Chapter 6 THE FAVOUR BEFORE A FEAST

I was in a hurry to leave the hotel for wherever Drexon called home, but the Moreaux family had more plans for us than I could imagine. Things had not been like this in the past when I had married Kellan. After the wedding, we were sent home under the watchful eyes of Tema, who nagged me about everything.

"Mom said you and that girl should come down for breakfast." I pretended to lie asleep on the bed with my back to the door as I listened to the conversation between Tema and Drexon. "Your wife", she corrected herself, and even though I can't see Drexon's face, I wonder what kind of look he could have given her to have her change her words so easily. When I chose to be his wife, I knew that there would be persecution from Tema and her sister-in-laws, and to be honest, I was ready for that, but I did not want to forge my way into battle so early in the relationship.

"Why do we need to have breakfast?" Drexon's voice was smooth and commanded more authority than Tema's whiny voice.

"I do not know why; maybe you and your wife can come down and ask her yourself," Tema replied. It was obvious she was having a hard time addressing me as his wife. She must hate it, and it must make her blood boil, but then she had to get used to it.

"We will be going home directly," Drexon said, and Tema sighed.

"Do you also think everyone else at that table wants you there? We do not want you there either, but your mom keeps insisting, and even when I tell her that I am sure you would not agree to come, she asks me to make sure I do not attend breakfast unless I bring you both down," Tema added.

It was obvious that Tema did not hold as much power as she had portrayed in my previous life; she was as powerless as I was. I need to make things different this time; I need something bold and powerful to make sure that I do not get to sit at the edge of the table or wait tables during family gatherings again. I have had enough of it, and I have no desire to go down that path again.

Drexon inhaled sharply. "We will be there."

"Okay, good, I might be forced to come back up to you if you are not down in a few more minutes," Tema said, and then I heard the door shut. I felt my body stiffen. I had been sure that I was going to escape this with the aloofness of Drexon, but he did not manage to be able to slip out of it as I would have wanted.

I hear him move to the bathroom, and I only sit up when the sound of the shower goes on. I wonder how I would escape this; he knows very well that his family does not want me down there and that this would end in a horrible disaster. I think of ways to escape this; should I play the sick and tired card to make him go down alone, and then afterwards we can retire to his house? I stay pondering for a long time; the only thing that snaps me back to my senses is the sound of the shower going off and then the door clicking open.

I drop back to the bed quickly, as I do not want to see him naked; the image of what happened last night is still so fresh in my memory. I did not expect us to live lovey-dovey as a couple, and I think even if we were to have sex, it was too early for him to see me naked, and I was not willing to return the favour just yet. My mind began on the topic of intimacy; we had yet to discuss the topic, and I do not know him well enough to conclude on that. I force myself to push the thoughts out of my mind as I fall back to bed.

"You can drop the act; my family is waiting." His question hovered around the room, and instead of sitting up and admitting that he had caught me, I tightened my shut eyes and kept my body still. "You heard Tema; we have to go down for breakfast." I pretended to stir as if I were just getting up, and I sat in bed rubbing my eyes gently.

"What?" I pretend to yawn, and surprisingly, it turns into a real one.

"Get up and get ready."

"But I have nothing to wear," I lied, hoping that would be the way I escaped the breakfast or maybe bought myself a little more time.

"I will go over and get your suitcase," he replied. I knew about the suitcase next door, but I wanted to let go of it. It was my past, and I did not need to be associated with it. "Just fish something out of it and wear it for now; we can get you new clothes later," he added as if reading my mind.

I throw off the blanket and walk to the bathroom, knowing there is no escape for me regarding this. I stood in the bathroom and washed until I felt better; at least this morning, we did not need to call multiple times for hot water to come up. I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped firmly around my waist, and I saw that he had picked out a yellow sundress that went down to my knees. I look at it and wonder how he knew how much I liked the dress. I quickly slip it on and join him in the room.

He was dressed in grey pants and a white button-up shirt; he had the sleeves rolled up and the first two buttons left undone. I tried not to stare, but the way he wore that shirt — casual yet commanding — made my breath catch. "Shall we?"

"Yes, but before we go, I have a favour to ask," I say, making sure it was not as if I was begging.

"A favour?" His eyebrow goes up in a questioning manner at me, and I struggle to stand still. I wanted to be at the head of the table, and I had thought long about it; I just needed his yes to get the ball rolling. "What is it?" he gave in and asked.

I cleared my throat and closed the gap. "Promise me you will do it."

"I don't make empty promises, so I have to hear it first."

"I want to sit at the head of the table."