Chapter 14 #2
“So? You’re obviously a man with fine tastes and high standards. I would’ve thought that turning your nose up at a dress from Walmart would be a favorite hobby of yours.”
I can’t help the laugh that rumbles through my chest. I’m delightfully surprised by her poking fun at me.
I hadn’t expected it so soon, especially with her fragile state, but it seems I’ve made her feel comfortable enough tonight.
A fact I find extremely satisfying. “Ah, but you mistake me for someone else. Someone like your grandparents, perhaps. After all, I want my future wife to have nice things, but the quality is not determined by the price. If you’re happy, I’m happy. ”
She nods, but there’s a flicker of a dark expression that crosses over her face. “Right. So I don’t complain.”
Ah. Her repeating my earlier comment. I only said it to hide my true intentions, but she doesn’t know that. It stings a little. Clearly, it struck a chord with her. “The more I get to know you, the more I don’t think you’re the type to complain, Amy.”
I press the button to summon the elevator, and I can see her chewing on the inside of her cheek again. “No, you’re right. I don’t like to complain.”
“Then I doubt it’ll be a problem. I’m not worried about that anymore.” I want her to relax, to know that I don’t think that way about her. I regret saying it in the first place.
Her eyes are focused on the elevator doors, and I can see she’s thinking hard. I wish I could read her mind to understand what’s going through her head, but I can’t. I doubt asking would be any better.
The doors glide open, and I glance back to see her grandparents loitering in the lobby, clearly not wanting to join us in the elevator.
Good. Let them sit in their discomfort. I step in with Amy, my hand returning to its rightful place on the small of her back.
“I hope you’re able to rest well tonight. ”
She gives me a little smile, but this one feels more strained. I wonder if she’s nervous about sleeping tonight. Part of me considers offering to stay with her, just to make her feel safe, but I’m not sure it’d have the intended effect. I’m guessing she’d view my offer in a different light.
I clench my jaw. I don’t know what she experienced today, but I know whatever it was, she’s clearly still shaken.
I hate feeling helpless. “What did he do to you?” My voice is darker and has more malice than I intended, but I can’t be bothered to correct it.
Not when I’m as furious with Astero as I am now.
Her eyes flicker nervously and she starts tugging on the sleeve of my jacket again.
I’m surprised when she actually starts telling me instead of dodging it.
“He took me out of the city. To some abandoned diner.” She furrows her brow, and I suddenly feel bad for forcing her to relive it.
“There were men there, strung up on hooks in the walk-in freezer. They were trying to leave his group. He wanted to get information from them, since he suspected some were talking to the police…” She pauses, and I can hear the strain in her voice as she gets choked up.
My hand twitches, yearning to reach out and comfort her.
But I’m not sure if it’ll scare her, considering the violence she’s describing to me.
I know the kind of horror she’s witnessed today.
If that happened with my men, I know exactly what I’d do to make them talk, and it wouldn’t be pretty.
It’s the reality of the work we do, but that didn’t mean Astero should’ve forced his granddaughter to watch.
“You won’t have to see that kind of thing again.” A muscle twitches in my jaw. I can’t bear to look at her at the moment. I feel like a complete eejit. I can’t comfort her, I can’t take away the pain of the memories, what am I even good for?
I can feel her eyes on me as the elevator moves up. “My grandfather said—”
“I don’t care what he said, he doesn’t know what the fuck he’s talking about. You aren’t used to this world, and you won’t be forced into it. Not if I have any say in the matter, and I’d say I have an awful lot of it, since you’re mine.”
She doesn’t reply, and after a long moment of silence, I turn to look at her. She’s a little wide-eyed and surprised, but she doesn’t look overly upset by my gruff tone of voice.
The elevator dings and the doors slide open.
“Well…goodnight,” she says in a soft tone of voice, and it makes warmth spread in my chest as I watch her step off the elevator.
After the day she’s had, I’m not letting her out of my sight until I’m sure she’s okay, and not just physically.
I want her to feel safe, and I’m not sure if she does at the moment.
I step off the elevator and follow her. “Allow me to walk you to your hotel room. I know you’ve had a rough day.”
She jerks her head towards me, clearly not having expected me to follow her. “Oh, um, sure.”
“Is that all right?” I ask softly, in a gentle tone that feels like it belongs to another person. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard myself use it before.
She looks up at me with those wide eyes, like a sweet little doe. “Yes. Thank you.”
I nod as she leads me to her room. I already know her room number, since I had flowers sent here, wanting to give her a little taste of what’s to come. She unlocks the door with slightly shaky hands and steps inside.
I follow her in, and she looks slightly taken aback that I’ve followed her in, but she hides it better this time.
I look around the room. It’s nice, but rather small.
Not nearly as spacious as my suite. I know for a fact that Astero has a grand suite, and yet, he gave his granddaughter the cheapest room available.
Part of me is surprised that he didn’t just put her up in some cheap motel down the block instead.
Feckin’ dick.
“Would you like something to drink? I don’t have much, um…I’ve drunk most of it, but…”
I chuckle and let the door close behind me. “No, that’s all right. The hotel hasn’t replaced your drinks?”
She turns to me, taking a deep breath and exhaling it in a sigh. “Well, no. I was in my room for most of the first two days we were here, and then yesterday I was a bit frazzled, so I forgot to take off the ‘do not disturb’ sign while I was…out.”
I give a nod, understanding her a bit better. “Do you usually get so frazzled? Or is this entire situation particularly taxing for you?”
She cringes a little, and I find myself wondering why she always seems a bit embarrassed by my words. “Um, a bit of both, really. This entire situation has really been stressful and overwhelming, but I always struggle with anxiety. Especially in social situations and loud places.”
I nod again, crossing my arms in the middle of the tiny entryway of her hotel room. I rock back and forth on my heels as I think. “I see. But you do still like to go out and explore?”
She nods hurriedly, as if wanting to reassure me as soon as possible that she isn’t some strange hermit. “Yeah. Just…depends on what it is, and for how long. I’m not the type to go clubbing, for example, but I like seeing new sights and stuff.”
I feel my chest tighten as I’m reminded of what Amy told me at the coffee shop.
I want to be able to control how much I go out into the world.
It stuck with me, because why the fear? Why the need to hide from the world?
I didn’t get it. But now, I think I do, even just in part.
The world isn’t kind to someone it’s not built for.
She’s not built for the world, and the world isn’t built for her.
It’s like they’re both at odds, struggling with each other.
It makes me like her more. As someone who never listens to the world’s rules and instead goes by my own laws, it’s something I can admire. Perhaps we have more in common than one might think.
I step forward, my fingers grazing along her cheek as I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “I see. Thank you for sharing with me, leannán. Now, give me your phone.”
She raises an eyebrow and then furrows it. “Sorry?”
I smile a bit. “Give me your phone. I am going to put my number into it, so if you need me, you can call me. No matter the time, do you understand? I don’t care if it’s so much as a nightmare from what happened. Tell me you understand.”
She gives a slow nod and brings out her phone, unlocking it and handing it to me. “I understand.”
I plug in my information. I already have her contact information, so there’s no need for me to even text myself. I hand it back to her before caressing under her chin. “Good girl. I expect you to take that seriously. You have the slightest inconvenience, you come to me, you understand?”
She nods. “Okay. Thank you.”
I chuckle. “You’re welcome. Now get some rest. Enjoy your peace and quiet tomorrow, leannán, and then we’ll enjoy each other’s company the next day, hm?”
“Okay.” The way she’s looking up at me is making my cock harden, so sweet and precious, as she hands my jacket back to me.
I turn, leaving the room before I can think more about burying myself in her and tasting her sweet flesh. The more I think of it, the more I’m at risk of losing control. But I need to build my little leannán’s trust before I ruin her like that.
I’m not a man accustomed to waiting to get what I want. But my sweet Amy is worth the wait.