CHAPTER 6: The Twenty-Minute Mystery

IVY.

The breaking vases sound tore through the mansions quiet a deafening explosion that seemed to reverberate in my very nature. With a panicked frightened drumbeat my heart pounded against my ribs. The threat-laden snarl lingered in the air.

I was caught.

Absolutely totally captured. My thoughts were racing like a crazy hamster on a wheel. The thought of running through a mansion full of terrifyingly efficient guards while naked under a blanket was almost as embarrassing as facing Sloans wrath.

Should I run hide or try to explain away the sound as a clumsy ghost? Or should I face the music draped only in a blanket looking like a particularly pitiful toga party attendee? Almost. I went with option number two.

I took a deep trembling breath bit my lip so hard I tasted blood and then turned slowly and painfully. As soon as they saw me the two burly men in dark suits started to turn their faces changing from professional alertness to confused surprise.

Im sure it was quite a sight to see me standing there draped precariously in a heavy blanket appearing as though I had just left a very cozy but scandalous sleep party.

Just now Sloans piercing sharp eyes passed over me. His suspiciously narrowed eyes subtly softened as they swept over my blanket-draped body. A ghostly smile and a faint tug at the corner of his lips appeared for a brief moment before disappearing as though he had caught himself doing something improper.

I almost thought I was imagining things because it happened so quickly. However it was real. A glimmer of laughter maybe? Or something else completely.

In the meantime the two guards had started to move forward their expressions solemn obviously determined to secure the asset—in this case me the eavesdropper covered in a blanket.

“Stop!” Sloan ordered his voice piercing the tense atmosphere.

The men movements were abruptly stopped and they looked back at him as they froze. His power was unassailable and absolute. He then returned his full focus to me his eyes once again unreadable.

He said in a low menacing voice “What are you doing, eavesdropping Ivy?”

I scoffed letting out a tense almost hysterical sound “Eavesdropping?”

I pointed hazily at my blanket and asked “Eavesdropping? Me? In this outfit?. Hardly. I was just taking in the architecture. The vase then just kind of jumped. What else could I say? Oh yes I was totally trying to find out what operation youre running but then gravity intervened!”

Sloans lips twitched again a hint of that fleeting smile returning only to be quickly suppressed. It was a weak excuse even to my own ears. He exchanged a silent message with his guards before turning back to face me.

His authoritative sigh was one of exasperation. “Leave us” he told the men firmly. “Check out your posts again.”

The two burly men turned and left without saying anything moving quickly but with heavy steps vanishing back into the mansions interior. I released a shaky sigh of relief that I hadnt realized I was holding. I lowered my head feeling completely exposed and ridiculous my cheeks burning.

My dignity which was all that was left after last night was now living somewhere beneath the broken fragments of that vase. There was a thick unsaid tension in the silence that followed their departure.

I was conscious of my near-nakedness and kept my head down gazing at the glossy marble floor. I could then hear his footsteps. Move slowly. purposeful. Each one reverberating in the vast room getting nearer.

My heart started thumping frantically against my ribs once more. He paused right in front of me. I sensed a strong nearly overwhelming force in his presence. I dared to look up just a little bit.

The material of his tight-fitting black shirt which hung taut across his shoulders and chest accentuated each muscle ripple and curve. He had powerful well-defined arms that showed through the short sleeves demonstrating his unadulterated strength.

Even though I was terrified the sight of the shirt sticking to his torso and highlighting his slender hard lines made my mouth water. He had a dangerous charm that was both frightening and indisputable an almost primordial masculinity.

“I expected youd be… indisposed” He said in a low haughty drawl with a hint of teasing. “From the events of last night. Not wandering my houses forbidden wings and interfering with my meetings.”

My cheeks turned a deeper shade of scarlet. The heat that radiates from my neck to my hairline is evidence of his informal outward recognition of our intense intimacy.

“I… I apologize” I stumbled raising my voice just enough to be heard. “I didnt intend to. I was curious but I had no idea where I was when I woke up.”

Although it was a pitiful excuse it was the best one I could come up with. His laughter reverberated through the air in a low rumbling tone.

“Ivy curiosity can be dangerous in this house. Particularly when it takes you to areas that are not intended for your eyes.” His tone softened a little losing its playful tinge. “This wing. such discussions. They are not permitted.”

He moved in closer his presence completely controlling. His hand slid around my waist and drew me tightly against his hard body causing my eyes to widen. Between us, the blanket—my only defense—crumpled. His long powerful fingers moved lower grazing my butts curve with his thumb before he firmly grasped it in a purposeful possessive squeeze.

I took a sharp breath and gasped my body tensing in shock a combination of fear and unexpected pleasure. His lips brushed my ear as he leaned closer his breath warm against my flesh.

“This place is off limits” he muttered his voice a low menacing growl. “You will never go anywhere without my permission. Do you understand? I mean it when I say never. . Ivy even your breathing should be done with my consent.”

His scathingly authoritative remarks served as a clear reminder of his total dominance. His statement was so incredibly bold and possessive that it made my head spin.

Even the way I breathed was ridiculous. It was frightful. Nevertheless beneath the terror I felt a weird sinister excitement. Suddenly my throat became dry and I swallowed hard.

“Yes” I muttered my voice hardly audible. “Yes I do understand.”

His hand slid back up to my waist after he released my butt but his hold was still tight. Then he stood up straight and held my gaze for a long quiet moment.

Subsequently he nodded decisively and turned to face the grand staircase his back straight and his posture exuding a sense of arrogant poise.

“Go get ready” He said in a voice so clear that there was no room for debate.

I remained gripping the blanket as I stood there my body still tingling from his words and touch my mind spinning. He had already made his way halfway down the corridor.

I called out in a somewhat desperate and perplexed voice “Go get ready for what?”

Sloan stopped moving. He remained motionless. His arms were still held proudly at his back and his broad shoulders were still squared.

When he did speak his tone was cool dismissive and unquestionably final. “You'll find out in twenty twenty minutes…”