GRACIE
I kissed her forehead murmuring a prayer of thanks after checking .her hands and feet, I was glad to see that she was okay.
Her gaze focused on something behind me and her face lit up in a huge smile.
"Uncle Hayden !"
My heart lurched in my throat in full panic as she raced towards him wrapping her arms around his legs.
My stomach tightened and sank even deeper in despair when he scooped her up into his arms with surprising gentleness.
"Hey princess..how are you? "
She'd always been accepting and friendly towards everyone, I always loved that about her.. until now...I only want to protect her... I didn't want her getting hurt in any way. ...even not physically.... but emotionally.
Any situation but this the sight of a father and his adorable daughter would have melted my heart but all I wanted right now was to rip her from his arms in this very moment, I wanted to protect her from every threatening danger with every fiber of my being.
His dark gaze met with mine at that moment, his gaze was daring as if he could read through me.
His gaze directed me and I could once again breathe properly.
"Thank you, Inez, you can leave now, I'll handle it from here"
For the second time, I noticed the middle-aged-looking woman that had appeared along with Hazel out of the house.
She shot me a small smile But I was in no condition to return it, I just wanted to flee as far as possible with my daughter...
He approached in long strides into the house still carrying Hazel in his arms, I had no other choice but to follow after them.... she chattered on like he was her friend totally oblivious to my plight.
I wouldn't kid myself to try to escape, I wouldn't even get far, during our drive I noticed it had been quite isolated, the nearest house would be about a thirty-minute drive and even if I tried I doubt I would be able to make it past the gate.
While we were still outside I couldn't help but noticed the way the whole surroundings were tightly lidded with security, I bet even a fly wouldn't get past without them knowing about it.
*
*
Dinner was so tensed, I could feel his gaze boring holes in me the whole time, I didn't even get time to listen to Hazel's endless chatter when his burning gaze threatened to consume me where I sat.
"Are we going back home, mommy? Uncle Hayden said we are going to live here from now on"
I stared up at him and sure enough, his gaze was still on me, I swallowed hard before redirecting my gaze to Hazel's, I couldn't practically tell her that she and I were kidnapped by her father and that I had no choice but to stay here with him.
" Don't you like it here? I think beautiful... There are so many rooms for you to play around in .."
She shot me a toothy grin which didn't last long as she'd suddenly remembered something.
"Then what about uncle Shawn? Will he also come to stay here with us?"
Her innocent question filled the air with even more tension, it was so choking that it was hard for me to draw in a breath.
I didn't know why I chose that opportunity to meet his gaze again, this time his darkened gaze sent a shudder through me.
"No he won't, now finish your meal and stop asking, will you? "
I was grateful when she resumed back on her meal and opted to talk to Hayden instead, at least it helped distract his gaze from me.
*
*
The large bathroom was one of the most beautiful I have seen. The ceiling is made of glass while one side of the room has huge windows, the white-tiled tub wide enough to contain at least four people.
"mommy, are you really uncle Hayden's old friend? "
I tensed up at her innocent words, taking a deep intake of breath I scrunched down to her level to brushed my fingers through the little strand of hair that had fallen over her face.
"Why are you asking? " I spoke as I ran the bath
"You don't seem to like him very much "
Her words took me by surprise, how had she noticed? She has always been so sensitive, I only pray she doesn't get to witness Hayden's dark side one day.
"What are you saying, he's my friend so of course I like him"
"Really? I also like him, mommy.. Me. His eyes are the same! " she gushed out like she was telling me some big secret.
Her words made protective instinct surge through me, she shouldn't like him... That man over there was the only one powerful enough to hurt me.
"What did I tell you before about going out with strangers Hazel? Why didn't you listen to me? "
I noticed the furrow in her brows and the way her lips trembled and eased my expression a bit, I wasn't mad at her because I knew that she wasn't to blame...But it bothers me how she just kept going on about her uncle Hayden....she was getting attached to him too quickly and I guess it was somehow my fault because we made no friends... It was kind of always me and her...
I had been too careful in trying not to get discovered and aside from Shawn we pretty much didn't hang out with anyone else.
Also, I'm twenty-four and he still managed to get me, still managed to make me cower in fear, one of his hardened looks was enough to do that, so how could a girl who had only recently turned five protect herself against him?
"Are you mad at me mommy? " she whispered
"Of course not sweetie, why will I be mad at you? "
Seeming satisfied with my answer she shot me a smile.
After I ran her a bath I ran the brush over her hair, before long her eyes were drifting closed so I dressed her up in her pajamas for bed. Like he'd promised few hours after he'd brought me here he'd sent for our things...
I was tucking her in bed when I felt his sudden presence behind me.
He scrunched down to her level on the bed, taking her hand in one of his he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
"Goodnight Princess " he whispered the words softly
I was surprised at how quickly he was getting attached to Hazel, I honestly didn't take him as one who would love children.
I found myself glad he did... I wouldn't have to worry that he might hurt her, her being safe in her small little world was enough for me.
He looked up at that moment to catch me staring and I quickly averted my gaze.
For a moment we both watched Hazel sleep.
"Come with me "
I shook my head slowly in refusal and directed my gaze from him to Hazel, with her here I felt like he wouldn't be able to do anything to me.. Like I was untouchable.
The command in his gaze had me wobbling up to my feet, following his lead as we walked out of the room.
*
*
He stopped in front of the counter to pour a glass of whiskey..., with the glass in hand he made way back into the living room and I followed him like a lost sheep until he sat on the sofa.
He took a slow sip, his burning gaze fixed on me made me want to squirm.
Why wasn't he saying anything? This long silence was killing me.
"Now let's talk about us. " He said in a raspy tone, before I could expect he made a sudden pull at hands, dragging me to him... to sit on his thighs.
My first instinct was to struggle against his hold
"Stay still " he barked out sharply his palms skidding through my thighs dangerously.
"Why did you visit the other day? Why did you come to my house hmm? "
I felt chills at the same time a wave of hotness when his lips made their way to my neck, I flinched a little when his tongue made a swipe.
"I'm asking you something!" he growled against the skin of my neck.
" I didn't want to, it wasn't my choice! " I squirmed against him as he kept delivering tiny licks to my nec
"It wasn't by choice that you wanted me to find you... That you left evidence behind? " he murmured against my throat, his searching fingers making their way deeper between my legs.
I explained everything that took place as quickly as I could, I wanted nothing more but to flee from his possessive clutches at this moment.
The corners of his lips quirked a little bit"It seems someone wanted us to get back together "
My brows furrowed in confusion, he sounded as if he knew exactly who had been behind it. ... wait. Could it have been Sebastian? Ashley had clearly used the word HE.
But he'd promised me... That he would never let Hayden find me, how could he...
"Then why did you let me make love to you?"
As he spoke his fingers toyed with the waistband of my panties dangerously.
"I didn't let you Hayden"
He switched our positions so quickly that my back was against the couch as he pinned me down with his weight.. my hands pinned above my head with one of his.
A whimper threatened at his smoldering gaze that burned with desire.. and something else.. something that gave him a crazed look.
"You could have gotten away if you really wanted and I wouldn't have remembered a damn thing... or else you really wanted me to find you"
I shook my head frantically in denial.
"No! I didn't! "
"You went back despite the risk of being discovered by me!"
"I did it for my family! "
A dark chuckle escaped his mouth, the hand clasped about mine eased just a bit
" You don't believe that maybe it was because you crave my touch...so you returned hoping I would find you. "
"No. That's a lie! "
Tears were streaming down my face freely at this point, I closed my eyes when he leaned to caught it with a swipe of his tongue.
"You didn't get close to anyone....didn't let that bastard fuck you... He must have wanted to, after all you're so beautiful....but you didn't allow him, because you knew you were still mine "
I was sobbing openly now. I didn't want to hear all these... Listen to his obsessive words.
"You are wrong Hayden, you damaged me so badly, I couldn't give anything to anyone if I wanted to..."
Something dark flashed across his face like he was caught in some distant memory.
"But you also ruined me. You damaged me as much worse as I did to you! "
He was wrong. I don't remember doing anything to him, all I've ever wanted was my freedom...
"I also couldn't touch a woman in these years... all I've ever wanted was you. Only you. why? " he whispered out the last part, his gaze flickering over my features like he would find the answers to his questions there.
"Only you can make this darkness go away, You'll have to take what I give to you. Everything !" His voice was rough as he crashed his lips to mine.
***************************************