Secrets in the shadows

I’m playing for keeps

I made my way to the kitchen, there he was slumped over the kitchen side, chatting away to the ominous Phoenix who I had yet to be introduced to properly, suddenly I felt out of place and it dawned on me, I was his prize for the week, not his girlfriend, the sheer embarrassment boiled up inside of me at my actions just moments ago, I didn’t know why he effected me so much but I had to snap out of it and quick, how could I have made such a fool of myself, I knew what he probably thought, that I was easy, I mean he had paid for my company and suggested it would turn physical and my womanly hormones had failed me miserable, I bit down hard on my lip thinking how I could repair the damage and my self respect before I left this strange place.

“What did I tell you about that!” Ryker screamed in my direction.

I looked at him puzzled, getting a little annoyed at his orders he kept flinging at me.

“What “I flung my arms in the air dramatically.

He pointed at my lip, and I just smiled.

“Oh, don’t let that bother you “I scolded at him.

He disregarded me as if I had never spoke, the invisible fly in the room that he could just squish with one look, was I a fly? No, I most certainly was not! We may have entered a contract but that did not mean I should let him disrespect me in front of his brother, I was suddenly feeling brave, I did not know where it came from, if I were been honest with myself, I was acting reckless, the adrenaline from earlier still coursed through my veins and I wanted to see how far I could push Mr cool and collected.

I stood tall and strode towards Ryker and phoenix, making sure to arch my back, pushing my breasts out as far as I could, Phoenix was equally as enchanting as Ryker a little more innocent looking, not really my type but he did not need to be, I was just playing the game just as Ryker had moments ago, I wondered who would win.

Phoenix was tall and chiselled just like his brother except he had golden brown hair and light green eyes that swirled amber, they were as mesmerising as Rykers, I slid my long slender finger up Phoenix arm and purred at him. 

“Hey, I’m Caliana nice to officially meet you at last” Phoenix smirked in my direction.

Before I knew what was happening, I had been spun around in a flash and was placed in the library, it was magnificent, rows upon rows of books surrounded the entire room that looked like it was fit for a ball, I stood amazed taking in the breath-taking view of something I had only ever seen in movies.

“What do you think you are doing?” Ryker growled at me.

 He sure did look cute when he was angry, I suppose been in a strange place with a stranger who I had just met on a site that bought me, I should have been scared but oddly I was no longer anxious or scared, if anything I found his reaction humorous.

“Caliana I just asked you a question” He growled more impatiently this time.

“Well, I was happily enjoying been ignored in your kitchen, then you rushed me out which was mighty strange considering you made a big point of us needing breakfast” I rolled my eyes to give my response more emphasis.

Ryker smiled.

“After that, what was you doing after that”.

“Well now I’m stood here playing guess what you’re talking about this time”.

“You know what I am referring to”. 

The penny dropped, well not really, I knew what he was talking about all along, but it was more fun to act dumb than state the obvious, so I pointed my finger as if I had only just clicked on.

“Oh, you mean introducing myself to your brother, I thought it was only polite” I responded innocently.

“That was an introduction?” He quizzed me.

“Yes of course”

Ryker strode towards me.

“Tell me Caliana do you usually use seduction techniques when you introduce yourself”.

I bit my lip hard, I almost cried out from the pain, it was a horrible habit, but it was a trait I did in nervous situations, and I was nervous, he had me there, I felt a little foolish for acting like a petty teenager, I did not know what I thought I was going to get out of it, and it was completely out of character, I had never been so brazen before.

“That won’t work this time Caliana” I was shook from my thoughts, I looked at him puzzled.

“What won’t work?”

“That!” He raised his voice at me while pointing to my lip.

“I’m sorry sir, it’s a habit, I will try stop” I spoke nervously and fast.

His eyes looked at me bewildered, “What did you just call me?”

“Sir?” I answered honestly.

He had a gleam in his eyes, that I had not seen before, he drank me in for what felt like a lifetime.

“Yes, why did you call me that?”

I chuckled partly nervously and partly because I had not meant to call him that out loud its just how he made me feel and it had accidentally slipped out, but he did not seem annoyed, I do not know what feeling he had but his previous annoyance at me attempting to flirt with his brother had seemingly disappeared with one word.

“Caliana” He urged me for an answer once more.

I threw my arms into the air dramatically, “I don’t know, its how you make me feel, like I’m a naughty student been told off by the teacher”. 

Instantly my cheeks grew red at my accidental honesty, I did not know what it was about this man that had me acting like a fool, but I could not help myself lately.

He raised his eyebrows as he came closer, he slid his muscular arms around my waist as he pulled me closer, the heat from our bodies melted the tension that had been in the air moments ago, he smelled like a summers day in the forest, his smell was intoxicating, every time I smelt him, I lost the ability to think clearly, I was drunk on his scent alone.

 He brought his lips close to my ear as his hot breath flushed my already reddened face and whispered.

“Don’t ever do that again, you are mine”.

I looked into his piercing blue eyes that swirled once more, they were terribly inviting.

“Yours for a week” 

I smirked at him, even though it left me with a great sadness, only for a week, I hadn’t wanted to do this in the first place but now I was here, how was I going to handle the miss of his smell, the miss of his touch, he hadn’t even really touched me yet and I was swooning, how was I going to handle it when he did and when the time comes to say goodbye how could I say goodbye to him forever, it was a depressing thought and I didn’t know I had knitted my eyebrows together as I frowned at the realisation that this was just fun for him and only for a week.

I felt his touch instantly as he glided his warm fingers across my cheek.

“What’s wrong Caliana?”

I shook the feeling I had earlier off, I could not break his rule, I could not fall in love with him, it was lust that was all this was and once I had experienced it, I could get it out of my system, and I would be back on top form.

“Nothing, I’m good” I lied.

“Your good?”

I nodded. 

“Yes, Ryker I’m good”.

“Ryker it is now?”

“Well yes that is your name is it not?” I asked him teasingly.

He did not respond he just smirked at me and walked out of the library leaving me there speechless, and he was gone again, I did not really understand what the point of his contract was if all he did was tease me and run away, he seemed to like games but only when he was playing them.

I gingerly walked back towards the kitchen, I hated to admit it to myself, but he was right, I was hungry, my stomach growled in agreement.

I stepped into the kitchen, and it was like the events that had took place in the kitchen had never happened, Ryker was deep in conversation with Phoenix just as he had been before I had been ushered out.

I took a seat at the kitchen unit and sat quietly while drumming my nails on the black glass surface.

“What do you fancy Caliana?” Ryker asked me, beaming down at me like the cat that had got the cream.

I placed my fingertip along my bottom lip slowly moving it backwards and forwards as if deep in thought and I returned the grin as I used that same finger to draw it towards myself beckoning him to come closer, to my shock he acted on my command, with our faces just inches away from each other I whispered close to him.

“You”

For a moment he seemed taken aback by my response but quickly recovered if I had not been waiting for him to respond to my one word, I may have missed it.

“Let me rephrase that, what would you like to eat?”

“Whatever, I don’t mind” I responded a little sullen that none of my tactics were working on him, who was I kidding, I didn’t technically have any tactics, I had never held down a relationship and this was supposed to be fun, I knew what I was getting out of this but I still didn’t know what Ryker got out of this transaction, he was paying a lot for my company so maybe that was the point, I wasn’t supposed to figure him out, this was only day one and I was already spiralling.

“Go join your friend in the dining room, your food will be in shortly”.

That was the last straw, I banged my hand on the table, both brothers looked at me in surprise.

“Let’s not do this now”.

“Oh, but we are doing this right now”.

Phoenix stood and almost ran to the next room.

“Scares easy, does he?” 

“Caliana this is not the proper way to behave” he scolded me.

“Oh really, I’m sorry your lordship I must have missed that etiquette class before arriving to the manor” I curtseyed just for theatrics.

“How dare you mock me in my own home” He screamed at me

“What is going on in here” Laila screamed as she came charging in from the room Phoenix had just ran to.

“Nothing” We both screamed in unison.

“Well go do nothing somewhere else, some of us are trying to enjoy our breakfast in peace” Without another word she stormed back into the room.

Ryker grabbed my hand and started dragging me out of the kitchen, I swung out of his grip.

“I am not a rag doll! If you want me to move, tell me, don’t drag me!” I screamed.

“My room now” He gritted at me.

My body failed me once more, I knew he was annoyed with me and I knew my behaviour was erratic and impulsive, but I could not help it and when he said those words to me, my body nearly melted at the thought, and he was not even aware how his words had suddenly affected me as he was too busy bounding up the stairs like a mad man.

When I eventually joined him in his room, he slammed the door behind me, with a sudden realisation that I did not have a clue what I was doing seeing his beautiful eyes turn a darker shade of blue he positively looked intimidating, what was I hoping to accomplish here, now that we were alone, I was not so sure.

“Caliana”

 He raised his voice at me and I knew I was in for a long and gruelling lecture and it was no more than I deserved but before he really made me feel small I had to act on what I was feeling or I would lose the bottle to ever do it again and with only six days left I was running out of time, so I did the only sensible thing I could think of, I rushed up to him, dragged my fingers through his silky hair and pushed my mouth hard onto his, tasting all the anger that I had caused and washing it away with my passion for him, tasting the sweetness of his mouth as I pushed harder lengthening the kiss till I very nearly exploded from the inside out.

“What do you want?” He asked me breathlessly.

“You, I just want you, I’ve wanted you ever since I laid eyes on you”.

To my shock Ryker took a step back away from me and went and sat on the bed with hands in his head looking down at his feet, what just happened? I did not get it, I liked games as much as anyone, but his hot and cold act was seriously starting to get on my nerves.

I sat next to him closing the distance between both of us.