Chapter 6
CHARLOTTE
Slowly and with caution, I couldn’t help but shift my narrowed eyes to his.
“Wh-” Every bit of my worry loosened when I captured his wide-set eyes.
They were so light and dreamy, like something born out of the sun and mixed with honey.
“ Miss Kissman.”
He rested his hand upon my left one, which I kept pressing into the couch to hide the healed slits from the time I once stupidly considered harming myself to escape Brady Simmons.
“I will say this only once,” he added.
I heard myself gulp as my mind replayed the details of that earlier dream. He was this close in that scene too.
“The day that I, Keith Royalwood, ever make you feel the fear and sorrow and bitterness you felt because of Brady Simmons, make me kneel and bleed before you until you’re satisfied. In fact, do with me as you please.” His fingers pressed against mine a little more, as though willing to leave a lingering imprint. “Walk out of our contract, if you desire. Do not spare me.”
As his words, which made me wonder how much of my life with Brady he knew about, seeped into every part of me, I felt a little snap in the bottom of my soul.
Had a part of me been wishing to hear that all this time?
Ha.
But why? And why do his words have such an effect on me?
“It’s rude to be quiet for so long, Miss Kissman,” he murmured; even that form of his voice was so damn inviting.
Why am I not largely scared of being with this man who wants to use marriage to control me? Is this the effect of being sex-starved for so long?
“Miss Kissman.”
As though lifting my head after being underwater for so long, I dragged out a long breath. “Mr. Royalwood.”
“Keith,” he corrected. “We’ll be married soon. We should act like it.”
I ignored how he insinuated that he was certain I would definitely say yes and asked, “Why me? Why must you get married to me?”
All he did was smirk.
Then, he left my side, making me strangely desperate for the immense warmth I felt, the one I nearly leaned against.
As I watched him walk away, Susan lightly tapped the couch.
I looked at her. With a brow, she questioned the effect this man had on me.
I waved and dismissed her nonsense.
Mr. Royalwood was now seated. “Will there be anything else, Miss… Charlotte?”
“Uhm…” There were eight items Susan and I worked out. And now I’ve forgotten them all!
Shit.
I should have written them on paper.
“We’ll send the list over,” Susan chipped in.
“If they’re not outrageous, consider them all done.”
“Mr. Royalwood,” he faced me, “what do you consider outrageous?”
“Hmm.” A little strand fell from his slicked-back hair, and I noted that this new style was the reason his face appeared bolder than yesterday. “Surely, it’s you staying with that bastard for so long.”
My frown didn’t waste time appearing. “Excuse me?”
“You’ve always been worth more than that, Charlotte.” He dusted off invisible stuff from his chest. “It’s better you realise that now.”
“What do you-?”
“Good.” He rose to his feet. “I’ll give you five minutes to pack. I’ll be outside.”
“I’m leaving now? With you?”
“Have you been dreaming, Miss Kissman? This is a matter of haste.”
While my ears itched to hear him say my first name again, I snickered. “Are we getting married in five days or what?”
“That’s the plan.”
“Huh?”
“Charlotte,” Susan chimed in. “Let’s pack.”
“But…” Without sparing me a glance, he walked away. “This is too fast.”
Susan was now gripping my shoulders, her eyes blazing with a silent plea. “You’ll find out more later. For now, do as he says before he changes his mind.”
“But…”
“Lo-Lo.” Her voice became a warning. And I took that as a sign to stay quiet.
Besides, I was soon thinking back to how attracted I was to his aura, and I had to contemplate if something was wrong with me.
~~~
Everything that has happened in the past twenty-four hours felt more real the moment the car ride with Mr. Royalwood ended before a grand bungalow perched in the middle of a very thick forest.
The presence of the forest was disturbing enough; it made me worry that he could decide to dump my body if I ever went against our deal.
“If you’re concerned, it might please you to know that we won’t be living here,” said Mr. Royalwood as he pushed his door open. “Someone important lives here. We must get her blessing before we get married.”
“Blessing? For a sham marriage?” I almost laughed as I watched his long legs pace over to my side. As I watched him open the door on my side (I didn’t expect that he would actually do it), I taunted, “We might as well just tell this person that I’m a thief.”
“You’ll make a great comedian, Miss Kissman.”
“You’re treating this like buying candy at a store,” I said, my feet feeling heavy the moment I stood straight. “You can’t even say my first name, even though you proposed the whole first-name basis thing.”
“That should be the least of your issues,” he replied, his breath now cutting.
I expected he would turn away and not say anything more.
But his eyes remained fixed on me, his lips almost moving, like his words were fighting a war within him.
“What?” I demanded.
“Nothing you say will get you out of this. So, make sure you act wisely.” His gaze seemed to zoom closer. “The only thing at the other end of this is jail. Jail time with your ex-husband.”
“Fine,” I spat, my feet rushing past him because I hated that this was my situation. “Let’s get this done with. We-”
My speedy breaths hitched when his fingers wrapped around mine.
“What are you…?”
Without looking at me or even letting me go, he led the way, saying, “We must pretend to like each other before this person.”
“Oh…” The simple blend of our hands came with a distracting sensation.
It… Honestly, it felt like he was hugging my soul just by holding my hand. Just like how his words and touch destroyed something deadly in my soul earlier in the hotel.
This isn’t fucking normal.
How can I feel so… so… desired just because this man, who’s punishing me for stealing from him, is holding my hand?
My confusion turned wild as I turned my focus to the back of his hair.
“Keith Royalwood,” I whispered to myself, “who are you, really?”
The little creak of the front door broke my crazy thoughts.
After walking down a corridor that presented glass walls that restrained fine plants behind them, we reached a large sitting area, exquisite in taste, but homely and warm.
“Maggie,” Mr. Royalwood spoke, the vibration of his deep voice reaching me because of our joined hands. “We’re here.”
I peeked from behind to see who he was talking to.
An elderly woman, dressed in the finest silk gown I’d ever seen, stepped out from another room, her hair gracefully grey, her skin admirably wrinkly and a testament that she must have lived a good youth.
“Keith, darling.” Even her voice made me a bit envious.
But I swallowed that feeling. Now that I’m free from Brady, I think I can successfully dream about growing as finely as her.
“She’s here?”
“Yes, she is.” Mr. Royalwood turned to me as I tucked my head to hide behind him. “Say hello, Charlotte. This is my mentor and grandmother, Margaret.”
I had no choice but to face the woman as he stepped aside, letting go of my hand.
“Uh…” My hands became sweaty, wiping them against my skirt didn’t work. And evading the woman’s sharp yet friendly gaze didn’t work either.
I think I’ve forgotten how to be social. I did worry that I’d have this problem after spending years locked up in Brady’s house.
But if I can act subtly snarky with Keith Royalwood, how come I’m sweaty and hesitant around this woman?
“You are so, so beautiful,” the woman’s voice intercepted my thoughts. It turned out she had been speaking, but I had tuned her out. “Keith, if her beauty ever fades, I’ll lock you up.”
A short smile filled Mr. Royalwood’s eyes. Then, he walked closer.
I felt my chest ease its nervousness, and I turned to the older woman who firmly reached for my hands.
“My dear Charlotte.” Her grip preached comfort to my soul. “You are welcome to our family. I never understood why Keith’s rushing this. But…” Briefly, she lashed Keith with an angry gaze. “I think it’s clear now.” Her fury loosened by the time she looked at me again. “I can understand why he doesn’t want to lose you.”