Chapter 35
Chapter
Thirty-Five
ANABELLE
Ever since the night Asher punched Galen at the bar, we’ve been sharing a bed. He slipped into my bed sometime in the middle of the night that night, and we’ve been sleeping in his room every night since then.
Last night after we returned from the symphony was no exception.
Usually after we wake up and fool around, I’ll retreat to my bedroom to get ready for the day and meet him in the office later on.
This morning though, he surprises me when—despite the fact we wake up late because we got in so late—he tugs me back to his chest when I roll over to get out of bed and start to get ready.
“You’re not going anywhere,” he says into the crook of my neck.
I laugh. “We’re already behind. You’ve missed your swim, and I have to start getting ready.”
“You’re coming to breakfast with me this morning.” He kisses the back of my head and hops out of bed to make his way to the ensuite.
“Okay, let me get dressed, then we can figure out which restaurant you want to go to,” I call out behind him.
“No restaurant.”
I sit up in bed and watch as he makes his way to a dresser and pulls out a T-shirt.
“I’m confused,” I say.
“We’re going to eat in the dining room with my brothers. I want them to get to know you better.”
My eyes widen, but there’s a giddy feeling in my stomach. “Well then I definitely need to go make myself presentable.”
He pulls the T-shirt on over his head and goes into the closet. “Nope. You just need to put this on.” He comes out with my robe and walks over to the bed. “Here.”
“Asher, I cannot go have breakfast like this.” I motion to the tank and booty shorts I wore to bed last night.
He shrugs. “Why not? I am.”
My head tilts. “Because I’ve never really met them before, at least not since we were…whatever we are. I’ll feel like an idiot.”
He leans over on the mattress and presses a kiss to the corner of my eyebrow. “It doesn’t matter what they think. I’m doing it as a courtesy to them. Now put that on, and let’s go.”
His voice changes on the last sentence as he shifts more into his dominant persona. It’s subtle, but I can always tell. And like always, it makes me want to do what he says.
I scoot to the edge of the bed and slide down so my feet hit the floor. I pull the robe on, tying it at my waist. “Can I at least brush my hair or something?”
“No.” He places a chaste kiss on my mouth, then takes my hand and leads me from the room.
At least I still have my hair elastic on my wrist, so I pull my hair up into a messy bun. It’s not much, but it’s better than bed head, I guess.
As I step inside the dining room and all three brothers stop what they’re doing and turn to stare at the two of us, I’m so nervous.
Especially because last week, I literally saw a couple of these men fornicating with women in front of me.
Asher holds my hand at the far end of the table, glaring at his brothers.
Nero, who I know from Asher is the youngest of them at thirty years old, pushes away from the table and makes his way over to us. He has the same deep blue eyes as Asher, but he keeps his hair shorter on the sides.
“Hi, Anabelle,. I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced yet. I’m Nero.” He holds out his hand, and I take it, relaxing a bit when he gives me a warm smile.
“It’s nice to meet you, Nero.”
Asher relaxes a bit at my side, then leads me down toward his seat at the table.
“And since these two pricks are too lazy to get up and introduce themselves, allow me.” Asher glares at them both. “This is Kol.”
He motions to the man with dark hair that’s buzzed close to his scalp and caramel-colored eyes fringed with thick lashes. Kol doesn’t say anything, but he raises the arm that has a giant lion tattoo covering it, then shoves his fork in his mouth.
I return the wave. “Hi.”
“And this is Obsidian, but we call him Sid.” Asher points at the man with a wolf tattoo on his neck, dressed in an expensive suit.
“Hello, Anabelle.” His smile is charming enough, but there’s a predator’s gleam to his eyes. His hair is dark and wavy, much like Asher’s, and his eyes are such a deep brown that they almost look black.
“Anabelle will be joining us for breakfast in the mornings from now on,” Asher says.
Kol raises his eyebrows at him but says nothing while Asher pulls out my chair for me.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, sitting down.
Nero, who was sitting to my right, slides his things down one more spot so that Asher can take his seat.
Is this all because of the song “Dies Irae”?
Ever since I confessed to Asher last night about hearing that song in the manor, it feels as if something has shifted in him. I’m not complaining, I like the change, but I’m not sure I understand where it’s coming from, and I want to make sure it’s not a temporary thing.
“Help yourself to whatever you want,” Asher says to me, taking the plate from one of the house staff who clearly saw me come in.
“Thank you.” I serve myself some eggs, fruit salad, and toast.
The five of us eat in silence for a couple of minutes. Probably able to tell that I’m growing more uncomfortable, Asher speaks up.
“Sid, where are we with the EPA thing on the East Coast?”
Sid swallows his coffee and sets down his cup. “Everything’s been resolved. Our guy made sure of it.”
“Good.” Asher nods and pours himself coffee, offering me some, which I accept.
“So, Anabelle. What did you think of the symphony last night?” Nero asks.
I look down the table at him and smile. “I’ve never been before, but I loved it. I didn’t realize how much different it is listening to it live. It’s like it fills you up or something.” My cheeks heat. “Sorry, that probably sounds really cheesy.”
“Not at all. I get what you mean.”
“How did you know we went to the symphony?” Asher asks.
“Mrs. Potter told him,” Sid says with a grin.
“Jesus, that old woman is the biggest gossip in this place.” Asher shakes his head.
“Who are you calling an old woman?” Mrs. Potter walks into the dining room, looking nonplussed at finding me here. In her hand is something I recognize well—Asher’s green drink.
“Forgive me,” Asher says with a smile I haven’t seen him direct at anyone but me.
She shakes her head and sets it on the table between us. “Since you missed your swim, I didn’t know if you’d still want this.”
“Thank you,” he says, bringing it to his lips for a sip.
“You’re welcome.” She squeezes my shoulder. “Good to see you, Anabelle.”
I feel a little uncomfortable at having jumped sides and give her an awkward smile. “You too.”
She barrels out of the room much like she barreled in.
“Don’t do that,” Asher says to me in a commanding voice.
Everyone at the table stills, including me.
I turn my head and look at him. “Don’t do what?”
“Don’t be uncomfortable because you’re sitting here at the table eating rather than serving us.” He spreads some honey on his toast.
“You can’t just command me not to be uncomfortable, Asher.”
I hear a snort across the table and look over to see Sid with his fist to his mouth, trying not to laugh. Kol is watching our interaction intently.
“There’s no reason for you to feel weird.”
I have no problem with Asher bossing me around and being domineering in the bedroom, but he can’t control my feelings. I set down my cutlery. “That’s not how it works. You don’t just decree something, and people suddenly change how they feel about it.”
“Why should you feel weird about it? You’re here because I want you here.”
I huff. “Did you forget that not that long ago you were treating me like shit and doing everything in your power to embarrass and humiliate me, and everyone in this manor knows it?”
“She’s got you there,” Sid says.
Asher whips his head in his direction and glares at him for a beat, then returns his attention to me.
“There are lots of ways you can dominate me, Asher, but emotions won’t be one of them. I’m going to feel what I’m going to feel, and you can have an opinion on it, but you can’t order me to change it and expect it to miraculously happen.”
He frowns and takes my hand. “I just want you to feel like you belong at this table.”
My head tilts. “I’m sure in time I will. Today is just not that day, okay?”
His jaw hardens for a beat, then he nods. “Okay. I’m sorry.” He brings our joined hands to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
“All is forgiven.” I give him a smile, then turn toward the sound of laughter across the table.
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Sid says, shaking his head at us.
“What?” Asher drops my hand and goes back to eating his breakfast.
“The day you listened to a woman,” Sid says. “Hell, anyone for that matter.”
“Must be one helluva voodoo pussy,” Kol says.
“Don’t.” Asher whips up out of his chair and pins Kol with a stare.
Kol raises his hands in front of himself.
“I have some news,” Nero says, and I can tell he’s trying to change the subject.
I shoot him a grateful smile as Asher slowly sits back down.
“You’re all going to get to meet Maude at the masquerade ball, then I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
I smile wide at Nero, but I’m the only one around the table who seems happy about this news.
“What’s the hurry?” Kol asks. “She knocked up?”
Nero glares at him. “No, she’s not knocked up. I love her, that’s the hurry.”
I smile at Nero, and he seems to look grateful for it when he notices. He then looks at Asher. “I know her background check came back clean, otherwise you would’ve already told me to stop seeing her.” It’s clear that he wants the approval of his eldest brother.
Asher sips his coffee. “How do you know I ran a background check on her?”
Nero scoffs. “Because I know you.”
Asher shrugs. “Just because it came back clean doesn’t mean there aren’t any skeletons in her closet that wouldn’t show up on a background check.”
He rolls his eyes. “Well, she and her mom and sister will be at the ball as my guests, so you can make your determination there. But unless there’s a major red flag, I’m asking her.”
I don’t know what masquerade ball he’s talking about. Asher hasn’t mentioned anything about it to me. If he were planning to take me, wouldn’t he have mentioned something by now?
Asher doesn’t say anything, instead finishing his green juice before looking at me. “You done? I need to get ready for the day and get into my office. It’s an exciting day for me today.”
“What have you got going on?” Sid asks.
Asher grins at me when he says, “Today is the day I get to fire Preston Wallace from the board of his own company.”