Stars Reversed

Chapter Three

Cait

“On second thought…” I sit back on my heels, insolently tapping my mouth in faux thought as I face the discarded book. Lord Blackwood, visible in my periphery, leans forward, poised as if ready to strike. “You threw the book… you go fetch it.”

For a long moment, Lord Blackwood stares at me, unmoving. After an excruciating pause, he exhales, rising to his feet in a smooth movement and stalking over to the book, standing and looking down at it.

“Very well, slave. You’ve made your demand. But, know this: I always get what I want in the end.”

“Sure thing, you always get what you want… except for when I get what I want.” I retort back, rising from my heels.

His gaze snaps back to mine, a flash of anger flickering in them at my impudence before he slips back on his icy, untouchable facade. “You forget your place.” He hesitates, before reaching down for the book and picking it up, his large shoulders tapering down to a firm, round butt in my full view.

Wow, I’m not usually into men’s butts… but I could make an exception for this one. Wait… what am I even thinking?

With a sudden, fluid motion, Lord Blackwood flings the book at me, his strong arm whipping through the air with a sharp snap. I reach out, catching the book easily in my hands, smiling smugly as I hold the book aloft, wiggling it where I caught it right in front of my face. I bring it down to my waist just in time to see Lord Blackwood stalk efficiently, every step full of power and determination. He reaches out, yanking my chin up between his pointer finger and thumb, so that I am looking straight into his piercing emerald eyes.

“You think you’ve won some kind of victory here, don’t you? But, in reality, you’ve only proven how desperately you crave control.” He smiles wickedly, his eyes shimmering with dark promise.

I return his wicked smile with a sickly sweet one of my own. “...and you, Lord Blackwood, have proven just how quickly you lose control when challenged.” I spin on my heel, heading back towards the ash bookshelves and softly tucking the abused text into it’s spot. “There you go, your precious book has been politely tucked away. Happy?” I turn to face Lord Blackwood, his jaw clenched, his eyes boring into me with fierce intensity.

“I can see the fire in you, the rebellion that simmers unchecked in your veins.” He regards me, walking stealthily around the desk and coming to my side, feeling the text in it’s spot. “You must learn to control it; to submit to your rightful place.” He observes with a steady calm, despite the soft feathering of the muscle in his jaw. “Mia!”

“Yes, Lord Blackwood?” The nervous maid scurries back in, her eyes lowered in deference, but I see a corner of her lips quirked up.

“Show Lady Caitlyn to her chambers and prepare her for dinner. Her training will resume promptly at dinner. 7 sharp, as always.”

“Yes, Lord Blackwood. Please follow me, Lady Caitlyn.” Mia begins to scurry off efficiently, and I follow behind her, eager to have the relief of not being in Lord Blackwood’s company. Once we are down the darkened hallway, Mia turns quickly to the right, passing an impressive set of double doors leading out onto an airy veranda. She leads me down another wing, this one brightly lit with wall to ceiling windows on the right, peering out onto the same veranda and garden easily seen from Lord Blackwood’s office. On the left, five thick doors lie closed, feeling heavier than even their own weight.

Mia opens the first one, revealing a crisp, clean white room with white and gray marble floors. On the right wall, a cherry wood four poster bed with an intricate rose and leaf design cascading down each post, peeking through the gossamer canopy. The bedding is a soft pink, with a plush maroon rug under it. On the back wall, a half-moon brick fireplace sets unused due to the warmth of the season. On the left wall, a matching cherry wood dresser and armoire sits, shining and clear of dust, a round, bronze mirror mounted to the wall. I walk in, taking in the candles evenly distributed on small sconces on the walls, the high ceiling. Mia quietly closes the door, the latch knocking closed with a simple click.

“You ought not push him so far.” Mia chides, going towards the armoire, picking through several different dresses-settling on an elegant deep emerald one. She pads over to me and holds it against my frame, her mouth quirking to the side. “This should fit. Come, let’s get you ready.”

“You’re kidding, right?” I ask directly, somehow trusting that what I speak to her will remain within her confidence and will not reach Lord Blackwood’s ears.

Mia regards me for a moment, exhaling deeply as if my words pain her physically. Mia gently drapes the dress over the bed. Without asking, she begins to help me undress, pulling the basic green dress off of me, sighing as she sees the painful way my chest is bound by the too-tight undergarment. She deftly unties the front of the undergarment, with no regard for privacy, and removes it, tossing it over her forearm to join the plain green dress.

I swallow a deep breath now that my breasts are not caged in the miserable confines. My rib cage expands with my lungs, and the oxygen feels like absolute ecstasy.

Seemingly unable to stop, Mia sets about pulling the elegant emerald gown onto my figure. Its long sleeves fit neatly to my arms, and hug my waist before flaring, and the square neck gives a tasteful display of my collarbone and a sliver of my chest.

Returning to the dresser, she pulls open a drawer at the top center, revealing a small collection of simple combs and a brush. She sets a brush and a silver comb onto the top of the dresser.

“I think the silver will really contrast and compliment your hair. Sit.” She instructs, no nonsense to her gentle tone. I sit on the hope chest at the base of the bed and Mia softly brushes my long ash brunette waves with ardent care before using the comb to secure one side of my hair, showing off the long line of my neck. She steps back, her eyes almost admiring. “That will do.” She pinches my cheeks softly, bringing a blush to them, and nods. “Perfect.”