CAELLUM’S POV
I had returned to my chambers after a gruesome training with my men.
It’s been a while since I did it with them and I could see the surprise on their faces when I suddenly told them Beta Matteo would not be joining us for a while.
I’d sent him to take the reins of the business in Iraq and not return until I sent word. I had expected him to put up a fight, to say something about how sudden and unplanned the mission was and grant me a valid reason to put him down but he didn’t.
In the typical Matteo manner, he left immediately, no questions asked. Either he knew that staying would do more harm than good or he expected it. My bet was on the latter.
Every time I thought of her lips on his, in a kiss initiated by my own mate, I felt my blood burn. It has been burning since the moment I witnessed that atrocity, and my males were at the receiving end of my pissy mood this morning.
Leaving her in my room was not a punishment. Far from it. But at the time, that was the only thing I could come up with. I needed to assure my wolf who had been wrecked by that singular act of hers, so much I couldn’t let her leave.
I knew she’d never stay if I asked so I used every weapon at my disposal to make it work. Even if she thought of me as a useless bastard at the end. You can imagine my shock when news reached me of her disappearance.
And the fact that her windows were left wide open.
“Secure the property. No one leaves until she is found!” I ordered when the news reached me, and straight from the training, I headed to the scene of the purposed crime – her chambers.
As I approached, I found something interesting. There was no way she was fled. Not when I could feel and sense her so strongly. Even if she fled, I was sure she hadn’t gone far. In fact, she was somewhere, hiding in plain sight.
I had every plan of finding her out.
I walked into her room, whose door was open and her presence was stronger. It didn’t take a minute to realise Korah had beat me to find her.
“We’ve been looking for you this entire time!” I caught the tail end of her words when I stepped into the bathroom and felt her gaze on me.
My best bet was she wasn’t very happy to see me. But I didn’t care about what she thought. I didn’t like the disappearing act and I intended to make it abundantly clear.
“Get out.” I snapped and Korah knew better than to cross me.
By the time the door was shut, I let my eyes linger over her body, which was naked might I add. “Where were you?”
She blinked like I asked the stupidest question. “Are you blind?”
I stalked over to her and dragged her roughly towards me. “When I ask a question, I expect answers. I am in no mood for your games right now.”
“My games?” She looked baffled. “My games?! Leaving me tied up in that room, hungry and denied was your game, hunny. Getting a darned bath doesn’t even meet up to the standard you raised so high.”
I cocked my brow, getting in her face. “What? Are you upset? Is little Naledi upset because I left her a little horny?” She looked like she’s been slapped but I didn’t let it stop me. “It can’t be a punishment if you ended up satisfied, now would it?”
“You’re such a dick.”
“I said it before, darling. I claim to be nothing else.” I let go of her hand and she put some space between us like she was repulsed by me. I hated it, but I didn’t let it show. “Now, let’s make things clear. The next time you pull a stunt like this, you will regret it. Get dressed, and meet me out front. We have a meeting to attend.”
I turned around, ready to leave before I did something stupid like adhering to the mad voice in my head that wanted to bend her by the bathtub and fuck her silly. These days, I sported a raging hard on whenever she was around.
It didn’t help that I’d seen her without clothes, made deals with minimal clothing, and walked in on her dripping water. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was trying to wreck me.
The pathetic thing was, a part of me didn’t mind that. A part of me didn’t mind her if it meant I got to keep her. I shook off the bizarre thoughts in my head and took one step before she dragged me back.
“What is wrong with you?” I said, and for the first time since I entered, I let my eyes drop down her naked body. “Do you want me to fuck you? Huh? Want me to finish what I started in that room?” My mouth spoke before my head thought.
“I’ll pass.” She gritted and picked up a robe from a hanger. “I don’t want to go out with you.”
I blinked in confusion. “Maybe you are mistaken here. You are my maid, and you don’t have a choice in the matter.”
“Not anymore. I can’t be your maid anymore.” She said and I smirked. “I’ll take it. The deal. To spy or whatever the fuck it is I need to do. I’ll take it.”
That caught me by surprise. A silence stretched between us and I wondered if it had anything to do with my little actions from the previous day.
“Why?”
An evil look passed through her face. “You made your point clear. Being your maid is a one-way ticket to hell. And I’m done with that shit.” She quirked an eyebrow. “Besides, I could do with the space it affords me from you. You know I’ll pick Matteo over you, any day, any time.”
I knew she was baiting me, but I fell right in.
“Trust me, you don’t have to pick. I made it easier.” My fingers traced the edges of my face as a wicked glint passed through my eyes. “I will be going with you on the job.”
She scoffed, an amused glint in her eyes. “You don’t trust Matteo? You don’t trust your beta around your mate?”
“No. I don’t trust you.”
She tried to hide her flinch but I caught it quite easily.
“What happened to them?” She asked and I was lost.
“What?”
“The woman and child. Lucchese. The ones I was punished for? Ring a bell?”
Now she was being snarky.
“Safe for as long as you behave.”