I can see she’s nothing but a professional in front of her staff. “Okay, we’ll I’ll let you get to work then.”
She hurries off to get working. I turn to look at Eden to find him beaming down at me. “What?”
“You’ve come a long way, baby,” he laughs, then kisses the top of my head.
“I told you Laura helped me get over the jealousy thing. Anyway, Linda acted very differently this time. Much more professional. She also kept her hands to herself, which I liked.”
Eden looks at me quizzically. “So if she had run up and hugged me, then you wouldn’t have taken that so well?”
I shrug my shoulders. “I really don’t know.”
He shakes his head back and forth slowly. “Alyssa, you are such a mystery. I never know what to expect from you.”
“That’s exactly how I like it,” I tell him as we walk out to the patio in the back of the house.
The sky is beginning to show signs of the sun setting. Oranges, reds, and yellows fill the sky. The air is beginning to cool. The pool looks beautiful and inviting. The waterfall adds a dramatic effect that I know Laura will love.
“Eden, do you really think they’ll like this place?”
“Uh, hell yes they will. Not only is it close to where Kyle’s going to go to college in the fall, but there are twenty acres for him to do whatever he wants with them. This place has everything. A pool, a giant back yard for the kids they will have someday, a game room, and even a recording studio in the basement. Not to mention the completely badass four-wheel-drive Ford truck and the Mercedes SUV in the four-car garage. It’s not really a gamble, Alyssa.”
“Okay, when you put it that way, I guess you’re right.”
The band that has set up on the temporary stage in the enormous back yard starts to do their sound check. The light is quickly fading away, making the lights that have been strung up everywhere begin to glow.
“It’s time, Alyssa. Are you ready to take our places?” Eden asks me.
“As I ever will be.”
We go into the living room, sit down in front of the television, and wait for Kyle and Laura to find us.
The front door opens slowly. Kyle’s head comes into view as he looks into the dark room. “Okay,” he whispers. “Come on. Follow me closely.”
He moves into the room cautiously as aura follows him. “How are we ever going to find them in here? This place is huge.” Laura whispers.
“Shh, look I can see a light just around the corner. Be really quiet. I have no idea who it could be,” he tells Laura.
Eden and I sit perfectly still on the sofa as we wait for them to come to us. Time ticks by slowly. I don’t hear anything else for what seems like an eternity. Then I feel Laura’s hand touching my shoulder. I turn my head to look at her. Her face lights up.
“Are you okay, Ally?” she asks me quietly.
I nod. “I am fine,” I say out loud.
“Shh,” Kyle says as he puts his finger up to his lips. “Let’s get out of here before whoever took you guys gets back or wakes up or whatever.”
Eden turns to look at him. “It’s okay.”
“How is it okay?” Kyle asks in a whisper.
Eden and I stand up. “Because no one’s here or coming back,” Eden tells him as he hits a button on the remote he’s holding, turning the lights up.
I see Laura and Kyle are completely dumbfounded. “What the hell is going on?” Kyle asks, finally not whispering anymore.
“Sorry about the abduction thing. It wasn’t true,” I say.
“What the hell do you mean it wasn’t true?” Laura practically yells at me.
“It’s not true. It was a test,” I tell her.
Laura lunges over the sofa, grabbing at me as she screams. “Alyssa Shaylee Fontaine, I am going to kill you. We were told that you both had been taken. We’ve driven like maniacs from New Orleans, freaking nonstop all the way to Austin to get to you. And it was all fake?” she yells at me.
Kyle looks confused, but grabs Laura, holding her back. “Hang on Laura. We can’t kill them, even though they are asses. I can’t believe you two would do this to us. I guess you think it’s funny or something. Maybe it’s just to see how far we’ll go for you, I don’t know. I do know it’s not cool at all,” Kyle tells us.
“Okay, guys,” Eden says as he tries to calm them down. “Let’s just go outside and get some fresh air. We’ll explain it all to you.”
I take Eden’s hand and we lead them out of the house and into the dark backyard. Eden opens the door, revealing only the blackness of the moonless night. I’m surprised by the fact that it’s impossible to see anything.
“It’s pitch black out here,” Kyle says.
Suddenly the large yard is flooded with light as all the lights that have been strung up light up all at once. “Surprise!” everyone yells.
Kyle and Laura look at each other and then at me. “What’s going on, Al?” Laura asks me.
“This is your initiation into the society. This party is to welcome you and Kyle into it,” I tell her.
“Okay, that’s a little over the top,” Kyle mutters. “But really nice of everybody.”
Laura notices everyone is still looking at us. “Ally, who threw this party for us? We need to tell them thank you,” she says, almost under her breath.
“The entire society is throwing this party for you. You’ve been chosen to be our guardian, Laura. Your place in this society is second to Kyle’s. You both are very important.”
Kyle’s eyes go wide. “What are you talking about?”
Eden laughs. “She’s saying the two of you hold high positions and we’re here to celebrate that fact with you, in your home.”
Kyle and Laura turn to look at Eden. “What did you say?” Laura asks, always making sure she has everything right.
“This is your home. You and Kyle have been given this house and a couple of cars as well. This is a thank you from our foundation, for your service,” Eden tells them.
“Shut up!” Laura says loudly.
Everyone laughs. There are so many people it makes a thunderous sound, startling them both. Then the band starts to play, bringing the attention away from us, thankfully. The guests begin to dance.
I take Laura’s hand, then get Kyle’s and I pull them back into the house. “I’m so sorry for the false abduction thing. It’s an unfortunate side effect of initiations to add drama in some way. Anyway, let me show you your new home,” I tell them as I drag them away from the festivities for now.
“This is crazy,” Laura says.
“I know it is, but you’ll get used to it, I did. Come on, you two, I have so much to show you,” I tell them.
“Ally, there are four freaking bedrooms. We don’t need that many. This is all too much. We can’t accept it,” Laura tells me as we stand in front of the door that leads down to the basement and the recording studio.
Eden opens the door, then reaches in and turns on the light. The room is flooded with light. I hear Kyle’s breath being drawn in as he gasps.
Oh good, he is impressed.
“Is that what I think it is?” Kyle asks.
“If you think it’s a recording studio, then yes,” Eden tells him.
Kyle takes Laura’s hand, pulling her with him down the stairs. “We can accept it, Laura. Just go with it.”
Eden and I laugh as we follow them down the stairs. Kyle looks like he’s in heaven. He’s smiling like crazy as he turns to us.
“I don’t know how we can ever repay you,” he says.
“Don’t worry about that. Your service to our organization is worth every penny that was spent on these things,” Eden tells him.
“Ally, this is so nice and unbelievable, but we really can’t take it. We could never even afford the utility bills here. Kyle and I both would have to work three jobs to afford this place,” she says.
“Don’t be so silly, Laura. You don’t pay a thing here. As a matter of fact, we have something else to
give you right now.”
I hold out my hand to Eden. He places a credit card in my hand. I turn and hand her the card.
“Kyle’s already been given his. This is for your expenses, food, gas for your cars—you know, whatever you might need or want,” I tell her.
Laura looks over the card, then puts it in her pocket. “This is nuts, you know.”
Eden takes out two sets of car keys hands the truck keys to Kyle and gives the SUV keys to Laura. “You might want to go check out your new rides in the garage.”
Laura looks at him in disbelief. “I think I’m going to pass out. This is all so much.”
“Laura, you’ll be fine. Go up to your room now and put on the clothes that have been left out for you. It’s time to fulfill some of the duties this position requires. Tonight’s job is a tough one,” I say.
Laura gets a frown on her face. “What are they going to make us do, Al?”
“Oh, it’s bad,” I tease. “You’ll have to dance your ass off, eat some delicious food, and hobnob with some of the best people on Earth.”
She smiles, then turns to grab me up in her arms, hugging me tightly. “I love you, Ally. Even if you never gave me a thing, I would still love you.”
She lets me go, only for Kyle to take up where she left off, his arms around me before I know it, rocking me back and forth. “Ally, this is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of,” he tells me, then kisses the top of my head before he lets me go.
“Scoot, you two. Go get ready,” I boss them as I slap Kyle on the butt, shooing them up the stairs.
He turns to look at me in surprise. “You are in rare form this evening, Mrs. Fontaine.”
I smile back at him. “Hurry up. I’m like, waiting already.”
CHAPTER 59
KYLE
Stars fill the night sky as we walk out the door. It’s all so surreal. And I’m used to some crazy shit!
The band stops playing as Laura and I emerge from the house. Eden and Ally have taken their places at an altar. Galchobar stands in between them. The altar has been set up across the yard from the stage the band is set up on.
A tall man comes to us and ushers us to the altar. I’m wearing a black suit—the freaking thing is an Armani—with a royal blue silk shirt under the jacket, much like Eden’s. Laura is looking gorgeous in a silky, royal blue evening gown similar to Ally’s.
They take us up the stairs. Galchobar moves in front of us, motioning for us to stand on the other side of Ally. Laura reaches out for Ally’s hand. I realize we’re all holding hands, as Eden holds Ally’s and I holds Laura’s.
“We have a new member to welcome into our flock,” Galchobar’s thunderous voice booms into the night. “A new guardian has been chosen. The woman called Laura will be revered by our society, as she holds a very powerful position.”
Galchobar turns back to us. “Kyle, son of Joe, you have vowed to protect our Mistress. I will ask you if you are willing to take a vow to our Master. I will let you think on that for a moment while I ask Laura, daughter of Brent, about her vows.” Galchobar stands in front of Laura. “Do you, Laura, daughter of Brent, promise to protect the female mistress and male master who are now ours to take care of from this time until the end, both in human and bird forms?”
Laura leans forward and says quietly, “Who’s this Brent you’re calling me the daughter of?”
Galchobar’s white eyebrows raise in confusion. “Your mother has deceived you?”
“My father’s name is Stanley,” she says.
His head shakes. “Your father’s name is Brent. He was your mother’s first love in high school. She left her hometown of Little Rock, Arkansas without telling him she was pregnant with you. Stanley was the man she married when she was five months pregnant with you.”
Laura looks at Ally with shock on her face. “My real father doesn’t know about me?”
Galchobar shakes his head again. “No.”
“Okay, go on with the ceremony,” she says.
Galchobar looks at Laura. “Laura, daughter of Brent, do you promise to protect the female mistress and male master who are now ours to take care of, from this time to the end, both in human and bird forms?” he asks her again.
“I do,” she answers.
“Great responsibility has been bestowed upon you. You will begin your journey now,” Galchobar says.
The old guy stands in front of me. I smile at him, but he just looks as stoic as ever. “Kyle, son of Joe, do you vow to take care of the male master as well as you would your female mistress, from this time to the end, in both human and bird forms?”
I look over at Eden. His eyes are on Ally. I know he loves her and I’d do anything for her. “I do.”
“Another great responsibility has been bestowed upon you.” Galchobar turns away. “I present your leaders,” Galchobar roars and the crowd bursts into applause.
I see Eden pulling Ally’s hand up to hold it over their heads, then I pull Laura’s hand up above our heads and she and Ally raise their clasped hands. The people of our society cheer so loudly that it’s almost deafening.
Eden lowers their hands. “Let us celebrate!” he yells out to the crowd, then takes Ally into his arms and the band begins to play.
I pull Laura into my arms and sway back and forth with her. “I love you!” I tell her.
She smiles at me, then brings her lips up to mine, gently kissing me. “I love you too, Kyle.”
The song is over much too soon, but another one starts almost immediately. Eden leads Ally over to us. Much to my surprise he takes Ally’s hand, which he’s been holding, and offers it to me as he offers his hand to Laura.
Switching partners, huh?
I release Laura and he dances away with her. I slide my arm around Ally’s waist, pulling her close to me. Her hair smells like jasmine and her body forms perfectly to mine. Something in me clicks, and I want her. I want all of her.
My lips move close to her ear. “This is how it’s supposed to be, Ally.”
I try to read her thoughts, but she’s either hiding them from me or she just doesn’t have any right now. She lays her small head on my shoulder, her face so close to mine. One small move and our lips would touch.
Just one little kiss. Who would even care?
“I love you, Kyle,” she says and I almost fall apart.
“I love you too, Ally. I always will,” I tell her as I squeeze her closer to me, as if that’s even possible.
Her light pink cheek is just too close for me to resist. I touch my lips to it and feel a warmth spread through to my lower regions. The damn song ends and I have to let her go. I allow her to move back a bit before I take her hand up to my lips, leaving a long kiss on the top of it.
Her eyelashes flutter as she smiles at me. “Thank you for the dance, my partisan.”
“Your new name for me, my princess?” I ask. “And what does it mean?”
“It means you have an emotional allegiance to me. I like the way it rolls off the tongue. So much better than primary guardian or protector, don’t you agree?” she asks.
‘I do,’ I send her.
Eden and Laura come to us. “Can I have my wife back, Kyle?”
“She is yours, Eden,” I say as I look into the deep sapphire blue of Ally’s eyes, then turn to smile at Eden. “I will want to borrow her again, though. She’s a really good dancer.”
“Let’s mingle,” Eden tells us all as he leads us off the altar and into the crowd of people.
Eden takes us to say hello to Linda Banks. Why he has to continue to push this woman in Ally’s face is a mystery to me. I tense up at first because she has on a little short dress with sky high heels and I see Ally is green with jealousy already. I look at Laura, who’s smiling at Ally.
Laura leans forward to tell her something in her ear. “Be good, Ally. He only loves you.”
I smile at Laura, happy she’s being such a good friend to Ally.
Trying to reign in her jealousies, Ally look
s at me and smiles as I send her, ‘That old lady ain’t nothing compared to you, doll.’
Eden has to go and make it really freaking hard. He lets go of Ally’s hand to hug Linda, then holds her back, taking a look at her.
Dumb move, dude! It would really help him if he and I could communicate telepathically. I could save him an ass chewing!
“You’re looking sexy tonight, Linda,” he tells her.
I close my eyes at his words and see my Ally’s mind go red with anger, tinged with the green of jealousy.
It’s a nasty color. Yuk!
Laura’s hand slips out of mine. I watch her walk away from me, going up to Eden and the poor woman my Ally would like to see dangling from a branch up high in one of the giant oaks in this backyard.
My Ally would fight dirty if she was given the chance.
I send to her, ‘My princess, control that temper. That’s not fighting fair.’
Ally’s eyes don’t leave Eden as she sends back, ‘Wouldn’t she deserve it, though?’
Linda wraps her arms around Eden’s waist, pressing her body into his. “Thank you, Eden. You look delicious as well.”
You’re fucked, dude!
Laura eases in between them, almost gracefully. “Hi, Linda. I want to thank you for picking out all of the beautiful things for us. I hate to shop, as does Alyssa. Having you and your exquisite taste is a dream come true for us.”
I laugh and send Ally, ‘She’s a smooth one, isn’t she?’
Laura takes Linda by the arm gently. “Can I get you to come help me at the buffet table? I want your opinion on something,” Laura tells her as she moves her away from Eden.
Eden turns to look at Ally. “How nice. Laura and Linda look like they’ll get along just fine.”
Ally and I look at each other and laugh. Eden looks confused. “You really are clueless, aren’t you, sweetheart?” Ally asks him.
Eden narrows his eyes at her. “I thought you had those jealousies under control?”
“Oh, I do. I really do,” she tells him.
She turns to me. “Let’s go find something to eat,” she tells me as she takes my hand and Eden’s, pulling us to a table away from the sexy Linda Banks and her short dress.
His Sweet Torment: A Bad Boy Billionaire Romance Page 138
