Chapter 3 #2
Looking at his hand, she hesitated. She knew she had no choice, but an odd sensation settled over her at the same time. She felt—she knew—that if she reached for him, it would be more than her life she owed him. If she reached for him, it would be far, far more.
“Your hand, Rebecca!” he yelled as a flash of lightning tore through the sky.
Emboldened, she looked directly at him and saw something inexplicable pass through his eyes.
The anger abated, just for a moment, as his eyes shifted into an expression of, what?
Confusion? A softening of some sort anyway.
It was enough for Amanda. She reached out, her hand shaking until he grasped it, and at that moment their eyes locked again, and the lightning storm seemed to electrify them both.
He pulled her back with such force they fell through the mouth of the cavern and Amanda collapsed on top of him.
Momentarily forgetting where she was, and who he was, she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed herself against him, the immense relief of her rescue taking over everything else.
For a moment, he embraced her, too—but only for a moment. Then, he roughly pushed her away, startling Amanda.
“Rebecca?” he said again, holding her at arm’s length.
Remembering the anger that had flooded his eyes moments before, and the intimidating men on horses, Amanda leapt up, backing away. Then she ran through the cavern, suddenly more scared than she’d been in her life, even more than when she’d clung to the cliffs only moments ago.
Her heart was racing and not just in fear. He scared her, but…but something about the way he’d looked at her scared her more. It had been like he’d stared into her soul and was confused about what he’d found there.
Amanda could hear his footsteps echoing behind her as she ran. She turned as the tunnel split, running down the darkened path, a scream escaping her lips as his hands grasped her shoulders. She tried to fight, but he was so strong. Then he whirled her around so fast it took her breath away.
They stood in the darkness facing each other, this handsome, terrifying stranger. His tone angry again, he asked, “What game do you play, Rebecca?”
She was too frightened to answer, too overcome by his anger, his forceful hold, his features. His face a mere inch from hers, his breath warm upon her face. She shivered.
“Answer me, Rebecca. Now!” he demanded, shaking her as if to drive the answer out.
Amanda felt a tear fall from the corner of one eye and she squeezed both shut to prevent any more.
As she did, the man swore under his breath.
“What were you thinking, Rebecca? No matter how much we despise one another, Callesandra deserves a mother, even one who doesn’t care. ”
Amanda remained frozen still, this time out of confusion. Who did he think she was?
“Bloody hell, Rebecca, what’s gotten into you? You’re never at a loss for words, and always have an excuse for everything. And running away? Now?” he said, his voice low, but his tone menacing.
“Guests—your guests—are already beginning to arrive for the festivities, an affair you insisted upon! I hate these gatherings, Rebecca, and you know that. I think you actually enjoy that I hate them. Well, you win,” he spat.
“I loathe pretending to appear complacent while you flaunt yourself and dance with every willing partner. You know it’s only for Callesandra—the sole good thing to come out of marrying you—that I even continue the pretense of caring about you in public.
We haven’t shared a bed in years, and I know you’ve sought others. ”
Amanda tried to speak, to protest—he clearly thought she was someone else—but he was on a roll now, his dark eyes flashing with anger, and it was as though he didn’t even see her as he ranted.
“No, Rebecca. I won’t be the one gossiped about, at least not about infidelity.
Callesandra will still have one parent she can respect.
She’s the only one I care about, which is more than you can say.
And for her sake, I refuse to play this foolish game in which you so love to engage,” he said, his voice dripping with distaste.
Amanda shook her head, a gesture of denial. “I play no game,” she cried in a whisper, once he paused long enough for her to speak. She clutched his arms in a desperate attempt to make him believe her.
He finally reacted. His eyes softened and he seemed about to speak again when the sound of his men approaching caused them both to turn. The tunnel was suddenly cast in light and Amanda shivered as he stared at her, deeply, intently, as if searching for something in her eyes.
But then he grabbed her hand and she muffled a cry as he squeezed it harshly, pulling her out of the tunnel and onto the lawn.
One of the men approached from outside, leading a horse by the reins.
Amanda stared at it, then at the men. For a moment she forgot her fear as she looked around the estate’s great lawn, still familiar, but not quite as she’d left it.
The manicured grounds were being illuminated by at least four groundskeepers she’d never seen before.
They were tending to the lampposts, one by one, setting them ablaze.
Horse-drawn carriages, several of them, were making their way down the long drive toward the estate.
Amanda rubbed the back of her head, wincing as she felt a bump.
“Did my staff hire you and your men for tonight?” she wondered aloud, and, before she could stop herself, turning to the man who’d saved her.
“I know it’s a costume party, but seriously, your outfits are amazing.
” She touched the fabric of his breeches at the hip, then rubbed part of his linen shirt between her fingers.
“Actually, I’d swear they’re authentic.”
The man looked confused and then scoffed, muttering something under his breath that she couldn’t quite catch. Fine, be that way, she thought, suddenly much less afraid now that she was back on solid ground and with so many other people milling about.
“Alexander, it’s getting late,” the man with the horse said, and she saw the one who’d saved her turn toward him.
Ah, so that was his name. Alexander. It suited him, Amanda thought.
Alexander’s expression tensed again, and he nodded to his friend. “Thank you, Gregor. Rebecca, get on,” he spat out, looking at her expectantly. Amanda didn’t move. “Get on, Rebecca,” he repeated through clenched teeth. “Your guests have already begun to arrive.”
Amanda looked back and forth between the horse and Alexander, and then toward the group of men, Gregor in front.
Alexander glared down at her and a small bit of fear crept back.
She tried to hide it, but she was too tired to make a real effort.
She shook her head when words failed her.
She was not getting on that thing. For starters, she didn’t know how.
His men looked even angrier than he, like they despised her even more than Alexander, if that was at all possible. “Leave her, Alexander,” another one of them said. “We’ll see she gets back.”
Suddenly Amanda didn’t want Alexander to leave.
She gasped, grasping his forearms with her hands.
He was frightening, yes, and a stranger still, but at least he’d saved her life—twice.
“Go ahead,” he ordered his men, keeping his gaze fixed upon hers.
“We’ll follow shortly.” His men grunted in unison, then turned and left in the direction from which they’d come.
Once again, she and this man were shrouded in darkness.
“Take the mount, Rebecca. I’ll walk back,” he offered, as if the only thing holding her back was that she didn’t want to ride with him.
He turned then, leaving her alone, and began walking.
Amanda had to hold back a laugh. Okay, so he wasn’t going to hurt her.
He might hate her, but he was trying to help.
She watched as he retreated, patting the horse absentmindedly.
She could walk it back, she supposed, but she’d prefer to wait until Alexander and his friends had gone completely.
After a few minutes, however, she was startled to see him marching back her way. “Rebecca, take the mount!” he shouted in frustration.
“I don’t know how,” she whispered, suddenly embarrassed—though she had no reason to be given that this man barking orders at her was on her property, at her party.
He threw his torch to the ground and grasped her shoulders, hauling her around to stand before him. “Cease your games,” he said, clearly seething. “You love horses. More than anything. They’re probably the one thing you do love besides yourself.”
Amanda had no idea what to do; she couldn’t get on that horse, but she found she couldn’t pull away from this man, either.
Never mind that he towered over her, never mind his apparent anger, never mind that he was a complete stranger to her, she felt safe with him.
Like she somehow knew that he wouldn’t harm her.
At a loss for words, and so confused she’d already forgotten what he demanded, she only shook her head.
He looked down at her then with a curious expression.
Amanda stared back, momentarily forgetting that she didn’t know him, that she’d almost been murdered, and that she still had a piano performance to give.
Then his expression changed into something even more startling: desire, very real and oh so raw.
A flush went through Amanda as she felt it too.
He continued to stare into her eyes and then at her lips.
They stayed frozen like that for a moment and then, as if this was what everything had been leading toward, his hands palmed her head and his lips covered hers.