Page 40 of Dormeo
“You okay with that? You’ll be in danger every second. Nobody would blame you if you wished to leave.”
Chin lifted and eyes steely with determination, he smiles, like he’s been invited to Sunday lunch.
“That sounds perfect.”
21
ROSE
Ash looks pale, or as pale as a demon can be.
I’ve chosen to stay in my room as much as possible, afraid to get any closer to the giant man. He seems to have a way of making me forget that this cannot be, whatever it is between us. Ash may like me, but it’s down to the power I can give him that he seems to find so appealing.
Whereas what I feel for him, longing and desire, is infinitely more dangerous to my heart.
Today is my father’s last day to deliver on whatever he promised to the devil, and I’m not sure whether I want him to succeed or not.
Stockholm syndrome is alive and kicking in hell it seems.
Heavy footsteps tell me my guardian is home. For the last week, he’s been leaving meals at my door or giving me my space when I come out to the living area to eat or get some fresh air on the balcony. Bronx, the gargoyle, has given up the pretence of being a statue, and yet he still barely moves, only giving me a slight nod in greeting when I emerge.
Clearly, he takes his job very seriously, never taking his eyes off the bleak landscape below.
Given this could be the last time I see him, I push my shoulders back and prepare myself to say farewell to Ash.
To his credit, I haven’t had any more dreams of the erotic nature, although I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little disappointed. And he has kept me safe, no mean feat, it seems, judging by the frequent fights I hear in the corridor outside his suite.
Emerging from his room, I stand awkwardly on the threshold, unsure what to do or say. This man has seen me come. He’s seen my deepest desires.
A quick hug and an awkward goodbye don’t seem right.
“Thank you,” I say quietly, deciding that even if I embarrass myself, I’m going to tell this brooding giant what I want to get off my chest. “I know I haven’t been much company lately, but I appreciate you accepting my wishes. I couldn’t… I couldn’t get in any deeper.”
Ash stands in the kitchen, his broad back to me, naked to the waist, as is his norm. The muscles in his shoulders bunch and flex as he leans forward, his long fingers curling around the dark marble.
“Did you think I wouldn’t?”
Shit. I didn't mean to insult him when he’s been nothing but good to me.
“I just… No, you know I think highly of you, Ash, that’s the problem.”
He turns to look at me, bags under his eyes, and his red gaze duller than I’ve seen it before.
“It wasn’t just your power, Rose,” he says, uttering the words I wanted to hear a week ago. “But you’re right, you deserve better thanthis.”
He gestures to the slate walls and the pitch black outside his windows, the sky illuminated only by the faint glow of fire in the distance.
My heart stutters as his lips twist, and he closes his eyes, pain written all over his expression.
“Keeping you here would be selfish, even if my reasons for desiring you are not.”
I stand tall as he takes me in from head to toe. It’s as if he’s taking one last look.
“Your father met the terms. He’s due to arrive shortly to take you home.”
I feel light-headed as his words sink in, the prospect of going back to my old life feeling like a death sentence. My fight or flight response kicks in, and panic grips me. I know that despite what I said, I’ll never be able to live the life my father has planned for me.
Being here has changed me.
