KELLAN WARD
"I..." He paused. Swallowed the lump in his throat. Was she serious? Or was she setting him up? Aurora had never acted like this before. Was it a new scheme? But no. She was well on her way to escaping with Aiden Cross. But she came back to Kellan instead. "Um..."
"You don't, do you?" She sighed. "I won't force you." She let go of him and tried to slide off his lap.
"No!" He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. "I want to hug you."
Aurora immediately snuggled into his embrace again.
For years, he dreamed of loving Aurora Rose Moon. If she loved him back, he would be the happiest man in the world.
After eleven years of watching her, chasing her, adoring her ... he never thought she would actually have affection for him. Maybe tolerance. Maybe acceptance.
But now, Aurora looked at him with shining eyes. She leaned toward him. Touched him easily. Heart-close.
How could a woman change so drastically between morning and evening of the same day?
What's the situation? he thought. He put his hand against her forehead. A fever? No, she didn't feel hot.
"I'm not sick," she said. "I want to marry you. Tonight. No, the Civil Registration Bureau is closed. Tomorrow. First thing in the morning. Promise me."
"I thought you wanted to marry Aiden." He knew he sounded petulant. He was jealous of Aiden Cross. Jealous that he could get her time and attention even though he didn't deserve her.
"You should dump Aiden into a swamp and let alligators eat him," she said.
"Aurora ... you really don't like him anymore?"
"No. Not even a little bit. I would push him in front of an oncoming train if I had the chance."
Kellan could see that she meant it. Delighted, he stroked her hair almost as if he were soothing a little cat. "I want our wedding to be special," he said. "I want you to feel like a princess. I can't just marry you all," he waved his hand, "you know, willy nilly."
"We can plan a beautiful wedding. But let's make it legal. Marry me, Kellan."
Panic welled. Her words were making him happy. Too happy. Kellan pried her off his lap.
"What's wrong?" she asked. The chains binding her hands rattled as she re-settled on the bed. "You don't believe me, do you?" She raised three fingers on her right hand. "I swear I am sincere. I will love and protect you for your whole life. If I don't, may I die in---"
"Hush. Don't curse yourself." Kellan pressed his hand against her mouth. She kissed his palm, and the soft press of her lips made his paper-thin control tear. How easily he could lose himself in her. He snatched his arm back.
"Kellan..."
"Aurora, we'll discuss this later." After I calm down and stop thinking foolish thoughts. He rubbed his palm where her lips had touched his skin. "Try to rest. I'll bring you dinner."
"Okay."
Okay? Just ... okay? No name-calling? No screaming? No thrown objects?
He watched her sit cross-legged on the mattress and lay her chained wrists on her lap. Her white dress pooled around her, and he saw one foot with lavender-frosted toenails peeking out from under the lace edge.
Desire struck him like lightning.
"Be good," he said. He was actually giving himself that advice, but Aurora heard him, too.
"I will," she said. "I promise."
***|***|***
"She's acting strangely," Kellan said to Jingyu as he locked the basement door. He strode down the hallway with Jingyu close behind. "I think there's something wrong with Aurora. Perhaps ... she's not eating well? Maybe we should hire a nutritionist."
"Have you considered not keeping her in a cage?" asked Jingyu in a neutral tone.
Kellan stopped, wheeled around, and stared at his assistant. "What's wrong with the cage? I built it spacious. I put all of her favorite things in there. She's safe now." He held out a hand and counted on his fingers. "If there's a fire, a tornado, an earthquake, or any man that's not me, she's out of harm's way. The entire basement is reinforced and has the latest technology. I designed everything to protect her."
"Did you ask if she wanted to be protected?"
"Jingyu, are you her assistant or mine?"
"Yours, sir. Until I die."
Kellan nodded, satisfied. "I'm going to the kitchen to cook her favorite egg noodles."
"Yes, sir."
***|***|***
Kellan carefully put the steaming bowl of egg noodles on the table next to Aurora's bed. He placed the chopsticks across the top of the bowl, and then sat down next to his sleeping little butterfly.
"Aurora," he said softly. He withdrew a brass key from his pocket, unlocked the manacles, and gently removed the metal cuffs. After he placed the chains at the end of the bed, he noticed how red her wrists had gotten. Guilt speared him.
"I shouldn't use manacles," he whispered. "They're too harsh for your delicate skin." He rubbed the redness then tenderly kissed each hand. "I'm sorry."
Aurora murmured in her sleep. Unable to resist, he kissed her forehead. He brushed a strand of hair away from her face. "You're too thin," he said. "If you eat all your noodles, I'll bring you cake."
She sighed in her sleep, her lips curving slightly, and he was drawn to her cherry mouth. She fought even the briefest of his touches when she was awake. The only time he could show her any affection was when she was unconscious.
"How I wished you loved me, Aurora Moon."
Her eyelids fluttered, and panic shot through him. He grabbed the manacles and hurried out of the cage, locking it tightly before taking off across the basement to the stairs.
He shut the door and leaned against it. "Whew," he said. "That was close."
"Would you like me to take your manacles, sir?"
"Aah!" Kellan startled, his dark gaze narrowing. "Jingyu, what have I told you about silently creeping up on me?"
"Not to do it, sir." Jingyu bowed. "My apologies, sir." Jingyu nodded toward the manacles. "Would you like me to put the chains into the bondage room?"
"Don't call it that!" Kellan handed over the chains. "It's a storage room, Jingyu."
"A storage room for bindings, sir. Ropes, plastic ties, handcuffs, chains---"
"Enough." Kellan rubbed his temples. "Just put the manacles away."
"Yes, sir."
"Tell Mrs. Dowd to gather ingredients for a cake," said Kellan. "I'm going to make one for Aurora."
"You've never baked before, sir. Would you like Mrs. Dowd to do it? Her cakes are delicious."
"I have to do it, or it doesn't count."
"I suppose food poisoning would show Miss Moon how much you love her, sir."
Kellan frowned. "How difficult is it to make a cake?"