Page 26 of His to Keep
“What do you mean, no? You have no right!” Anger drives me to slam my fists down on the desk. His eyebrow rises, but something inside of me has snapped, and I can’t stop. “Let me go to her!” He suddenly laughs, and it enrages me even more. “You’re sick. A sick, evil bastard! You’re only telling me this to torment me, aren’t you?”
He sighs, and the smile on his face fades. I shouldn’t have yelled like that, especially knowing what he’s capable of. But what he’s doing is wrong. If Gran’s sick, she needs to see a doctor or go to a hospital. My parents don’t check in enough with her. She could die.
“Fath—my Lord, please. If you won’t let me go, then force her to see a doctor, or contact my father—”
“Enough.” Surging forward, he captures my chin with his fingers. I try to pull back from him, but he doesn’t let go. He comes closer, lips barely inches from my face, and I whimper from the closeness of him—the sickly smell of his peppery cologne. He sighs as he moves in, pushing his nose into my hair and inhaling deeply. My entire body screams from his touch.
“Your defiance is what troubles me.” I cry out as he fists my hair and pulls my head back. “It both irritatesandinterests me. But it won’t save you. What did I once tell you? That angels can be sent to hell if needed. And you don’t want my kind of Hell.”
“Please,” I beg as he tugs my hair, forcing me to stand.
“Your emotions got the better of you, but next time I’ll cut out your tongue for talking that way to your Lord.”
Dragging me back to the bedroom, Father Aaron throws me inside. As he slams the door behind me, Callum rises from the chair slowly, but I can’t bring myself to look at him. I stand still, staring at the door, wishing I were strong enough to bash it down. Stalking into the bathroom, I step into the bathtub fully clothed. Turning on the shower, I sit down and hug my knees to my chest as water seeps through my clothes—anything to wash him off my skin.
As I rock back and forth, thoughts of Gran being sick and incapable of doing anything makes me tremble. It’s my fault. I thought those terrible things about her, and now this is the price I’m paying. What happens if she dies? All I have left are my parents, who live miles away and don’t care.Nobody is looking for you. Nobody cares about you.
I pound my temples with my fists, unable to endure this pain any longer. “I want out, I want out, I want out!”
Callum sits in the tub behind me, his long legs appearing on either side of my body.
“Stop.” He grabs my wrists, and I try to fight him, but he doesn’t let go. Defeated, I lean back against him. Why he’s doing this, I don’t know, but being comforted by him is both confusing and helping.
Breaking down, I let out a sob. “Gran’s sick. She might die, and I’ll have nobody. My parents don’t care about me. They never have. What am I going to do?”
Pulling my wrists from his grasp, I cover my face. Hearing him let out a deep breath behind me, he takes hold of my shoulders and turns me. Prying my hands from my eyes, I blink through the spray of tears and water coming down on top of us, shuddering from the intensity in his eyes. How can he not speak to me for so long and suddenly make me feel this way?
Droplets of water drip down the side of his face. Perfect in every way on the outside but broken inside. Like I will be. Maybe already am.
“I’m sorry I kissed you.” I don’t know why I say it, but I feel like I must.
“I know.”
“Callum?” I choke on my tears, needing reassurance that all of this is a cruel joke. “He—Father Aaron. He wants me for terrible things. There’s to be a ceremony…” He says nothing, and the lack of surprise is evident on his face. “You already know, don’t you?”
My insides tighten when he nods.Oh God, he knows.
Pushing him away, I climb out of the tub and back away from him. He gets out after me, his wet clothes soaking the floor. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Would it have made a difference?” I’m taken aback by his answer.
Maybe it wouldn’t have made any difference, but at least I would’ve been prepared. Tried harder to escape. Done something.Anything!“You’ve seen me in pain all this time, and you didn’t think of telling me his plans for me?”
“And cause you more pain?” His tone is dry. “How could I tell you that he intends to make you his mistress without hurting you further?”
Staggering back, sickness swirls in my stomach.His mistress.I knew deep down but hearing it out loud breaks me. That Father Aaron intends to use my body.
“No,” I sob louder, hands shaking. “He can’t do that.”
“I’m sorry,” Callum whispers, but I can’t hear him. Turning away from him, I dart from the bathroom and rush over to the door. Yanking the handle, I scream out with frustration when it doesn’t open. I’m about to bang on the door when Callum’s suddenly behind me and grabbing my upper arms. “Stop. He’ll hear you.”
“Don’t touch me!”
My hands slam into his chest and he stumbles back. Gasping, I lose my balance and crash into him. We both topple to the floor, and I land on top of him. He stares up at me in shock. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
“I…I’m—” As I try and get off him, the skirt of my dress bunches up around my waist, and that’s when I feel something. Something rock hard straining his pants.
My breath catches in my throat and his eyes widen as his erection presses against my stomach. I don’t move a muscle, and neither does he. His eyes drop to my lips and my belly coils tighter. All I can do is stare at him, waiting for him to close the gap between us. But when one of my tears lands on his cheek, he blinks and suddenly pushes me back.