Ashton
Bonnie escorts us to Ryder’s office and I feel nervous and apprehensive. Just the brief moment I met him messed with my mind. I have never met anyone like him in my life. He sets me on edge and I’m not sure why.
She leads us down a passage where we see Snake waiting outside a door at the end. He holds up his hand.
“Only the girl, you’ll have to wait in the bar.”
Tyler shakes his head.
“No, I’m going in with her.”
Snake looks at him with a menacing look.
“I said, just the girl.”
Tyler looks angry and I look at him with what I hope is a confident look.
“It’s ok, Ty. I’m fine. Wait for me in the bar as they said.”
I can’t bear the hurt in his eyes as he struggles to deal with the situation we now find ourselves in. This is all my fault, and it’s up to me to deal with the fallout. I smile shakily. “Honestly, it’s fine. I won’t be long.”
Bonnie smiles at him sympathetically and nods towards the bar.
“Come on, honey. I’ll fix you a large one.”
I watch them head off and try to stem the nerves that have taken hold. I can do this, it’s just one man. I’ll be fine.
Snake is looking at me with interest and I clear my throat.
“I’m ready.”
He flashes me a dark look and holds open the door. As soon as I step one foot in the room, it slams shut behind me.
For a moment I just stand and stare. There he is, every bit as dangerous as I first thought. Why does he affect me this way?
He watches me, silently staring and his face devoid of any emotion or expression. My heart hammers in my chest as I try to remain cold and aloof.
He nods towards a chair in front of a desk, filled with papers and files. I try to walk steadily but feel my legs wobbling beneath me. He watches me intently and I try to look composed when I feel anything but. This man has such a power that surrounds him. He is menacing, forbidding and hard and so damn sexy it makes my heart pant.
As I sit, I look anywhere but at him. I can’t because if I look into those eyes I would be undone.
The silence is choking me. The atmosphere is intense and suffocating. No words are spoken, they aren’t necessary. We both know he will get what he wants. It’s an understanding lying heavy on the air that separates us. There is something about him that draws me close and wraps me up in the ever after. Is he my destiny? I know he is.
Then he speaks softly.
“Tell me what’s bothering you.”
I swallow and my heart races.
“I can’t.”
Once again there is silence. He moves and comes around to my side of the desk, perching on the edge in front of me.
“I said, tell me what’s wrong.”
I shake my head and he leans down and takes my chin in his hand and lifts it to face him. His eyes bore deep into my soul and I see the gentleness mixed with curiosity. He considers me for a moment and I try to shake off the feeling of his hands on me. It’s like an electric current that starts my heart beating once more. He raises his eyes.
“I know why you’re here, Ashton. I know about your marriage and what you did to escape it. I know that you must have been desperate to agree to what you did. I don’t judge and I don’t feel. You did something brave that most girls would lack the courage to see through. What I don’t know is why you find it so hard to move on.”
The tears fill my eyes as he speaks. He knows. He knows what sort of person I am. Weak, foolish and desperate. Not the person best placed to care for a child.
He continues to hold my face and I try to distance myself from his touch. I can’t think straight with his hands on me.
The tears escape and my lip trembles. I shake my head and pull away, saying softly.
“You’re wrong about me.”
He doesn’t speak and I turn away.
“I’m not brave. I’m weak, foolish and easily led. All of my life I have been told to be something I’m not. I have tried to live up to my father’s expectations and become the perfect daughter he demands. He rules my life and dictates my future. My childhood was full of luxury laced with oppression. What daddy wants daddy gets. I have lived in his shadow all my life. My friends were chosen for me and my interests dictated. Strictly no boys allowed and schooled with girls. My future was to be the same. I was to be passed from one domineering man to another. The Virgin sacrifice that sealed a lucrative deal. I had no say in what was to happen, it was expected. The only way out was to run. I needed enough money to start again. I wanted to run to a place he would never find me. I wanted to take control of my life starting with my virginity. It was mine to give away not his. For once I rebelled against him. I would give away the prize that wasn’t his to give. I didn’t know that it would prove so hard.”
I look to the floor and do everything in my power to drive the memory of last night from my mind. It’s too raw, an open wound with no time to heal. I’m not strong enough to deal with the consequences of my actions. I am broken.
He says in a hard voice.
“What else?”
I gulp for air. How does he know I’m holding it back? He sees inside my soul. Maybe he’s the Devil, it certainly feels that way.
I shrug. “Don’t you see. I failed at that as I failed at everything else. I couldn’t go through with it even with what it promised me. I wasn’t strong enough for that or to fight back. I can’t be that victim anymore. If I stayed it would happen all over again. I would be passed from one man to another and powerless to defend myself. I’m not sure what the answer is but I have nowhere safe to go. Tyler can’t protect me forever. He’s as much a pawn in our father’s games as I am. If he knew about Tyler’s alter ego, he would end up destroying him. We both did what we had to do to escape. The trouble is, I'm starting to realize there is none."
I feel him approaching and shrink back in fear. He stands before me and fixes me with a hard look.
“Then let me tell you how it’s gonna be.”
I look at him startled, and he fixes me with a hard gaze.
“This job is your best option. I want you as my wife for your own protection. My baby needs a mom and what she needs she gets. If you stayed here as the hired help you would be hit on by every cock sucking bastard out there. As my old lady, you will be safe to look after my Angel with no distractions. You will be my wife so can’t marry another. If they come for you, they will regret it. Your past is behind you and this is your future. I promise you will be safe and want for nothing. If you decide to leave at any time, you can go. Just don’t break my baby’s heart in the process. You play the perfect mom and I’ll play the protector. It’s your call, darlin’.”
My heart beats faster. I feel unsure and yet for the first time in my life, I feel hope. Then I realize what being his wife could mean and I stutter, “What about… um… you? You don’t expect me to… um… be a wife to you in every way.”
I watch his eyes flash and a wicked grin breaks out across his face.
He leans towards me and whispers, “I want a wife in every way but one. I’m not interested in forcing myself on an unwilling woman, that ain’t my style. I have whores who are more than happy to look after my needs. However, when you are ready, you will come to me. We both know it, I know you feel it too.”
Grabbing my head, he pulls my face within inches of his and says softly. “You will beg for it, darlin’ and then I’ll know you’re mine. Until then you are safe, however that part of our deal needs to be only ours to know.”
My legs weaken as I feel him so close. He is overpowering my senses and I can’t think straight. I say huskily, “What do you mean?”
He pulls away and I feel the loss.
“Those men need to think you’re mine in every way. In public, we need to keep up the appearance of a loving couple. In private you’re on your own. Like I said, I’m only interested in willing women and you my darlin’ aren’t ready for me… yet.”
I sink back in my seat and try to make sense of everything I’ve heard. He leaves me be for a few moments and then says softly.
“Do we have an agreement?”
I raise my eyes to his and stare at him with a determined look.
“On one condition.”
He looks interested. “Which is?”
I pull myself up and say as bravely as I can.
“You teach me how to fight. I want to learn how to protect myself.”
He grins and then laughs softly.
“It’ll be my pleasure, darlin’.”
He holds out his hand.
“Deal.”
I take his hand in mine and smile weakly.
“Deal.”