Unlocking Adeline (Skeleton Key)

by J. D. Hollyfield

  “Geez, I’m such a klutz. I’m fine.” I pull my ankle from his grip. “Seriously, it’s fine. We should hurry. I’m sure everyone is waiting for us.”

  He gets up, checking that I’m not lying and nods. “As ye wish, Princess.” He winks and continues to guide us to another night of hell.

  While entering the lavish ballroom, I look around, thankfully not seeing my grandmother. As much as I want her to like me, I would not enjoy another face slap. I force myself not to look for Locke, so I look around at everyone else instead. If Locke happens to be in amongst these people, then so be it. We make eye contact with William, Christof’s father and he calls for us to join him at the table.

  Leaning in, I whisper to Christof as we make our way, “Just curious, how does your dad feel about hijacked princesses who return to claim his sons and unwanted thrown?”

  Squeezing my hand tighter, he responds, “Well, he is a lot like Locke in a way, so don’t let him scare ye. His bite isn’t as bad as his bark.”

  Oh great, that didn’t make me feel any better. I was introduced to William MacCowen last night but like his son, he is also a man of few words. I now know where Locke gets it. He was pleasant to a point. He bowed and welcomed me into his home, but that was about as far as he extended his courtesy. Now as Christof drags me closer to him, I kind of wish I stopped and took a seat with the knitting club instead.

  “Ahhh, son, welcome. I heard ye and our Adeline had a fine day touring the lands today,” his father says. Dressed similar to Christof, William is covered in Wren colors. Lacking the stereotypical cape and crown, he did bear what looked like a ton of metals of some kind.

  “We did, Father. I believe that Adeline enjoyed the gardens the best.” He turns and smiles at me, offering me his signature wink.

  “Son, sit. Jeremiah here would like to discuss the purchase of the lands just west of Ferrow.” Saved by the discussion of business, it allows me to sit and my vision wanders amongst the attendees. I lift my hand to wave at the knitting club, but get zero response in return. “Well, heck with you people,” I mumble under my breath. I continue to look around, but as my gaze returns to Christof, I see it. There, peering in-between us, is the key. In plain ole sight! All I need to do is cause a scene, and while no one is looking I’ll snatch it up. Once everyone is away in bed, I’ll summon the door and go home. I can grab Mom, Dad, and Liam and we can run. Move somewhere where they won’t find us. I make eye contact with a group of girls who haven’t stop gawking at me since we sat down. I smile brightly and begin to wave. It’s then I reach for a goblet, knocking three over in the process. The ale leaks over the scrolls they’re currently reviewing, sending William and the other gentleman shooting upward, trying to save the parchment. It’s while Christof leans forward to pick up the goblet that I lean down, grab the key, and stuff it into my cleavage.

  “Adeline.”

  I jump a guaranteed two feet high, practically knocking over half a dozen more goblets, for real this time. I turn, ready to fight to the finish because I am not giving this key back, only to see Christof casually smiling at me.

  “Are ye alright? Did ye get wet?”

  “Oh uh… what? No, I’m fine,” I respond nervously.

  “Good, let’s let them work the rest of this out. Shall we dance before dinner?” He gestures for us to retreat. I nod, allowing him to take my hand, guiding me away from the wet table and now angry men.

  His genuine smile never falters as he places us in the center of the ballroom, once again lifting me up and setting me on top of his shoes. I feel a slight tinge of guilt, knowing I am going to be leaving this place shortly and he will once again be, well, single if we were on real word terms. In another time, I think I could probably enjoy someone like Christof.

  “So, Miss Adeline, please continue telling me about yerself. Besides how well ye do with first impressions,” he begins, his grin spreading across his face.

  “Ha Ha. Please call me Addie. No one ever calls me by my full name.”

  He nods. “Alright, Addie, please do fill me in on more of yer secret life in Seattle.”

  Christof’s mother walks over, interrupting our conversation. “My darling, ye look just lovely in that dress. I fear the day my boys have to choose. A fight to the finish it shall be.” She winks as she pulls me away from Christof. “Please let me show ye off for a bit. I have so many friends I want to introduce ye to!” I’m hesitant to leave his side. He has become a comfort to me, and I have no idea where Faith intends to lead me.

  “Don’t worry, dear; I won’t let anyone harm ye. A lot of these batty woman act like they bite, but they are all talk.” She explains as she semi-drags me across the room. Group after group she introduces me to people, a lot more informal than last night. Some are friendlier, mostly curious at the outcast from another dimension. Some are still rude, but they certainly don’t hold back asking about Dad. Where is he? Where has he been? Why was he hiding me? Who is he married to? At this point, I am not sure whether to answer or not. I just stop responding all together.

  I keep my guard up the whole time. I just can’t trust that I won’t get another slap. I also keep an eye out for Locke. Not that I care, because he’s a huge jerk. But I wonder why he’s not here. Ellie told me that he had brought me my dress while I was in the bath. For being such a grumpy ass, I also want to know why he is picking out my attire.

  After dinner, I finally excuse myself to go to the bathroom. Three damn maids followed me to help me with my dress and I sent them off. These outfits have absolutely no ventilation, so the key keeps swishing between my breasts. In the bathroom I move it so it’s latched in-between my garter. Because no matter how much sweat piles up, those damn straps are so tight, it’s going to cut of my circulation before it loosens up to release that key. The moment I reenter the room, Faith again finds me.

  “Oh, there ye are! Ye must come! I must introduce ye to some more friends!” She smiles, like she hasn’t introduced me to her other three hundred friends earlier tonight. I follow her as she heads straight toward a group of women. Just as we get there, they all turn to look, the glares forming once we arrive.

  “Ladies, I wasn’t sure if ye met my wonderful future daughter-in-law!” she beams. Not sure why, because I certainly am not her future anything, “Louise, Elsa, Marie, Clara. Please come say hello to our future queen.” She pulls me in front of her, practically putting me on a platter for the angry animals to feed from. I heard it. You heard it. She said Clara.

  I look at each woman, all the same glare, but the one at the end stands out the most. The woman who looks most scorned. Clara. My dad’s supposed betrothed. “Um. Hey. Ho— how’s it going?” I say, my voice shaky. I’m not shocked that all the women just stand there staring, like I’m some sort of circus act. I probably didn’t curtsy when I walked up, or they have no idea what ‘hey’ means. Either way. It’s not until the one person I seriously hoped didn’t talk to me, does.

  “Is he coming home?” I turn to her. Clara. “Is he ever coming home?” Her words sound pained. “I… I…” I don’t know what to say. “Because if he does he should take ye back home. Ye don’t belong here. Nor does the rottenness of what yer father has done to my family.” Her hatred catches me off guard. I was about to ask her if she needed a hug until she went and insulted me. And then my dad? I don’t think so. I take a violent step toward her when she lifts her hand, tossing a powdered substance in my face. I swat it away as the particles make their way into my eyes and mouth, causing me to cough. I try and jump at her, but I’m having a hard time seeing and my body is beginning to feel funny. No longer able to see anything, I hear a bunch of commotion. The room clearly has erupted into a panic, as I throw my hands out trying to block any further attack. Suddenly, I begin to feel dizzy on my feet. I stumble back, unable to catch my balance. “What in the… ba babb ba,” I begin to babble. Just as I shake my head, trying to make some sense of what just happened, my knees give in and I collapse. I don’t hit the ground, thoug
h. I’m caught instantly, warm arms entrapping me. I look up, my vision still blurry, to the stormy eyes of Locke. “Where ha—have you been?” My teeth begin to chatter. The room has suddenly turned into a freezer and my body feels like a human icicle.

  “Shhhh… Don’t talk. It will wear off soon,” he soothes me, taking me away from all the commotion.

  “Wh—what just happ—ened.”

  “Ye were dosed with a wee bit of magic,” he says, taking the last steps and reaching the second floor.

  Magic? “I’m be—being serious,” I say, snuggling my nose into his chest. The scent of him so addicting I want to shoot it into my blood stream.

  “Pevoeral powder. It’s meant to freeze a human. To a normal-blooded human ye would have turned into an iced statue instantly. Since ye have Wren blood running through ye, it’s just going to make ye a bit chilly for a while.”

  My teeth are still chattering. “Magic? Yeah, okay. I’m not some gullible girl, you know. You don’t have to lie and make up stories.” I don’t even know if he can understand me with my face smashed into his gorgeous body. I hope he blames the possible drugging on why I’m about two seconds away from sucking on his shirt. We finally make it into my room; I hear Ellie squeal and him ordering her to leave. He sits us down by the fire, with me still trapped in his arms, while the heat begins to thaw my skin.

  “I would never lie to ye,” he murmurs, brushing his knuckles along my now warming cheek. I lift my face out of his armpit to get a good look at him. It may be the first time I’ve ever seen Locke not look so fierce. Gentle possibly. His eyebrows are creased with concern, while his voice has a comforting tone to it.

  “Why did that voodoo lady try and freeze me?” I stutter.

  “I cannot answer that. But she will be taken into custody. Questioned for her actions. As Princess of Wren, ye will be asked to testify on her actions. State claim on what ye want to happen to her.” Yeah, What? I want nothing to do with that. As I’m pondering how in God’s name I would face that woman again, I notice Locke has begun stroking his hands down my body. The feel of his fingers digging into my skin, feeling each curve, thaws my body faster than the fire before us. I close my eyes, relishing in his touch, wishing for things I know shouldn’t even be crossing my mind. “What are you doing?” I whisper, snuggling more into this cradled hold on me. If he admits to me that he wants me, I’m going to approve. I’m going to allow him to search me all over.

  “I’m looking for the key ye took.”

  Oh, that big ole jerk!

  Man, I am so stupid. His words register and I push away from him, separating us. I get to my feet, wobbly at first, but manage to stand on my own. I thought he wanted me. And how did he even see me snatch that! I put some space between us by walking toward my bed.

  “How dare you accuse me of stealing,” I scold him as I back closer to the bed. He gets up, matching each step of mine, closing in the space between us.

  “Dare I what? Is it not true that ye stole that key right from under my brother’s nose?”

  Damn! “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Sticking my chin up and feigning innocence.

  “So ye lie, then?”

  “Pffft, no! Why would I take a key? And where would I even put it? Up my dress?” Shut up, Addie. Rule Number one. Don’t admit where it is!

  I watch his eyebrows rise just a tad. “So what is it yer saying, then? This key that I supposedly watched ye steal from my brother is not hiding up yer dress?” He takes the final step separating us as I stumble back into the bed frame. Playing cool and collective is much easier when there is a chunk of space between you and your nemesis, and when your nemesis is not built like a god and looks like sex.

  “Are ye wearing the key, Adeline?” he whispers, the sound of his voice smothering me. He is trying to use his alluring charm and it won’t work on me.

  “No,” I whisper back. Ugh, okay, definitely not fighting his seductive ways. I need to get him away from me. In my head I lift my hands and push him away from me. Possibly scream for help. But I do none of these. I allow him to raise the back of his hand and drag his knuckles along my flushed cheek.

  “Where possibly can ye be hiding the key then, Adeline? Is it in between these plump breasts, ye taunt every man in that ballroom with?” Dragging his hand down my neck to the crevice of my collarbone. He swiftly wraps his free arm around my waist, slamming our bodies together. It makes no difference, the ridiculous amount of layers I have on, the heat from his body seeps right through. It brings with it a tingle of sensations, ones that are foreign to me.

  “Can it be underneath all this material, strapped to yer bare flesh? Mmmmm?” He hums as he brings his mouth to my ear, his breath hitting my lobe, causing goose bumps to spread in its wake. My lips part, mainly because I need my mouth open to get more air into my lungs.

  “Maybe I should lift up all these layers of clothing and explore underneath, pressing my fingers around yer smooth thigh, working my way up, inch by aching inch, until I find what I’m looking for.”

  He has me, dammit. I try to swallow, so I can tell him to go to hell, and that I certainly don’t have the key strapped around my upper thigh, but my attention is too focused on his fingers grazing down my hips. Lifting up my dress, his rough hands work their way up my legs and closer to a place where I have begun to ache. Adding to his assault, he bends down and presses his wet lips to my chin. One, two, three soft kisses burning into my skin as he works his way down my neck.

  I’m going to tell him to stop, but I bend to give him better access instead. His touch is igniting something within me, and I can’t help but want more. “Please,” I whisper, unsure if it’s a plea to stop or continue. Locke groans, and quickly releases me. Wrapping his hands around my waist, he lifts me off my feet and tosses me onto the bed. Climbing on top, he bends forward, placing his mouth on the exposed flesh, just above my collarbone. I don’t know what is happening or why I am allowing this, but I have never wanted something so badly in my life. His grip tightens, and if we didn’t have a million layers between us I would wrap my legs around his waist to bring him closer. The only word racing through my mind right now is friction. I want friction. My little nub is pulsating, and I can’t think of anything but our bare skin touching and the slight back and forth movement.

  As if reading my mind, he brings his hand underneath me, allowing our bodies to grind. “Ohhhh God,” I moan, the unfamiliar sound pouring from my lips. The anticipation of what he plans on doing to me has my eyes closing. His hands, oh God, his hands make their way down my dress and under my fluff trap, and I can feel his warm fingers slowly brushing up my leg. I know that in just a few seconds he’s going to make it past the key strapped to my thigh and to my aching warmth.

  Past they key.

  Past the…

  “Shit.” I open my eyes and raise my head in lighting speed. This results in head butting Locke, causing him to lose his grip on my thigh. Quickly sitting upward, “What’s wrong?” I don’t answer. I lift my arms and push on his heaving chest. As soon as he loses a bit of his balance, I lift my right leg, bringing it back and lodging it below his rib cage.

  And then I kick.

  With all my might.

  Not expecting it, Locke falls backward trying to grab for the bedpost. Failing, he falls right off the bed. I use this time to scramble off the bed, forcing air into my lungs. Holy shit, what did I just almost allow to happen?

  He stands, quickly brushing off dust from his clad pants. “What the hell was that for?” he growls, as I fight my eyes away from the fullness in his pants. He didn’t really want you, Addie. He wanted the key.

  “Really? Did you think I would fall for that? Nice try, pal.” I huff, offering him, once again, my high chin. “Next time you want to attempt to seduce me to see what I’m hiding, at least do a good job of it.” I lie. God, am I lying. His hands feel like they are still on me, burning heat into my skin. I don’t make eye contact with him, because I will surely give m
yself away.

  He takes two powerful steps toward me. I fail, and my eyes finally meet his and, shit, he looks pissed. “So what yer saying is that I wasn’t turning ye on?” he questions, his eyes searing into mine.

  “Pfft, you call that trying to turn a girl on? That’s sad. I suggest you practice before the next time you make another attempt.” I swipe my hair away from my sticky face. Because girls don’t sweat when they are turned on and halfway ravaged.

  “Ye were more than turned on, Adeline, and if ye didn’t just have a freak out, I’m pretty sure ye would have offered me more than just that key back.” Ugh, probably.

  “Ha!” I bellow. “Nice try, but not a chance. News Flash, I don’t like jerks. And you’re the head of that class. I gave in because I felt… felt… sorry for you. That’s it. So don’t mistake my sympathy for attraction.” I end, pretending to pluck at my cuticles. Oops, that’s it. Over poking the bear, no matter what realm it is, never has a good ending. Because he lunges at me.

  “Locke!” I squeal, as I’m lifted off the ground and tossed back onto the bed. My back hits the soft mattress as my head bounces, allowing my hair to fall from its pins.

  “I personally agree with ye. I will definitely try my seduction on someone else. Possibly a peasant girl tonight, who I guarantee will melt under my touch. Who will submit to my every word and offer her whole body for me to take whatever I please. And when I do, I won’t be thinking of ye. So ye are right. I wasn’t into that either. Because all’s I wanted was that key. Now give it to me.”

  His words kinda suck. Okay, big time suck. First, the thought of him getting it on with one of those stupid mean maids causes a swirl of jealousy in my stomach. Not sure why, because I hate this guy. But also because, put our strange situation aside, I would let him touch me in ways I have only dreamt a man would. But he doesn’t want me. I’m just a nuisance to him and that makes me angrier.