8. Chapter Eight
Chapter Eight
Anastasia
I t’s clear to me that Adrien will hunt me down no matter where I go so I might as well try having a little bit of fun.
I’m going back into the city whether he wants me to or not.
I storm out the front door and approach one of the guards on duty. Gabriel looks me over with a wariness. All of Adrien’s guards know I’m trouble.
“I want to go into the city. Take me there. I’m not stupid enough to go without a guard. I know I’m going to be brought right back home otherwise. So guard me will I go have fun.”
“I have to get Adrien’s permission.”
I roll my eyes. “Sure. Since you’re his little lackey. Get his permission.”
Gabriel calls Adrien on the phone so I can’t hear what Adrien says but after a moment, Gabriel hangs up and nods. “We can go.”
“Great. So, let’s go.”
The moment we get into Paris proper, I get out of the car and head to the nearest clothing store. Gabriel follows, looking uncomfortable in a room full of women’s clothing.
I try on dress after dress, shirt after shirt, pants after pants, until I have two bags full of clothes. I motion at Gabriel. “Buy these for me.”
“I don’t have that kind of money.”
“No. But Adrien does.”
Gabriel sighs and buys the clothes for me and then we head out. I can tell it’s taking all of his energy to guard me today. Maybe having a guard around isn’t such a bad thing.
I go into more clothing stores, buy more clothes that Gabriel has to pay for. I tell him that Adrien will pay him back which eases some of his tension slightly.
I’m feeling like a real woman shopping around a large city, having some sense of freedom, when a car approaches me on the sidewalk. Gabriel stands in front of me, though I don’t understand what the big deal is. It’s just a car.
Until a man steps out of it and sizes me over. He’s dressed in a nice suit with slicked back hair. There’s a sense of power about this man.
A sense of danger.
“You’re Anastasia, Adrien’s wife, yes?”
“Get back in your car,” Gabriel warns, his hand on his hip where his gun is.
The man doesn’t take his eyes off me. “I’ve heard he’s been keeping you prisoner.”
“Who are you?” I ask.
“Don’t,” Gabriel says to me. “Don’t talk to him. Just keep walking.”
“If you ever want to have some fun,” the man says, “then feel free to have fun with me.”
Gabriel nudges me forward and we walk away. The man doesn’t try to follow us.
“Who was that?” I ask.
“Remy Allard. One of Adrien’s enemies. Steer clear of him. He’s dangerous.”
“Dangerous how?”
“Just dangerous.”
I scoff. Will no one tell me anything around here? “So, he knows who I am?”
“This is why Adrien wants to keep you safe. From men like him. So don’t do anything stupid, you got it?”
“Fine, fine,” I grumble, even though I have a plan forming in my mind.
When I return to the house, Adrien doesn’t let me get past the foyer before asking me if I’m all right.
“Why wouldn’t I be all right?”
“Because Gabriel told me you ran into Remy.”
“You know, if you’re so worried about me getting hurt by your enemies, then maybe you should have told me about them in the first place. Give me names. Show me pictures. It’s like you’re asking for me to get hurt.”
“I can tell you’re fine,” he says dryly. “You wouldn’t be full of this much sass if you weren’t.”
I stick my tongue out at him. Is it petty and childish? Yes. Do I care? No.
Adrien narrows his eyes and slowly approaches me until I’m cornered against the wall. “Did you just stick your tongue out at me?”
“Yes. And so what?”
“I didn’t realize you were a child. I thought you were a woman looking for an adventure.”
I shrug. “Maybe I can be both.” Being this close to Adrien does strange things to me. All I want is to sink into his body but to do that, I’d have to keep a level head around him and I’m just not sure I can do that.
“I don’t want a childish woman for a bride.”
“No, you just want a woman who will be a sex slave to you and nothing else.”
His eyes look over my face, focusing on my lips for a long moment. “You think you’re so cute.”
“I know I’m cute.”
“I could kiss you right now. Would you stop me if I did?”
I swallow hard. Everything in me wants Adrien to kiss me until I can’t breathe. But I have to keep a clear head. I have to. Or I’m going to lose my heart to him and he’ll never love me in return.
“I would slap you,” I whisper.
“Then prove it.” He grabs my chin and presses his lips to mine. For a moment, I let myself sink into his kiss. Marvel at it. Enjoy it.
Until Adrien ends it and gives me a smirk. “You liked it. You didn’t slap me.”
That causes a surge of anger to wash over me and I slap him across the face. Adrien doesn’t even look fazed. In fact, he seems more excited by my anger.
“No more going out,” he says. “Remy approached you. He thinks he has that right. I won’t let you get hurt.”
“I’m not going to stay inside all day like a prisoner.”
“Then when you want to leave, you’re only going with me. No guards. Not by yourself. Only with me.”
“Fine. But you work all the time and it’s annoying.”
“Maybe if you gave me what I wanted, I wouldn’t work so much.”
“And maybe if you weren’t such an asshole, I would give you what you want.”
He smirks once more before walking away, leaving me feeling cold and warm all at the same time.