Chapter 6 The Challenge
Skylar gaped at the hot, yet disgusting, man with surprise. He really didn’t mean that, right?
“I would rather die than sleep with you!” She tried hard to push him away, but he didn’t budge even an inch. Strangely, his nearness caused butterflies to dance in her stomach. She trained her eyes to focus on his face, but it was a mammoth task. With his sinful muscles on display, pressing against her delicate frame, she felt fiery hot indeed.
“Don’t say things you can’t do! We will marry soon and we will definitely sleep together!” His eyes shone with determination, making her seethe with fury.
“I don’t have to listen to your crap. Just get off me.”
“No, I don’t want you running out of my room now. Grandpa is in his study. Stay until he retires to his room.” Skylar gaped at the man. What would he do with her until then? She wouldn’t survive so long with his unwavering dark gaze checking her out all the time.
“Nice try, but you won’t get what you’re aiming for. Get off me right now!” she hissed, but he raised an eyebrow at her with amusement instead of getting off her.
“And what am I aiming for?” She seethed at the amused look on his face.
“Maybe to take advantage of me!” She glared at him, daring him to contradict her. He rolled off her and lay on his side with a solemn look on his face.
“I don’t need to take advantage of women, Skylar. It’s not in my nature. I’m attractive enough to have them willing to warm my bed.” A wave of jealousy coursed through Skylar’s body at his statement. Did he really lead such a colorful life? No, she wasn’t one of those women.
“Maybe, but I’m not one of them. I don’t find you attractive. Not in the least,” she announced with confidence, not even glancing at his ripped body. He chuckled instead of taking offense and soon rolled over to his original position, pinning her down with his weight. The suddenness of his actions startled her. The moment his bare skin touched her, a strange electric current shot up her body. It confused her, and she gaped at the man. What was he up to now?
“Prove it. Prove that you’re immune to me. Take it as a challenge. If you can, I’ll leave you in peace. If you lose, we’ll get married.” His gaze probed into her soul while she stared back at him. Her mind was in a state of mush! Was he really serious?
“No, I’m going into that with you. I don’t need to prove myself. I am immune to you and I’ll remain that way forever! Get off me, Christian, or I’ll yell.” She glared at him, training her eyes to focus on his arrogant face. Her threat didn’t have any effect on him. His eyes sparkled with excitement as if enraptured in a world of his own. She wondered what made him so excited while she was having a tough time battling his Greek God-like sculpted body and sinful looks.
“Are you scared that you’ll fall for me?” His voice was hoarse while his eyes devoured her.
“High hopes!”
“Then accept the challenge and win it. It’s the only way to get me off you.”
Skylar glared at him. Fine, if that was what he wanted. She never backed out of a challenge and she wouldn’t give up now. She would accept the challenge and win it, too.
“Fine. I accept your challenge, Christian St. James. I will win it and prove it to you. I hope you will remember your promise and leave me.” Christian chuckled and eased off her body.
“Sure.” He watched her get off his bed in a rush. His gaze roamed over her scantily clad body and a strange excitement coursed through him. He didn’t tell her he would leave her in peace only until she completed her education. She was born to marry him and he would make her! He wouldn’t stop until she fell in love with him! Would he play fair? That was another game altogether!
She scoffed and strode towards the door while he watched her walk away. With the shorts clinging to her rounded butt, he could feel himself go hard already. Soon he would have her in his bed! He had waited enough! The game had already started!
Skylar closed the door shut on his face, acutely aware of his gaze hooked on her backside. The man was so creepy! Her cheeks flushed with color and she just couldn’t get him out of her mind. In her haste, she hardly noticed Grandpa Benjamin watching her from his study room with a grim look on his face.
Skylar found her room at last and locked it well. She sank into her bed and closed her eyes at last to sleep, unaware of the impending storm.
The next morning, she freshened up and went to see her grandparents. “How long are you planning to stay here, Grandpa? Can’t we go home already? I’ll arrange for an ambulance to transfer granny.”
“Fine. We were here because of Caleb and Lillian. Now that they have left, let’s go home after breakfast,” said her grandpa to her immense relief.
“I’ll make the arrangements.” Skylar went out to summon an ambulance when she came face to face with Grandpa Benjamin. She immediately froze with horror at seeing the solemn expression on his face.
“I was looking for you, Skylar. Come to my study. I want to discuss something important with you and Christian.” Skylar’s heart constricted with dread. Would he discuss their engagement?
“Yes, Grandpa Ben.” She followed him to his study only to see a bored Christian sitting at Grandpa’s desk and checking out some papers. Skylar frowned, wondering what he was going through. Was it the agreement Lillian had mentioned to her yesterday?
“Have you gone through them, Christian?” asked Grandpa Ben and Christian nodded, looking up to gaze at her.
“Yes, Grandpa. I’ve signed it.” Grandpa Benjamin smiled a little for the first time since she met him.
“Good. So when are you planning to work on it?” Skylar frowned at their weird conversation. Why were they talking in riddles?
“I already have, Grandpa.”
“I noticed that last night.” Christian’s cheeks colored strangely while Skylar still looked at them with confusion.
“Sit down, Skylar.” Just as she sat down, the door opened and her grandpa came into the study.
“Phil, I wanted to discuss the engagement before you and Miriam left,” said Grandpa Ben.
“Yes, I wanted to discuss it with you too.”
Skylar looked at Christian, a thousand questions flashing across her mind now. Didn’t he promise to leave her in peace if she accepted his challenge? Then why were they discussing their engagement? Christian evaded her curious look and focused his attention on Grandpa Ben instead.
“I want them to get engaged as soon as possible, Phil. They would be free to spend time with one another.”
“I have to return to the university next week, Grandpa,” said Christian while Skylar’s eyes widened with shock. Would they get her engaged in a week?
“I want granny to attend my engagement, Grandpa. Please, can’t we postpone it? Can’t we wait until granny is better?” she pleaded with her grandpa. Christian turned to fix her a look of disapproval. It seemed as if she had disrupted his plans somehow.
“I’m sure Miriam will be better by next week. Wouldn’t she, Phil?” asked Grandpa Ben hopefully.
“Maybe. I’ll update you after her check-up this weekend.” For the first time, Skylar prayed her granny took another week to heal. She knew she was being selfish, but she really couldn’t kill her soul and get engaged to Christian.
“Fine, then. We’ll wait for your update. It will be a small ceremony that can be arranged in a day.” Skylar's heart sank with dread.
“Have you booked the ambulance?” her grandpa asked Skylar.
“Not yet. I will.”
“I’ll help you, Grandpa Phil,” offered Christian, taking out his phone and calling up an ambulance service.
“They’ll be here in an hour. Let’s have breakfast in the meantime.” Grandpa Ben ushered them out of his study, but Skylar was acutely aware of Christian’s hand on her back. It was a possessive hold and she just couldn’t jerk it off her. To her immense frustration, he sat right next to her at the breakfast table. She wanted to flee, but with both grandpas sitting right in front of her, she couldn’t do a thing.
“Let’s eat on the patio, Phil. You’ll love the feel of the place,” suggested Grandpa Ben. They carried their plates outside, leaving the two of them alone.
“I’m not hungry,” said Skylar, getting up to leave, but he grabbed her wrist instead.
“Sit down and eat if you don’t want me to feed you.” Skylar glared at him with hatred in her eyes.
“Why do you care?”
“I just want my future wife to get more curves.” Skylar gaped at the hateful man. He was worse than he actually portrayed.
“Then I’ll starve myself to death just to get you disinterested in me.” She got up and stormed towards her room, all her appetite gone already. However, Christian’s parting shot rang in her ears.
“Then I’m afraid we would have to hasten the engagement. How else will I feed you every day?”