Bianca
I opened my eyes, confused, angry, hurt, frightened and all of it together!
Depositing me gently on the couch beside him, O’Grady rose to his full, muscular height and stretched. I looked up at him,
Somehow, these two brothers seemed to be so much in sync; what had they meant?
O’Grady strolled across to the bar, turning with a large crystal tumbler in his hands, half filled with a deep brown liquid. His face was unreadable, hard and distant.
I stared at him wordlessly as he rang a bell and Alfred appeared.
‘Show Ms Cruz her rooms,” he said crisply
Then, turning to me, he said, his voice cool and unemotional,
“You are on the third floor. Your things have already been placed there.”
Sipping from his tumbler, he went on, formally,
‘You may leave.”
I rose shakily and said in a soft tone, “Goodnight. Sir.”
I glanced to where St Just was sitting, his long legs crossed, his eyes on me. I felt the combined gazes of both brothers boring into me as I followed Alfred out.
*
Alfred was professional and reserved as he led me up another set of stairs, wooden ones that led from the back of the foyer. The second floor was enormous but he whisked me up and I gulped as he led me to a large door a the end of the wide marbled corridor.
Throwing open the door, he said,” These are your rooms Miss.”
And stepping back, he added, without meeting my eyes,
‘You may dial me on the intercom for any assistance.”
My words of thanks died on my lips for the old man was already scurrying away from me.
I sighed and shut the heavy door as I looked around me.
The lights had come on automatically and I gasped.
It was a suite. I was standing in a living area, with a large TV unit on one wall, and a comfortable set of armchairs scattered around a low coffee table in the centre. Vases of fresh sweet-smelling roses stood around and I gasped.
Windows ran the entire length of two walls, one of which opened out onto a large balcony.
Kicking off my slippers, I padded across to the door leading to the bedroom.
*
The shades of muted pearl pinks were repeated here as well, and in the centre stood a large queen size bed, with such a soft cover, that I felt like weeping. The walls were subtly decorated with paintings of flowers and I stepped out onto the balcony that led.
As I leaned against the pillar in the centre and gazed at the stars, I inhaled the aroma of smoke; cigar smoke.
I froze and then my ears perked up as I heard my name being mentioned.
St Just was speaking,
“…too young for us?”
A bark of laughter; that had to be O’Grady and his gravelly voice broke in.
“She’ll be fine. Give her a day or two.”
*
St Just grunted and his voice sounded closer, as though he was standing directly beneath me as he spoke,
‘We have the time to break her in…”
I moved back, my heart thumping, feeling like a wild horse they were thinking of taming.
And then O’Grady gave a short bark of laughter,
‘Saint, do you remember the last girl we had here? Ruby something?” his brother gave a chuckle.
“Needy little cow, that one. Glad we got rid of her soon!” I heard Liam O’Grady
My ears were burning as I moved back noiselessly and stepped retort drily and then St Just said something that made me freeze.
‘One of those women who thinks that if a man f*cks her, he’s going to put a ring on her finger!”
They laughed.
Carefully, I stepped back into the room, pulling the door shut cautiously.
*
When I came awake after a particularly restless night, the first thing I noticed was the sky. Lying on my side on the bed, I looked at the colors of the morning sky bleed into each other as dawn burst over the beautiful landscape.
I had found some lovely lingerie, lacy nightwear and dressing gowns in the large cupboard that formed one wall of the bedroom.
Tugging on the robe, I padded onto the balcony in my bare feet, leaning over the balustrade and admiring the scene. The green lawns spread out for miles, or so it seemed to me. In the distance, I could make out the high walls that bounded the territory. I sighed, wrapping my arms around myself and then, the sound of water splashing drew my attention to the large pool directly beneath my balcony.
And stared open-mouthed as Liam O’Grady emerged, stark naked and beautiful, for there was no other way of describing his figure as he rose from the water and appeared, like a Greek god. His physique was strong, the muscles rippling, the water droplets gleaming on his body. Even from this distance, I could see the glistening dark hairs on his chest and the sight of his tattooed arms, and back made me gasp.
Holy mother of God, but he was magnificent!
His deep, chest tapered to a marrow, flat stomach and I marvelled at his abs.
And a thin line, dark and enticing, ran down to his…
My eyes goggled as I stared at his enormous erection. It was…was it real???, I asked myself.
*
A low chuckle made me blush hotly, for Liam was standing, his corded arms bent, large hands on his hips as he looked directly up at me. I had not realized that the pool was on the first floor and worse, that Liam O’Grady had seen me staring at him so interestedly!
He looked so near, I put a hand to my cheeks and moved back, mortified. I heard the loud, mocking laughter follow me as I fled into the bathroom.
*
Later, dressed in the only demure, comfortable clothes I could find, a pair of harem pants and a T-shirt that clung to my body.
It was only 8 am but somehow, my stomach was rumbling hungrily.
Snuck down the stairs and then noticed an elevator at the end of the corridor. Crafty old Alfred had not mentioned that last night, I thought crossly.
*
As I wandered into the dining hall, I met the golden eyes of St Just who was sitting and demolishing what looked like a huge spread. He had a couple of phones with him and he said pleasantly enough,
“Hungry? Care to join me?”
I did not know what to say but my stomach growled loudly .
He chuckled and I walked across meekly, settling in a chair.
“Care for eggs benedict?” he asked, mockingly, raising a fork to his mouth,” Or pastrami? Blueberry pancakes?”
I beamed and sat up straighter.
“Yes please,” I said happily and did not think much about the curious look on his face.
We ate in silence. I did not ask about his brother; the thought of the man, standing naked and arrogant beneath my window, made my cheeks turn pink.
As though I had conjured him up, a hand descended on my nape and I looked up startled.
‘Pet, let’s have a good morning kiss,” drawled the man I had been thinking of and before I could respond, Liam O’Grady had brought his mouth down on mine lips.
*
The feel of his lips on mine was a sensation that I did not think I would ever have enough of; his mouth was hard, firm and insistent.
The tip of his tongue flickered out, teasing me and he held my head in position as I surrendered. Whatever he tasted made him grip my hair so tightly, I whimpered into his mouth and felt his chest rumble, for my hand was on it…
He drew back as suddenly as he had swooped down, smiling tauntingly as he growled,
“You taste of fresh blueberry and innocence, sweet Pet.”
I touched my mouth with my fingers and he threw his head back and laughed. I turned to meet St Just’s gaze riveted on my mouth and I wanted to get up and run away.
Almost second-guessing me, O’Grady gripped my arm and said,
“Stay,” and settled on the chair at the head of the table, two seats away from me.
I looked down at the plate, but my appetite had vanished. My emotions churned in my stomach and there was an unfamiliar wetness between my thighs.
“You can resume studying, you know,” O’Grady went on, as he glanced at me while Alfred served him.
I stared at him, disbelief coursing through me.
‘Do…do you mean …do you mean that?’ I whispered, my eyes sparkling.
He stopped munching on his slice of toast as he looked at me, amusement crinkling his blue eyes.
“Sweet Jaysus, Saint. The child is beside herself with joy!” he said and I blushed for I knew he was making fun of me.
St Just took over,
“He means it, Bianca,” he spoke in his serious baritone.
“The other pets we had wanted to go shopping and stuff; but we knew that you wanted to study but could not complete your education, right?’
I nodded, biting my lower lip.
O’Grady sipped from his coffee mug as he added, sitting back, his brilliant eyes never leaving my face,
‘You could do a course a the University; online, for now. And at the end of the year, you could earn your degree with the money we give you.”
I looked from one to the other, my expression uncertain.
“You…you’re not…making this up, are you?’
O’Grady roared with laughter but St Just sat forward.
‘We are serious, believe me.”
I chewed my lip and then said in a small voice,
“But why?’
O’Grady stood up with an oath and I cringed.
“Take it or level it, woman,” he roared and I nodded my head.
“Yes, yes, Oh yes, I want to study accounts.”
Both men stared at me and they looked at each other.
“Accounts?” repeated St Just.
I blushed and said in a small voice,
“When I was managing the accounts at Dad’s …uh…bakery… I found I was good at it. I have a flair for numbers.”
Then I looked them square in the eyes as I said, waving my hand around,
“When I…when this is over…I could get a job…”