"Your wife?" Mrs. Moores echoed, her eyes widening in realization, why hadn't she recognized her sooner, Kathleen watched her hurt gaze and felt sorry, of cause, she would be hurt that Kathleen hadn't confided in her with something like that, she quietly left and Kathleen turned to Derek, her heart skipped at his masculinity, his blue eyes bored into hers, "I'm here to take you home"
Kathleen suddenly busied herself with cleaning the table, "it's no longer my home, I've moved out"
Derek suddenly grabbed her hand, jerking her towards him, she fell on his lap and she gasped, "I said, you're coming home with me" her face grew hot, "no I won't, I like it here, no one is waiting for me to make mistakes so as to jump on me and I do not need to explain myself every time to any"
Derek frowned at her insinuation, "I think we should discuss more about it when we get home"
Kathleen pushed against him, trying to break free from his grasp, "I said I am not going with you, if you excuse me, I have things to do" she glanced outside, "it's getting dark already, guests will soon start arriving" she stood from his thighs and her body missed his warmth immediately, she tamed down the feelings and made to leave but his hand immediately snaked out and grabbed her again, putting her in the position she just freed herself, he kissed her hard on the lips, her eyes widened for a moment at the unexpected kiss and she pushed against him, it felt like she was pushing bricks, he deepened the kiss and her heartbeat skyrocketed, her eyes closed on their own accord as the sensation of his lips on hers washed over her.
The door suddenly opened and two guests came in, talking loudly and laughing,
They paused at the sight before them, clearing their throat awkwardly before taking their seats.
Kathleen sprang away from Derek breaking the kiss, without a word she scurried away from him and Derek moved deeper into the shadows to avoid being recognized by anyone else.
"I'm sorry Mrs. Moores, I didn't mean to keep it from you but it's not something I liked to discuss" Mrs. Moores was carrying a long face for Kathleen, she refused to talk to her and Kathleen couldn't stand her silence anymore.
"I believe you have your reason," Mrs. Moores said blandly as she carried her tray away to attend to some customers. The inn was filled up, Kathleen's eyes kept glancing to where Derek was sitting down, he had gone into the shadows so couldn't see him clearly, but even in the dark, his aura cannot be denied, she sulked a bit, why did he finally show up here? Perhaps, he had missed tormenting her, her eyes caught a customer gesturing and she snapped out from her sulk as she went to get his order.
Kathleen was going to give the customer his order, but before she got there, another man put his leg as an obstacle, Kathleen didn't see it on time and she stumbled, spilling drinks all over, Mrs. Moores quickly rushed to her side with a worried frown, "are you okay?" Kathleen nodded and her eyes flashed at the man, "you did it on purpose, didn't you?"
Instead of feeling remorseful, the man laughed showing brown teeth, "I want my share of what I witnessed you do when I came in, you know...." The man laughed and made a kissing sound, Kathleen's cheek flamed as she realized that he must be one of the men who saw her and Derek kissing earlier, but before she could react to his insult, a voice thundered behind her, "apologize to the lady" Derek's angry tone made everyone turning towards him, their eyes widened in shock, the man who had assaulted her stared at him in shock for a moment or two before masking his surprised, "wow, if it isn't the playboy himself" he did a show of announcement, "ladies and gentlemen, the heir is here, his royal majesty, Derek Deloux" he laughed and made a show of bowing down to him and there were series of laughter from others, Derek's face turned, she grabbed the man's collar and the man sputtered, "do you wish to go against me?" His tone held a note that sent a chill down her spine, the man seems to realize what he had gotten himself into and made to free himself from his grasp, not only was Derek known as a ladies man, he was also known to never lose a fight and he wasn't ready to go against him but his pride wouldn't allow him to give in easily.
"I didn't do anything to her, why should I apologize?" The man sputtered, trying to maintain some dignity.
"Alright, You won't apologize then?" Derek's tone held a note of deadly finality in it, everyone in the house suddenly grew quiet, eyes darting as if expecting a disaster, Derek raised his hand and punched the man hard on his nose, the man yelled in pain, grabbing his bleeding nose, Derek pulled him up prepared to delt him another but the man quickly raised his hands as if to ward off his attacks, "alright, alright, I will do as you say" he turned to Kathleen and regarded her sourly, "I'm sorry, I take back what I said"
Derek left his collar and he scurried out of the inn holding his bleeding nose.
There was a moment of tensed silence, Mrs. Moores's breath a sigh of relief that everything was settled, Derek turned to Kathleen, "where's your room, where do you sleep?"
Kathleen stared at him in confusion, "I said where is your room?" He repeated and she involuntarily pointed at where she sleeps, before she could say anything else, he grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the direction of where she pointed, "come with me"
As soon as Derek entered the room, he looked around the tiny room and sought out her things, he started arranging them into her bag, Kathleen grabbed a cloth from him as he was about to put it in the bag, "what are you doing?"
"We are leaving," he said simply and her gaze set in a stubborn line, she folded her arms across her chest, "no, you are leaving and I'm staying right here"
Derek gazed at her for some minutes, "fine, you can stay here but I'm staying with you, I won't leave without you". He said with a note of finality in his voice.