Chapter 399: Just a touch

Chapter 399: Just a touch


She met the creature at the door of the room.

“Why did you bring me to this fucking place? Is this your family's nest of evil? How long have you been planning this? There are plenty of clothes that fit me in the closet.”

“This nest of evil is your home now, Tayme. If you want to stay by my side. If you don't, you can leave and choose any other home. I promise there will be no bad consequences for that choice.”

“Will you stop lying with me if I go to another house?” She asked, wanting to hurt him.

“If you want to, Tayme, you don't have to leave this house for me to stop coming inside you.”

Tayme was paralyzed. She had always thought that this would be an easy decision. But she was hesitating.

“Will you accept not touching me?”

“Yes.”

“You're lying.”

“Have I ever done that, Tayme?”

“I don't know.”

“Yes, you do. I've never lied to you.”

She moved closer and raised her hand to touch his waist, but stopped herself.

“Look at me, please.” Tayme asked.

He turned and looked at her.

Tayme moved closer to him.

“I don't know what I want.”

“No decision you make in this regard needs to be final and you have all the time in the world to think and reflect on what you want to do.”

“Can you just touch me?”

He looked reflectively at her and after a few seconds, reached out and touched her arm.

Tayme closed her eyes as she felt that contact. It felt good. It gave off an intense energy that made her skin crawl. But then he withdrew his hand.

“You have to accept it, Tayme.”

“I don't know what you're talking about.”

“You know. You want much more than a touch from me. You'll get more, much more, when you accept. You'll withdraw your request to stay for less than an hour a day...”

“I'll never do that.”

“Then you'll never have more of me.”

“I don't want anything from you.”

He looked away, suddenly alert, and put his hand out to silence her.

“What happened?” Tayme asked frightened.

He turned to her with that evil smile.

“The wolves have arrived in your brother's village.”

“But... We're two hours away, how do you...?” She stopped and put her hand over her mouth to stifle her scream. That creature's hearing was superior to anything she had ever seen. “What are you going to do?”

“Allow it. Those houses you saw are located in the area I've chosen for your people to lead their lives. It will be a good experiment to let you see how the Firecolds behave towards them. That way I can correct any faults and impose more rules if necessary.”

“You mean the disgusting...”

“Don't talk about them like that!”

“... as if you weren't one of them. Does being a Baron free you from being a scumbag?” She finished as if he hadn't interrupted her.

“How do you know that... Title?”

“One of the Firecolds told me.”

He stared at her for a while before turning back to the window.

“Knowing these things won't free you from me, Tayme.”

“Maybe I'll leave. You said I could go.”

“And you can go.”

“You have that title... that painting, the people were wearing old clothes and the furniture in this house is... relics and you had a family. Mother, father, brothers...”

“Yes, Tayme. That's part of the mystery about all those children you saw in the painting.” He said almost happily.

“You said I'd find out for myself, while you were touching my womb. I... I'm expecting your child?”

“Do you want a child of mine in your womb, Tayme?”

“Of course not!”

“As long as you don't want a child of mine in your womb, it won't happen.”

Tayme smiled.

“That means your bizarre, disgusting species will die with you.”

“I'm not going to die, Tayme.”

“You will. And I'm the one who's going to kill you. When you tell me how to do it.”

He shook his head.

“It's a shame to see such a formidable creature deluding herself.”

“A girl has to dream to keep living a nightmare without freaking out.”

He looked coldly at Tayme and, taking a deep breath, shook his head and began to walk away.

Tayme grabbed his arm as he walked past her towards the door.

“Stay with me tonight?”

He sounded interested.

“All night fucking you, Tayme? Is that what you want?”

“Yes. I want to. Just tonight.”

He reached out and pulled her against his body. His caresses quickly left Tayme thirsting for more than their hands on that towel and as soon as she was free of it, he pulled away and stared at her in confusion.

“I can't, Tayme. If you don't... If you don't accept, don't declare, I simply can't.”

“Why?”

“Tayme. You've had enough of me tonight. You set that limit yourself. Go to your room.”

“Don't you sleep?”

He looked at her suspiciously, but answered anyway.

“I do sleep, Tayme. It's not like you sleep.” He said and walked out of the front door.

Tayme watched him walk away, uncomfortable with her feelings. Even though she saw Ryan every time he touched her... It was still a disgusting man who was lying with her. And she couldn't forgive herself for that.

Tayme sat in an armchair, thinking. Then, determined, she picked up the towel, wrapped it around her body and as she was passing the stairs, she picked up the portrait with the seven children and took it to her room. She slept thinking about the questions she had about that picture.

Just as she fell asleep, Ryan emerged from the shadows and approached her. He looked at the portrait next to her and smoothed the blanket over her body. He went back into the shadows and, mistaking himself for her, stayed there until her breathing indicated that she was waking up and he went to his own room.