my hair and I’ll be ready in—”
“Lilly.” Stonehart holds up one hand and stops me short. His voice is firm but gentle. “I told you there’s no rush. Take the hour. Have a shower. You don’t need to be on edge with me. Not tonight.”
He turns back and starts out of the room.
“Wait,” I call after him. “Are there going to be… rules?”
He misses a step. When he speaks, he doesn’t look at me, instead staring straight ahead. “ ‘Rules,’” he quotes. “Yes, Lilly, there are going to be rules. I was hoping to inform you of them on the drive there.”
He glances over his shoulder. “I don’t want such things troubling you yet.”
“I think now would be—”
“No, Lilly!” This time he snaps the command. “I said I’ll tell you of them later, and that’s what I intend to do. Don’t question me on such things.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I don’t want to provoke him, not when I can tell he’s trying so hard to stay in control. “Um, Jeremy? When I shower, the brooch…?”
“It was deactivated the minute you stepped into this suite. Along with the collar. When you’re in here, you don’t need to worry about holding your tongue. It’s not like there’s anybody you can talk to.” He turns and faces me. “For future reference: any residences you visit with me, that are mine, will work with the brooch and collar the same way.”
“You mean…” I narrow my eyes slightly, half from disbelief, “…that you intend to bring me to other places?”
“Provided your behavior outside my San Jose mansion continues to be exemplary,” he pauses. “Then yes. There’s a whole world out there that I have built to my image. It would be a dastardly shame to be unable to share it with you. I want you at my side, Lilly-flower, and I want to show you the wonders that Stonehart Industries has granted me. I own property worldwide: Resorts, other mansions, beautiful villas. They have seen infrequent use. I’ve been waiting for something… someone… to share that with.”
“Me?” I say, almost certain that this is another jest, just like the Dextran job.
“Yes, my dear. You.” He chuckles. “You mustn’t look so surprised. You didn’t truly think I’d keep you locked away forever. How could I? You’re so beautiful, so precious. Your radiance demands to be shared with the world. I’ve attended galas and events with dozens of stunning women. Yet none of them have ever held a candle to you.” He touches his chest. “Not in my heart.”
With that, he turns away again. “An hour, Lilly. Starting right now. But please,” he takes a deep, controlled breath. “Don’t be late.”
***
Forty minutes later, I’m fresh out the shower and dressed in a magnificent, black silk dress. The neckline is embedded with tiny, clear, precious stones. I suspect they’re diamonds. I mean, why wouldn’t they be? But I have no experience with such things to be sure.
The brooch is fastened on my left shoulder strap. It adds a splash of color that complements my appearance quite nicely. If it wasn’t for what it represents…
No. I stop myself from going down that path of thoughts. I wanted to get close to Stonehart. This trip—this dinner—will be my first real chance to do so in weeks.
Can I pretend my last stint in the dark never occurred? No. Of course not. What Stonehart did to me there… the horrible way he made me feel… none of it can ever be forgotten. But I cannot show that I bear him any ill will. This trip to Portland, the dinner tonight—in public!—is the first tangible step I’ve made with him probably ever. This is real progress.
And yet… I can’t stop feeling that something is not right. It’s almost like Stonehart is trying to lure me into a false sense of security just before pulling the rug out from under my feet.
I suppress a shudder. I desperately hope that’s not the case. And I know that worrying about it will lead me nowhere. I need to stay on my guard,
“Lilly.” Stonehart holds up one hand and stops me short. His voice is firm but gentle. “I told you there’s no rush. Take the hour. Have a shower. You don’t need to be on edge with me. Not tonight.”
He turns back and starts out of the room.
“Wait,” I call after him. “Are there going to be… rules?”
He misses a step. When he speaks, he doesn’t look at me, instead staring straight ahead. “ ‘Rules,’” he quotes. “Yes, Lilly, there are going to be rules. I was hoping to inform you of them on the drive there.”
He glances over his shoulder. “I don’t want such things troubling you yet.”
“I think now would be—”
“No, Lilly!” This time he snaps the command. “I said I’ll tell you of them later, and that’s what I intend to do. Don’t question me on such things.”
“Okay,” I whisper. I don’t want to provoke him, not when I can tell he’s trying so hard to stay in control. “Um, Jeremy? When I shower, the brooch…?”
“It was deactivated the minute you stepped into this suite. Along with the collar. When you’re in here, you don’t need to worry about holding your tongue. It’s not like there’s anybody you can talk to.” He turns and faces me. “For future reference: any residences you visit with me, that are mine, will work with the brooch and collar the same way.”
“You mean…” I narrow my eyes slightly, half from disbelief, “…that you intend to bring me to other places?”
“Provided your behavior outside my San Jose mansion continues to be exemplary,” he pauses. “Then yes. There’s a whole world out there that I have built to my image. It would be a dastardly shame to be unable to share it with you. I want you at my side, Lilly-flower, and I want to show you the wonders that Stonehart Industries has granted me. I own property worldwide: Resorts, other mansions, beautiful villas. They have seen infrequent use. I’ve been waiting for something… someone… to share that with.”
“Me?” I say, almost certain that this is another jest, just like the Dextran job.
“Yes, my dear. You.” He chuckles. “You mustn’t look so surprised. You didn’t truly think I’d keep you locked away forever. How could I? You’re so beautiful, so precious. Your radiance demands to be shared with the world. I’ve attended galas and events with dozens of stunning women. Yet none of them have ever held a candle to you.” He touches his chest. “Not in my heart.”
With that, he turns away again. “An hour, Lilly. Starting right now. But please,” he takes a deep, controlled breath. “Don’t be late.”
***
Forty minutes later, I’m fresh out the shower and dressed in a magnificent, black silk dress. The neckline is embedded with tiny, clear, precious stones. I suspect they’re diamonds. I mean, why wouldn’t they be? But I have no experience with such things to be sure.
The brooch is fastened on my left shoulder strap. It adds a splash of color that complements my appearance quite nicely. If it wasn’t for what it represents…
No. I stop myself from going down that path of thoughts. I wanted to get close to Stonehart. This trip—this dinner—will be my first real chance to do so in weeks.
Can I pretend my last stint in the dark never occurred? No. Of course not. What Stonehart did to me there… the horrible way he made me feel… none of it can ever be forgotten. But I cannot show that I bear him any ill will. This trip to Portland, the dinner tonight—in public!—is the first tangible step I’ve made with him probably ever. This is real progress.
And yet… I can’t stop feeling that something is not right. It’s almost like Stonehart is trying to lure me into a false sense of security just before pulling the rug out from under my feet.
I suppress a shudder. I desperately hope that’s not the case. And I know that worrying about it will lead me nowhere. I need to stay on my guard,
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