Eternal Love (Bend to My Will #11) by Emily Jane Trent Read Free Book Online Page B

it was a fun venue. The market was filled with souvenir shops and eateries.
    There was even a fortune teller. “Shall we have our fortune told?” Vivienne said.
    Jacob smiled. “I prefer to make my own future, instead of having it predicted by an elderly Chinese woman.”
    “It’s just interesting; that’s all.” Vivienne was curious and tempted to pay for the fortune teller’s insight. But they went on by, and she was instantly engrossed in trinkets sold at another vendor’s stall. A jade necklace caught her eye, and after haggling a bit, she bought it.
    Since it was the holidays, the buildings were decorated with all sorts of lights. Vivienne was enthralled with the culture, and endeared to the people she met. Often they spoke English, and she could converse. Or if not, the guide would translate.
    Feeling brave one day, they went out on their own. They took the tram up to Victoria Peak, the highest point on the island, where Vivienne took lots of pictures. Then they went back down to Lan Kwai Fong, the historic district of narrow streets and alleys, lined with restaurants, nightclubs and bars.
    It connected with the Mid-Levels escalators and was a hub of nightlife in the city. Jacob took her to a pub for happy hour, then to dinner at an ancient-looking Chinese restaurant. Vivienne had beef brisket noodles, a dish that she’d tried a couple of days before and liked. Wanting to experience the authentic cuisine, Jacob ordered snake soup, which was considered a delicacy.
    The snake meat was shredded into thin white strips and served in a broth of mushrooms, seafood, and lemon leaves. Jacob cajoled Vivienne into tasting it. “I have to admit, it’s very good.” Then he proceeded to devour the rest. “That’s something I haven’t looked for in New York,” he said.
    Vivienne giggled. “I’ll say.” She hoped he didn’t start craving the dish, as there was no way she wanted to find snake in their refrigerator, even if the chef was the one doing the cooking. But she enjoyed the cozy restaurant, which was quintessentially Hong Kong.
    When it was time to return to New York, they packed for an early flight. Vivienne felt as though she’d been to a different universe. Hong Kong Island was like no other place she’d been, so alive, always bustling, and the culture was very spiritual.
    It had been good to get away together to celebrate their love, and a new start. Vivienne was happy. And at last, she was treasured by the man she loved. She didn’t know what the future held, but she was confident that Jacob would be by her side.
     

 
    Chapter 6
    Hong Kong had been a safe haven. While Jacob had been away with Vivienne, any other issues had faded into the background. Now that they were home, he would soon return to Rinaldi Imports. He was sure that the past few weeks had been the calm before the storm.
    The premonition that something would happen nagged at him. Jacob wasn’t one to rely on intuition, but it had been too long since Kenyon had surfaced. That couldn’t last, and the more weeks that went by without any outward threat, the more Jacob  anticipated his enemy’s next attack.
    Vivienne was beside him in bed, still asleep. Her blond hair fell wildly over the pillow and her perfect lips begged kissing. She was a beauty awake or asleep. Jacob gently touched her cheek, but she didn’t stir. He slipped out of bed to go make the coffee.
    The cook wasn’t scheduled to show up until later, as Jacob had informed her they planned to sleep in. It was Saturday, which gave them the weekend to recover from the trip before resuming their normal routine. As greedy as ever for Vivienne, Jacob looked forward to two more days alone with her.
    The New Year’s getaway had been all that he’d hoped for. During the day, he’d shared the exotic food and sights with Vivienne. And at night, he’d enjoyed the amenities of the luxury suite. Jacob made love to Vivienne in many ways: on the table, in front of the window, and