This came from someplace else, someplace deep inside. A place he had bottled all the things in life he was supposed to enjoy but was never given the chance to.
And I... I brought that out of him. I gave him a chance to open up, and be free.
Free from the weight his father had placed on his shoulders so many years ago.
He was free to be himself.
I could feel the snow melting into my hair as it crunched beneath my head. Loosening his grip, I pulled one hand out and brushed the loose hair from Hegan's face. Small droplets of water hung at the tips, dangling carefully before finally hitting my chest.
We both sat motionless, eyes fixed on each other. Walking my fingertips over his neck, his skin felt cool. Softly he leaned in closer, brushing his lips against mine. The warmth of his breath spilled over my face, heating me to the core.
Digging my nails into his neck, I pulled him in. Kissing him with need, desire; every emotion and feeling that wafted through my body was sent into that one kiss.
Hegan's tongue twisted around mine, each twirl sending electricity through my muscles. The touch of our lips, the feel of his hands as they twined into my hair; it all felt different.
This wasn't a kiss of raw animalistic passion, and pure lust. This went deeper.
He kissed me like I wanted to be kissed, just like I've always thought a kiss should be. Imagine when you're a young girl and you dream of finding your prince charming. It was those sparks that ignited; that drove into my belly and through every piece of my body.
These feelings weren't false, or fabricated just to please the man who was keeping me chained here. I wasn't scared of him, I never was.
Even with the demand for a baby; fear never plagued any inch of me.
But this time when we kissed... It was real.
Chapter Thirteen
Hegan
What am I doing? It's not supposed to be this way. The feelings rode up my spine like a torrent of sand. Each grain seared up the bone, turning me numb. I couldn't feel anything around me, only her; only Noella.
Shaking the snow out my of shoes and onto the kitchen floor, all I could do was smile; every piece of my body felt lighter than air. She was fun, happy, funny; nothing about her image screamed stripper.
Except maybe the pumps she strolled around in, those fucking legs made it painful for me to walk. They were the smoothest, sexiest piece of a woman.
And hers drove me fucking insane.
Slipping out of the cold wet pants, I crumpled them up and kicked them into the corner. A shadow spread across the floor, its shape forming against the sheen of lacquer.
My lip pulled up, speaking with my back to the silhouette, I said, “How do my briefs look from that angle?”
“Not what I expected, Sir.” The monotone voice shot into my ear, my surprise enhanced the sound as it coiled around my eardrums.
Turning quickly, shock seeped over my face; my eyes bulged from their sockets, brows raising to my hair line.
Dressed in a full tuxedo, one arm was rested across his chest, the other tucked behind his back; there stood Stefan, his face holding the same dull and lifeless expression as usual.
What the fuck? Why the hell is he here? No one's supposed to be here.
I couldn't understand why our butler was now standing in the kitchen of our summer mansion, he was supposed to be back home in Westerly. This was my time here, my place of refuge to get the one thing I really needed. And now here was Stefan, propped like a fucking statue in the kitchen doorway.
“Why the hell are you here, Stefan?” My eyes veered in tight, voice raspy as it pushed off the back of my throat.
“Your father sent me, Sir. And thank you.” Stefan tilted his head a hair. Just enough so the light hit his forehead, shining down the bridge of his nose.
“Thank you? For what?” Why was this man; who was obviously sent here as a pair of my parents eyes, thanking me? It made no sense.
“For saying my name the proper way, Sir. Thank you.” His hand came up and shuffled his tie.
Rolling my eyes, I dragged my fingertips across my scalp. Tracing the edge of my chin, I paced back and forth staring at him. I didn't know what to say or think.
I only knew one thing; I needed him gone.
“Alright, well I don't need you here. Go back home,” I huffed out, holding my palm up.
“Sorry, Sir, I can't do that. Your father ordered me to stay, told me to take care of you and...” Pausing briefly, Stefan gulped down a swallow of air. “Your lady friend, Sir.”
Figures, it fucking figures! Here my dad was again trying to control my life! The whole reason I came here to begin with was to be alone, away from prying eyes. How the fuck was this going to work now?
I was getting Noella exactly where I wanted her; rolling in my palms. Well, maybe a slight piece of me was feeling a twinge more than that. But that was it, only a small piece felt different about her.