Chapter 9: Chapter Nine
Sunday—Kildare, Ireland.
Sam.
When I wake the next day, I stretch in the warm bed, feeling the crisp white sheets brush against my cheek. Rolling over, I don’t see Alec in bed next to me. I pout for a moment. But still overjoyed to have spent the night in bed with him, I slowly slip out from under the warm comforter and place my feet on the cold wood floor.
Hopping to one of the fur rugs, I jump from it to another on my way to the closet and my luggage. I avoid touching the cold ground at all costs. When I get a change of clothes and my toothbrush, I head to the bathroom across the hall. The floor creaks under my feet as I step from one doorway to another. Just as I am about to close the bathroom door, I hear Alec’s voice.
“She is incredible.”
I smile at his words, hoping it is me who he is discussing. When there is no response, I guess he must be on the phone.
“I don’t know when I’ll tell her, or if I will.” Tell me what, I wonder. Dread creeping into my mind at the thought that he is hiding something. I realize then that I know very little about this man and he is entitled to have his secrets on day two. I roll my eyes at my stupidity and close the door.
The old cottage does not have a standing shower and I’ll have to use the handheld one in the bathtub to wash my hair. I turn on both faucets and let the water warm up.
***
Alec.
When my phone rings I look across the cottage to see if the bedroom door is still closed and I settle onto the couch, petting Ocoee’s head as I answer the call from Finn.
“Hello?”
“We need to talk.” The harsh words catch me off guard and I lean forward on the couch.
Ocoee, picking up on my body language, sits up, looking around the room for the threat that I am sensing. I motion for him to relax and he settles back onto the sofa next to me. It is too small for him and me, and his back foot slides off onto the floor.
“Finn? What’s wrong? Is everything all right at the main house?” I rush out the words, eager to help my new friends, but nervous to be drawn into any of their troubles at the same time. While I have known Donnie for over sixty years, I have only just met Finn and the wolf pack is an unknown to me still.
“It’s about Sam,” he lets his words hang between us and I turn to look over my shoulder towards the back of the cottage where she is in the bathroom. I am straining my ears to listen. I can still hear the water running and know I have time to have this conversation before she emerges.
“What about Sam?” I ask, prompting Finn to go on, I try to keep my voice steady.
“It’s my brother. He is here.” Scratching my jaw with my palm, I let the statement sink in, but I still don’t get what it has to do with Sam. That’s when I realize her broken heart.
“He is the one? The one who hurt her. The reason she is running?” Finn is quiet for a long while then, and my questions go unanswered. Just when I am about to ask him again, he speaks up.
“Yes, and he is here at the keep. Melody and I know Sam is with you. We aren’t planning to tell him, but the two of you need to stay out of sight for now. I don’t think it is good for him to see her with you. He isn’t being rational, and I’m concerned. For all of you.”
Ocoee’s ears perk up again at the words. I know he can hear what Finn is saying on the phone, and I do not hide the truth from him. I shake my head at him when he raises his and nudges my arm.
“Thank you for the warning, Finn. I appreciate the call.” I disconnect the phone and slip my phone back into my pocket.
“Sounds like you’re going to have one hell of a fight on your hands,” Ocoee tells me around a tooth-filled grin, licking his jowls. I can tell he is eager at the prospect of a fight.
“Hush, we’re not antagonizing the man. Sam and I will stay here, he will leave and go back to the states and I will be the victor of all the spoils.” I pat him on the head again just as I hear the bathroom door open and the creaking of Sam coming down the hall.
Ocoee disappears into a higher plane. I know he will be off to find our new friend Colin and do a little snooping.
***
Colin.
I stand at the end of the grand hall listening to Finn’s conversation. He knows where Sam is. Of course, my brother would refuse to help me.
“You two need to stay out of sight.” I hear his words as I creep closer towards the entrance of the hall. Trying to gather as much information as I can. She is close. I can sense it by the way he is speaking to the man on the phone, warning him against accidentally being seen.
That’s when it occurs to me, the flash of pink I thought I saw in the car yesterday on my way into the keep. The old cottage. That’s where I’ll find Sam.
***
Sam.
I stop and glance down at my still glistening body as I step out of the steamy bathroom. Being in bed with Alec last night did things to me, made me think of the things that I wish he would do to me. As I come around the corner into the living room, I see Alec on the couch, and I decide it is now or never. I sway my hips as I walk around to the front of the couch and face him.
Alec’s eyes go wide as he takes in my naked body, and I see a flash of something in his green irises. Slowly I lower myself to the floor on my knees, then spread them to shoulder-width apart and bow down on the floor. Sliding my hands out in front of me until my forehead touches the cool wood. Crossing my wrists in front of me, above my head, I present myself to him.
“Sir,” I breathe out, but loud enough for him to hear.
The leather sofa creaks as he stands and steps towards me, his bare feet making no noise on the floor as he approaches.
“Rise, kitten.” His deep, dominant command reverberates through my body, my thighs grow hot and I have the urge to push them together against the growing sensation in my pussy.
Sliding my hands back up the floor, bringing myself upright and settling them, palm up on my thighs. I keep my head bowed in respect to the man whom I am accepting as my Dominant.
“Sam, look at me.” I raise my eyes slowly to meet his. I see a soft smile on Alec’s lips, the lips that I have a strong desire to kiss and feel against my naked body. “Are you sure?” he asks, clear and concise. The question fills the room, and I nod.
“Yes, sir. Please?” I ask him, knowing that while we both went into this with the idea of being in a full time TPE, Alec made it clear to me yesterday that he would not push me into anything with him that I didn’t want. This is what I want, and I thought about it all day and again this morning. I want him to dominate me and make me his, and not just for the next ninety days, but for always if we work out.
I watch him nod and reach his hand out to me. As I lift mine to his and slowly rise to my feet, a deafening bang fills the room. Wood splinters fly around me, and I fall to the floor. My back is burning as I roll onto my side and curl into a ball.