Chapter 49 CAUGHT IN THE ACT
Ginnie
Varkos stirred beside me, his grip tightening before releasing as he mumbled something I couldn’t hear clearly. My heart pounded as I slid out of bed, the cold floor sending a jolt through my body.
Knock. Knock.
The unexpected knock on the door shattered the quiet, my eyes wide with fear at the thought that it could be Kenna or worse… Lady Ravena is knocking on that door right now.
Holy fuck!
What should I do?
The knock came again, shattering through my thoughts instantly. More hesitant this time.
Fuck this!
I rushed to the door, my hand trembling on the knob. As I pulled it open, the sight of Maria standing there made my stomach drop. She stood still, with that imposing figure that sent chills through me, her eyes narrowed as she took in the disheveled state of the room. “G…good morning, Ginnie,” she said, her voice calm and measured.
“G-good morning,” Miss Maria,” I stammered, bowing my head as respectfully as I could. There was nothing polite about the smile that tugged at her lips, but her gaze was sharp, and I could feel it cutting through me. “It…it’s not what you think.”
“Oh, I’ve already seen enough to take your words for a dirty lie,” she replied, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her. Her eyes flicked over to the rumpled bed and discarded clothes on the floor before landing on Varkos, who was still asleep. “It seems like you both had quite the morning,” she said, her voice holding a hint of mocking amusement.
My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I frantically tried to smooth my hair and cover myself with the towel. “P-please don’t tell anyone about it,” I stuttered, feeling a mix of panic and shame. “I’m ready to do whatever—“
Maria held up a hand, silencing me. “No need for your fake pleas,” she said calmly, “I’ve seen enough to understand what happened between Master Varkos and you.” Her eyes lingered on me for a moment, a knowing look that made me want to crawl into a hole and disappear. “I’m sure you two have much more to catch up with,” she added, her voice still laced with amusement. “But right now, everyone is waiting for Master Varkos downstairs for breakfast. His presence is required in the dining room in half an hour.”
With a final nod, she turned and left the room, leaving me standing there, feeling more exposed and terrified than I’d ever been since I walked into this house. The shame of her gaze was still there, and I couldn’t help but feel a sense of deep embarrassment. My heart was racing, and my hands were shaking as I closed the door behind her. I glanced at Varkos, still sleeping peacefully, oblivious to the conversation that had just taken place.
Damn it!
I took a deep breath, closing the door after Maria had left. My heart was still racing and I turned to look at Varkos, who was now stirring awake. His messy hair and relaxed expression made him look more handsome than ever, and for a moment, I forgot the panic from a few seconds ago. But reality hit again, and I hurried over to him.
“Varkos…wake up,” I said softly, shaking his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open and he gave me a lazy smile.
“Morning,” he mumbled, his voice groggy.
“Varkos, Miss Maria was just here,” I said quickly, my voice shaking. “She saw us together…and she said you should be ready for breakfast in half an hour.”
At that, his eyes snapped fully open. “Maria?” He asked, sitting up straight. His tone was sharper now.
“Yes,” I nodded in response, fidgeting with my fingers. “She saw everything…the room, us—everything.”
Varkos ran a hand through his hair, muttering something under his breath. “All right, I’ll handle it,” he said, swinging his legs off the bed. “Let me go take a quick shower.”
I watched as he grabbed some clothes and headed into the bathroom. The sound of the shower running filled the room, and I tried to calm my nerves. I smoothed out the sheets on the bed, but my mind was spinning with thoughts about how Maria must have informed Kenna and Lady Ravena by now.”
After a few minutes, Varkos walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, his hair damp and water droplets sliding down his chest. He looked at me and smiled.
“Your turn,” he said, nodding toward the bathroom.
“I’ll go in a minute,” I said, avoiding his gaze.
Varkos frowned, stepping closer, “No Ginnie. Go now. We don’t have all day.”
“I’m fine,” I started, but before I could finish, he cupped my face and kissed me. The kiss was firm but gentle, and it left no room for arguments.
When he finally pulled away, his voice was soft but firm. “Go take a shower right now…I’ll wait.” My face felt hot as I grabbed my clothes and hurried into the bathroom. The warm water washed over me, and I tried to steady my breathing. By the time I came out, I felt calmer. I quickly dressed and tied my hair back.
Varkos was waiting by the door, fully dressed in a white shirt and dark pants. He looked every bit like the confident and cold-hearted man I first met, but his smile softened when he saw me.
“Ready?” He asked.
I nodded, and we headed our different paths, Varkos headed for the dining room, while I headed toward my room in the staff quarters. As we walked, I paused for a moment, glancing at him nervously. “Do you think she’ll talk?”
Varkos shrugged, his hand brushing against mine. “Don’t worry about Maria. I’ll handle her if she tries to make this a mess.”
“But—“ I started, and he gave me a sideways look.
“Ginnie, trust me for once in your life,” he said firmly. “You’re mine now. And that’s all that matters.”
His words calmed me, and I felt a small smile tug at my lips before we finally parted ways in our different directions.