Freed by Fate

9

        Poppy's eyes blinked open and she sat up, trying to make sense of her surroundings. She was in a bed, but not the same as the one Hayden let her stay in last night. This bed had a canopy, and the sheer curtains were drawn tightly around the frame, almost trapping her inside. The sheets covering her body were satin and the color of a dark chasm. 

        She heard a faint noise that sounded like music, and decided to get up to investigate. She clutched the bed sheet to her naked body and pulled the curtain aside. Her bare feet hit the cold tile flooring, and she shivered at the touch. 

        Making her way around the dark room was difficult; this territory was completely unfamiliar to her, so she did what she thought best: followed the light. 

        The music was growing louder now, and it struck Poppy's heart with an intense sorrow. Peering into the doorway, she saw Hayden sitting at a grand piano. He was shirtless, his back muscles rippling with his effort to play. The room was dimly lit by the fireplace, and she deduced he was a talented musician to feel comfortable playing in the semi-darkness.

        The sound coming from him was purely melancholic, and she leaned against the doorframe, mesmerized. She heard his tale of loneliness as he was lost in his ballad, and felt as if she was listening to his soul crying. 

        What felt like hours was only mere minutes, and Poppy wished desperately to hear him continue. The rain could be heard sliding down the windows from outside as his fingers hit the last couple keys softly. She sniffled subconsciously, and realized tears were falling from her eyes. 

        Hayden turned around with a jerk, his gaze softening when he saw her. He got up and joined her in the doorway, his expression reading almost as shy in the lowlight. He cupped her face in his hands and brushed the tears away from her cheeks.

        "Why are you crying my dear?" He whispered.

        She closed her eyes and sighed at the feeling of his hands on her face. "You play with such..." she began, "raw emotion. I felt your music inside my soul." 

        She felt Hayden stiffen, as if he was building his walls back up and shutting her out. "You weren't supposed to hear that," he said softly, "No one was supposed to hear that."

        She opened her eyes and met his defensive gaze. "Hayden," she whispered, "I could listen to you play for hours."  

        He narrowed his eyes at her; they looked almost demonic in the firelight, and she continued. "Do you remember what you told me earlier? About shutting me out but wanting to get to know me at the same time? Well, I..." she choked out, "I feel the same. This goes against everything I've ever been taught by my mother. She doesn't...believe in relationships." Her eyes widened as she realized what just came out of her mouth, and she quickly blurted out, "Not that we're in a relationship-I mean...I'm not saying I don't want a relationship with you." She faltered and took a deep breath as Hayden just stared at her. 

        "f**k," she finally breathed out, "I really messed that all up. I'm trying to say that Mother wouldn't approve of any of this." She gestured between the two of them, continuing, "But I say f**k that."

        Hayden smirked at her and she tried not to melt as she continued, "That song that you just played made me cry because I realized that's how I feel inside, too. I've waited for my entire life to break through the barriers Mother created to cage me, and navigating through this world is showing me just how distant I truly am from everyone. I want to be free, I want to be happy. I want to finally live." 

        His gaze was gentle as she was speaking and she realized he was letting his guard down again. She reached out and placed her hand on top of his. "Hayden," she whispered, drowning in his eyes, "let me into your life. Let me see the real you, and I promise that I will grant you the same."

        He was silent for a moment, the only sound in the room coming from the soft pops of the fire and the rain on the windows. Poppy's heart felt as if it was going to explode, her breathing ragged as it beat dangerously loud. She returned her other hand to the sheet that was slipping from her body, and leaned her back against the frame of the doorway.

        Hayden's eyes moved down to the sheet and the tension between them grew. He ripped it out of her hands, and she let it fall to the ground, leaving her bare under his gaze. He scrutinized her body, and she resisted the urge to curl up, not wanting to appear weak. He leaned his arms above her head in the doorway, his face coming inches from hers as he bent towards her. 

        "Look at yourself Poppy," he whispered vehemently. The tone of his voice was low, dangerous even. She tried to not flinch at his words, and tried to prepare herself for the sting of rejection. But it never came. 

        Hayden kissed her with such force she forgot to breathe for a minute. Her hands instinctively tangled into his hair and their passion radiated between them like flames dancing in the night. He pulled back, breathing hard, and rested his forehead on hers. 

        She stroked his cheek, feeling his jaw tighten under her touch, seeing a hunger flashing through his eyes. 

        "You're breathtaking," he whispered, and he shut his eyes. Poppy could sense an internal battle rippling through him and longed to be his comfort. 

        He pushed away from her and paced the room, back and forth like a broken record. "I'm a monster Poppy," he spit the words out with such self-hatred, "And you...you're so pure. Innocent. If you knew half of what I've done, I assure you that your thoughts would change. I am not the right type of man for you. And yet..." He trailed off and stopped his pacing. He looked right at her, and she swore he was looking into her. 

        A wicked sound escaped his lips and she realized that he was laughing, thinking of some sick, twisted joke. "Yet, you were made for me. I have no choice in this matter, to my dismay. I can't fight it, as hard as I try, as strong as I am," he walked over to her and grabbed her chin, tilting her head up to meet his steely gaze, "You make me weak."

        Her eyes widened at his confession, and she placed a hand on his smooth chest, over his tattoo. "Tell me everything about you Hayden, I assure you my feelings won't change." 

        His eyes softened but he firmly shook his head no. "I won't do that to you, Poppy. I'm not going to burden you with my twisted tales. You were made to be my balance. The last thing I will allow myself to do is ruin you." He shut his eyes again, his hand still on her chin, keeping her in place. 

        "It's a sick joke, really. You, just an innocent lamb, being fated to live inside the wolf's den with the alpha himself," he whispered so quietly, Poppy was not sure if she heard him correctly. Fated? She thought, confused. 

        He shook his head, his struggle written all over his face. When their eyes met again, Poppy saw a dark chasm of pain and loneliness swimming in them. Her own feelings were being reflected back at her, and she realized just how alike the two of them really were. 

        She made no comment about the sorrow she sensed in him. Instead, she attempted to shift the tone of conversation between them, and mused, "We really are making this terribly complicated now, aren't we?"

        His mouth twisted into that devilish smirk that was starting to grow on her. She let out a long breath, feeling the air between them change to a more light-hearted one. "I suppose you're correct. No need for things to get so sour after the first date, huh?"

        Her heart jumped as she registered his words. Date, she thought, He considered our last meeting a date. I guess that makes sense after the...morning we had. 

        Her face flushed at the thought, and he cleared his throat, as if choosing his next words carefully. "Would you do me the honor of having dinner with me tonight?" 

        She looked down at herself, about to point out the obvious, but Hayden interjected swiftly, "I should have something formal for you to wear."

        She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, "I thought that you didn't have any women's clothes available."

        He began to laugh softly,  "Are you jealous, doll?" She glared at him, which continued to make him chuckle. "No need to be sweetheart. A long time ago, I bought some women's gowns, in preparation for someone special. Unfortunately, all I'm prepared for is formal events. I figured you didn't want to change into that type of clothing last night."

      Hayden spun her around quickly, then pulled her tightly to him. Her back was against his chest, his arm around her neck, and he bent down and whispered in her ear softly, "Not that I'd complain if you showed up to eat like this." He grazed his lips over her ear and softly bit it, eliciting a small moan from her. She shivered at his words, feeling her body flush in excitement, but suddenly, he let her go. 

        Who knew a man could make me feel this way? she thought, the feeling of exhilaration from his dominant touch swirling throughout her body.

        He stepped around her and looked back over his shoulder, his light eyes flashing with amusement at her. "Come on," he called, "My servants will help you get ready." He disappeared into the darkness of his room, leaving her still panting with desire. 

        Oh, he KNOWS what he's doing, she concluded, and this is all part of his game.