Marriage by Law (23 page)

Rose raised her hands in defense, smiling. "I was just testing your fucking mood swing thing.. "I was just joking, miss. I don't want to see your husband naked. You know, go home. It's night time." She even winked at me. I rolled my eyes. If only she knew that I was going to be in trouble. Big trouble.

"You know, I am going to be in so muc –." The words died in my throat when she opened the door to reveal Darius casually leaning against the car, his arms crossed with one hand on his phone busily texting away.

He looked up, smiling at that, and Rose waved at him. I looked from one to another.

"When did this happen?"

"Calm your farm worry wart. I asked him before I kidnapped you. Jesus. No faith in me?" she said. I cracked a grin as she hugged me, making me laugh.

Rose joked. "What if I go and ask him face to face? He's hot. I’ll welcome any chance to talk to him."

I rolled my eyes in mock disgust.

"And to mention how his body looked when he was using th –"

"Alright, I better go," I shook my head, cutting her off before she told me way too much information and before Darius’s mood changed. 

"Don't forget me," she said. I rolled my eyes again, waving as she chucked my bag in my direction. Darius got into the car as I walked up and once again I was surprised that he was taking the wheel instead of having a driver.

"Had fun?" he asked as I buckled up. 

"Um yea. Thanks, by the way," I said. He gave me a weird look as he pulled out of the driveway.

"You do know you can do whatever you want, right? You aren't a prisoner."

The rest of the ride was quiet, not comfortable, but weird. Or maybe it was just me looking around the car focusing on everything to kill time. How come it didn't seem this long when Rose drove? 

My eyes landed on his hands on the steering wheel.

"What happened to your hands?" 

"Nothing," he said. 

It didn't look like nothing. It looked like a huge gash, one that can possibly get infected. Was this from last night? Probably. I could feel guilt eating away inside of me. My feet started tapping nervously, and I wasn't sure if I should say something about what I had seen. Instead, I decided to keep my mouth shut.

"You should get it treated," I said.

"Later."

He pulled into our driveway and I smiled at the guards who I felt so sorry for. Doing the same job every day. Just as we stopped, the rain poured down.

"Crap," I exclaimed as I hopped out, and holding my bag over my head, I ran up to the door. I tried opening it but it was locked. I looked over at Darius, who casually walked up the steps.

"Open it," I said, motioning for him to hurry. He just laughed as his hands dug into his pocket.

"A little rain doesn't hurt anyone," he muttered. Yea, but that's because you are wearing a jacket I am not, and there is no way in hell you're ever going to lend me that, anyway. I should bring my own jacket next time. I impatiently tapped my foot as he slowly opened the door, as though to annoy me.

Then he announced, "I think I have the wrong key." I gave him a hard stare, which only made him laugh and shake his head.

"I'm kidding." 

I rolled my eyes in annoyance and looked up to see the guards still standing at the gate, in the rain. There was a box by the gate, like a little office for them but somehow they were staying where they stood.

"You coming?"

I looked at Darius. "Huh? Oh yea." I stepped in, wiping my shoes on the carpet. I took them off and put them to the side so I don't leave stains on the rest of the floor. I looked up to see Darius giving me a weird look.

"What?" I asked.

"Nothing." He shook his head.

"Where are the umbrellas? Do we even have any in this place?" 

"Yes, we do. Why?" he said.

"Where?"

He nodded toward the storage room.

"Here," I said, shoving my bag to him. I opened the storage room and searched till I saw two umbrellas. I grabbed both. Darius was already heading upstairs, thank god. 

I waited till he disappeared out of sight before opening the front door again. I took a deep breath. Let's do this.

I let out a small squeal as the rain hit me hard on the back. It was like someone was pounding me. I could see the guards look up as I ran toward them, probably thinking there was something wrong. I even saw one’s hand hovering on his gun.

"Is everything okay, miss?"

"No," I said. "What's your name?"

"William, miss, and that is Carling."

"Well, boys, it's pouring. I don't know how you are doing it but here." I shoved an umbrella at each of them. They both exchanged glances.

"It's quite alright, Miss. We're used to this."

"We can't have people getting sick. Take it."

"Miss,” Carling said, looking worriedly at the door, “I advice you get inside so you don't get sick." Why was everyone so afraid of Darius? What’s the worse he can do? Then the image of last night struck me, making me shiver.

"I'll go once you take these."

After another moment, they both took it, smiling to show their gratitude.

"Thank you, Miss."

"Ivory. Just Ivory." Then I turned around and ran back to the house. Why do people need such long driveways? It was ridiculous. But then again no one knew someone like me would be running down the rain.

"Bloody shit cakes," I swore quietly, slamming the front door shut and shaking my head.

So much for not making a mess for the maids, I was practically leaving a mini lake in the house. I quickly headed upstairs and saw that the room was empty. Grabbing a change of clothes, I rushed into the bathroom and switched the hot water on.

I sighed when the hot water hit my chilling skin. I would have stayed in there forever but my fingers started to get wrinkly and I was getting a bit sick of all the mist and humidity. 

After changing into a dry set of clothes, I stepped out and noticed Darius looking out the window. Shit, please tell me that window doesn't face the front. He turned around, wearing this blank look on his face.

"I'll be stepping out for an hour," he said. I looked at the clock. At this time?

"Sure," I said. He nodded and walked out the door. I watched him leave. Where on earth was he going at this time? And what surprised me more was that he told me before he went.

I could feel my stomach growling, but instead I succumbed to the bed calling my name.

"Aww, did you miss me?" I asked the pillow as I turned it around. I lay on my side comfortably as I felt the cold pick up. Why was it so cold in this room anyway?

All I could hear was the thunder and the wind howling outside as I drifted in and out of sleep. I could hear noises downstairs but I was too tired to even open my eyes. I was too cold to move. I was frozen to the spot.

I felt a pair of arms around me and somehow that was the most comfortable and natural thing to do as he pulled me closer. Even the cold mattress didn't bother me as I felt him tuck a blanket around me. I couldn't help the smile on my face. I went back to sleep, smelling the scent that I was starting to know a bit too well. 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

 "Stop moving!" said a gruff voice in my ear, making me still. Damn it, I thought I was being a ninja here. I even closed one eye to stop myself from blinking and tried taking small breaths. 

Finally, I could no longer bear it. "There's something poking me. Your phone?" I moved around, trying to wriggle out of his arms. Why the hell did it feel like some iron grip? For the past hour something was digging into my ribs and I wanted it out. And I wanted it out now.

"What?" he asked, sounding more awake than before.

"In your pocket. What the heck is in your pocket?" I said, trying to move. I was hundred percent sure it was his damn phone. Who wears their jacket to bed? Freeing my hands from his embrace, I found his jacket pocket and slipped my hand in. I touched something rectangular, cold and hard.

"What the hell," I muttered in annoyance as I pulled his phone out and showed it to him. I knew it! But why on earth would someone take their phone to bed, in 
their
 
pocket?  Sure, I took mine to bed but it was somewhere under the pillow. And it didn't wake someone up at some unholy hour by jabbing them.

"Well?" I asked, looking back at him, and froze. 

I didn't realise how close his face was till I saw his eyelashes flutter. I could see every contour in his face, the light stubble growing and a cut on his eyebrow. Where did that come from?

"Sleep, Aluminium," he whispered. 

I narrowed my eyes at him, now getting even more pissed than before. I wasn't a morning person and then just calling me some stupid metal for a name… 

"It's Ivory. It’s not that hard to remember," reminded him as I turned around, annoyed, and shoved his arm off me. I grumbled to myself and then I heard him chuckle and felt his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him. I could feel something strange in my stomach as I felt his breath on the back of my neck.

"It's Aluminium to me."

What the hell does that mean?

"Wake up." 

I felt someone poking my shoulder and blindly swatted the hand. What on earth was he up to? Didn’t I just close my eyes to get some sleep after that annoying jabber machine was removed and now he was disturbing me again. I was still annoyed?

"You told me to sleep."

"That was an hour ago. Hurry up." 

I heard the footsteps go and sighed. Finally, I can go back to sleep. I settled into the comfortable mattress, hiding my face in the pillow. What can possibly ruin a day when you can just sleep all day? Nothing. Or so I thought.

"Your father’s here," Darius announced, and then I heard a door close.

Yea, good for hi- WHAT?

I leaped out of bed. My father’s here? Was Darius joking, just to get me off the bed? I could just go back to sleep.

But I gave him the benefit of a doubt. I rushed to the bathroom while running a hand through my hair in a poor attempt to try to comb out the bird’s nest on top of my head. I tried brushing my teeth at the same time. What the hell was dad doing here?