy or pharaoh or whatever to keep you company?"

My face burns at the mention of Elijah. That's another matter altogether. The time I've spent with him during the day has been almost like a fairy tale. He showed me around his building and introduced me to his staff. We've had a few date nights in together and I finally got him to watch a movie. He was both somewhat confused but enamored by the idea of film – it was adorable.

But when it was time to go to bed, I always struggle to fall asleep. I'm just so aware that he's in the next room. I can feel a sense of restlessness and longing though I can't tell if those are his feelings or my own. And it doesn't help that I keep having the same dream over and over again: his hot, rough hands brushing over my curves, his lips trailing kisses down my neck while we lay under the sheets pressed up against each other. I get the feeling Elijah has those kinds of dreams, too. I once visited his room first thing in the morning and I found him dripping wet in nothing but a towel looking...stiff. I can only assume the shower he took that morning was a cold one.

"I did, at first," I reply after shaking the thought of Elijah's rock hard abs out of my mind. "Elijah was around more because he was still worried about me. But he's been back at work now and he comes home pretty late. I'm usually by myself most of the day."

"What about school?" Tori asks. "Don't you have class? I haven't seen you and a lot of people are talking..."

"Elijah made me switch to online school," I sigh.