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Serenity

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

I want to swallow every word as soon as I finish speaking, but I realize it's too late as I face Ares' look of astonishment and then anger.

"What did you say?"

I'm very intimidated, but I’m also upset. I cannot say that I was deceived in relation to my guardian. In the only face-to-face contact we've had, he's made it clear that he's controlling and arrogant, but even so, arriving here like the god of the universe saying that I'm going to have to change my plans and move into his building is a bit extreme, even for him.

I almost apologize.

Almost.

But I realize I have an advantage, if his surprised expression is any clue.

A few months ago, an article appeared about a secret nightclub called SIN, which was frequented by authority figures from all over the world. There wasn't much detail in the article, other than the fact that it allegedly belonged to Ares Kostanidis, the heir to one of the most powerful banking families in the world, and also that the place was only accessible to the elite of the elite.

I don't know what happened next, but suddenly, all news about it disappeared from the planet's websites. How do I know this? Because I checked. I don't want to know about my guardian's love life, but I was curious about his professional life. Unfortunately, I remain in ignorance, as I have no idea what SIN represents. But a place called “sin” makes the imagination run wild.

And what kind of sin are we talking about?

If I, a virgin, had my interest piqued, I can’t imagine what happened to men and women in the United States. I don't doubt that they now have a waiting list for members.

Yes, members , like a kind of club, according to the report.

"Serenity, answer my question."

"You heard me." I pause because I know that what I'm about to say will poke the bear. "Uncle Ares."

" Uncle Ares?"

To my disappointment, he doesn't seem affronted, only amused.

"You want to treat me like a baby. I'm acting accordingly."

" Uncle Ares. " he repeats. "Yeah, maybe that title works." Without saying a word, he goes to the door and locks it.

I should feel scared, but that's not what happens. I trust my heart, and it tells me that if there is anyone in the world with whom I will always be safe, it is my guardian.

"What are you doing?" I ask when he starts walking towards where I am.

He doesn't answer. He sits on the bed and, with a quick movement, pulls me face down onto his lap. He slaps my ass over my thin hospital gown.

Then he puts me back on the bed.

"Why did you do that?" I ask, my voice sounding out of tune, the result of a confusion of emotions so intense that I can't even begin to understand them.

I can still feel his huge palm against my skin. He didn't hit hard. It stung, but it wasn't the sensation of the spanking that made my body react, it was the dominant way in which he caught me.

Dominant?

God, where did I get that from? What do I know about dominance?

"You called me uncle. I thought that would be how an uncle would react when faced with a disobedient niece."

"Just because I asked about the club?"

"SIN is none of your business."

"So it exists?"

"We are not here to talk about me but about your safety."

"I think this staying in my life thing is a two-way street, unc—" I clear my throat. "Ares."

"Wasn't one spanking enough?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You were going to call me uncle again, cheeky."

"Aren’t you tired? It's dawn." I try to deflect to see if he forgets the subject. I'm afraid to open my mouth and say I want more spankings. I could lie and say I hated it, but will he believe me?

No, he won't. From the way he looks at me now, with a mix of curiosity and confusion, maybe he knows exactly what his unexpected spanking did to my body.

"What did the doctor say?" Thank God he changes the subject.

"Haven't you spoken to him yet?"

"No. I wanted to see you first."

I suddenly realize what he did. He took a plane in the middle of the night to make sure I was okay.

"Because you're my guardian?"

"Because as long as you're in my care, you're mine."

“Otis might disagree with that,” I tease, and only Jesus would be able to explain why I just said such nonsense.

"Otis is a boy. You need a man to protect you. You have me, and I won't let whoever did this come close again. Which hand was it?"

I show him the left one, where I can still see the scorpion sting on my fingertip. "There is no way this creature could have come with me from Paris. Either it was in the car, or they put it in my bag at the airport."

He still hasn't let go of my hand. In fact, despite looking at me, his thumb runs across my palm. I don't know if he realizes what he's doing, but I do, and my heart beats like it's about to have a heart attack.

I remember what he said to me the night we had dinner two years ago:

“I want your obedience, not to be your first crush. And even if it weren't like that, I don't date girls. Believe me, you wouldn’t be able to handle me, even if our roles were different.”

"I have a counterproposal," I say.

He lets go of my hand immediately. "In relation to what?"

"Your watching my every move until the man harassing me is captured."

"Do you think you are in a position to negotiate?"

"No, but I'm going to die trying. I don't want our coexistence to be a living hell, so I think we can come to an agreement."