Chapter 9 The Second Test
Serena
I woke up with a jerk, expecting to find the two massive bodies that had cuddled me all night. Cuddled was incorrect, BULLIED was the right word.
The bed yawned vast and lonely around me. There were no low twin breaths syncing with mine in my sleep. Just tangled silk sheets and the faint, lingering scent of them, cedar, smoke and sandalwood.
Then I felt it. The whisper of fabric against my thighs, the cool slide of straps over my shoulders.
Slowly, I looked down.
It was a silk nightie. It was soft as sin, pale lavender kissed with rose-gold in the slanting morning light.
Delicate lace edged the low neckline, thin enough that my nipples had already pebbled against it from the chill. The hem skimmed mid-thigh, short enough to feel exposed, long enough to tease.
Gritting my teeth, I got out of the bed and marched out of the room.
How dare they force me to sleep in there with them? I'd been too weak to protest because I really had no choice.
They had the nerves to dress me up like I was their doll. On top of everything, they left without even notifying me. Like I was a cheap slut.
I should have paused to think twice about confronting them in just my nightie, but it was already too late.
I found myself in the kitchen where Mrs Rivers, Lara, Sun and Saint were discussing in low voices. Well, except Lara, of course.
What was she doing here so early in the morning?
They all turned to face me. Sin looked like he'd just returned from a morning run while Saint looked like he was on his way out.
Sin's eyes settled on my face, then roamed my body. He gave me a cruel smile, and I wished I could hit him for it.
Saint's nostrils flared the moment our eyes collided.
These two were weapons fashioned against me, I could swear it.
Mrs Rivers tapped her wrist and spoke condescendingly.
“This is who Saint wants to marry? A lazy girl who rolls out of bed by ten?” Her lips were painted red, even in the morning.
Lara snickered, toying with a strand of her hair. The look in her eyes said just how much she wanted to get rid of me.
“She was down with cramps, mother. We added sedatives to her drugs so she could sleep without the abdominal contractions.” Sin said without blinking, not looking at me.
Still, I could tell he was. In the way he licked his lips, like he remembered everything he and Saint had done to my body last night.
Saint had a coffee mug in his large hand, and he sipped it loudly.
“We? I don't understand. Why would you bother with the commoner?” Lara asked sharply, shooting daggers in my direction.
“Call her a commoner one more time and I'll teach you some manners right here.” Sin warned in a cold, lethal voice.
Why was he lying? Why did he even have to complicate things by adding that I was with the two of them through the night?
“Sinclair, explain what you mean by ‘we’.” Mrs Rivers said, air quoting the last word.
“Saint needed little help with holding her still while he massages her lower abdomen with warm water. I volunteered. It's our fault she woke up late.” Sin's answer was even worse than what he'd said earlier.
“It shouldn't be your problem at all, Sin. You've never volunteered to do anything like that for me, but here you are, slaving for your brother's fiancée. Your sister-in-law to be!” Lara’s exaggerated outburst made me want to explode into a thousand bats so I could disappear out of the kitchen.
“Enough of the drama,” Mrs. Rivers cut in smoothly. “Your father's birthday party will be a memorable one, because he's celebrating sixty-five years. Lara is going to be present, because we can't let the media know about the breakup.”
“What will she be present as, if I may ask? If as a server, no problem. Anything else with strings attached is a capital letter no.” Sin’s eyes remained on me as he spoke.
“Whether or not you like it, Sinclair, Lara will be by your side.” Mrs. Rivers stressed again.
“I hate to disappoint you, mother, but the only side of me Lara's getting on father's birthday party is my sideview. I'm done with this conversation.” Sin sounded extremely dangerous this time, and both his mother and Lara dropped their jaws at his blunt refusal to let Lara play her former role in the coming birthday party.
Sin walked around the center kitchen island, and he paused for a second on reaching me.
“I want to spread you on that island where Lara is leaning against it and eat you out.” His voice was low enough that only I could hear.
I held my breath and didn't let go until he was out of the kitchen.
My cheeks heated up instantly, blushing a bright red that I could feel was spreading to my neck and shoulders. Damn him.
“Is there anything else? I need some alone time with my fiancée.” Saint called out, dropping his coffee mug beside him without looking.
“Your fiancée will be taking her second test today. She is to stay in the dog cage for a full day, to gain their trust and respect.” Mrs Rivers said casually, like she was commenting about the weather.
Saint frowned. “That is not right. You want her to stay in the same breathing space with seven pitbulls who don't recognise her scent? Are you trying to kill her?” He asked, clenching his fists.
Lara laughed. “Of course not, Saint. Your mother only wants the best for you, which is a woman who commands respect on all levels. Your mother knows what she's doing.” If I didn't know Lara, I'd think she sounded very wise.
“When is the test starting?” I asked, taking everyone by surprise. Mrs Rivers thought she could break me. I would have said she was welcome to try it she wasn't already trying all her best
“You are not doing it.” Saint said through clenched teeth.
“She will, or I'll push her out of our house.” His mother threatened.
“You're taking things too far, mother. She doesn't need those stupid tests.” Saint protested.
His mother barked a laugh that startled me.
“The cage is in the back of the house, Lara will take her there and supervise her.” She said with an air of finality.