Racheal froze for a moment, as her lips got consumed with Steffan’s fiery one. He sank his fingers into her hair, pulling her head back so he could claim her lips even further. They were still lying side by side on their bed. She tentatively placed her hand on his shoulder, feeling the hard flesh of it as she had always wanted to. This seemed to fire him up. He ran his tongue over her lower lip, coaxing her to part her lips. He swooped in for her tongue immediately she did, sending hot sparks down between her legs. Finally, he slowly pulled back and stared into her eyes. The blue of his eyes seemed strangely bluer.“I like you.” He said, in that low voice he had, the baritone reverberating in his throat. His words evoked feelings she did not think possible, in her. “I like your full lips and the way they press together when you are hurt or angry. I like the beautiful lines that immediately appear around… here.” He tongue darted out and swiftly licked the spot he was referring to
Racheal checked the drawers in the walk-in closet for new sheets, and found some. She made the bed quickly. She was changing into a new nightdress in the bathroom when she heard Steffan walk into the bedroom. She listened to him move around, and then there was silence. She suspected he must have gone to bed. Racheal sighed, a little relieved. She would not have to face Steffan just yet after how badly she had just behaved. She stepped out of the bathroom, and paused. Steffan was still awake and sitting up in bed. She awkwardly joined him, wondering if she had pushed the man away for good. She sat up beside him, feeling too unsettled to lie down and prepare for sleep. Steffan suddenly pulled her close into a hug.“Skylar is probably fine and enjoying her own honeymoon.” He said. She sighed in relief as tears escaped her eyes. Why was he always so kind? Well not always. But why was he often so willing to shrug things off. And how was he always able to see through her thoughts?
Racheal and Steffan maintained silence for a few minutes. She glanced at him through the mirror. He was looking at her, waiting, expectant. She looked away and sighed. “My mother disappeared, really. I don’t know where she was buried.” She said, picking up her belongings and returning to their bedroom to wear her dress. Steffan followed her not long after.“Why?” He asked, when he came in.“You remember my step-mother?” She asked, thinking about the day she told him how her step-mother had maltreated and tortured her.“Yes.” Steffan responded. His voice sounded strange. Racheal glanced back quickly, and looked at him. His eyes were like a dark pit. She wondered if she should continue with the story, since it was already upsetting him so much. She decided to continue. He did not like when she was tight-lipped, and she did not want to spoil the good mood they had been sharing since last night. “She was my father’s mistress, a few years before I was born, while my mother struggl
The long presidential convoy, shiny and awe-striking, finally arrived at the venue. Citizens were lined up at the gate in their hundreds, waving and trying to see through the tinted glasses of the fast cars. The stadium, one of the biggest in Yin, was packed full. People in their thousands were gathered to watch their most beloved member of the presidential family get appointed over one of the most crucial ministries the country needed after so many years of war.“Ready?” Steffan turned to Racheal in the car. She looked at him, and the incident of the chicken blood came back to her. Since that time, she had a huge fear of crowds, and this was the largest she had seen. Steffan took both her hands in his. “There is no need to be scared, just don’t let go of my hand. No one can break through the security this time.” He said.She nodded. He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. Then he got out of the car, and walked around to open her door. Racheal put her hand in his outstre
Racheal watched the ceremony continue with different speeches from several other people. She sat still trying not to think about her father. She kept her eyes on the screen, studying the faces of people she did not know and may never meet. Some people had brought their children, and she thought how foolish that was. If she had a child, she would never bring them to packed spaces like these.The thought that she would possibly have a child within the next year, at the rate that things were going made her shiver. She did not want to have a child in this circumstance. It frightened her.She felt Steffan watching her, and turned to him. He smiled at her, she smiled back. It was a good thing he did not have the ability to read every single one of her thoughts. The president finally climbed the stage to give his own speech. She wondered if he knew her father was here. Spencer Sherrod was a cunning man, he probably knew, and approved it for her father to be allowed into the country. Wha
Racheal walked back to her seat, partially blinded by her tears. She walked right into Steffan’s arms. He hugged her close, as he fetched a handkerchief out of his pocket.“You did well baby.” He said. Racheal smiled through her tears, and looked up at. This was the first time he was calling her a pet name. He dabbed the tears off her face, took her hand, and began leading her out. Their guards converged around them quickly.She glanced around the stadium at the people still cheering loudly. She knew there was no taming this crowd anymore. They had gone into a festive mood.But still, it felt awkward to be the first person leaving. She looked at Steffan, he was so audacious and non-comforming. The crowd was thicker and struggled to touch her even more now than when she had arrived. The soldiers had to point their guns to keep them back. She sighed in relief when Steffan finally helped her into their car. He climbed in after her.“Where are we going?” She asked. “My father’s reso
“How are you feeling?” Steffan asked, as the waiter, assisted by another female staff, began to clear their table. Racheal pushed her chair back, and stood up.“I am Ok.” She said, and walked towards the floor to ceiling window. She stared out at the lake that bordered this side of the resort. This was truly a beautiful place. The water took on the colour of the sky above, grey. She suspected it would rain before the end of the day. It had been windy from the time she arrived at the stadium. Even now, the weather was misty, although some rays of light still broke through the clouds.She felt Steffan come up behind her, and hug her. She held his hand but did not turn back. She wanted to just stare out at this beautiful place, and not think about all the things that were not so beautiful about her life. Her meeting with her father a few weeks after he sold her off to this place frightened her. How would she look at him, how would she hold herself from lashing out at him if he dared b
Racheal looked at everyone standing tensely in the room. There were at least twenty-five people present, excluding the guards. They were all watching her, waiting. She wondered why she was quiet, was this not what she had always wanted, for her father to change his mind and destroy this marriage arrangement he had with the Sherrod? So why was she not screaming Yes! She would finally be able to exit this pit of vipers and forget all about Thalia, Danna Sherrod, and all the other troubles that came with Xen.She knew her father. He never bluffed, if he said they could walk out of here unhurt, they could. She glanced at his determined face. Did he have snipers around? A grenade? She would not put any of that past him. It would be a bloodbath, cutting their way out of this resort back to Xen. But she knew it was possible, especially since her father was so sure. She caught Delbert’s eye. He gave a small nod for her to say yes. She looked away, and turned to Steffan. His face was li