Page 53 of Grand Master

THE MELODY THAT CALMED MY WAR…

Classical strings floated from Kenric’s speakers, it sounded soft, sorrowful, and delicate.

Maybe it relaxed him, I didn’t know but was just happy to still be in his presence.

He didn’t just leave me at the cemetery; he stayed there with me until the sun set.

I could tell it was out of the norm for him because for the entire time I sat down, he stood behind me watching me talk then he listened to me play my violin.

I didn’t want our evening to end, didn’t want to be lonely on my birthday.

I was relieved when Kenric asked me what else I would like to do.

I didn’t know, but I quickly thought of something.

Dinner, I wanted to go out to eat with him.

A date. So, I had him follow me back to my apartment and wait for me while I showered and changed into something more formal to wear out to a five-star steakhouse.

I wore a simple black mid-thigh dress to match Kenric’s black suit.

I slicked my hair into a high bun then added gold bangles to my wrists and ears.

I felt like we were pressing for time, so I went without makeup.

I made sure to add a clear coat of lip gloss and felt sexy enough.

I was excited, while this was a first for Kenric, it was also close to a first for me.

Darius and I never dated, he never took me places besides small diners or drive thru fast-food places.

I looked over at Kenric with amusement, he drove stiffly, both hands on the wheel like driving was something foreign as well to him.

I thought back to the day I was kidnapped and realized that it was probably foreign to him.

Kenric was used to being driven to whatever destination he went to.

He was the type of man that had security somewhere in the shadows watching his every move.

“You okay?” I asked timidly.

His side profile was carved in stone; when he took his eyes off the road to stare at me, I saw the storm in them. He shifted his eyes back to the road and squeezed the wheel tightly.

“I don’t know how to do this.” He stated lowly.

“Do what?” I asked.

“Be gentle, less robotic and more vulnerable. These past couple of weeks have been hard. Every instinct in me wants to protect you. But only in the way I know how to protect—” He glanced at me; a small glimpse of pain shined in his dark eyes.

“I think my way will upset you…I learned that I want you to accept me and no despise me.” He glanced at me again.

I swallowed down hard and reached for one of his hand that was now on the middle console. He flinched at contact but didn’t pull away. My fingers slowly curled around his knuckles; I brought his hand up to my lips and pecked the back of it to soothe him.

“I think we are on the right path. You took time away from Grand Corp to spend my birthday with me means a lot. I never do anything on my birthday besides spend time with my mom at the cemetery Kenric. I appreciate this so much. I feel sexy and good getting ready to go out to dinner with you tonight. It’s a first time for the both of us. ” I smiled at him.

“What else would make you happy today?” He asked.

“If you spend the night with me tonight, at my house.” I sucked in a deep breath and held it.

“Stay the night out…at your house.”

He repeated my question stopping at a red light, he shifted his dark gaze to me. He stared at me deeply; his hand stiffened under mind. I released the breath that I was holding and nodded my head.

“I went furniture shopping and thought about you. I got a king size bed, maybe you can take time off from Grand Corp and just spend the weekend with me.” I suggested.

Baby steps…

I kept my eyes on him as the light turned green not wanting to rush his answer.

I licked my lips as my eyes took in his perfect handsome features.

Kenric looked like sin and elegance all in one.

He moved his hand from being underneath mine and placed his hand on top of mine and squeezed.

I watched his jaw work; his gaze shifted from the road to the dashboard then back at me like he was calculating something in his mind.

Ease his worries, Mira…He’s not used to none of this.

“I want to wake up to you, all weekend Kenric. I won’t lie; I’ve been mad at you. In a twisted crazy way… I thought you was going to come after me and punish me,” I swallowed down as my body heated up.

“Maybe this can be something new until we figure out what will become of us. You spend days at my house, and I spend some days at Grand Corp in your world.” I continued.

His answer was silence, but it didn’t feel cold or odd. He made a slow right turn, and I could feel a shift, his energy changing. I just prayed that he wasn’t withdrawing already from the idea so out of nervousness I bit into my bottom lip and continued to press forward.

“I would like to cook for you, watch movies… go out somewhere on one of those days and just be close to you.” I added softly.

That made him turn his head completely.

“You want to spend time with me?” He asked in pure shock.

I felt emotional seeing the surprised look on his face.

Had he never felt special enough to anybody?

I knew now that what I had with Darius was fake, that he plotted on me for his own gain.

But I experienced at one point Darius wanting to spend a lot of time with me.

The way that Grand looked at me in disbelief made my heart bleed for him.

“Yes, I missed you. I’m willing to compromise, that’s what people do when they truly like someone.” I smiled at him.

“And you truly like me?” His dark eyes locked on mine like they were searching for a lie.

“I do, Kenric…I discovered that I have feelings for you as well.” I stated confidently. My gaze didn’t falter.

“So, you really want me in your space all weekend?” He asked quietly.

Kenric pulled right up to valet at the front of the restaurant and held his hand up to stop the short bulky man from opening my door.

“I do, Kenric.”

A pain shot through my chest again at the disbelief plastered on his handsome face.

“Not as the man who took you, but the man you see now…”

That did it, my eyes misted over. I hated how conflicted and hard it was for Kenric to process my offer.

“Mira, I have to tell you what I did out of impulse while we were away from each other.” He reached out gently to wipe the lone tear that fell down my right cheek.

“What did you do?” I asked nervously.

“I had a tattoo artist do some creative work to my chest. I wanted something that reminded me of you…I tried to convince myself to let you go because I feel like I don’t deserve you.”

Kenric bit into his bottom lip and looked away from me.

“Let me see.” I asked not believing what he just said.

He turned to me then reached for the top button of his black shirt.

He unbuttoned it slowly at his own speed.

I held my breath as anticipation got the best of me.

Soon as the expensive fabric peeled away from his broad chest, I leaned forward and blinked rapidly.

His entire chest was covered in ink dedicated to me.

At the center was three owls, two of them had their wings spread wide, while a white owl sat perched on a branch made of broken musical notes where my name in big bold cursive letters ‘Mira’.

Right across the middle of his chest was a queen chess piece with a big crown at the top.

Below the chess piece were dark carved words.

‘The melody that calmed my war.’

My eyes shifted back to the owls; I took in every detail. Their wings stretched across his pecs like guardians. Behind the owls were storm clouds that broke open into a halo of stars. Between the feathers were tiny violin strings woven in, so small you’d miss them if you weren’t looking.

“It was impulsive, but I?—”

“I love it Kenric…it’s beautiful.”

My hands shook as I reached out and touched it. His skin was warm; the tattoo was raised like it was still fresh.

“It’s permanent, Mira just like this obsession that I have for you.” He stated, his raspy voice dropped to a deeper tone.

“Why did you include the owls?” I asked as my fingertips grazed over the owl that I assumed had to be Josie.

“Because they’re always watching,” he said. “Always waiting. Silently, just like I was with you.”

“You got my name on your chest…” I whispered.

I blinked through tears I hadn’t realized I formed again. I’d probably never fully understand how deep this man’s infatuation went for me. I had to admit that I admired and loved it. It made me feel claimed and adored.

“That’s where it belongs…so if you’re sure, I’ll stay the night. The weekend, and just maybe the whole damn week if you ask me too…I’d have to leave to handle work and check on my owls, but I’ll come back as promised.”

He slowly buttoned his shirt back up then closed up his suit jacket buttoning the first two buttons.

My heart flipped in my chest; I had this strong urge to jump over the seat and kiss him deeply.

I wanted to take things slow and really peel back more layers to him.

Kenric and his impulsive behavior made me want to throw caution to the wind.

“I won’t ruin it either,” he continued, voice filled with slight panic.

“No matter how bad my obsession to you feels, I’ll try my hardest to not be too impulsive…

the medicine my friend gave me has been working.

I talked to him the other day and he told me to up my dosage if I feel like I need to.

I’ve been in the lab studying the disk he gave me to create more and make it stronger and?—”

“I don’t need you perfect, I want you real…yourself Kenric. I love the tattoo. It makes me feel special.” I smiled.