Kanda caught up to Trisha as they descended the stairs.
“What’s first? Do you want to meet the hot supermodel, do you want to check out the mansion, or maybe you’d like some one-on-one time with me?” He smirked at her.
Trisha snorted. “I’m here to help Ryan, I don’t know you and I don’t intend to.”
Kanda put a hand over his heart. “So cold.”
Trisha shrugged. “Why get to know you for one night?” She hissed the words so no one else would hear her.
Kanda grinned. “It can be far longer than one night, Trisha. Don’t worry about that.”
He scanned the room as they got to the last stair and nodded to himself. “This way, I saw him go for the kitchen.”
“Him?” Trisha demanded as she followed after him.
Kanda answered by glancing behind him and grinning at her. “This way,” he repeated.
Trisha lost sight of her white-haired companion and was confronted with a hard chest clothed in black. “Excuse me,” she mumbled as she pushed to go by.
“My lady, I believe it is you I have come to seek.”
Trisha paused and took a step backward so she could get a better view of this stranger. Old-fashioned was the only way she could even begin to think of him.
Everything about him screamed that he lived in the wrong decade, even the style of his buttons was off.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t want to talk to my husband?” she questioned.
His lips twitched a fraction of an inch. “No, my Lady, it is you who I seek.”
He inclined his head and gestured with his glove covered hand. “This way if you will. I would very much appreciate your company for but a few brief moments.”
Trisha swallowed. She really didn’t want to talk to this guy alone but hadn’t this been what she had signed herself up for?
She nodded to herself and let herself be led away from the safety of the house and out into a huge patio that was apparently abandoned for the time.
Two others were already seated as she got there. A woman dressed in a severe black gown that was buttoned all the way to her neck with the same ivory white buttons, and another man that looked identical to the one she was accompanying.
“Are you the Mistress?” The woman demanded. Her voice had no softness.
“I am.” Trisha resisted the urge to sit in the free seat.
The woman turned to the first man.
“I want you to keep an eye on the entrance. I will not have us disturbed by anyone, including the Master of the house. Do I make myself clear, Dominic?”
He nodded and before Trisha could comment he was just gone into the black of the night.
Her heart started to pound, she had felt uneasy around Nakuni before. But what she was feeling around this group was becoming far worse. “Did you need me for something?”
“We’ve come to meet you if you truly are the Mistress.” Her voice had a questioning tone to it as she studied Trisha closer.
Trisha nodded. She didn’t want to say the wrong thing and ruin the game so quickly. “I am.” She found her fingers spinning the ring on her finger.
“When were you married, and why were any of us not invited? It’s the protocol that we are invited to the weddings.”
“Weddings?” Trisha demanded then cursed herself for the tongue slip. What had she been thinking?
The woman’s lips took their time curling up in a cruel smile.
“Yes, weddings, your husband hasn’t told you that he’s been wed before? Numerous times?”
Trisha’s eyes darted from side to side. She wasn’t sure how to answer that.
Which would be the safest way to ensure that Ryan didn’t get in trouble? It would have been far easier if she had asked for Nakuni or even Kanda’s help. “Um.” She whispered.
“Meow,” whined a black kitten close to her feet.
Trisha took the opportunity to reach down and hug the animal. It purred and cuddled against her in response its jewel green eyes sparkling.
“Meow.”
“A feline.” The woman shuddered.
“Mistress, you’re going to need to take that beast elsewhere. We’re not fond of felines, they’re nasty vermin, if you do not we will have no qualms with disposing of it for you. However, I do advise you against escaping into that house. I’m well aware that you might see this as an escape.”
The kitten didn’t seem to care at all about the words and rubbed all over Trisha’s face purring as if its life depended on it. Trisha hugged the animal close as the man beside the woman moved closer. She wasn’t about to let them hurt such a precious creature.
She wasn’t sure how Ryan would react to an animal at his party, but desperate times and all. “It’s okay little one,” she whispered as she patted its little forehead with her index finger.
“I’ll be in later, try to stay out of everyone’s way, okay?” She opened the door and bent down putting the animal on the ground.
The kitten looked up at her and mewed in response before rubbing against her legs for a moment and dashing off away from her.
“You should return now that you’ve taken care of that,” Dominic announced. His pupils were so dark they appeared black to her, especially in the night sky.
“Madam Westworth is waiting.”
Trisha sighed. She had hoped to be able to escape back into the party but these people were too sharp for that.
She could only pray that someone would notice her missing soon and actually find her. She really didn’t know how much longer she could keep these strangers occupied.
Forcing a smile Trisha walked back over to the smirking woman and took a seat.
“I thank you for getting rid of that animal from around me. I detest felines most of all.”
Trisha spun her ring around again her leg starting to bounce as she worried her bottom lip. “Why?” she blurted.
Westworth’s eyes widened as if Trisha had just cursed at her.
“Did you just question me, Mistress?” She demanded. She leaned over the table her lips lifting to reveal strangely white teeth.
“I’m sorry,” Trisha whispered her chin hitting her chest as she lowered her head. “I didn’t mean to offend you, I was just curious why you don’t like cats.”
“Felines are filthy,” the older woman sniffed.
“And they can never ever be trusted. You might be young, Mistress but mark my words there will come a day you’ll rue letting that animal into your home.”
“Is this where Mrs. Rosewood is hiding?” Queried a sultry voice. “I wanted very much to meet her, the woman who bagged Ryan Rosewood. She’s a legend.”
The stranger brushed back his long flowing dark blue hair as he gave a perfect smile.
“I do not recall giving anyone else permission to come out here.” Ms. Westworth snarled and sighed.
“Mistress, we shall chat again. I have much to ask you and you haven’t even started to satisfy my curiosities yet. I do hope you do not wander too far. Canines are almost as bad as cats.”
She shuddered and with a nod to the other men she stalked off back into the party.
Trisha breathed a sigh of relief as the doors shut behind them. “Thank you, I didn’t get your name, but you rescued me.”
He flashed another perfect smile his white teeth shining. “You’re welcome, my name’s Logan by the way. Logan Star.” He smirked at her and waited for a response.
Trisha held out her hand. “Sorry I haven’t heard of you, my name is Trisha Rosewood. I’m Ryan’s wife.”
Logan’s jaw had dropped and he stared at her. “Seriously? You’ve never heard of me?” He ran a hand through his locks again as he just stared.
“Logan Star,” he repeated his name slowly in case she hadn’t heard it the first time. As she shook her head again at him with an apologetic smile he echoed the action.
“You really don’t know me? Don’t you ever look at billboards or anything?”
Frustrated, Logan grabbed the hem of his fancy shirt and pulled it up revealing his flawless abs. “Do these at least ring a bell? Or should I get in my underwear too?” He demanded.
Trisha had meant to put her hands over her eyes and not look, but that was far too hard to do.
Instead, she stared hard at him. This wasn’t an ordinary guy whoever he was. “I still don’t know you,” her voice came out in little more than a whisper.
“What in the hell is going on out here?” Demanded a voice.
As one Logan and Trisha turned to witness Kanda staring at the two of them.
Kanda’s glare wasn’t for Trisha, it was focused extensively on Logan.“I know I wanted you to meet her, but I wasn’t expecting you to just start undressing in front of her. What are you even doing, Logan?”The other man let his shirt flutter back down covering his flawless body and allowing Trisha’s brain to function again.“I was trying to jog her memory, that’s all.” He shook his head at Trisha. “How can you not recognize me? You’re just kidding right?”“You do know she’s married, right?” Kanda demanded. He grabbed Trisha by the shoulders and pulled her against his body.“She’s not one of your groupies that hang on your every word. I wanted to see that ego of yours shattered, Logan, but I never expected you to try to seduce Ryan’s wife. What’s with you?”Logan scowled and shook his head. “I wasn’t trying to se
Trisha watched as the group walked away and shuddered. Kanda and Logan were still watching her closely and she forced a smile at them."What am I supposed to do now?" she demanded through grit teeth. All she wanted to do was retreat into a bedroom and play her game and be far away from Ryan's relatives."Spend time with me," Logan offered with an easy-going smile. "You have no reason not to.""She has every reason not to," Kanda countered as he scowled. "She'd be better off with that perverted butler at this rate."Trisha frowned at the conversation. "Perverted butler? Are you talking about Nakuni?"Kanda groaned. "You had to say his name." He sighed. "Yes, you need to be careful around him."Trisha rolled her eyes. "The only person I know I need to be careful around is you," she pointed to Logan, "and you as well." She held up her hand and pointed her ring at them. "I am a ma
Trisha cleared her throat. Her mind was blank, her throat dry, she didn't even know if she could form two words by this point. She cast a glance at Ryan but he still held that warmth in his eyes that made her feel like she could do no wrong. She held up her drink and blinked at the reporters who were all waiting for her to speak. "Thank you for all coming to celebrate mine and Ryan's wedding party." she chirped.She hoped they couldn't hear every breath she was taking. What was he thinking making her do this? This should have been him, not her. She scanned the crowd. She spotted Logan beyond the cameras. He gave her a little smile and a thumbs up. Was that his idea of encouragement?"Is that it, honey?" Ryan questioned.Trisha shook her head. "No, of course not, I'm just so touched that so many are here. Our family, our friends," she nodded to Logan who smiled at her. She was positive she'd
Trisha stared at him. No, she had not heard that right. Had she? Why in the world would a famous model want to date a nobody like her? "What?"He smiled. "I think you heard me. You want my help, and I"ll agree to it, but I want you to be my girlfriend."Trisha's brain continued to refuse to work. "What?" she demanded again.Logan laughed at her. He leaned forward his hand grazing against her cheek."Listen, all I have around me are shallow people that just want my fame. I never get to be a normal person. Call me selfish, call me arrogant, call me whatever you want. But I'm going to use this secret of yours so I can get what I want. Date me, Trisha, date me so I can have a normal girlfriend."Trisha wrinkled her nose as she scooted back. "You're supposed to date someone you like."His lips twitched. "And you're supposed to marry someone you love."Damn, that wa
Trisha tossed and turned. The bed wasn't at fault, far from it, it was the most comfortable thing she'd ever been on. Was this what famous people did? Sleep on clouds? Because that's what it felt like. She turned over again and tried to bury her face against her hands. Maybe it would help if she was able to take this fancy dress off.Trisha shrugged out of the folds and let the material crumple to the floor in a shimmery heap. Just being in her light slip felt better. She pulled the covers back once more and pulled the comforter to her chin as she closed her eyes.She was treated to a mental recollection of Logan's abs and his insistence that she should remember him. Trisha tried to shake the image out of her mind but it stuck. All she could see was her fake boyfriend's abs. She had never considered herself a skin person, but when it came to Logan, apparently she was.
The woman screamed so loud that Trisha's ears rang, and then she realized that the woman below wasn't the one screaming, it was her.Ryan let his victim fall to the ground and with one leap he was on the balcony with Trisha with his hands held up. "Trisha, calm down. I can explain everything."Trisha shook her head as she backed up. "I can't! You're a monster! Nothing you explain is going to change that."Ryan didn't even wince. "You're not wrong about that, but I need you to calm down, if you don't you're going to alert others. Then everything we've done today is up in smoke. Remember, you promised to help me."Trisha didn't listen to him. She continued to back up until her back hit the balcony. "Stay away from me," she demanded. She looked behind her and winced. That was a long fall. Not something she really wanted to experience, but she didn't want a vampire draining her dry either. "I'll
Trisha looked around the wispy landscape. Had she finally managed to get asleep after so long? She didn't even remember passing out. But why were her dreams so dull and boring? There was nothing here but wisps of clouds. She would have thought she'd at least get a view of Logan's abs again or something. This was downright disappointing.A shimmer in the distance drew her and she walked toward it. The landscape moved with her blurring as she moved faster. The shimmer got stronger and when she got close enough to see what it was, she spotted a dining table set for two. Sitting at one of the seats was that Kanda guy she had met earlier. "Hello?" she called as she got within range.Just what silly adventure was her brain trying to go on here?"Trisha, it's good to see you. I was worried you might be late for our date."Date? She frowned. "I don't know what you're talking a
Kanda chuckled once more. His golden blonde hair brushed against Trisha's legs and she shivered. She was trapped, but she was beyond caring. The restraints were soft and even if she struggled they never hurt, but held strong. She had thought them silk at first, but no, these were far softer than that.He looked up at her those eyes of his meeting hers and then he pulled her lower lips apart. He studied her for so long that Trisha' cheeks flamed again. "What are you looking at?" she whispered as she tried to hide her face."You," Kanda replied. "I want to burn this image into my mind.""Stop," Trisha whimpered as she tried to move her legs. "It's embarrassing."He pulled away but didn't let go. "Are you sure you want me to stop before we even get started, Trisha? If you want we can agree on a safe word so you can tell me no all you want, but I know that you do want it. I told you I won't press