Chapter Thirteen

Hegan

What am I doing? It's not supposed to be this way. The feelings rode up my spine like a torrent of sand. Each grain seared up the bone, turning me numb. I couldn't feel anything around me, only her; only Noella.

Shaking the snow out my of shoes and onto the kitchen floor, all I could do was smile; every piece of my body felt lighter than air. She was fun, happy, funny; nothing about her image screamed stripper.

Except maybe the pumps she strolled around in, those fucking legs made it painful for me to walk. They were the smoothest, sexiest piece of a woman.

And hers drove me fucking insane.

Slipping out of the cold wet pants, I crumpled them up and kicked them into the corner. A shadow spread across the floor, its shape forming against the sheen of lacquer.

My lip pulled up, speaking with my back to the silhouette, I said, “How do my briefs look from that angle?”

“Not what I expected, Sir.” The monotone voice shot into my ear, my surprise enhanced the sound as it coiled around my eardrums.

Turning quickly, shock seeped over my face; my eyes bulged from their sockets, brows raising to my hair line.

Dressed in a full tuxedo, one arm was rested across his chest, the other tucked behind his back; there stood Stefan, his face holding the same dull and lifeless expression as usual.

What the fuck? Why the hell is he here? No one's supposed to be here.

I couldn't understand why our butler was now standing in the kitchen of our summer mansion, he was supposed to be back home in Westerly. This was my time here, my place of refuge to get the one thing I really needed. And now here was Stefan, propped like a fucking statue in the kitchen doorway.

“Why the hell are you here, Stefan?” My eyes veered in tight, voice raspy as it pushed off the back of my throat.

“Your father sent me, Sir. And thank you.” Stefan tilted his head a hair. Just enough so the light hit his forehead, shining down the bridge of his nose.

“Thank you? For what?” Why was this man; who was obviously sent here as a pair of my parents eyes, thanking me? It made no sense.

“For saying my name the proper way, Sir. Thank you.” His hand came up and shuffled his tie.

Rolling my eyes, I dragged my fingertips across my scalp. Tracing the edge of my chin, I paced back and forth staring at him. I didn't know what to say or think.

I only knew one thing; I needed him gone.

“Alright, well I don't need you here. Go back home,” I huffed out, holding my palm up.

“Sorry, Sir, I can't do that. Your father ordered me to stay, told me to take care of you and...” Pausing briefly, Stefan gulped down a swallow of air. “Your lady friend, Sir.”

Figures, it fucking figures! Here my dad was again trying to control my life! The whole reason I came here to begin with was to be alone, away from prying eyes. How the fuck was this going to work now?

I was getting Noella exactly where I wanted her; rolling in my palms. Well, maybe a slight piece of me was feeling a twinge more than that. But that was it, only a small piece felt different about her.

There was no way I would let any of my feelings get in the way of my goal; a baby. I couldn't let that happen. And now Stefan? This damn stalker of a butler, sent by my dad. I called him a stalker because I swear, that guy just pops up out of thin air all the time.

At home he'd be nowhere around, then I'd turn a corner and boom; there he was, holding whatever I might have been looking for. And sometimes he'd just have an answer or suggestion to my problem.

I never understood how the hell he did it.

And it was fucking creepy.

“No Stefan, go home.” The sound of pure anger rolled off my tongue. I didn't want to yell at him; didn't want Noella to hear us. But I wanted him gone. Lunging toward the island dividing us, I threw my hands down. “You need to leave, now.” I spoke through gritted teeth.

“Hegan, Sir, your father gave me very specific instructions. You're going to have to call him if you want me to leave.” Stefan folded his hands together behind his back, rocking on his feet.

Rubbing my forehead, I dragged my fingers down my cheeks. “Fuck, Stefan. What the fuck?” Dropping my arms to my hips, I circled the counter. “I'm going to call my dad. For now you need to go sit in another room, and stay there.” Lifting a single finger to his face I asked, “Can you do that?”

Stefan warily shook his head yes. As he twisted to walk away, her soft voice echoed through the hallway. “Hegan, is everything alright?” Stopping short, Noella caught sight of the butler. “Oh, hi. I'm Noella.” Her hand extended out as her back went straight.

Holding her hand gently, Stefan shook it briefly and released it as though she felt like a hot pan. “Miss,” he said, nodding his head.

“Noella, this is Stefan. He's one of the butlers for my family, and he was just leaving.” Turning my neck slowly, I glared at him. “Right, Stefan?”

“Yes. If you need anything, I'll be in the library.” And with that he was gone. For now.

As much as he wasn't hovering right over us, just knowing he was a spit away made me angry. This wasn't what I wanted, it was the last thing I wanted.

Martha's Vineyard was supposed to be my escape, my fence to keep her in; keep her with me. But this changed everything. I needed him gone.

Now.

Noella's hand draped over my shoulder. “You okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”

“Yeah, I'm fine.” Forcing the words out, I peered at the floor.

“Are you sure?” she asked, angling her head up, eyes fixed on mine.

“Yeah, it's just my dad. He sent the butler here, probably to keep an eye on us. I hate that shit. He always has to have a bird's eye view of what I'm doing.”

“I can see how that's annoying. But it's no biggie.” I felt her fingertips swirl across my back, gliding over each bulging muscle.

I started to relax; felt a sense of calmness when I'd normally be stewing everything around inside my head. Usually, I'd let the anger consume me; then I'd go out, do something stupid and throw it in my dad's face. And if he didn't know about what I did as a 'fuck you' to his control, I'd get to laugh about it inside my head while he was standing in front of me.

It was a relief to not feel that rage, to not let it eat me from the inside out. For once, I was happy to have someone here to balance me; tell me not to worry and let it go.

My hands that had started to twitch, lungs that had begun to burn as I pulled oxygen in; it all drifted away.

Noella had the touch and voice of an angel. I can't believe I even used that term, it's so corny. But that's how I'd explain her in that moment, an angel releasing the anger pent up inside me.

“I have a few things to take care of before dinner.”

“Dinner?”

“Yeah, I have to feed you don't I?” A light chuckle broke the tension. Looking into her gray eyes, I caught my reflection. Her pupils had grown to the edge of color, only a tint of gray still spread around the outside.

I looked like shit. My hair was tossed in different directions, a thick stubble crawled across my jaw. Damn, I can't let myself go like this. I look like I got run over by a fucking train.

“Yeah, you do,” she said, throwing an elbow into my ribs.

“Why don't you relax in your room and I'll come get you when I'm done.”

“Or, maybe, I can check out this library I hear you have? A good book would be better than sitting, twiddling my thumbs.” Noella cocked her head to the side, pushing out her lower lip to pout.

I had to think about it, I had just sent Stefan in there. But what would the harm be if she just went in and looked around? Puckering my mouth, I cupped my jaw between my thumb and forefinger. “Alright, follow me.”

She was right, I didn't want her to sit around being bored. And possibly dwelling on whether or not she should let me fuck her again, or about having my baby.

A book could keep her mind busy and her thoughts from drifting. Outside in the snow, I felt her; felt her reaching closer to me. And it felt amazing.

I didn't want to let myself get wrapped up in her, but it was too late; I knew that already. I hadn't expected to start falling for this girl, and right now I could feel myself climbing that ladder.

Noella let out an excited squeal, wiggling her fingers rapidly. “I know I might sound like a nerd, but I love reading. I'm excited to see this library.”

“Yup, you sound like a geek alright.” My feet hit the marble tiles as we walked down the hallway. The pounding matched the rhythm of my heart beat. For some reason I was nervous, and fucking sweating like a teenage boy.

“Hey! I didn't say geek, I said nerd. Those are two totally different types of people.”

“Sure, if it makes you feel better.” My eyes opened wide, brows lifting to the ceiling.

Her hand came up and swatted my back. “It is.” She sternly said as she pushed her chin up higher.

We walked up to two large double doors, meticulously etched with old Mayan details. A large Mayan calendar and astronomical signs were deeply carved into the mahogany wood.

“Wow,” Noella said, as her fingertips traced the pictures.

“My dad's been big into that shit for years. He's all about their prophecies and the stars.” Yanking on the large metal pull, the door swung open with a soft creak.

I watched her jaw drop, hitting her neck. Noella spun in a circle as we entered the massive room. Her eyes shifted between all the shelves stacked with books, making their way over to the telescope resting in the window.

“This is incredible. Why didn't you show me this before?” she asked, bringing her face inches from the array of books at eye level.

“I didn't know you'd be interested.”

“I told you, there's a lot you don't know about me, Hegan.” Her lids slit tight, narrowing to look at me down her nose. “But you didn't exactly care to find out either.” She tugged a book off the shelf and flipped through the pages.

That statement stung, and at the time I didn't understand why. She was right, I found out the bare minimum. I only knew about her mom because of Gloria and her runaway mouth. If Gloria hadn't let that slip during our conversation, I wouldn't have this leverage.

“Excuse me, Sir, can I be of any assistance?” For that brief moment I'd forgotten that Stefan was even there. He'd been tucked away in the corner, blending in with the statues my dad acquired over the years.

“No. We're fine, Stefan. Noella wants to check out the books.” Turning to look at her I asked, “Do you see anything? I need to go get a few things done—”

“Go ahead, I can find my way back,” she said, cutting me off. “I'd like to look around if you don't mind.”

I was hesitant, I didn't want to leave her alone with him. What if Stefan got nosy? Started asking her questions?

The last thing I needed was my dad finding out what the hell I was doing. He needed to think this was the real deal; a real woman hanging over my arm.

Not a stripper I'd bought for myself only to have a baby; the baby he demanded I gave him.

My stomach started to churn; fear of what my dad might do or take away from me; began boiling inside my gut.

“Don't worry, Hegan. I'll make sure she gets back to her room just fine.” Stefan stepped forward, nodding his head.

What the fuck should I do? Do I let her roam around in here with him?

Leaning into her ear I whispered. “Don't tell this man too much, he can't be trusted.”

Glaring up at me under hooded lids, she dropped her eyes back to the book. Gripping her shoulder I shot a glance back at Stefan and walked out of the room.

I wasn't going to be gone long, that I was sure of.

I only needed to make one call.

To my father.