Vows of Deception: Bound to My Ex's Step-Father

Chapter 5

“Welcome home, Mrs. Kreiston.” The butler greeted me as I spotted him almost running upstairs. I never saw him like that so I stared at him unconsciously that made him stop and greet me. When I nodded, he quickly went upstairs.

Is Rydell home? I wanted to sink into his arms, and tell him that I had officially quit my job, and talk through the chaotic adrenaline of the art gallery owner. But the moment I stepped into the grand foyer, I froze.

The mansion is different, there’s something going on in here happening, that is far from its usual. Maids were running down the corridors in a panic, and to think that a few minutes ago looked pale. And all of them are running towards the direction of Rydell’s private quarters.

“What is happening?” I whispered. A cold dread gripped my chest. Then I ran.

I slammed the double doors of Rydell’s master bedroom, ignoring the eyes of all the mansion staff. The room smelled of anti-septic and metallic blood. Rydell was sitting across the edge of his massive bed, his clothes on the floor, how white shirt ripped open down the front. The estate's private medical staff were all hovering over him with the same frantic motion. One of the doctors was carefully stitching a long cut that ran across Rydell’s sculpted chest, while a nurse cleaned smeared blood on his shoulder.

“I’m fine, little honey.” Rydell said. He didn’t even flinch when the needle pierced his skin, though his jaw clenched tightly.

“What happened?” The words left my mouth in breathless gasp before I could stop them. Everyone didn’t even bother to look at me, only Rydell. He slowly lifted his gray eyes, his gaze locking onto me. He smiled.

“An ambush,” Jake murmured behind me, his body also covered with blood. I don’t know whose blood but if he’s still standing it means it’s not him. He’s also one of the five most trusted men of Rydell. “We don’t know who it is, but we’re still investigating it. It was messy, Hazel. But Don handled it.”

My hands grew cold, and my knees felt weak. I don’t know why, but maybe the idea that the only person who ever cared for me almost died made me terrified. I’m sure it was Don Roman’s doing. I took a step closer to the bed, my eyes fixed to his bloody shirt. “Rydell…”

Rydell tracked my movement, his eyes darkening as he noticed the sheer panic in my expression. Then all of a sudden he lifted a single hand, halting the doctor who was about to apply a fresh bandage.

"Out," Rydell commanded. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a low, gravelly vibration that brooked absolutely no argument.

"Sir, we need to finish dressing the wound—" the doctor started.

"I said, get out," Rydell growled, his slate-gray eyes never leaving my face. "All of you. Leave us."

The medical staff didn't need to be told a third time. They gathered their supplies in a hurried, terrified silence and bowed their heads, quickly filing past me and closing the door. Jake gave me a brief nod before stepping out, leaving the two of us completely alone in the echoing silence of the room.

I stood in front of him, staring at his wound across his chest. The sight of his blood made my stomach twist in a way that had nothing to do with my fear of the mafia, and maybe it’s just that I cared about what happened to him.

The first time I met Rydell, he cared for me. He always makes sure that Randall never mistreats me or hurts me. He made me live in this mansion for so many years before Randall threw me, and the funny thing is, Rydell wasn’t here when Randall did that. He’s in Italy for some business.

“You shouldn’t have sent them away,” I said, my voice trembling slightly. I closed the room. “The doctor wasn’t finished.”

“This is just a small wound, Hazel,” Rydell replied. “I’ve had worse from a stray shattered glass. I don’t need a medical team to babysit me.”

“Well, you need someone to finish it,” I said. I walk over to the discarded tray of medical supplies that the doctor had left on the side cabinet on his bed. I pick up the antiseptic bottle and clean the piece of gauze. I poured a lot on the cloth.

Then I sit carefully on the edge of the mattress beside him. Up close, his heat was overwhelming. I lifted my hand and gently pressed the cloth directly on his open wound.

“I thought it’s just a small wound?” I said, looking at him grinning from ear to ear. Rydell instantly stiffened. A low groan escaped from his mouth as he gripped the edge of the mattress. “The terrifying Don Rydell Kreiston who rules the mafia world with an iron fist is groaning…over a little bit of rubbing alcohol?”

“Hazel-” he said, his voice warning. “It burns like hell, little honey,” he whispered roughly. He caught my wrist, his gray eyes locking onto mine with a vulnerability that sent a shiver down my spine. He didn’t let go of my hand, I can’t look at him. This is too inappropriate so I tried to distract him.

“Hold still,” I whispered. I leaned down, tilting my head until my mouth was just inches away from his chest. I gently blew it to soothe the burning effect of the alcohol.

Rydell stopped breathing. So I did it again, my lips parted to his skin. Then Rydell caught my wrist and as I lifted my eyes to look at him, I realized how dangerous our position is. I’m too close to him.

“Hazel…” he whispered, his voice low and rough. I tried to stand up to escape from the awkwardness but his grip on my wrist tightened and his other hand cupped the back of my neck. He pulled me upward, cutting the remaining distance between us, and slammed his lips onto mine.

The moment my lips parted in surprise, Rydell let out a dark deep growl against my mouth. He didn’t just deepen the kiss- feels like he’s going to eat me. Like an animal that finally tasted something it had been starving for its entire life. His grip on the back of my neck tightened, as his fingers tangled deep into my hair to hold me perfectly still as he devoured me.

I gasped for air, and he used that split second to claim me completely. His tongue tangled with mine in fierce, demanding that left me entirely breathless. A dizzying rush of heat flooded my veins. I had been kissed before, but never like this. Ariston touches had been calculated, and Randall’s had always been arrogant, but with Rydell’s kiss was a force of nature. It feels desperate and restrained.

He shifted his weight, backing me up until my spine pressed hard against the headboard of the bed. Rydell hovered me over, his body trapping me beneath him. His free hand ripped down to my waist, his large fingers digging firmly into my hip, guiding me to him as if he feared I would vanish if he let go for ever just s seconds.

His lips left mine so I thought it’s over but then it’s only to trail a path of breathless kisses down to my jawline. Then he buried his face in my neck, inhaling me sharply, I can feel his hot breath across my collarbone.

“Hazel,” he whispered, his voice wrecked, he sounded dangerous, like entirely feral. “I’ve let you go twice, I won’t do it again. I’m not letting you go. Not anymore.”

He pulled back just enough to look down at me. His gray eyes were entirely gone, replaced by gaze pure of untamed obsession. His chest heaved violently like mine, I feel like if we don’t stop kissing our lips would be swollen.

Then all of a sudden I felt his one hand crawling on my leg that caused me to push him instantly. Both of us looked at each other with the same intensity of breathing, he looked down on my trembling hands. He realized he had crossed the line as he kissed me like that without permission.

“Hazel,” Rydell growled. I saw him closing his eyes with deep frustration after he turned his back on me. “Go. Leave me alone, I can handle it.”

What? After that he wants me out of the room like he didn’t act wildly like that? Or was he embarrassed because he just wanted to help me by faking the marriage and now he kissed me, an orphan like me. I feel stings in my chest thinking all of that.

Maybe that’s all true, I’m just a woman he wants to save, not love. Just a woman mattered to me but not love.

Still, I can’t stand watching him like this so I’ll stay and watch him.

“I’m not leaving you, Rydell,” I said. His expression changed as he looked at me, from dark to calm that makes me want to be proud of my choices. So I continued. “I’ll sleep in here.”

“Hazel, that’s against your-”

“No. “ I interrupted softly. “And let’s get one thing straight, Don Rydell. You are officially forbidden from stepping a single foot outside this mansion until you are fully recovered. You are staying in this bed, and you are going to let me take care of you and the other nurse without you giving them a fright. Do you understand?"

A low, breathless laugh escaped from Rydell’s mouth. Seeing him in this state, the feral predator is not here, only his good side that I always see in him. If its true that he’s just helping me because I need help, then I’ll help him too without falling in love with him.