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I slip a little packet from my pocket. I’d put it there this morning and carried it with me all day. I have something in my other pocket too, in case I find a need for it later.
“I have something for you.” I hand her the little silver sachet.
“What’s this?” She takes the little package, her eyes glittering as she opens it. Her mouth forms a little “o” of surprise as she opens the gift. “Oh my gosh. This is for me? You’re too sweet.”
She holds the pendant in her hand. It’s a little glass circle framed in silver, hanging from a silver chain. Inside is a tiny, pressed flower, its petals still bright white after all these years, its center a golden yellow like the sun. I don’t know what possessed me to grab the necklace from the collection I inherited when I first bought the castle, but I did.
It just looked like Charlie. She’s as cheerful as a flower and when she walks in a room, she warms me. Like I’m stepping into the sun. Jesus, what’s happening to me? I clear my throat, willing the obsessive Charlie thoughts to leave my brain.
“Sweet,” I say. “That’s not a word that’s been used to describe me before.”
“I told you, you’re all gooey inside like a marshmallow.” She hands me the necklace, pulling her hair off her neck for me to put it on her. Why do I like the small gesture so much, that she didn’t just put it on herself, but turned to me to do the honors?
I close the delicate clasp, resting it on the back of her neck.
She turns to show me, her fingers going to the pendant.
“I love, love, love it. Thank you.” She reaches up on tiptoe, planting a sweet little kiss on my cheek. Even that, the tiny gesture of a thank you kiss…
My chest burns.
“It looks beautiful on you.” Like it was always meant to hang around her neck.
I take her hand, leading her to the garden. I had my staff set up a simple dinner in the center of the greenhouse. I hold the door open for her. As she steps inside, she gives a little gasp that lets me know my stellar staff has once again come through for me. The glass roofing has been strung with large white globe lights, their soft glow the only light against the dark night sky that surrounds us.
Dr. Williams called earlier with the results of Charlie’s blood tests. I figure it’s information best shared face-to-face, so I invited her to have dinner with me again tonight. I tell myself it’s just to give her the results, but I know I’m craving that connection we had at our boat dinner.
“I thought you’d like to dine surrounded by flowers.”
She glides over to the table like she’s walking on water. She lets her fingers trail over the white tablecloth as she takes in the elaborate floral centerpiece on the table. She leans in, taking a deep breath, fully enjoying the over-the-top bouquet.
I just stand by the door and watch her. I love the way she moves, the way she smiles. The way she takes her time to enjoy something she loves, like when she’s savoring one of her precious pieces of chocolate.
Finally, her gaze finds mine. “Thank you. So much. This is…” she struggles to find the words. “Incredible.”
I pull out a chair for her. “I want to keep my prisoner happy.”
She slides into the seat, the smile on her face making me think she’s as content as can be to be under my lock and key. The knowledge that I have her, here, all to myself, and she is completely powerless to leave, makes my cock warm in my jeans. I like that she’s under my thumb, under my control.
But most of all—under my protection.
I take the seat across from her, pouring her some of the crisp white wine from the chilled bottle. We dine on the meal Remy prepared for us, both of us too focused on our food to chat. Once we’ve gotten some food in our bellies, I broach the subject I brought her here to cover.
“Dr. Williams called me this afternoon. She got your test results in.”
“Oh.” She dabs her mouth delicately with the corner of her napkin, then lays it back down on her lap. “Tell me.” She shakes her head, holding her hand out to stop me like she’s had a second thought. She grabs her wineglass. “No. Wait. Let me finish this first. Liquid courage.”
She tips her glass back, draining the wine.
I hold the bottle out. “More?”
She hands me her glass. “Hit me.”
I fill her glass back up. She takes another long sip, then sets her glass back down on the tabletop, folding her hands in her lap. “Okay. I’m ready.”
I speak quickly, not wanting to leave her in suspense. “Everything looked great. And your DNA test came back clear too. Dr. Williams is happy to meet with you tomorrow to go over everything in person, but she didn’t want to keep you waiting. She said to reassure you that what happened was a one-time thing, a fluke.”
Her voice is quiet. “It didn’t feel like a fluke.”
