TEN – ASH
I hear the door close. What the hell am I doing? Allowing him to rip the front of my dress effectively trapped me here and now, there is no way I am going to get away without having to answer some questions. The scoundrel is likely going to hold the new dress hostage until I cooperate.
I had to have known that Grant would tell Gregory about the lie as soon as he arrived. I need to come up with some believable reason, something they won’t see through. I wonder if hiding from an old lover would be good enough.
Getting off the bed, a plan starts to form and I look around to see what I can work with. With Gregory out of the room, I desperately want a bath. Partly because I need to clean off the evidence of how much he turned me on. The other part, because that bathtub looks far more inviting than the shallow one I use at Nash’s.
Before I can climb in, I need two things. First, I need to find a way to block the door. I want a chance to gather myself, without Gregory barging back into the room…or seeing me naked in the bathtub. I have no doubt he would try to pick up where we left off if he came into that scene. Second, I need something to wear after I am done. I can’t face him while wearing practically nothing on my chest.
Examining the door, I see that it opens inward. A stroke of luck! I grab the wooden chair from his desk and prop it under the handle, effectively preventing any inward movement. I am almost giddy, thinking how angry this is going to make him. He likely deserves it, for one reason or another.
Next, I head to his wardrobe. He is so big, one of his shirts should be enough to cover me up. Opening a drawer, I absentmindedly grab the first one I see. I place it on the back of one of the chairs near the bath, close enough to the fire it will be heated when I get out.
I reach down to make sure the bath is still warm enough to get in and I am shocked to find it as warm as if it had just been poured. At one end of the tub, there is a shallow trench on the sides and it looks like there are some stones wedged in. They must put those in to keep the water warm, it’s genius. Looking over to the fire, I see there is a pile of stone being warmed as a replacement. Amazing, a person could spend hours in here and never get cold.
I long to do that, but I doubt I will have the luxury of time. Gregory will be back soon and once he discovers the door jammed, he will likely ruin any peace I was trying to find. Not wanted to waste another second, I strip out of my dress. It slips off easy, given its ruined state. Since there is no salvaging the dress, I leave it crumpled on the floor, no matter if it gets wrinkled.
And I slide into the tub. Heaven. Despite everything that happened today, this is the best I have felt in weeks.
I start to think about the situation I am in and the more I think about it, the more I realize I need to leave Cliffden.
I don’t want to, but because of my feelings towards Gregory, it would not be safe for anyone if I stayed. After what just happened, I doubt he would leave me alone, and I wouldn’t want him to. At best, we would both end up getting our hearts broken, once the truth of my abilities came out. At worst, he would be placed in danger, trying to protect me from the Ridders.
I can’t let that happen. I need to leave before he gets too attached. Before he starts to imagine his life with me. Right now, I am sure I am just one of many girls. Nothing special and easy to forget. It hurts to think that way, but it is probably the truth. After all, he has only known me for a day. It will take no time at all for him to get over my disappearance.
I don’t think I will be quite as lucky, I have never felt anything better than I did when I woke in his arms. Somehow, I know I will never forget that.
I sink lower into the bath and sigh. Maybe I’ll go to Westhaven. It’s big enough, easily as big as Cliffden and only five days of walking. I can’t risk flying and it’s a shame I don’t have a horse, I would get there much faster either of those ways. Walking will have to do. On the bright side, I might hear some news from other travelers I encounter on the road.
I will leave first thing in the morning. There won’t be enough daylight to make any real distance tonight. Besides, I need to pack up my few possessions and get some supplies for the walk. I only hope Nash won’t be too disappointed, me leaving him right before the rush of the market crowd.
Content with my decision, I close my eyes and try to clear my mind. I want to enjoy the bath as much as I can, as the next few days are going to be hard.
After a short time of just soaking, I look around to find the soap. Just as I reach for it, I hear someone try to open the door. Uh oh.
“Ash, what the hell? Open this door!”
“Just a second, Gregory. I am washing my body.” I lather up the soap, hmm pine. I like it.
“I am warning you, open this door. Now.” He yelled from the other side. A second later, something hard slams against the door, I assume it was him. Thankfully, the chair held.
I can picture him perfectly, he is no doubt red-faced with steam coming out of his ears. “I would get soap everywhere if I got out now, surely you don’t want that to happen?” I finish lathering my arms and chest, then dip in to rinse it all off.
Not hearing anything else coming from the door, looks like he gave up. “I am almost done, just a second more.”
Still no noises from the hallway. How interesting, I didn’t take him for being silent in his anger.
Humming to myself, I finish washing off the rest of body. I stand up to get out of the tub and reach for the shirt I am borrowing. I might as well let him in before his anger gets too bad.
The shirt is huge on me, it nearly reaches my knees. It’s ridiculous, but it does the trick and I am completely covered. Ready to let him in, I turn to head towards the door and am stopped short. Gregory is already in the room. He is standing near the window, looking at me like he is a starved man and I am his favorite dish.
Shit. I didn’t think about the window. I didn’t think he was crazy enough to climb up. I glare at him with all the force I could muster, “Did you just see me naked?”
Instead of answering, he stalks closer to me and says, “Nice trick you did with the chair.” We both look towards the door. “To answer your question, I did see every inch of you. I did warn you that I would not ask permission to get in my own room.” His eyes are filled with desire.
It will take all my will-power, but I need to diffuse this situation. I need to get out of here so I can prepare to leave town. I backed up, walking closer to the fireplace. “I didn’t think you would sneak in, I only wanted some privacy to take a bath.” I had to stop backing up, I hit one of the chairs. “I was about to let you in, you could be a little bit more patient.” I tried to look as pitiful as I could, hoping it will snap him out of the throngs of desire.
“I have never been patient,” he says. He is right in front of me.
“Gregory, I have had such a long day. Please calm down, I just wanted a bath.” I look up with pleading eyes, “If you calm down, I promise I won’t be mad at you seeing me, without my permission.”
That seemed to work. He needed a quick reminder of what ‘almost’ happened this afternoon. In truth, those men would not have gotten anywhere near raping me, but he doesn’t need to know that right now. He looks almost stricken and takes a step back, “I am sorry, Ash. I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” Running a hand through his hair, he sighs, “I keep losing control around you. It was hard enough seeing you stand out the tub, but as soon as you put on my shirt, all I could think about was taking it back off you.”
I started to respond, but he stopped me with one hand on my arm. “I forget how fragile you looked this afternoon, I don’t want to scare you again. From the second I left the room, all I wanted was to be back in here, with you. I let that take over reason. Of course, you would want privacy.” He let go of my arm and turned around. He added in an almost silent whisper, “Not some man doing whatever he wished with you.”
His shoulders are sagging forward like he was the one who had tried to rape me today and he can’t support the weight of what he did. His emotions are impossible to be around, but I can’t let him blame himself like this.
“Gregory, stop, you didn’t do anything compared to what they tried to do. A part of me knew you would force yourself into the room if I was bathing. That didn’t stop me, in fact, it excited me.” Seeing my words were not enough to ease his guilt, I reach forward to turn him back around to face me, “I am not a china doll, you can’t crack me that easily.”
“Maybe not, if you hadn’t already had such a traumatic day.”
“Did Grant not tell you what happened? You must know I was pretending to be shaken up earlier?”
His eyes glistened with questions, “No, he only told me that he lied because you asked him to. We didn’t talk long, I was itching to get back in here. Why did you pretend? How were you not frightened, especially after the second one got his hands on you and ripped your dress?” He glanced down at my hand on his arm, “That is enough to shake up even the strongest of women.”
Shaking my head, “That is not what happened. Let’s have a seat and I explain it.”
I let go of his arm and start to sit on the chair at my back. Thankfully, he follows suit and heads towards the other one. With enough distance between us, I start to relax. I don’t have to worry about his casual touch making me lose my wits.
Pausing for a second to form the best way to start, I wring my hands together. Less out of nerves, more as a quick distraction, or so I tell myself.
Letting out a breath, I start, “The other guy never got his hands on me. We tied him up, then once he was down, I knocked him out.”
“Why, was he trying to fight?”
“No, he wasn’t struggling. I had a couple reasons to hit him. I was furious and wanted to hurt him, and I couldn’t have him talking when the constable showed up. Truthfully, he is lucky I only knocked him out, he deserved the same fate I gave the other guy.”
“If he didn’t struggle, how did your dress get ripped? It wasn’t when I left you in the alley.”
“I asked Grant to do that. I needed to look a more convincing victim.”
Gregory said through clenched teeth, “I am going to have to talk to Grant, he shouldn’t have torn at you, no matter what you said.”
“No, Gregory, you will leave Grant alone about this. He didn’t hurt me and I really needed his help.” I can tell my words had no effect, I hope Grant can hold his own against his brother. He is so protective, I can’t decide if it makes me want to smack him or kiss him.
“He could have hurt you while he did it. I can’t let him off the hook for risking you.” He shook his head, “This is beside the point, why did you even need to lie.”
“I wanted to avoid the gossip. I am new to town and I didn’t want to be seen strange.” Trying to sound as convincing as possible, “A woman who is a victim is normal. People will talk, but it would eventually blow over. A woman who savagely beat the men who tried to attack her, not normal.”
Gregory was silent for a second, thinking about what I said, “That is not the whole story, your reputation alone could not have been your reason for lying.”
“I only wanted to stay forgettable and normal,” I responded.
“But why?” Gregory said, “And don’t try lying, I will find out the truth eventually.”
I lean forward in my chair, “Can you just accept that it is safer for me to stay under the radar?”
“Not a chance,” he said sternly, “What are you afraid of?”
I need to give him at least some of the truth or he won’t let me leave. “There are some people looking for me. I assume rumors of a woman beating two men bloody would raise their suspicions enough to come investigate. They know I can fight.”
“Why do you even know how to fight like that?”
“Everyone in my cla..er family trains. We live in an area that sees a lot of violence. It’s safer to be prepared, then to need to rely on someone else helping out.” Shit, hopefully, he didn’t hear that slip about my clan.
He stood up and positioned himself in front of my chair, caging me in. Gregory leaned in and said my name, “Ash,” letting the seconds draw out what he was about to say. “I asked you not to lie to me. Don’t try to speak, but nod if I am on the right track.”
“You have been training to fight for years?” I nodded yes.
“You are on the run, from what I guess is a group of people?” Another nod.
“And they are after you because you belong to a clan of shifters.” I try to jump to my feet, but he grabs a hold of my arms, stopping me in my place. “You didn’t answer my question,” he muttered.
I struggle to break his grip, “Fine, I will take that as a yes.” His grip is steel, he is holding me in place, but somehow is managing not to hurt me while he does.
“Ash, stop fighting. I don’t want to expose you. I could have already done that if I wanted to.”
What? Confused, I stilled from the shock and spoke, “What are you talking about?”
He loosened his grip on me, “I saw you, weeks ago in the woods. I found it odd to see an eagle flying around at night, but it all made sense as soon as you landed. I saw the whole shift, I even went over to you after you fell asleep.”
“Oh god, did you tell anyone what you saw?” I was frantic. If he did, the ones who attacked my clan could be almost here.
“No, I didn’t, I was leaving in the morning, so I decided to wait until I got back. I hoped you would have left before then, so I wouldn’t have to expose you.”
At least that’s something. I still have time to run, if I can get out of here. “But I didn’t leave. Why didn’t you expose me yesterday?”
He hesitated, “I didn’t want to if you weren’t a danger. When I saw you working at Nash’s I figured you hadn’t caused any trouble yet, so another couple of days wouldn’t hurt.”
“But why protect me? Most people wouldn’t have hesitated to turn me in, and they definitely wouldn’t come to my aide.” I try to stand up, and he lets me, but he stays right in front of me, “They could have been the answer to your problem today if they killed me.”
“Nobody is going to kill you,” he pulled me close to him and kissed me hard. It only lasted a few seconds, but I was breathless nonetheless. “I protected you because, from the moment I saw you in town, you became everything I needed.” I can tell he truly believe that and I feel my arousal rise. I am desperate for another kiss which means it is time to get out of here. Now.
Time to get angry.
I push him away, “I don’t need you to protect me, I would think that would be obvious after today’s events.”
“It doesn’t matter if you want it, you have it.” He tries to step back closer to me, but I mirror his movement to keep the distance.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I see him looking me up and down. “Did you get me a dress? I would like to go home. I am exhausted and have a lot to process.” My tone is frigid, and I can tell he sensed it.
“I am not done asking you questions,” he tries to approach me again.
“Gregory.” I put a hand on his chest to stop him, “I promise to answer all of your questions tomorrow, after I have had some time to rest.” Or time to run out of town, as fast as possible. “Please give me the dress, I don’t want to walk home in just your shirt, but I will if I have to.”
Looking sympathetic, he sighs, “I will come to Nash’s for breakfast. We can talk then.” I watch him remove the chair from the door and slide it open. The dress was on the floor right outside, he must have discarded it as soon as he found the door jammed shut.
Grabbing it from him, I ask, “Can I have some privacy to change?” I can tell he wants to say no, and stay, but courtesy wins out and he responds, “Sure, I need to go talk to Grant anyway.” Pausing before closing the door, he looks back at me and asks, “Can I walk you back to Nash’s?”
Shaking my head, “That won’t be necessary, it’s only a couple of minutes and I will be fine.” In truth, I would like nothing more than that, but it’s already going to be hard enough to sneak out of town, no reason to make it more of a challenge by keeping him close.
Not responding with words but keeping his gaze locked on my eyes, he shuts the door. I have no idea if that is an agreement or not, but I will not be waiting around to find out. Taking no time at all, I strip off his shirt and climb into the borrowed dress. It’s easy to get on, as Gwen is close to my size. It is fancier than the dresses I usually wear but it will be enough to get me home without arousing any suspicions.
Opening the door to leave, I take one second to look back on his room, taking in a final sight of it and thinking a quick goodbye and good riddance to Gregory.