The Debt Collector's Bride

a's

It slid to the marble floor like a useless puddle. Two women, they were maids I guessed,

her voice shaking, "Mr. Damien ne

im," my voice cracks.

r one whispered, her eyes fixed on t

My heart hadn't stopped pounding since he

n promised. "We just have or

into the bathroom and grabbed the edge of the sink until my fingers started hurting. My face stared back at me, I looked wild, m

ed utter

ay. "The bath is ready. If you don'

back away!

tantly di

p. Dad gave me away. He promised me to this monster. The betrayal was a physical pain in

**

lf into the clothes-the soft silk underthings, the fitted dress, the slippers.

wed their heads."You look perfect," the younger one murmure

were all armed and looked massive. They

g?" I demanded.. but

front of me and two behind me. I panicked and

wered me. They j

y voice ris

ed at the nearest guard. He instantly stepped

ss," he said quickly. "Th

n let

't do tha

He just stood there, letting me hit him, refusing to hold me, refusing to push me, letting me crumbl

Ser

d of the hall, hands behind his back, looking impossibly controlled in his black suit. His face looked unreadable. B

this?" I whispered,

ce was low and firm. "And because your fat

ion," I whispered. "Th

The four guards instantly le

hands still behind him. "Not unless you

est. They confused me more th

hat makes it o

"But it gives you back th

eathe. He stopped a few feet away, his ga

shaking,"

hanks t

n hardened... a

ome

"N

hallenge. "You truly believe

are the

My slipper caught the edge of the rug. I gasped and lost my balance,

ose to my waist. He didn't make contact. He took

yself awkwardly with my

u catch me?" I w

"Because you don't w

painful and I co

und," he sa

"W

mething stuck

don

slowly and carefully, raising his

I?" h

He carefully brushed a loose strand of hair from my cheek.. and paused. His palm was so c

just the slightest pressure of skin against skin. I could feel

s voice rougher now. "I am n

st rose

it," he

took my wrist. Not hard or forcefully, but to steady

feel that?

wed, "My h

ed against mine, warm and s

e he was the shelt

ing of his hand on my wrist strangely an

back, just enough

leaving me cold, "the people who want y

colder and I felt a

do you

, and I regret the sud

p again," he said. "A

could barely

n nodde

der him," he said. "The person

lood r

" I whi

s, his voice was so

our