Chapter 13 – A Clash of Power, the Fierce Beast and the Cunning Fox

Fallon

I forgot the time when I was talking with the wives. I only realized two hours had passed since I joined them when their husbands returned. I was enjoying telling the story of an innocent bar waitress seduced by a lustful, pathetic mafia man who almost begged to be wed to me. I held my laugh when I saw my supposed husband coming my way, dripping with sweat and unaware of all the humiliating fake scenes I told the wives.

I covered my breath hitch with a smile when he immediately wrapped his arms around me as soon as he returned. I noticed the wives' eyes on us so I decided to solidify my stories by showing him so submissive of me.

I gently stroked his hair and rid his face of some stray strands.

"Are you tired?" I purred, my voice soft and seductive.

His right brow and right scarred lip twitched in subtle surprise. "Mhmm..."

"Oh, how sweet!" One exclaimed. "The freshness of a newlywed couple takes me back!"

The others agreed and I faintly laughed. "If we wish to last until the golden wedding anniversary like Ellie and her husband did, we need to be this clingy with each other."

I'm not wincing at the sweaty man hugging me by the waist since he is decent-looking and still smells good, but I am uneasy under the heavy gaze of one of the husbands—Rory's husband. I turned to him and innocently smiled, acknowledging him. He nodded in response, although his inquisitive stare remained.

His wife noticed this and she lightly slapped his arm, scolding him. "Krieg! You're making Fallon uncomfortable!"

"Am I?" He innocently asked. "How about Mr. Jett? Am I also making him uncomfortable?"

"What?" My jerk husband frowned. "No."

"That's strange. Are you not jealous that I'm looking at your wife longer than necessary? If someone was like that to my wife, I would've pulled his eyes out—even if I'm his friend."

My smile froze.

I thought our act was convincing enough, but it looks like one suspicious man is way too clever to fall for our 'intimate' act.

Though, Ellie's husband—Chris, intervened, "Krieg, if Jett's stories are right, then a lady such as Fallon here doesn't please such possessiveness. She's a female alpha, and she wouldn't like being marked by someone else. Right?"

I chuckled. "My husband flatters me too much. What stories has he told you?"

He told them his wife is a 'female alpha', huh? I'll have to live up to his expectations then.

"Oh, plenty!" Chris exclaimed, laughing. "Jett says you're his first love."

I almost coughed up laughing. How ridiculous. He talks like a teenager.

I managed to hold back my laugh, but Krieg did not. He threw his head back, barking out a laugh. I felt his grip around my waist loosen as he sneered at Krieg.

"What's so funny, idiot?" He barked.

Krieg calmed down and pointed to Rory. "Well, that's such a contrast to what your wife told the ladies while we were away."

I looked at Rory, my eyes slightly widening. She's already told him?! How big of a gossip is she? I knew they'd tell their husbands soon, but I didn't expect them to already know while we were still here!

"Really?" Jett, now sat upright and curiously gazed at me. I faintly smiled. "What exactly did she tell the ladies?"

"It's nothing, really," I said, chuckling lightly. "Just the same as you said about me, sweetheart."

"Well, I'd like to hear that from the ladies. Not from you, sweetheart," he replied, mimicking my endearment.

"Oh, Fallon's stories were exciting!" Suddenly, Janet spoke. When we locked eyes, I saw the mischievous glint in her eyes. Isn't she too old to be playing around with us, young people? "The most enthralling is probably the times you seduced her!"

"Yes, yes!" Another wife agreed. "Especially the one where Mr. Jett intentionally spilled his drink on himself by tripping on the floor to get Fallon's attention!"

"Well, my favorite was when Mr. Jett wore a bear costume holding a bouquet to ask her out on Valentine's Day!"

"No, the best was when Mr. Jett ran after Fallon's car in the rain when they broke up!"

"Or when Mr. Jett wore a maid outfit for Fallon on her birthday!"

The man beside me was quiet...eerily quiet. Although on the outside, he was smiling and listening attentively to the wives' words and laughing them off. I glanced at him and saw his tomato-red ears, yet he was still smiling. His eyes, however, were calmly lethal. His eyelids were half-dropped and his eyes were humorless.

I knew I was in trouble.

But I liked seeing his reaction, probably the most pissed expression he could have outside his controlled face, and I regretted nothing.

"Well," he chuckled and intervened with the gushing ladies. "Certainly, we've had the rollercoaster story even before the marriage. We've overcome through so much..."

He slowly turned to me, his lips twisting in a crooked smile.

"Don't you think so too...sweetheart?"

My heart paced tenfold quicker. I mustered up the courage to smile, albeit shaky. "O-Of course. I'm sorry, I might've overshared our private moments. It's just...I was so excited to share how I fell in love with the most extraordinary man in the world that I couldn't stop myself."

Our stare remained at each other for a while, unwavering and testing. He was a fierce beast who had unbelievable restraint, while I was a cunning fox testing his limit. Of course, none of the others noticed the tension—only blazing, passionate love.

"Young love sure is beautiful..." Ellie sighed. "I'd love to hear more stories, but unfortunately, it is time for us to go."

Finally, we looked away and smiled at them. I said, "We can always continue our chat some other day. It was great to be your acquaintance, Ellie, Rory, and the others too, of course."

Farewells were exchanged and Rory pulled me in for a hug. "Maybe I can visit you for tea?" She whispered.

I nodded. "Of course, you're welcome to our estate any time."

"Great." She grinned. Rory and Krieg, a couple around our age and as successful as the Rios's too. I'll have to keep them close, as well as Ellie and Chris. Janet and Ronald though, they'd have to make do with each other's company because of Janet's stuck-up attitude.

Inside the van, an ominous ambiance continued until we reached the mansion. The others felt this and remained quiet throughout the travel, which I appreciated because I kept my eyes shut and relaxed. Like the calm before the storm.

I stepped out first.

I had to return to the frail and fearful Fallon, so I opted to run inside, but I was quickly caught by large hands right before my second step outside. I grounded my teeth.

"You're not avoiding this one, sweetheart," his casual tone fooled me for a split-second. I could feel him grinning as he added, "How interesting you are. I didn't know you had such an evil, scheming personality hiding."

"I-I just followed your orders...as the wife you told them about."

"Really? Is that really just it?" He barked out a peal of low laughter. He looked like he was joking now but I could sense the raw rage underlying his teasing tone.

"I don't like being ridiculed behind my back, sweetheart. I figured I should let you know. Although I like humorous people, I'd rather have them joke about me in my face," he said.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

"Oh, I'll make sure it won't." The danger in his voice finally showed. "Didn't you say we enjoyed our honeymoon? Why don't we make one of your lies true?"

I paled.

"I...I don't mix pleasure with work..." That was all I could say.

"Work?" He snickered and leaned into my ear. "This is your life. I bought you...and your life. I am your master, your owner, your keeper. You don't work for me. You only live because I let you."

I couldn't utter a word to object. My mind went blank and my tongue cowered. I don't know if it was the feeling of his breath on my ear or the objectifying words he threatened me with, but I completely blanked out.

Still, my mind was working. And I knew what he had in mind for a punishment.