Chapter 005

Christina’s POV

The soft rays of the morning sun streamed into the bedroom through the opened window, cascading over my exposed back and I began to rouse from my sleep.

A low groan rumbled from my chest as I turned onto my back, my eyes slipping open to take in my environment. I must have slept well into the day because everywhere was lit with the sunlight and I had to squint my eyes to avoid its assault.

I stretched my battered limbs on the bed and another groan fell from my lips. My body was annoyingly sore as though I’d engaged in a tiresome exercise the previous day but my night could as well be described with such terms. Thinking of it had me shuddering but then I felt my core quiver and my lower stomach curled tightly, a tingling sensation shooting up my spine as the memories of Scott’s assault flashed through my mind. Despite my resistance and my actions to keep him away for the night, he’d taken me and he didn't show any mercy while at it, but my body had betrayed me, much to my dismay.

Another shudder wracked my entire being when I recalled how well he milked my body for pleasure, drawing out each orgasm while kissing and sucking on all the right spots until I finally passed out after the third orgasm crashed into me. I didn't think I could last that long because after the first, I was like melted chocolate in his arms and my resistance weakened, leaving me to the mercy of his skilled hands.

The thoughts alone had my cheeks flaming in mortification. Slowly, I pulled the covers down my naked body to see the bite marks on my nipples and the hickeys on my inner thighs from when he used his mouth on me. I had no form of likeness for the man, but his mouth sent me to heaven, sending me on an endorphins high but heavens forbid I admit that to him.

I delicately trailed my fingers over the hickeys but my body responded, shuddering in remembrance of what it had felt like to be underneath him and I instantly retracted my hand, hating that the man who had kidnapped me was the same man to rock my world and destroy me for all other men.

“Asshole,” I muttered the curse underneath my breath, annoyed by the fact that he’d made sure to leave physical evidence of the eventful night we had.

The urge to wash him away from my skin and to scrub off his hands after the way he disrespected me was so strong that I gave in, climbing out of bed to do just that but I wasn’t prepared for the extent to which he’d worked my body.

A dull ache materialized in my core the moment I took my first step, making me wince but at the same time, it sent tingles up my spine and my nipples hardened in response. I took another step and the same thing happened. I mentally decided to sit in a hot tub so I wouldn’t leap around for the rest of the day. The thoughts of the servants seeing me in such a condition spread heat to my cheeks but I was sure Scott would be very proud of his work.

It was noon by the time I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in just a towel. I made my way to the closet and opened it to see it was filled with a collection of lovely sundresses.

He must have a thing for sundresses, or whoever that picked every item in the closet was clearly obsessed with them but I wasn’t complaining. They were all lovely, and I’d readily enjoy the luxury while it lasted.

I searched through them, looking for one to wear but then my eyes caught the price tag on one of them and I huffed.

A dress for a thousand dollars plus? Who even does that?

“Of course, always the wealthy ones showing off,” I murmured but picked it anyway. It was pretty with beautiful floral prints on it.

Thereafter, I pulled the drawer below to get new sets of undies. I was dressing up when a knock sounded on the door.

“Who’s there?”

“Your brunch is here, Ms Bell,” an unfamiliar voice responded.

It piqued my curiosity. I expected it to be Monica or the younger maid since they seemed to be the ones assigned to me.

“Give me a minute,” I called back as I hurriedly dressed up and pulled my hair into a ponytail with a head tie I’d seen on the dresser.

I opened the door to see a different maid there. This one was also around my age but her posture portrayed respect. Her head was bowed and she was carrying a tray holding a plate of my meal, a jar of lemon juice as I’d firmly instructed them and a bottle of water with a glass.

“Come in,” I moved out of the doorway and she walked in, still refusing to look at me as she placed the tray on the dresser and turned to take her leave but I stopped her.

“Excuse me,”

She instantly halted by the door.

“What's your name?” I was curious to know her as I was drawn to her meek appearance and behavior unlike the previous maid’s hostility.

“Anna, ma’am,”

“Anna…” I rolled her name on my tongue. “Please look at me, you don’t have to shy away from me,”

Slowly, she turned around and our eyes finally met.

“Was my food prepared with ginger as instructed?”

“Yes, ma’am,” she bowed again. “Is there anything else I can do for you, Ms Bell?”

“Not at all,”

Anna turned on her heels and reached for the door handle but as soon as she turned it, I called her back, needing to see the maid that had lured me into Scott’s web last evening. If she hadn’t told me the wrong things, I could have succeeded with my plans but she deceived me. I should have known her hostility towards me wasn’t ordinary and was born out of dislike but I foolishly trusted her.

“One more thing,”

Anna had already stepped out of the room but she turned around, her expressionless gaze meeting mine.

“Are you only helping my assigned maid or is this your new job?”

“I’ve just been newly assigned to you, ma’am,”

Her gaze that was on me dropped and I noticed the way she was now working hard to keep it focused on the floor while wringing her fingers nervously.

There was something she wasn’t saying.

“Why were you re-assigned to me? Where’s my old maid?”

Instead of a response, she tensed and began fidgeting. She subconsciously shifted from foot to foot, still wringing her fingers while actively avoiding my gaze.

“Anna, look at me,”

Instantly, her gaze darted to me and I saw the fright in her eyes. They were wide in what could only be terror and her hands were trembling.

“Speak,”

“M-Ms Bell, it…”

Before she could finish up her sentence, a knock sounded on the door. I glanced at the opening to see it was the butler.

“You may come in,”

He strolled in, bearing a charming smile but when he noticed the maid who was still in a nervous wreck, his smile waned. Her eyes met his and I thought they had an unspoken conversation before she scurried away.

“Good day, Ms Bell. I hope you’re having a wonderful day?” He finally spoke, turning his attention to me now that the maid was gone.

It was on the tip of my tongue to question him on what had just transpired but I decided to let it go. I wouldn’t involve myself in the affairs of the workers.

“Good afternoon…”

“It’s Adams, ma’am,”

A smile slipped onto my face at his cheerfulness.

“I’m having a good day, Adams,”

“That’s lovely. I’m here to inform you that you’ll be accompanying the young master to a banquet tonight, as his date,”

A frown settled on my face on hearing his words. I had no arrangement with Scott to be his private escort. I’m only in his home as a surrogate and I have no plans of acting out of line.

“This must be a misunderstanding, Adams. I’m not in any way, your master’s girlfriend and our contract only binds me to be his surrogate and nothing more. I’m sure he has someone else in mind,”

But Adam smiled.

“You don’t have to be his girlfriend to accompany him to the banquet, Ms Bell. You just need to know that you’re the only woman he’s ever brought home, even if you’re just a surrogate,”