Darkly Devoted (Book 1, 2, 3)

DD Chapter 3 - A Cottage In the Woods

Chapter 3

They must have driven for almost an hour before they reached a three-story house with floor-to-ceiling glass walls built over a still man-made lake in a forested area. Surrounding the house were balconies and walkways of rich mahogany wood with recessed lighting. A butler was standing outside the house to greet them.

"Welcome to Remin, Mr. Oslen," the man with a tailcoat and white gloves said with a bow of his head. Another man in a similar outfit appeared and immediately offered to carry Vivienne's bags up. Too bad she didn't have any.

"Is this your house?" Vivienne asked, staring up at the magnificent building in awe. It wasn't the fact that the building looked incredibly beautiful and expensive that made her pause; it was the fact that it was so different from the architecture of River Way, where she first met Blake. Everywhere where River Way was old, ivy-choked, and wild, this building was clean, fresh, and modern. "It looks . . . unlike you."

"I didn't pick it out myself. Is it not to your liking?" Blake said as he slowly, carefully proceeded up the staircase. He was still limping from the wound in his leg. At least the house was surrounded by tall oak trees that blocked out most of the sunlight. "Did you imagine something bigger?"

Suddenly, he seemed self-conscious as though she were going to berate him for living in a sprawling mansion with only eighteen bedrooms when she had just been driven to tears over his gift of a modest house in the suburbs.

Vivienne stepped out of the car and hesitated at the foot of the white marble steps leading up to the magnificent house. They were completely isolated from civilization here. The public road was at least ten minutes away. There was going to be no escaping this place if things went south. Perhaps, she had gotten out of the car at her parents' house.

Blake noticed her fearful backward glances.

"Vivienne," he stated in an authoritative tone. "You are a guest here. No harm will come to you."

Vivienne swallowed and took a step up.

"Just to be clear, I'm not sharing a bed with you," she stated defiantly.

"There are more than enough beds in this house. You can sleep in a different one each night of the week if you prefer."

"And not a single one of those beds will be yours?"

Blake sighed.

"For goodness's sake, what do you think I am? An animal?" Blake sighed in frustration and ran his fingers through his short, dirty hair. Vivienne had to stifle a laugh at the look of disgust on his face.

As Vivienne caught his arm and helped him up the remainder of the stairs, she had to admit she almost regretted their conversation. He was keeping her at arm's length now and going out of his way to avoid meeting her eyes. As she studied his profile, she had to admit she was curious how it would feel to kiss him. His lips were slightly parted, gentle, and a thing of perfect softness, contrasting with his strong, masculine jaw.

Vivienne could almost imagine herself pressing her mouth against those lips. Sucking them and perhaps feeling a light flick of his tongue. How would he taste? She imagined he would taste like the rainfall in the forest, cold and sweet.

She remembered how it felt when he drank from her wrist on the boat, as he licked her punctured wounds, even though he was only semiconscious. Vivienne had never been kissed before, at least not in a romantic way. She was curious about how it would feel. At the same time, she was too worried that one thing would lead to another before she was ready.

"What did Maglania mean when she said you would lose your fortune without her and Yagerin?" Vivienne asked to change the subject.

"Nothing to trouble yourself about," Blake replied with a dismissive chuckle. "Maglania was talking about a type of, well, a type of raw material that I need to keep my company afloat. I've lost it before, and I've made it back. I'll find it again. The earth is deep and the world is wide. There is always another way."

"Can I help?"

"Rest. You've lost quite a bit of blood."

"Not nearly as much blood as you."

"I'm used to it." Blake stepped away as they stepped inside the house. He glanced down at his cellphone, as though he were double-checking names, before addressing the house manager. "One of my men will take you the rest of the way," he said. He took a step away, then turned back to her. "Get some rest and don't worry."

Connall appeared with a robe for Blake before the two men departed. Vivienne saw a group of men in serious-looking suits awaiting Blake's arrival in the foyer.

"Mr. Petrichor is here to welcome you to Remin," Conall explained as Blake rushed by. Blake didn't look up or acknowledge the man who was standing in wait for him. Vivienne watched curiously as the man with the bald head and purple striped shirt rushed after Blake in a panicked manner.

"M-Mr. O-Oslen, w-we never expected you to honor our small town with a visit."

Pectrichor and his men all looked at each other in confusion. "Is that Mr. Oslen?" one of the men whispered. They looked at Vivienne and were dismayed to see another teenager. Then, they quickly chased after their chairman.

Vivienne was overjoyed that her room had its own attached bathroom and both doors had secure locks. She wasn't sure if she was locking Blake out or locking herself in at that point. When Vivienne contemplated cleaning herself up, she was relieved to discover that her closet had been outfitted with numerous soft robes, all heated and ready for her to slip into. As Vivienne stripped off her filthy clothes and walked over the warm, marble tiles of the bathroom into the luxurious shower, she decided she was going to find a way to get out of being in Blake's debt.