That afternoon, I decided to spend as much time as I could in my quarters. After a long bath, I decided to get some sleep. The cut was throbbing a lot and that seemed like a great reason to sleep. The image of Annabel soon invaded my mind, mounted on me, riding me. It turned my quiet sleep into a sweet storm and I opened my eyes. I looked down, feeling like I was excited and snorted.
- Oh, shit! Now I need another bath!
Chapter 13
Annabel
I looked out the window of the room I was in and sighed as I contemplated the cold night that was beginning to appear. I had no intention of going down to dinner and facing Bruce's gaze, but if it wasn't, Aideen would be sad and soon realize that something was wrong. I was not willing to tell anything about myself in the last few days and did the impossible to hide my sadness. I just wanted to forget, but for that, I would have to endure a few more days of Bruce's presence.
Leaving the brush aside, I went in front of the mirror to finish braiding my hair. I was still very tired, because I spent hours crying in anger. I gave up braiding my hair and decided to keep it loose. I went to the wooden closet and picked out one of the dresses I had brought. I'd forgotten it was Bruce who picked them, but I couldn't keep walking around in combination. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I prayed it was one of the employees and not my sister. When I opened it, I preferred it to be Aideen. In his place, standing in front of me, was Bruce with all his imposing height. He was wearing a white shirt, black pants and boots. A red tartan crossed his right shoulder, fastening it to his waist. I soon realized that the dinner would be something formal, since there was a lord visiting the castle.
- What are you doing here? - I asked roughly.
- I came to escort you downstairs. - he responded calmly. - Aideen asked me to come see if I was ready. Alistair makes a point of your presence.
- Who says I need you for anything? - I returned it angry. - I know very well the way to the salon and I can get to the downstairs by myself.
With that, I pulled the door and then pushed it to the side so that I could get through. Bruce sighed without patience, but I ignored him. He followed me down the hall.
- Did you rest? - he asked almost in a whisper.
- Listen, if you really want to escort me, then do it in silence! - said angry. - I can't or wish to hear your voice.
- Excuse me, ma'am! - he debated. - I was just trying to be courteous.
- I don't need your courtesy. - said stopping. - I guess it's pretty clear I don't need you or any other idiot. In fact, shouldn't you escort your fiancée?
Bruce didn't answer me by remaining silent. He tried to hide a smile, but he failed. That attitude pissed me off, so I grunted.
- What's going on? Did the cat eat your tongue? - I kept provoking him.
- I'm sorry, but I thought you wanted my silence. - he answered in a deep voice and then smiled again.
I looked incredulously at him, who was trying to provoke me by using my words against me.
- This way, please!
Bruce went ahead of me and instead of going down the stairs, he took a turn and continued down the corridor.
- The main hall is that way! - said stopping.
- Yeah, I know that! - he took a break. - We're not going to the main hall, we're going to the banquet hall. Now, if you walk faster, we'll get there before dinner is served.
Turning my eyes, I followed him again. Dunhill's castle was very big and I had to agree that it would be lost if Bruce hadn't come to get me, because I didn't remember that runner the last time I was here. Even though I found all those passages.
I kept staring at Bruce's wide back. The short-sleeved shirt left his arms out in the open. His wrists were adorned with leather bracelets. As he walked, his hands were closed in fist next to his body. A shiver took over my body when I remembered the night I was looking for Alistair's room. One wrong turn and I went out in a bathroom. I was amazed at the grandeur and beauty of the place, so much so that I was far away. It was then that I saw Bruce, sitting in a kind of heated pool, staring at me with debauched air. I held my breath at the moment I looked at him, because the water covered only up to his waist, leaving his wide chest on display. She had become blush and nervous, until he opened his mouth and said something provocative. As always, we ended up arguing and I returned to the passage, stepping on hard steps, in search of the path that would take me to Alistair. The memory made my whole body warm up. I thanked him for being dark, so if Bruce turned to face me, he wouldn't see the blush on my face. Suddenly, he put one of his hands on his abdomen, on top of where the wound was. He moaned low, but the hallway was
