Sweet Mary…please let me keep him. The thought of losing him makes my chest ache. I swiftly brush the thought aside and melt into his talented touch. The water streams down our bodies, and bubbles build in the bottom of the shower as he lathers me from head to toe.
After Logan washes my body, and thoroughly washes and rinses my hair, we quickly dress and get ready to go downstairs and meet everyone. These people are going to be incredibly important in my life in the coming months. It’s important for this to go well not only for myself, but for all of them as well. We all have much to gain but far more to lose should I fail.
We step through the open double doors into the main eating room. It is massive. I have never seen anything remotely comparable to its exquisite demureness. There are three large steel circular chandeliers with steel spirals arching and twisting, and rubies and crystals adorning the fine contours. It’s harsh yet enchanting. The rest of the furniture and decorations follow suit.
The long oak table stretches the entire length of the room. Three gigantic white stone hearths rise to meet and spread up the wall with mythical carvings of a battle between gods and mortals to embellish its enriched glory. It looks to be as old as the house itself but remains perfectly intact with flawless lines and crisp indentations. The work is spectacular to behold and quite simply a magnificent work of art.
“It’s the battle of Ragnarök.” I look up at Logan, and he smiles affectionately down at me. “I saw you looking and thought you wanted to know.” He shrugs, and I smile back at him as we continue to make our way to our seats.
My eyes travel every surface of the room and take in the matching burgundy trim and rugs set off against the dark hardwood floors and white alabaster hearths. Silver trays line the center of the table, some with domes and some without. Fruit and fresh bread with cheese and butter are placed next to every station for individual browsing. Large wine goblets rimmed in gold are set next to a glass of sparkling water. The plates have floral patterns along the rims, and the silverware has the same etchings engraved upon them. It’s quite stunning, and I suddenly feel completely out of my element.
I am not from money. I have lived a middle-class lifestyle since birth. I have pinched pennies and worked shitty jobs to pay my bills, barely scraping by, and when I sat down to eat dinner there was only one fork and one spoon. I wouldn’t know which one to grab first. Logan must have sensed my unease as we took our seats, because his fingers tighten around mine in reassurance.
Duncan is already seated at the head of the table with a newspaper in one hand and a cup of steaming coffee in the other. His eyes weave left to right as he takes in his daily dose of current events. Logan and I take our seats to his left and situate ourselves.
A brief commotion in the hall causes Duncan to lower his paper, glance at me, and then look toward the archway as a stunning brunette walks in. She is wearing black leather pants with military-style black boots and a skintight red tank top with a black and blue leather biker jacket over it. Her black hair lies in long, straight layers that reach the middle of her back. But what takes me by surprise more than anything is the seething look she shoots at me. She looks like she wants to strangle me with her bare hands. I swallow reflexively and shift in my seat.
Duncan sets his paper down and stands to greet the exotic beauty as she makes her way toward him. Her eyes never leave mine as she glides across the room and closes the distance between us. As she nears I notice that her skin is a light caramel brown, and it offsets her royal blue eyes to a staggering degree.
I feel Logan stiffen beside me, and I cast a glance in his direction. He is looking at her with a nervousness I’ve never seen before. I look back to the woman and notice she is staring at Logan too; the only difference is she is staring with rapt desire and open lust.
I feel my hackles rise defensively and squeeze Logan’s hand under the table. He glances at me briefly and flashes a pained smile. I’m a bit taken aback by his expression, and a sudden sense of unease washes over me. There’s a history between these two. I can see it as plain as the letters on Duncan’s paper.
The woman embraces Duncan in a familiar manner and kisses both his cheeks.
“Kayla, my dear. It is so good to have you home again.” His deep timbre rolls out with a thick Scottish burr. She takes her place in the chair to his right and begins unfolding her napkin and placing it in her lap. All the while Logan shifts nervously next to me, and his fingers begin to trace shaky circles on the top of my hand.
I pull my hand from his and begin filling my plate with bread and fruit. It’s as I’m buttering my bread that she begins to really make me uncomfortable.
“Logan, how nice to see you again,” she states with complete falseness. Her long skinny fingers pluck a grape from her plate, and then she nibbles on it seductively. She places the rest of it in her mouth and moans in delight. Logan glances over at me and then back down to his plate. He begins to smother honey on his bread as if there is nothing else in the world that fascinates him more.
“Yes, Kayla; it’s good to be back.” He clears his throat and takes a drink of water.
I can’t sit through this much longer. My fuse is lit, and I’m about to slap this bitch. She has some nerve coming in here and practically eye-fucking him in front of me. I can feel the heat bloom up my neck and over my cheeks as I scoop some sugar cubes into my coffee.
Duncan clears his throat to gain her attention and discreetly shakes his head. She huffs and turns back to her plate, where she fills it with strawberries and some kind of thick white cream. She then dips the strawberries in the cream and proceeds to lick the cream off before taking a bite. My teeth are grinding in agitation as I watch her make a complete spectacle of herself.
Heavy footfalls draw my attention back to the archway as a group of men come walking in. Thad is actually smiling as he listens to a tall, thick-muscled guy tell a joke. They both begin to laugh when he reaches the punch line. The brown-headed guy is rather striking in a body builder type of way. Simply put, he’s huge! He reminds me of the wrestlers my dad used to watch on primetime.
Behind them is a tall blond woman with a slightly taller blond male. At first glance I can tell they’re siblings. They look like Swedish models with their perfect, pale complexions. They enter much more quietly than Thad and Mr. Big Muscles. Next, two more guys enter. One closely resembles the guy with Thad, and I quickly deduce they must be related as well. The other guy has mocha-brown skin that looks smooth as silk, with distinct cuts of muscle showing from underneath his t-shirt and jeans.
A couple of the guys come over and pat Logan on the back affectionately before taking their seats, but a tight-lipped smile is the most I’m offered. They all take their places at the table and begin conversing as if I’m not even there. Only Logan appears uneasy. The rest are completely relaxed and socializing with one another.
“Here ya are, my dearies,” a gray-haired older lady says as she saunters into the room with a meat-laden tray. Once she sits it down, I can see there are various types of pork and beef spread throughout.
“Would you like some bacon?” Logan asks as he reaches for the tongs to grab some.
I give a short nod, and he places a few strips onto my plate before placing some on his as well.
“Thank you.” My voice comes out whisper soft, but he hears me all the same. He leans over and kisses my forehead, bringing about reassuring warmth that I didn’t realize I needed. I smile softly and turn to my plate to begin eating.
When I look about the room, I notice all eyes are on me and Logan. He coughs a little and then takes a drink of water before standing to face our audience. Everyone stops what they are doing, and the room falls deathly silent.
“I would like to introduce you to Sulwen Macgregor.” He looks down to me and smiles before facing the room again. “She has come here of her own free will and agreed to help us with our most important mission yet. Please offer her the kindness our household is known for and the loyalty our pledge demands.” He take
s his seat again, and then one by one they stand and introduce themselves.
“I’m Chase, and your boy there is my best mate. I pledge to honor and protect you from this day forward.” His dark-skinned hand is planted over his heart, and his chocolate brown eyes look to me with deep sincerity.
I push my chair back and stand. “Thank you very much, Chase. I appreciate your kind gesture.”
Before I can take my seat, another guy stands. His long dirty-blond hair brushes his collar. He reaches up and tucks a strand that fell in his face behind his ear.
“My name is Eli, and I pledge my honor and protection to you from this day forward.”
I nod back at him, completely stupefied. Are they all going to do this? In answer to my question, another one stands.
The tall blond beauty smiles warmly at me. “My name is Josie, but you can call me Jo if you wish. That’s what my friends call me, and I hope to someday earn that title. I pledge to honor and protect you from this day forward.” She winks at me before taking her seat. I can’t help the smile that takes over my face. It’s the first friendly gesture I’ve had since I came here, and it means so much to me.
The blond guy who looks like a Viking stands next. “My name is Miles, and I vow to honor and protect you, but no one comes before my sister.” He looks over to Josie with a pained expression. “Your presence here will bring danger to our front door, and although I am duty bound to protect you, I will not place your safety over those of my own blood.” He sits abruptly, and Josie casts him a scowl. He shrugs back unapologetically as he pulls his chair under the table.
Mr. Muscles stands with a mischievous grin. “I’m Triston, and even though that bloke over there,” he says, pointing to Eli, “is of my blood, you’re a much prettier sight to behold, and I vow to protect and honor you, even if it’s at the expense of his ugly mug.” Several of the guys chuckle out loud as Eli flips him off. He unceremoniously plops back down into his chair.
Then She-Devil stands. “I’m Kayla. I vow to honor and protect my brethren, and if that means saving you, then so be it. That’s all you’re getting from me.” She pushes her chair back under the table and exits the room.
“Don’t sweat it; she treats everyone like shit,” Triston calls out from across the table. A few of them laugh, and then they begin eating again.
Duncan leans over and speaks low so only I can hear his words. “Sulwen, welcome to the family. Please let me assure you that we are pleased to have you with us. Never feel as if you do not belong, because out of all that reside here, you hold the power to protect what we treasure most. Be brave, lass; let no one make you doubt yourself or your value.” He nods his head and then resumes eating his morning meal and reading his paper as if the whole scene never took place.
Uncomfortable does not even begin to explain how I feel throughout the rest of our breakfast. The group all chat amiably with one another, and Logan even laughs at a couple of jokes Triston tells him, but I still feel uneasy with the way Kayla is acting toward him, and I can’t shake the feeling that she is going to be trouble with a capital T.
Logan and I head to our room after finishing breakfast. I’m still pissed over the whole Kayla incident. I don’t understand why he didn’t have the decency to warn me about his ex living here. I try to smother my bad mood by bringing up something that I know will take her off my mind.
“Will you take me for a tour of the grounds?” I ask him.
His hand strokes my lower back affectionately. “Sure. What do you want to see?”
I think for a minute and spout out, “Everything!”
He laughs at my excitement and continues up the steps. “Everything, huh? Your wish is my command.”
As we walk down the hall to our room, I hear footsteps behind us. I spin around and come face to face with the bewitching sea blue eyes of Kayla. Her lips are pinched, and her eyes are deviously narrowed. She obviously has something to say, and I don’t think I’m going to like it. She was shooting me dirty looks all through breakfast.
Before I can ask, she glances at Logan, and the steamy look she sends him makes it clear she has carnal knowledge of the man I’m in love with. Her eyes speak volumes, and unfortunately I’m hearing it loud and clear. She looks as if she wants to lick him from head to crotch. My heart skips painfully in my chest.
She turns back to me, and her lips twist in a knowing smirk. This bitch is about to piss me off. I can only tolerate so much, and the situation is growing hostile by the second.
“So this is who you filled your bed with in my absence? Tsk, tsk, Logan. Does she know you were thrusting deep inside of me just a couple of weeks ago while you left her after your little weekend getaway?”
I gasp out loud.
She looks me over with disdain. “I feel sorry for you. He’ll always come back to me. I’m the only one who can satisfy his twisted desires. You’re just a poor replacement for what we shared.” Her eyes are sharp as daggers.
Logan grips my arm firmly and glares back at her. “This is not the time or place, Kayla. Don’t start your shit now.”
The bitch actually laughs. Her head tilts back, and her sharp voice sings through the air as she openly taunts me with her joyous declaration that she has fucked my man and knows she has me at a complete disadvantage. It’s like a knife is twisting in my gut. I’m so dumbstruck that words completely escape me at the moment.
I look up to a seething Logan. His nostrils are flaring wide, and his breath is short and choppy. My eyes are full of questions, but he won’t meet them. He’s staring a hole through Kayla, and she seems to enjoy his attention no matter his mood.
“When you’re through with your little mouse, you know where to find me.” She runs her fingernail across his jaw and licks her lips seductively. Logan jerks his head back and out of her reach. She leans in and whispers next to my ear, “He loved it when I sucked him off and swallowed every last drop—almost as good as he loved feasting between my thighs.”
I hear a loud pop and watch her step back with a look of absolute shock on her face, and then I look down to my now tingling palm. I look back up to the reddening mark of my hand on her pink cheek. I just slapped her, and I never even commanded my hand to move. It was like a reflex.
She encroached on my territory and had the audacity to mock me, and I’m boiling mad. I don’t think I’ve ever been this mad in my entire life. My arms and legs are shaking with rage. I can feel heat moving up my neck and over my face.
“Back the fuck off, bitch.” With that I turn and storm down the hall. As I practically run for the door to my room, I can hear Logan and Kayla arguing, but I couldn’t care less at this point. He has humiliated me by even bringing me here to live under the same roof as his last fuck buddy. My God, what the hell was he thinking not even telling me about her? It’s bad enough she looks like a Tomb Raider version of Halle Berry, with her perfect caramel complexion and chocolate-colored hair. Damn him!
I cannot live here with her under the same roof. I can’t. This is an impossible situation, and I’m thousands of miles from my home and any level of comfort. What have I gotten myself into?
I storm through the door like a mini-hurricane just as I hear his heavy footfalls closing in. Logan. I can’t look at him right now. I feel like he’s betrayed me in the worst way. He’s subjected me to a torture that is tearing me in half. Questions are running through my mind a mile a minute. How long ago did he sleep with her? Was it right before he came for me? Did he really fuck her after the weekend we shared? The thought makes me physically cringe. Oh God, I’m going to be sick. Visions of their bodies sweaty and grinding against one another flash through my mind, and I feel bile rising up my throat.
I slam the door and lock it.
Boom. Boom. Boom. Logan beats on the door. “Sulwen, please open the door. Please, Sully. I’m sorry. I’m so damn sorry. I swear it’s not what you think. Open the door. Let me explain.”
I can hear him breathing on the other side as I lean back again
st the cold wood and slide down to the floor. The warmth leaves my body as my bottom settles down, and I cross my legs Indian style and lower my head into my hands. I can see him on the other side in my mind’s eye, his forehead resting on the door and a look of desperation on his strained face. The deep V that forms between his eyes when he is in deep thought.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Logan, not now. Not now.” My words come out shaky and weak. I don’t understand why this is bothering me so much. I don’t know for certain that he has cheated on me. He hasn’t really even lied to me, unless you count omission as a lie, and I do. I can’t imagine how he would act if I took him somewhere my ex was living, and he was faced with the fact that a person I had an open sexual relationship with was there in his face and ready to flaunt the news of intimate moments. What the hell was he thinking?
He exhales loudly. “Don’t shut me out, Sulwen. I should have told you, but I didn’t know she would be here.” I hear him shuffling around. “I was going to tell you. I really was. I thought I had more time.” I can feel his presence through the cool wood at my back, and it’s like sunshine blazing through a window on a chilly fall day. I want to soak up his warmth. I want to bask in his rays, but I’m wounded, so I recoil.
“I need time to think. Please, Logan, not now.” My voice comes out stronger than before and is filled with a resolute tone that even he can feel.
“All right. I’ll come for you in the morning.” He sighs heavily. “I’m sorry, Sully.” He waits a few minutes, and then his steps drift off into the distance, and I realize I am alone.
I flop down onto the huge four-poster bed, lie back on the fine silk linens, and stare up at the ceiling. Hell, even the ceiling is first-class. Dark wooden beams cross and meet in the center of the room with spectacular mosaics filling the gaps. It’s breathtaking! I release my pent-up frustration and take a few deep, relaxing breaths. I close my eyes and let the previous scenes leave my mind as the air pushes past my lips.
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