EIGHT – ASH
I am in more trouble now than I was when those merchants attacked me. Those I could handle but Gregory’s tender care, I am no match for. Being carried in his arms feels better than flying. He is carrying me as if I weigh nothing and I can tell it’s taking no effort. If I hadn’t already found him to be irresistible, I would now.
I feel guilty, making him think I was hurt and shaken up. I can tell he takes the blame because he left me there and I supposedly got hurt. Once we get back to his house, I will have to tell him the truth. It would be easier if I didn’t but I am sure that if I don’t, Grant surely will. If that happened, I have no idea how he would react. My luck, he would come storming into Nash’s and start yelling at me, demanding answers.
I start to notice what we are walking towards. We are nearing the lord’s manor. Looking up at Gregory, I ask him, “This is where you live? Please tell me you are one of the stable boys or something, not related to the town’s ruler?”
“Hate to break it to you, but my father is Lord Cliffden.” A sudden wave of disappointment washed over me. Just when I was starting to accept my feelings for him, my hopes were dashed. I know our relationship would never be possible, just my presence could bring untold danger for everyone and I couldn’t risk the town’s ruling family. I wouldn’t do that, it would only put everyone in Cliffden in danger.
Choking back what I really want to say, “Oh that somehow explains everything. Stable boys don’t have the haughty attitude you possess.” If my words affected him, he didn’t show it. He just looked down at me and said, “At least the shock hasn’t softened your tongue.” As soon as he said it, his grip on me got a little tighter. I can’t tell if it is protective regret, or to silence me.
I turn my head to look back at the road. We can talk once we get inside, I don’t want to risk a scene where others can see it. Since I am all but stuck in his arms, I might as well enjoy the ride. I relax in his arms and get comfortable. The gentle rocking of his steps brings me close to sleeping.
Thankfully we approach one of the side doors a few minutes later, if it had taken any longer I doubtless would have drifted off. I think he is going to put me down but instead, he shifts his hold and opens the door. He then starts to carry me up the stairs. Is there no end to his strength? He does not put me down until we enter one of the rooms, then he sets me down gently on a bed.
“Stay here, I am going to close the curtains then send for some hot water.” Looking up, I see the curtains he mentioned, they are a soft green color and they wrap around the entire bed. With them closed, he walks towards the door. In a couple steps he has it open then yells impossibly loud, “ROSE, CAN YOU BRING UP SOME WATER FOR MY BATH?”
He heads back towards the bed, leaving the door open with confidence that his request was heard. I am sure it was, a scream that loud could wake the dead. He pops his head in and says, “If you don’t want people to know you were here, I would suggest staying quiet while the tub gets filled.”
He meets my eyes, then I see him sucking in a breath. Using his temporary silence, I mutter out, “Gregory, is this your room?” He stills. “Yes. I didn’t know where else to bring you. If I brought you to one of the guest rooms, my mother would have been alerted to your presence. I figured discretion would be better.”
“I see,” not breaking eye contact, I slide higher up the bed and lay my head against the solid wood headboard. “You were right, the fewer people who know I am here, the better.” I reach down to touch his pillows, “But I am sure there was somewhere else you could have placed me. Anywhere besides your bed?” I don’t have to look back up to know he is staring at me. I can practically feel the heat of his gaze on me.
How can I resist the temptation to tease him? I tilt my head back up, ever so slightly to meet his gaze. I hold it for a second, feeling the heat between us rise before whispering, “Perhaps sticking your head in the curtains is a bit obvious?” His eyes widen as if he didn’t think about that, “It is a strange sight. Remember, don’t make any noise. I’ll tell you when the bath is full.”
When his head slips out, I find myself at a loss for what to do. His bed is something special. It’s massive; it would have to be, given how large he is. The bedspread matches the curtains perfectly. It’s as dark of a green as the curtains are light. That plus the varied browns of the pillows make the bed feel like a grove in the middle of the forest. It’s perhaps the most beautiful bed I have been in. His sense of style surprises me.
To make the bed even better, it’s as soft as a cloud. I could sink in and sleep for days. Trying to fight the urge to do just that, I force myself to stay sitting up, leaning against the headboard. I yawn and think to myself, what would he do if he discovered I had fallen asleep? Would he crawl on the bed and hold me? I would hope not, that would be awfully awkward as I am determined never to be with him.