Page 30 of Blood and Thorns

What better way to deal with my emotions than making them so much worse, but fictionally?

Grabbing the shampoo, conditioner and body wash, I jumped into the shower. The hot water caressed my skin, and I would’ve happily stayed there forever if I didn’t know Sebastian was waiting. The thought of him barging in on my shower time dulled my somewhat pleasant mood, so quickly washing my hair, I grabbed a towel and walked back into the bedroom.

He’d only given me three dresses and a pair of jeans. No tops. There wasn’t even any underwear, so with a sigh I washed mine in the sink, and had no choice but to go to dinner bare. Luckily the dress I’d chosen reached my thighs and shouldn’t be too bad if I sat with my legs crossed.

A knock sounded at the door, and I tensed when Chip came in dressed in his sharp suit. His gaze was pointed, but his lips tipped up in what I guessed was supposed to be a friendly smile.

“Ready?” he asked, waiting expectantly.

At my nod, he guided me down the hallway, past the kitchen where the older woman, his mum, was humming to herself, and to the dining room with a table that could easily sit ten. A golden candelabra sat in the centre, all threecandles lit. Sebastian was seated at the head, and Chip came around and pulled out the chair directly beside him.

“Sit,” Sebastian demanded, his eyes scanning my dress with a frown.

What was his problem? He, or one of his cronies, were the ones who picked out the bloody thing. Thanking Chip, I sat down on the chair, keeping my gaze on the plate in front of me. It was salmon with couscous, and my stomach growled so violently I was confident not only Sebastian had heard it, but so had the King of England and his entire guard.

“Eat,” he ordered.

I automatically tensed at the command but still picked up my fork and proceeded to devour the entire meal becauseholy shit, it was delicious. So I get to sleep all day, use a shower that was made by the gods themselves, and be served meals like this?

Sebastian was definitely the right decision.

“It’s time we discussed my expectations of you.”

Okay, never mind.

I put down my fork, leaning back in my chair to look at him expectantly.

“It’s simple,” he continued. “You’ll do what I say, when I say it.”

I inwardly recoiled. “So you want me as a slave?”

“Isn’t that what you offered?” He raised his brow, and I remained silent because I couldn’t think of a compelling argument that didn’t result in me or my father getting killed.

Dessert was served, and rather than gobble the slice of Victoria sponge cake like a barbarian, I picked at it, stealing glances at him every now and then.

Sebastian was easier to look at when he didn’t have his full, frosty attention on me. He wore his black shirt, the collar slightly more open to reveal a ragged scar across hiscollarbone, right beside the thinnest cut that no longer oozed blood.

An apology touched the tip of my tongue, but I swallowed it down.

His cuffs were pulled up, revealing his forearms covered in a dusting of dark hair and tattooed thorns. They dipped onto his hands, encircling some of his fingers where he wore heavy rings.

The candlelight flickered, bringing out his scars in darkened slashes across his skin. His cheekbones were envious, as was the angle of his jaw. His lips were sensual, the top slightly rougher where the scar had split it, and in this light his beard was a shade darker than his hair, which he’d pulled up into a messy bun.

“You’ll be coming with me to the club tonight,” he said, his gaze brushing mine before I realised he’d caught me staring.Shit, I clearly wasn’t as subtle as I’d thought. “There’s a fight.”

“Does me attending count towards my debt?”

“Do you really believe you have a choice either way?” His eyes dropped once more to my dress, his scowl deepening.

“Would you like me to change?” The pale pink dress had the longest hem, and with the whole no underwear situation, it was the safest option considering I had jeans but no shirt. I was a huge fan of no bras, but I would rather die than go out with my actual breasts on display.

“I’ll have someone bring you some more suitable clothes.”

Okay, rude.

“You’ll also be wearing this.” Sebastian gestured behind me, and Chip appeared with a wooden box. He placed it on the table between us. “You’re to wear it every time we’re in public. No exceptions.”

Licking along my bottom lip, I reached across to lift the lid. It was a choker, black, with a red rose pendant in the centre. “A collar? What am I, your dog?” I scoffed before I could stop myself.