by Jane West
I swallowed against the lump in my throat, knowing there was nothing simple about this man, but I'd allow him his wish. “Okay, I'll stay one night.” I gave a faint smile. “Let me get a few things.”
He tightened his grip, halting me. “Sorry,” his blues flickered from the moonlight, “You're staying with me indefinitely.”
I stared at him, gawking, “Indefinitely?”
“There is no coming back to this house. You're staying with me if I have to shackle you.” The kindness in his blues had evaporated.
“That's kidnapping! I can have you arrested.”
“Go get your things.” His response held a note of irritation.
“I don't get a say?” I blinked back shock. “Am I your prisoner?”
“Are we going to argue all night?”
“Fine,” I hissed. “You can deal with Sara.”
“I believe I have.” He drawled with distinct mockery.
“Whatever,” I retorted darkly, jumping out of the car and slamming the door. I couldn't wait to find Sara. I can't believe she sold me into slavery. What a mother—!
By the time, I unlocked the door, and stepped inside; Bane was on my heels. I quickly flipped on a light and jumped with a yelp when I felt something warm and fuzzy brush against my foot.
When my gaze dropped to the floor, I spotted a white ball of fur nestling up against my leg. “A kitty,” I sang. I gathered the kitten up into my arms. He nudged my fingers as his purr tickled under my touch. I smiled, softly hugging the kitten to my face.
Then it hit me. I glanced up at Bane. A faint smile played across his face.
My brows drew together, baffled. “You got me this kitten?”
Strangely, the debonair Aidan Bane nervously shoved his hands in his deep pockets, clearing his throat, “Yes, I thought you might like the company.”
“When did you do this?”
“After I left, I went to pick up a few things for the house. I ran across a lady at the market giving away a litter of kittens.” He sneezed, suddenly, covering his nose and mouth. “Anyway,” he sniffled. “I took the last one.” His blues twinkled, or it could've been his allergies.
“You-you-you did this for me?” I stammered over my words.
Then as if a veil dropped, his demeanor became aloof. “Get your things.” His jaw tensed. “We have to go.”
I hesitated, holding my questionable gaze evenly to his icy stance. It was duly noted that his air of authority and the stern glint of one who commanded instant obedience curled off his shoulders.
Boy-oh-boy, I smirked to myself. He was in for a surprise. He wanted me under his rule of thumb. I had other plans. Rules were for stuffy old women in high society clubs. I preferred a more straightforward approach, fly by the seat of my pants and hope the landing didn't smart too much. That was the new Stevie, the wayward Stevie's take in life.
Castle Manière
We brought my new furry friend, Snowball. I gathered by Bane's constant sniffling, he wasn't cotton to the idea. I figured if I had to stay at his place the same rules applied for Snowball too. We were a package deal. Take it or leave it.
On the road to his house, we must've traveled twenty miles, deep into the countryside, before reaching his home. When we rolled up to a double gate, I nearly swallowed my teeth. Holy cow! The iron gates were like an impenetrable fortress. It reminded me of a scene out of a horror movie. Just passed the black iron, we'd find a haunted mansion.
Bane punched a button on his key ring and the giant gates crept open allowing us passage. When we passed through, it wasn't long before a huge castle came into sight. Lights lined the stonewashed dwelling as if it was guarding some mid-century king.
“This is where you live?” I nearly choked on my breath.
“For the time being,” Bane answered curtly.
“You live in a castle?” I felt like a misfit. This place was a palace where royalty lived and where common folk served. I reckoned I'd be the servant.
“Yes, some call it that.” He smirked to himself. “I simply call it home.”
I laughed in awe. “There's nothing simple about this place. You live in a freaking castle!”
“I think we established that already.” His superiority was limpid. No wonder he stood out among everyone else. He was the real deal, an aristocrat that owned the air.
I eased back into my seat, sinking low in the seat. My palms felt clammy and my stomach turned somersaults. “I think I'm going to be sick!” I grabbed my midriff, drawing my knees to my chest.
We came to a halt at the back entrance of the castle. After Bane had cut the engine, he came to my side and held my door open. I guess he figured I was in shock. He took my hand and eased me out.
He rolled his eyes over me, studying me. He barked, “When's the last time you've eaten? I recall at dinner you ate barely enough to feed a bird.”
“Huh, what day is this?”
Bane's brows pinched. “You must be joking?”
I opened my mouth to speak and then closed it. I rolled my eyes and skirted around his question. “It doesn't bother me to go without food.”
“That's not what I asked!” He bit down, lips drawn tight, “Never mind, I'll have Dom prepare you something.”
We entered the side door, of course, the servant's entrance. We passed through a short hall. My guess, it was the mudroom before entering the main house. Only this wasn't a house. This place could fit fifty houses.
When we entered the kitchen, Bane pointed to a tall stool at the island. “Sit,” he ordered.
The modern kitchen had all the stops. A large double door fridge, suggesting loads of delicious treats, and a gas stove built for a king—King Bane.
“I'm afraid my chef, Dom, has retired for the night. I suppose I'm all you've got until morning.” He forced a tight smile and twirled on his heels to the fridge. As he burrowed, half his body into the oversized fridge, I watched quietly.
When he withdrew himself, his arms returned fully loaded with food, such as mayo, tomato, iceberg lettuce and ham. I propped my elbows up on the black granite, resting my chin in my palm.
“You know, I can make my own sandwich. I might be hopeless but I'm not helpless.” My eyes followed his skillful hands, spreading the dressing and adding ham, compiling lettuce and tomato, smashed between two slices of whole grain bread.
“Too late,” his gaze lifted, catching mine as he slid the dish over to me. “Eat while I go get that goddamn—” he stopped and corrected himself. “Pardon me, Snowball.” He suddenly twitched his nose and rubbed it.
“Okay,” I answered muffled, chewing a mouthful of sandwich.
After I'd eaten and downed a cold glass of milk that I'd shared with Snowball, Bane grabbed up my bag and we headed to the guest quarters. I carried Snowball in my arms. He was resting like a baby after drinking half my milk.
Instead of climbing the spiraling staircase, Bane insisted we take the elevator. Elevators and castles, oh my!
On the third floor, we stepped out of the box and onto a floor that stretched far as the eye could see or so it seemed. Lighting dotted the limestone walls, shedding a soft golden glow down the corridor.
Bane stopped at the last door on the right and turned the doorknob.
“Here you are, home sweet home.” He glanced down at me, one corner of his lip twitched, “Ladies first.” He held the door open. I caught his gaze and smiled tightly as I stepped past him into the room.
The suite had the feel of a man with expensive taste, dark paneling, rich, gold molding mixed with red Persian rugs. Thick fabric draped over the canopy bed, matching the autumn tones of the rugs and curtains. It had the markings of a king.
I turned my focus back to Bane, “It's nice.” It was exquisite, but not my taste. I never cared for dark rooms even with generous lighting. I wouldn't dare complain and offend the noble host.
“You should have everything you need. You have your own bathroom, equipped with plenty of supplies, toothbrush, paste, soap.
” He gave me a quick smile. “If there's nothing else, I'll leave you to your quarters and see you in the morning.” He started to leave.
“Wait! How do I get to school tomorrow?”
Bane tilted his shoulder toward me, partially out the doorway. “Jeffery will take you.”
“Oh, you're not going to school?”
“Yes, I think it's best if we aren't seen together in public, especially at school.” He came off as aloof.
His words struck a sensitive chord with me. “Oh! And why is that?”
He shrugged. “I think for the time being, it's best.”
Confronting a polar bear would've been a piece of cake compared to him.
“You mean best for you?” My hands rested on my hips.
“Stevie, we can talk tomorrow at dinner.” His face was tense.
“What's wrong with right now?” I reckoned he didn't want to give anyone the wrong impression. Hooking up with the hired help was disgusting and yet, he didn't mind playing grab ass with me. Then, the arrangement flooded my mind. “I want to know more about the arrangement you and my mom have made behind my back?” I held my gaze to his.
Swiftly, Bane's fingers bit into my upper arm, shoving me inside the room. As he stepped inside and slammed the door behind him, he dropped his grip, though still glowering at me. “I swear your timing is impeccable,” he hissed. “If you must know, then fine!”
“I have a right to know.” My body trembled under his glare.
He roughly raked his fingers through his hair, as he blew out his heated breath. After a moment, he cut his dark blues back at me. “I,” he clenched his teeth, “Do not have the arrangement with your mother, Sara,” he paused. “This contract was made between your parents and my family long ago. I'm simply an unwilling participant.” His repugnant words rolled off his tongue, cold cocking me in the jaw.
I stepped back, stumbling, finding my back flushed against the bedpost. “My father agreed to this arrangement?” I barely spoke the words.
“Yes,” he answered curtly as though he didn't care if he hurt me.
“Arrangement of what?”
“I think you know the answer to that.”
“Can you just answer one question for once,” I shouted, tears pooling. “I thought my mother sold me into sex trafficking for Christ's sake!”
Bane scrunched up his face. “What a foolish thing to assume.”
I could see the repulsion in his eyes. He thought I was disgusting. “How could I not think that? My mother is driving a Ferrari! Hello! How else would she have gotten the coins?”
“The arrangement is a marriage.” His words fell flat.
“Marriage?” My eyes widened.
“Yes.”
“When is this happy event going to take place?” Sarcasm slid from my mouth.
“On Samhain, most folks know it as Halloween.” His voice was cold and exact.
“Why that day?”
“It is a holiday for my family. It is a special day.”
“Oh what a perfect day! I'll be the one wearing black.”
“I'm not in the mood for your cynical humor.” There was a thread of warning in his voice.
“What? Are you not happy to be the groom?”
“It is not my wish,” he almost whispered.
Bane's honesty struck me like a dagger to the heart. “So why agree,” I scoffed. “Marriage arrangements are a thing of the past. Your family can't force you!”
“My family is very persuasive.”
“Well, un-persuade them,” I yelled back.
“You don't understand the precedence of this arrangement. There's no backing out, neither one of us can. We are bound to each other.”
Chills crept over my body, “Like that stupid heart thing?”
“Something like that, yes.” The muscle in Bane's jaw jerked.
“I don't care what promises my mother and father made with your family, I have a choice!”
“This may be hard for you to understand because you know nothing of your inheritance, but in our families, we don't belong to ourselves. We must abide by our duty.”
“I'm confused. Our families? We don't know each other's family.”
“Of course, you don't have an inkling of this matter! Your mother has kept you in the dark.”
“Then let me in on this mysterious secret!” I shouted.
“Our union is for the greater good of the new system, the coming New World Order.”
His words stirred an uneasy feeling down to the bone.
“You know what? You're jerking my string!” I clenched my teeth, angry and scared. “I need some sleep. I have to be up early tomorrow.” I turned my back to Bane. I couldn't look at his face another minute.
“One more thing,” he paused, his voice pinched. “I don't want you hanging around Sam Reynolds ever again. I hope I am clear.”
I spun on my heels, ready to throw fire. “Now you're dictating my friends?”
A sudden thin sheet of ice hung on the edge of his words. “I don't think you understand the severity of your situation.”
I met his icy gaze. “I'm not your possession.”
“As long as you're under my roof, you will do as I say.” He stepped up only a breath from my face, looming over me. “End of subject.”
“You don't get to call end-of-subject when it concerns me!” I stabbed him with my finger, “I control my own destiny, bucko!”
Bane straightened his shoulders. His blues were sharp as a hawk's. “In our world, we have two choices; you can accept fate, or resist and die.” He drew in a sharp breath. “The sooner you realize that, the better life will be for you.”
I shuddered over his subtle threat. Despite my fear, I had to stand my ground. “Our lives aren't carved out of stone. We are free moral agents, able to choose our own paths.”
“You are an idealistic girl setting yourself up for a great fall. A fall, I fear you will not recover from.” There was a hint of sorrow in his voice. “I bid you good night.”
I turned my shoulder to him. At this point, I hated him.
Before he stepped out, I twirled around, facing him, “Aidan,” I called him by his first name.
He stopped, keeping his back to me.
“Just so you understand my standpoint, I'm an unwilling participant in this union too.”
Bane simply nodded and then quietly stepped out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
I stood there for a brief moment staring at the closed door. The room was so quiet I could've heard a pin drop. I hated the silence, and the way we parted ways tonight. I knew I was behaving like a total brat, but if I didn't push him away, he was going to break my heart. Besides, his kindness was solely out of duty to his family, whoever they may be. I wondered if his parents would be attending the wedding.
I couldn't do anything about my situation tonight. So I decided a hot shower might help ease my frayed nerves. I stepped into the bathroom and gawked in disbelief. The black-marbled shower had so many gadgets that it took me a few tries before I figured it out.
I stood under the steaming water, letting the beads pulsate against my body. The swirl of clean soap encircled me, gardenia, I think. It felt wonderful, leaving my skin feeling renewed and soft. I stayed in the shower until the water ran cold.
When I stepped out, I spotted a white robe lying out on the counter, along with toothpaste, a brush, hair product, and a blow dryer. I shrugged on the heated robe, cinching the belt around my waist.
I spied a perfume bottle that struck my fancy. I picked it up and examined the diamond-crusted bottle. It sparkled like real diamonds. I whistled. “I've never seen anything like this at JC Pennies.” I had to sample it. I jerked the top off and sniffed. “Nice!” I smiled to myself.
Why would a man have a woman's perfume? I bit my bottom lip, thinking. Good chance the perfume belonged to a visitor. “A woman!” A little sting of jealousy struck. The idea of Bane entertaining another female chapped my butt like sand in my shorts
.
I dabbed a little behind my ears and grazed my wrist with the tip. “Hmm,” the scent hovered in the air. “Nice, a hint of jasmine!” I checked the name, Clive Christian. “Eh… never heard of 'em.
“I bet the girl must be missing this stuff. Who knows maybe Bane bought it for her.”
All at once, a dark green set in and the unthinkable happened. I poured the whole bottle down the drain. I giggled, thinking how wicked I'd become. “That's one gift that girl ain't getting from my shot-gun-husband-to-be.” I stomped to the window and opened a small windowpane. “Man, I didn't realize how high we were.” I glanced at the stars. They were bright against the black sky.
Then I remembered the perfume bottle still in my palm. With a good swift toss, it went sailing out the window and less than a second; it crashed to the pebbled ground, and the sound of glass shattering was music to my ears. I laughed to myself. “Oh, what a shame, guess she'll have to get a new bottle now.”
I climbed into bed and sank into the soft folds of the feathered mattress. The sheets felt like a little piece of heaven. I eased out a long breath.
Then the unwelcoming feeling of awkwardness pummeled my mind. I scoffed at the word guest. I think the term intruder might be a better description of me. What was I doing here? I was a misfit in the land of superfluous riches.
How ironic? Bane was a king with no kingdom, and I was merely a peasant with no home. We had nothing in common. I liked hot dogs, and he liked caviar.
I'd be crazy to go through with this loveless marriage. Even though I had feelings for Bane, I certainly didn't want a marriage of convenience. Unlike him, I refused to honor a promise when I had no voice in the matter.
Then the thought of my father taking part in this atrocity broke my heart. I suspected Sara had a huge influence on his decision. Tears welled, and I wiped them away.
I thought of Bane. He'd spoken of a New World Order, and this marriage arrangement somehow benefited our families.
The only person I saw benefiting from this arrangement was Sara. She must've gotten a fat check. How else could she afford a Ferrari?
I needed to find Sara tomorrow before this catastrophe got any worse. She owed me an explanation. I bit my lip, holding down my anger, feelings of betrayal. Sara's bargaining me off might be the breaking point where she and I parted ways for good. I knew Sara's illness caused her to make irrational decisions, but selling me off into an unwanted marriage for a few bucks was unforgivable.
