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  Her hands reached up and felt her throat, which suddenly felt constricted from more than her run through the woods. Oh God! I’m having an allergic reaction. Why is it only on my scarred flesh? Her thoughts raced even faster than her pounding heart. Realizing she was having difficulty breathing, she stared down at her still swelling hands and instantly knew she needed medical attention. She turned to head back to the house, hoping she’d make it in time, but ran square into the solid wall of Draken’s chest.

  He grabbed her arms and glared down at her in a fury, “Where in the hell do you think you’re going?” Seeing the panic on her face and realizing it wasn’t related to his great chase he released his grip as she looked up at him with pleading eyes and in a panic.

  She held up her hands and brushed her throat squeaking out a barely audible, “Something’s wrong.”

  Chapter 18

  Grabbing her hands, Draken felt their heat. He felt her throat and asked, now panicky himself, “Can you breathe alright?”

  Lucia shook her head, afraid to speak.

  Draken picked her up and carried her a few yards to a clearing and his saddled horse. He hoisted her up onto the saddle and mounted the horse behind her, “Okay?”

  She looked at him, eyes wide, and nodded.

  Draken urged the horse as fast as he could and they were at the back door to the manor in minutes. Draken slid from the horse then reached up and eased her down into his arms.

  Carrying her in the back door, he was met by a roomful of maids, who upon seeing Lucia’s state, shrieked almost in unison, “Patrick, fetch the doctor!”

  Without breaking stride, Draken carried Lucia upstairs and straight into his bathroom. He set her on a white marble bench that sat against a wall and began running a bath.

  Lucia whispered, “What should I do?”

  Draken turned from the tub and tried to reassure her, “Your skin is just having an allergic reaction from the thorn bushes you ran through.” He ran a comforting hand over her hair, “We need to rinse your skin to remove any allergens.”

  She nodded her agreement and began removing her clothes. When she was completely naked, Draken wrapped her in a large white towel and gently placed her in the warm bath. “Scoot down so your neck can rinse”, he suggested.

  Lucia did as she was told. Draken knelt next to the tub and cupped handfuls of warm water over her reclined head and asked, “Can you breathe any better?”

  Lucia whispered, “My throat’s tight”.

  After several moments of soaking, there was a knock at the bathroom door and a voice from the other room, “Mr. Shatan it’s me, Dr. White. May I enter?”

  Draken stood, “Yes Doctor, please.” Draken stepped back to allow the doctor room to examine Lucia. Dr. White sent Draken to retrieve a glass of water while he retrieved a bottle of capsules from his little black bag.

  When Draken returned with the water, Dr. White handed Lucia four capsules and ordered her to drink them down with the water, then stood and left the room grabbing Draken’s arm and pulling him along as he left. “Mr. Shatan, it appears that she’s having a simple allergic reaction to something she has come in contact with. As I stated months ago, her scarred flesh is highly sensitive and must not be irritated. The bath is a good idea; it will help soothe the skin.” Dr. White grabbed his coat that was hanging on the bedroom’s doorknob. “I’ll leave this bottle of Benadryl with you. I don’t imagine she’ll need more, but it’s best for you to have some around just in case.” As Dr. White was exiting the room, he stopped to shake hands with a grateful Draken, “Have a good evening Mr. Shatan. If her condition should worsen, please contact me. Although, I doubt that it will. The Benadryl should do the trick. Have a good evening.”

  With Dr. White’s departure, Draken returned to the bathroom. Lucia still sat in the water up to her neck.

  “How are you feeling? Is it better” he asked, his voice laced with concern.

  “The itching is going away and my throat’s not so bad.”

  Draken turned from her and ran a hand through his hair as he drew in a ragged breath. Lucia was coming to recognize this gesture as an indication of his frustration. Turning back to her, her assumption was confirmed as his expression darkened and he barked, “Stay in the bath for a while. When you’re finished, get dressed and rest. The doc says the medication he gave you will most likely make you sleepy. Rest. When you wake, meet me in the library for dinner at seven.”

  Turning to exit the room, he stopped and glared her, “That’s not a request.” She heard his footsteps on the hardwood floor as he departed.

  Resting in the tub, Lucia realized that her body was still tense from the events of the day. She pondered how she could appeal to the logical side of Draken, and then she smiled to herself as she wondered if he even had a logical side.

  After long minutes, she climbed from the tub wrapping a fresh dry towel around her. As she was drying herself in the bathroom, she heard a light knock on the bedroom door and a female voice.

  “It’s just me Ma’am, Annie. Um…Annie the servant from earlier today. Lord Shatan asked that I retrieve dinner attire from your wardrobe. I’ll hang your clothes on the chair. Can I get you anything else at present Ma’am?”

  Lucia continued drying her hair and offered, “No. Thank you Annie.”

  “Yes Ma’am.” Annie responded. Then Lucia heard the click of the door as it closed behind the young maid.

  Venturing from the bathroom, clad in only a towel, Lucia saw her clothes lying across a chair. A burgundy satin gown that looked too small lay stretched out underneath a strapless brazier, thigh-high nylons, panties, and a garter belt. Her eyes flicked to the floor beside the chair and she recognized her small make-up bag.

  She sighed, highly annoyed at the young girl’s choice of clothing for her evening meal. She finished drying her hair and sauntered to the bed stifling a yawn. The medication was working and as the doctor predicted, she was having difficulty keeping her eyes open.

  Hours later, Lucia woke and dressed. She was surprised to discover that the dress that appeared to be too small fit like a glove.

  Standing in front of Draken’s mirror, she had to admit that she looked exceptional in the color and design of the dress. It hugged her curves and accentuated her best feminine qualities.

  After applying make-up and pinning her hair up, Lucia ventured from the room to make her way to the library, still apprehensive as to the conversation she knew she must have with the always-angry Draken.

  ***

  Lucia peeked her head into the library to find Draken sitting at the head of the table staring at the door. It was obvious he was awaiting her arrival, and while his eyes lacked the anger from earlier, they also lacked any warmth.

  Straightening her back, she pushed the door open to enter. Closing the door behind her, she was startled when she turned back toward the table and saw how quickly Draken’s eyes could change from holding no emotion to holding such a look of desire that it was practically tangible.

  She lifted her hand nervously to her throat as she crossed the short distance to the table.

  Draken’s eyes never swayed from her. Slowly, he looked her up and down in appreciation and offered, “You should have worn your hair down.”

  Lucia ran an unsteady hand over her hair that was tightly bound up from her neck with an onyx hairpin. She felt uncomfortable under his appraisal, especially now that he knew exactly what was under the burgundy dress she wore. As she approached the table, Draken stood and pulled out her chair. She muttered a ‘thank you’ and sat.

  As he pushed in her chair, he bent and placed a kiss on her neck. “Even with all those scratches, I doubt your beauty could be matched. The itching and swelling seem to have subsided. Are you feeling well?”

  She held up her hands, “Aside from the scratches everything’s back to normal.”

  Without asking, Draken poured her a glass of wine as Patrick entered with their meal. Silently, Patrick placed a plate before each of t
hem. The succulent smell of fish and fresh vegetables wafted through the room. Lucia and Draken ate in silence.

  After they had finished and Patrick had cleared the dishes, Lucia ventured to negotiate with Draken. “I’d like to go home tonight.”

  Draken looked at her with cool indifference as he sipped his wine and informed, “You are home.”

  Frustrated, Lucia wrung her hands under her chin as she tried to find the right words, “Draken, I’m sorry if last night meant something more…implied something more for you than it did for me. I don’t deny that I desire you very much, but because two people desire each other is no reason for them to lose their heads.”

  He glared across the table at her, “Don’t mock my desire Lucia, or you will regret it.”

  Thinking of a new approach, she started again, “What I mean to say is, last night was special to me too, but I think if calmer heads would have prevailed none of it would have happened.”

  “It’s too late,” he calmly informed his eyes transitioning to cool indifference, “Whatever your going to try and convince me of, it’s too late so save your breath. I’ve decided what I want and I’ve decided that I’ll have it. I’ve already terminated your contract with your landlord and as we speak the last of your possessions are being moved onto the estate. I’ve also terminated your employment at the Firm. I’m sorry, but you have no say in the matter.”

  Lucia shoved her chair back and threw her napkin down on the table, “The hell I don’t. While I’m delighted that you’ve decided what you want I’m telling you that I want to go home.”

  Now it was Draken’s turn to jump to his feet, sending his chair crashing backwards on the floor.

  Lucia flinched at his reaction, as Draken placed both hands on the table and glared at her while he tried to calmly explain, “This is your home. Don’t you get it; there is nowhere else for you to go. You have no apartment, no job, and no money. If you leave I’ll sabotage any chance of employment for you. You have no means by which to live other than through me.”

  Lucia’s eyes stung with unshed tears. Desperate now, she fought the only way that was left to her, “You’re pathetic. Is this the only way you can keep a woman, by forcing one to stay?”

  Draken grabbed the decanter of wine and sent it sailing across the room. It crashed against the library door, shattering into a thousand pieces. Lucia cringed at his exhibition of anger. Furious, Draken ran an angry hand through his black hair, “Do you think I want to need you this much? I don’t want to desire any woman in this manner, but I do and it can’t be helped.”

  Slowly, Lucia backed away from the hatred she saw in his eyes as a warm tear rolled down her cheek.

  Undeterred, Draken continued, “With any luck our passion will extinguish itself in time. When that time comes…if that time comes, I’ll gladly let you go.”

  Her eyes were wide with shock, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “I’m not one of your dogs, Draken, my love has questions, and my heart has needs…”

  He cut her off, “What do you need? I’ll see that it’s provided.”

  She stepped closer looking at him with a stunned expression, “I need love. I can’t marry without it. Marriage isn’t a game, and it isn’t something you undertake to douse the heat of your desire. If you want me, fine want me, but you can’t just have me. I won’t marry like that.”

  He closed the short distance between them. Grabbing her chin, he lowered his head so their noses were mere inches apart. “Lucia, I want you and I will have you. This isn’t a negotiation. I’m telling you how things are going to be. Tomorrow we will be married and you’ll stay with me until I decide to let you go.”

  Her mind reeled as she pulled back frantically wringing her hands, “I’ll call the police, it’s kidnapping! You can’t keep people against their will.”

  Draken’s eyes glittered with anger as he roared back, “I am the law here. You should make this easy on yourself. I could have the phones removed, the staff fired, I could lock us into total seclusion, Lucia, but I’d prefer not to do that.” Calming slightly he continued, “What you need to know is that if you try to flee, I will find you. If you call the authorities, I have enough money to get myself out of trouble and then some.

  You have nowhere else to go; you have no money, no home, no job, and no family. I am your life now. For all I know you could be carrying my child at this moment.”

  Lucia’s desperate tears flowed freely now as she whispered, “Is that what this is about? A child…your child. If that was such a concern, you should have taken the necessary precautions.” Hesitating, she tried again to appeal, “Look, if I am carrying your child, I would let you see him or her…we could share custody. I wouldn’t keep your child from you.”

  He didn’t falter. “It won’t do.”

  Her adrenaline spiking, Lucia spat, “You can take my apartment, my job, my freedom, but know that you will never possess my heart.” She made to leave, but Draken reached out and pulled the pin from her hair and her black glossy locks tousled down around her shoulders. Lucia spun back on him with anger in her eyes, “And you will keep your damn hands off of me!”

  Turning again to storm away, her departure was cut short as Draken grasped her left wrist and dragged her back to him. Glaring down at her with her wrist in his vice-like grip, he forced her fist open. Without taking his eyes from hers, he reached into his pocket then reached up and slid a silver ring onto her fourth finger. “Tomorrow you belong to me,” he threatened in an even tone as he pulled her body into his own.

  Sobbing, Lucia turned her head from him as he nuzzled her neck. Loosening his grip, he leaned down and placed a kiss on the ring she now wore, “I suggest you get some sleep bride.” He released his hold on her and she fled from the room clutching her throbbing wrist.

  ***

  Draken stared at the vacant doorway. His gut twisted. He knew he was being an ass but couldn’t help it. The previous night Lucia had confessed that she loved the manor, loved being there…with him. The confession had called forth such fierce possessiveness that he didn’t think he’d make it through the night without her. He didn’t. Like a siren she’d called to him in the night and he’d carried her to his room where he claimed her as his own. Now, he refused to give her up.

  He’d never had to pursue a woman before. Typically they threw themselves at him. His hiatus from romance after his sister’s death had apparently done him some good. He no longer wanted other women. He wanted Lucia. And I’m going to have her!

  Chapter 19

  Back in her room, Lucia sobbed uncontrollably as she undressed. Sliding on a nightgown she’d retrieved from her bureau, she switched off the light and climbed onto bed without washing the make-up from her face, without brushing her teeth, and without pulling back the covers. She grabbed one of the four pillows that adorned her bed and hugged it close to her body as she rocked back and forth trying to console herself. She was feeling lightheaded and extremely tired from the combination of the Benadryl she’d taken earlier and the three glasses of wine she’d had with dinner, not to mention the fact that she was apparently being forced into marriage and once again held against her will. I should have never come back!

  Drying her tears on the pillowcase, she lifted her hand and stared at the ring on her finger. She desperately wanted to take it off, but was afraid of what Draken would do to her if he caught her without it on. She’d never felt so helpless and had no idea what action to take. Compounding matters was the fact that she had no one to turn to for advice. Draken was right, she was alone and without her job and her apartment, he was all she had.

  The frustration of that thought made her sick to her stomach. She lay thinking of what tomorrow would bring. Imagining the type of wedding that Draken had planned, she wondered if he’d invited guests or if it would simply be the two of them. She fought to stay alert, but it wasn’t long before the mixture of Benadryl and wine had her sleeping once again.

  Somewhere in the night, she woke t
o see that her bedroom door was slightly open and light from the hall poured into the dark room allowing her to just make out Draken’s form standing at the side of her bed.

  He leaned over and covered her shivering body with a blanket he’d been holding. She wondered how long he’d been standing there watching her sleep.

  He knelt down beside the bed and gently grabbed her hand pressing a kiss to her palm. “I’m sorry I’ve been so harsh with you. It’s just that I’ve never needed someone so much”, he whispered in the darkness. He kissed her hand a second time before he released it and stood. “Sleep well love,” he whispered before leaving the room.

  Lucia drifted back into her drug-induced sleep, wondering if she were truly awake or whether she’d dreamt the encounter.

  ***

  Sitting in front of the dressing mirror in her wedding gown, Lucia wondered if a person’s heart could stop from shock. Her heart beat so loudly in her chest that she knew the maids who were doting on her hair, make-up, and nails must be ignoring its thundering staccato out of politeness.

  When she’d awakened late in the morning, it seemed as if the maids were eagerly waiting outside her door for any sound of movement. Before her feet even touched the floor, the maids entered the room without knocking, carrying boxes of items for the day’s preparations.

  Annie had asked her earlier why she didn’t seem very excited. Not wanting to involve the staff in her and Draken’s personal affairs, she feigned a headache then tried to appear more delighted. Honestly, she didn’t know what to do. As the clock ticked closer and closer to two o’clock, the designated hour of the ceremony, she felt more and more defeated. With no family, no money, and no home to run to, she almost agreed with Draken that she truly had no say in the matter.

  She did love Draken, she’d admitted as much to herself the night before as she lay in bed fretting over the situation. If only he’d return my love, she thought sadly, we could easily make this work. But I refuse to submit to the whims of a furious tyrant.