many nights have I sat here alone, lost in work and thoughts of vengeance?
“Like what?” I ask to clarify.
“Alone in such a large place.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
With a saddened tone, she responds, “Small talk never does.”
Disliking the way her eyes close and the very idea that she’s done with the small talk itself, I answer, “All my life.”
It’s quiet again, and all I can think as I steal glances at her, with her eyes closed and her dark red lips resting nearly against my leg, is that she’s going to say ‘deep red rose’ any minute. I need to be careful with her, or she’ll run.
“You want me to stay here.” It’s a statement, not a question. She’s already thinking about it. I never should have offered that clause.
“Yes.
“And you won’t tell me how long?”
“. . . No. But I gave you my word. Your one condition I’ll allow.” My voice is hard, in stark contrast to hers.
“That’s dangerous.”
“You’ll stay here. You’ll do as I like. And the debt will be forgiven.”
The fire snaps and hisses with my treatment of her.
Turning slightly on her side, she toys with the blanket between her fingers. Her bare breast peeking from just under the throw.
Lowering my lips to hers, I whisper, “I already want you again.”
That gets her attention, and a bit of shock too if her wide eyes peering up at me is anything to go on. They’re a beautiful hazel, not unlike the amber fire before us.
“I like that you want me, Mr. Harrison.” She hesitates . . . and I wait for it with bated breath. Her escape clause to be uttered from between those gorgeous lips I’ve yet to use to the fullest.
“I think I like it a little too much. I think you’re going to ruin me.”
Let me ruin you. The command goes unspoken, and it’s only when she rests her head again that I look up at the clock on the mantel, an ancient thing, but the tick of it is barely audible, and so it stays.
“You have a phone call to make.”
“My father?” The cadence of her answer is dreadful.
“Yes, but before that . . . I got you a gift.” She’s forced to sit up as I pluck the box from the coffee table. This moment is a disturbance, but so long as this is taken care of, I’ll have more of her and more of this tonight.
The box leaves my hand and rests in her lap as she sits cross-legged next to me, the throw pooling around, falling slowly, until it’s nothing but a puddle of chenille.
It’s been a week since I purchased the fine garment and had it delivered. She holds the matte-black box adorned with a satin ribbon.
Instead of opening it, she only runs her fingers along the silk. “You just met me tonight.” She tilts her head, questioningly and accusatorily. It stirs something inside of me. Her obedience mixed with curiosity is alluring. I want more of it.
“I knew you’d be there. I knew you’d come home with me.”
“You said you knew I wasn’t invited.”
“I say a lot of things to get what I want.” My answer seems to satisfy her.
She unties the ribbon and lifts the silk.
“A silk robe? Rather presumptuous.” She doesn’t look me in the eyes until the final statement, her slender fingers still running along the fine silk.
“I prefer the term ‘confident’. It was only a matter of time, Belle.”
“You went through all of this . . . for me?”
“I said I wanted you.”
“Why me?”
“Because I saw you, and I imagined something different than what I had for the first time in years. Now put your robe on, it’s time to call your father.”
It was years ago. For years I’ve wanted her. If she thinks she can create an end date for this arrangement, she’s so very wrong.
“Tell him you’re staying here indefinitely.”
5
Anabelle
There’s a fine line of pleasure and fear mixed with sadness. Not for me, but for Calum.
We walk the ornate hallway of his home. He could stride past me without any effort. The man is so tall.
His wealth is so vast, this place could be littered with help, yet it’s vacant and quiet as far as I can tell.
Calum Harrison could have fucked me in a hall closet of that castle, and I would have loved every second without a single regret.
He could have offered me this deal regardless of my father, and I imagine I would have taken it. Especially now, knowing the divine pleasure