The Arrangement

Chapter Seventy-Six

Blair

I know that right now I shouldn't be feeling all giddy, like my stomach is doing cartwheels in the best way possible, yet that's exactly how I feel as Carter practically drags me through the crowd like a man on a mission.

Paying no mind to the numerous people he's abruptly barged out of the way in the process.

Every few steps we take has me tripping over my own feet which shouldn't be amusing in the slightest especially as last time I giggled he glared at me like the was going to be the whooping of a lifetime. Which just made me smile even more.

This is a side to Carter I haven't experienced yet and I knew the moment he joined me in the kitchen this morning, that I wanted to bring it out of him.

I have no idea what he plans to do with me but that just seems to build up the excitement even more.

Carter seems to know exactly where we're heading though as we head down a quiet side street and then suddenly he's pulling me into a building. It's not until the heavy doors hang behind me that I finally take in my surroundings.

A church was the last place I expected him to bring me yet as I look around the world outside seems to fade away, the hustle and bustle of the market shut out as a serene calm envelops me.

The first thing that hits me is the faint, comforting scent of aged wood mingled with a hint of incense. The atmosphere is cool and still, and the gentle echo of our footsteps on the stone floor resonates softly, as if the church itself is acknowledging our presence. Sunlight streams through the stained-glass windows, casting a kaleidoscope of colors that dance across the pews and the floor, painting everything in rich hues of red, blue, and gold.

The ceiling stretches high above, a testament to architectural grandeur, with intricate wooden beams and detailed frescoes that tell stories of old. Rows of wooden pews line the nave, their surfaces polished and smooth, worn by years of worship and contemplation. At the far end, the altar stands grand and solemn, adorned with candles and flowers, their gentle flicker and vibrant colors offering a sense of warmth and life amidst the stone and wood.

The quietness here is profound, almost sacred. It feels as though the walls themselves are steeped in the whispers of countless prayers, holding within them the hopes, dreams, and sorrows of those who have sought solace in this space over the years. The air is thick with a sense of history, of moments both grand and intimate, and it wraps around me like a gentle embrace.

I take a moment to absorb it all—the beauty, the tranquility, the sense of timelessness. Here, in this sacred space, the worries of the outside world seem distant and insignificant. It's a place where one can pause, reflect, and find a moment of peace amidst the chaos of life.

Although the moment seems to disappear as Carter tugs me along to one of the pews. 

"Come to repent for all your sins?" I tease, attempting to shift some of the tension that's radiating off of him.

He sheds his coat, chucking to the pew behind us, his usual elegance gone and replaced with something else that seems a lot like urgency. When he turns to face me his hands clasp his belt buckle and he starts to unbuckle it as he speaks. "No Blair," he says with a pause, "you'll be the one begging for mercy by the time I'm done with you"  

It's not the chill in the air that has me shivering, it's the menacing tone he uses, like it's both a threat and a promise at the same time. 

Pulling his belt free, he takes my hand and tugs me towards him, "Come here!" he orders leaving no room for argument.