Naked and Bound (1*+)

Four

Hugh Stenton was bluffing.

Mr. Reed had never said anything along those lines. After signing the contract to be Victoria’s s*x toy, Mr. Reed had only briefed him on their dangerous situation and what Hugh's role in it. Hugh didn’t have the slightest care about his limited duties and responsibilities.  He was too focused on getting the money and be done with it.

Everything, however, changed when he saw Stefan.

He was certain he had seen the merciless morality in his eyes on Mr. Reed’s green ones.

Hugh had a good eye for people. One, he realized, should have that ability when one had no education achievement to offer. It also came in handy when applying for odd jobs in the illegal world. At thirty-two, Hugh could confidently say he had seen it all. The best kind and the worst kind.

His forte? Dangerous people.

The kind Mr. Reed and Stefan belonged.

Stefan calmly took a gulp of his brandy, thinking carefully. Meanwhile, Hugh noticed Stefan’s white button-down shirt and cargo pants looked comfortable at him. With his lean physique, Mr. Reed’s clothes were only one size larger than him. Hugh peeked on his pitiful gray crew-neck shirt and jogger pants that was stretched to its limits and suffocating him. Obviously, Mr. Reed didn’t know protein shakes and a hundred reps biceps curls. 

Hugh's thoughts were interrupted when Stefan finally spoke. "You're lying."  

It sounded nowhere near accusatory. Just stating a fact. 

Hugh kept his face emotionless. "Believe whatever you want."

"Damn right, I will," Stefan said strongly than necessary. "I’m nothing like that woman’s father.”

“How would you know? You haven’t even met the man.”

“I know because I'll do a better job of protecting my daughter than him."

Silence fell between them. Weighing the gravity of what Stefan said. Both of them let the night pulsed around them seemingly waiting on what would happen next. They had only been together for a month and it was no secret that Stefan had spent it being a jerk. He shouldn’t be surprised if Hugh would disagree with him.

However, Hugh nodded slowly. "I'm sure you will."

Stefan was surprised to hear the honesty in every word, but he still glanced at Hugh's face to search for even a tiny detail of insincerity. 

He found none. 

Satisfied, he moved abruptly and started to leave the room.

Hugh called out. "Don't you want to hear the rest of the story?"

Stefan said nothing and left him alone.

Hugh laughed unexpectedly.

That rude son-of-a-b*tch was smiling smugly.

* * *

On his way back to his room on the second floor, Stefan's bad mood returned. Maybe he should just finish the rest of Hugh's f*cked up story. The sooner he knew the facts the better his chance to be freed.

But why did he leave?

Thinking profoundly, his slippers made no sound against the wooden floor as he crossed past Hugh's room. Unlike the living room and the kitchen, the second floor appeared harsh and manly. It was designed in a wide arc with a long bronzed table in the middle with statues of a griffin resting at the top. From the stairs, Hugh’s room was the closest, next was Victoria’s, and the last one was Stefan’s.

Steel and wood infinitely fought for dominance in the interior. Black lined the walls. Gray covered the ceiling. There were no windows and the hall heavily relied on the huge chandelier at the center for light. But even that couldn’t even soften the atmosphere.  Like a fail attempt to apply a feminine touch.

Finally, Stefan reached his room. But before he could open it, Victoria materialized from her room dressed in her Spongebob pajamas, clutching a blanket and two pillows. He stopped what he was doing and watched her struggle with her baggage as she tried to close her door silently.

She wasn’t doing a good job.

"Where are you going?" He blurted out loudly.

Victoria started and whirled around, only to see him lounging next to his door. His arms linked around each other looking bored and sleepy.

Victoria took an effort to place a finger against her lips amidst the pillows.

She screamed-whispered, “Shut up!”

Stefan’s brows lifted mockingly. Instantly, Victoria’s face crumpled in guilt. For a month, she had never dared to be rude to him. After all the unfair things her father had done to him, Stefan had made sure to make her feel she was largely at fault. Whenever he crossed paths with her, Victoria carried his contempt on her shoulder that was way too big for her. 

Just as he expected, she instantly apologized. In a heartbeat, he waited for his satisfaction and rage to build up in his chest. The only emotion he knew whenever Victoria was concerned. 

But nothing came. Stefan felt nothing but mild annoyance.

Suspicious of his reaction, he tried to list the reasons why he should hate her, only to come up reasons why he shouldn’t matter more.

His attraction to her was at the top of his list. 

She must be waiting for him to say something cruel just like what he was doing for the past weeks. But he only watched her as if he had the time in this world. 

Despite the darkness of the hall, the amusement in his moonlight eyes was evidently clear.

She stepped back. “You’re scaring me.”

Stefan understood and hid his free hands behind his back. Unlike Hugh, she was still uneasy about him. Willingly, he also stepped a few steps more back and put an acceptable distance between them. Far enough so he won’t see the way she clutched her fist. But close enough that he could hear her whispering.

She turned to leave.

Clearing his throat to stop her from running away, he finally spoke, "Sleepover party with the cows?"

She whirled around unexpectedly. Astonishment etched in her face. Her mouth agape. 

The fear in her eyes vanished and was replaced into ire. It crackled like savage and sensual emeralds.

Interesting, he thought.

Victoria, he surmised, hated when someone messes with her animal friends. She menacingly spat back, "If you're here to bully me, can you just postpone it for tomorrow? I have plans."

Stefan had the gall to be offended. "Bully, you? Me? I have never bullied anyone in my entire life."

Victoria suddenly felt bold, rolled her eyes, and snickered. “Now, now, blue-eyed boy, Molly had warned me about your type. A heartless and good-for-nothing type.”

Stefan scoffed and refused to believe her. He wasn't heartless. He was never heartless. Working as a nurse for years had taught him to empathize with anyone. He had stood beside a crying wife after the death of his husband. He had celebrated beside a family when their mother was declared cancer-free. He had offered his shoulder for a devastated mother who had lost her unborn child.

No, Stefan wasn’t a bully.

But he couldn't stop himself smiling devilishly as he said, “Molly must be the cow?”

Victoria had enough. With a disgruntled hmp, she swiveled around and strode towards the stairs.

He followed her.

Three steps after, she stopped and twisted her body with a menacing swoosh. Her eyes flaring with annoyance.

Boy, was he wrong to think she was pure and innocent. The woman was a firecracker.

Halting on his tracks, Stefan avoided her glare and studied the wall to his left as if it was a majestic object he had ever seen and he couldn’t wait to discover its secrets. Just like the woman in front of him.

"Why are you following me?" She said between gritted teeth.

He also didn't know.

"It's already midnight. You can't be left alone." Stefan shrugged his right shoulder. "Who knows? Cows can be violent."

"Enough of this sick joke!"

"Okay, I'm sorry. That came out wrong. But, I'm serious about you not being left alone though.” He waited for her to see his point. He continued, “I know that you have been here for years and you know every corner of this mansion but as much as I know, you’re still not safe alone.”

Victoria sighed. He could see her taut shoulder relaxing. "I see. How foolish of me. Thanks for reminding me. Honest." Victoria pointed one freehand in the direction of his room. "But, you can go back to your room. I can ask Hugh to accompany me."

 Stefan didn't like that idea. Surprisingly, he didn't want Hugh to get cozy with Victoria at night with no one around them but cows and chickens.

His reason? Again, damned if he knew.

His confusion had started when he heard the story of her life and her father’s attempt to keep her safe. Gone was the image of Victoria being the vicious enemy when all he could think about was the trauma she had gone through. Something about him wanted to keep her under his wing and never let her go.

So, Stefan lied, "He's drunk. He assigned me to do the babysitting duty."

She opened her mouth to protest but no sound came out. He didn't expect her to believe him. Heck, he bullied her all these weeks. That was enough for her to distrust him. So for good measure, he had already thought of a series of replies to completely convince her. 

But when she let out a stoic sigh, he knew he was a good liar.

He barely stopped himself from ginning. "Sorry, babe, you're stuck with me."

Stefan started to step closer to her.

She suddenly changed her stance and held up a palm, stopping him from getting any more closer. Slowly, she hugged the pillows with one hand as if it could protect her from him. He watched her use the other to reach for something inside the pockets of her pajamas. It glinted and started at him insultingly.

A handcuff.

Stefan stiffened.

She unlocked it. "I can't let you be close to me with your hands free."

"I didn't see any problem with you being close to Hugh."

"That's different. I don't trust you, in case you didn't know."

Stefan considered his options. Something told him that he would regret it immensely if he didn’t grab this chance to be with her. He wouldn’t have the chance to figure out what Hugh had seen in her that made him helplessly smitten. He wouldn’t have the chance to know her secrets. He wouldn't have the chance to see her world.

On the other hand, he didn’t like involuntary submission. He hated her marks on his skin. He hated being dominated. He hated--

Stefan held out his arms.

Silence enveloped them as Victoria tried to get over her surprise. On the other hand, Stefan could only think about if his heart was beating loud enough to be heard downstairs. 

Hell, he was in too deep.

 “It doesn’t hurt. It has velvet cushions.” She said as if it would help alleviate his uneasiness. As if he was a child she was trying to protect.

Stefan's proud self couldn't accept that. Palm-to-palm, Stefan offered her his wrists as he held her jade-like stare. His silvery eyes were telling her that he was offering her not only his freedom but himself as well. Like a slave to his master. It was the perfect picture of submission.

However, he flinched when the steel and velvet licked his skin. Damn, but it was a perfect fit that it's actually frightening. As if it was made for him. 

When at last she locked his wrists together, he couldn't stop himself from whispering arrogantly. "Fair enough. I don't trust you either."