No, she didn’t, but she was also short of options. And he hadn’t forced her into anything. She’d offered herself to him and he’d declined. He’d even tried to decline her offer of payment. She wouldn’t go so far as to say she trusted him, but she was certain that he wouldn’t hurt her, and she didn’t think he’d betray her.
‘Okay,’ she said. ‘So, how will I know when it’s time to visit you? And how will I get there?’
He gave her considering look. ‘I will give you some notice and have someone come for you. I have many homes in different locations, so you might even find it enjoyable.’
The excitement inside her grew and she sat there, feeling the electricity of the sensation, half marvelling that she even knew what it was since she couldn’t recall ever feeling excitement before.
Ares was now taking out his phone. He didn’t look at her as he made a call, his rough voice filling the helicopter, speaking a language she didn’t recognise.
Rose sat in the darkness, finally allowing the hope that she’d tried not to feel, that somehow hadn’t died in all the years she’d been at the compound, to join the excitement that was already inside her. It felt like dawn breaking after a long, cold, dark night.
You owe it all to him.
She stole a glance at him, questions filling her head. Why did he want to marry? And why her? He was rich and powerful—all Vasiliev’s guests were—and he must have many women to choose from, because he was certainly compelling despite his scars.
Did he really need someone like her? A woman who’d been a bought and sold servant all her life? A nobody who’d been cleaning his fireplace not a couple of hours ago?
It didn’t make any sense.
Then again, maybe it didn’t have to make sense. Because the main thing was that she was free. And she would have a whole year to herself, doing whatever she liked. Finding out where she came from...
She almost couldn’t believe it was actually happening.
Some time passed, though she wasn’t sure how long, and then the helicopter was descending. They landed in darkness and a few minutes later Rose found herself being ushered across a landing field and into a long, black car. The scarred man got into the car beside her, and she wanted to ask him where they were and what was happening, but the habit of keeping silent and staying guarded, and watching, was too deeply ingrained, so she said nothing as they drove into the night.
She’d find out soon enough, no doubt.
She must have dozed off because the next thing she knew, they were driving into a brightly lit city, though which one she had no idea. The car stopped outside a big, fancy-looking building, and she was ushered out of the car and up the steps and through the doors. The entranceway was full of light, ornate chandeliers hanging from a lofty ceiling, and she stared at them, because they were beautiful and there hadn’t been any in the compound.
There also seemed to be many people milling around all doing the scarred man’s bidding.
He led the way to a bank of lifts and gestured her inside when the doors opened. She wasn’t used to any kind of courtesy so the fact that he didn’t push her inside or even touch her was almost disconcerting.
She got in, startling slightly as it began to ascend. But she didn’t want him, or indeed anyone, to know just how disconcerting all of this was for her, so she kept her expression guarded.
When the lift arrived at the designated floor, she was taken down a long, silent hallway to a door, and when the door was opened and she was ushered inside, she realised it must be a hotel room.
She’d never been in a hotel room.
She had never been in a hotel at all.
Everything was beautifully appointed and there were big floor-to-ceiling windows that gave a nice view out over a city she didn’t recognise. Not that she recognised any city, never having been in a city either.
There were several people already in the room, including a man in formal-looking robes who smiled at her.
The scarred man gave her a glance. ‘Time to hold up your end of the bargain, Rose.’
She looked warily back. ‘What do you mean?’
He nodded towards the man in formal robes. ‘The priest will marry us.’
A small, electric shock arrowed through her. ‘You mean...now?’
The scarred man shrugged. ‘All the documentation you need will be easier to get if you are legally married to me.’ His silver-green gaze was enigmatic. ‘You do not have to be afraid. I will keep my word.’
He was trying to reassure her, she understood that. But she wasn’t reassured, only annoyed. She wasn’t some poor, helpless victim. And besides, she knew he kept his word, because he’d told her he’d rescue her and he had.
‘I’m not afraid,’ she said flatly. ‘And I said I would marry you, so I will.’