Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Four

With a squeal, taken by surprise, Callie grabbed at the man at her side, slammed into him as a loud crash followed. Riyad steadied her, yet didn't push her away either. "Told you not to," he growled, yet caressed her back as if to reassure her. One arm firmly around her, she stayed where she was, melting against him, feeling the warmth of his bare skin against her frame as he seeped into her body.

Removing his phone from his dressing gown pocket he flicked on, swiped through, and turned on the provided touch light, lighting up the pitch-black room. Callie followed the light around with her eyes as the lightning and thunder kept up its own show.

"There is a candle in a holder near the bed, and matches." Callie pointed out. She had removed it from the hallway on one of her cleanups. Arm firmly around her, he edged them towards the bed, where they sat down on the edge.

"Hold this," he handed her his phone that was taken and kept the light on Riyad as he lit the candle in the holder. A vintage brass candle holder with a curved handle. "Where did you find this?" he glanced across. She handed back the phone, where he shut down the torchlight. The only glow was from the flicking candle, casting dancing light and shadows, closing in the provided light.

Callie swallowed hard. Sprung. "Out in the hallway. I put it beside the bed because I thought it pretty and enjoyed looking at it," she answered. She didn't inform him about cleaning up the place, mind racing. "Not that I planned to take it with me," she added in a rush, cheeks burning, holding her hands tightly together on her lap.

He gave her a quick sideways glance. "I did not think you would, Callie Carson."

Better than miss. "You can drop the Carson," she offered with an encouraging smile.

His brows furrowed down, perplexed. "Callie? Is that short for something?"

"No!" came out abruptly. "No," she repeated with a sigh, not even noticing the storm, now that he was close at her side, only aware of him. "Just Callie."

"You would not be lying to me, just Callie."

She moaned. "Callie, not just Callie. Now would I lie to you?" she asked innocently. "My name is Callie. I have never been called anything else."

His eyes narrowed. "That was not what I asked, was it, Callie?" His phone buzzed to be answered. Literally saved by the bell, or in this case, the phone. If she told him, she would have to silence him for life and didn't want that. Not in this lifetime, crossing her arms as he talked softly, drowned out by the raging storm. Rain pitted hard against the window that also rattled, as the wind howled throughout the mansion. She edged a little bit closer as he shut down the phone.

"The whole area is out, so not a fuse. We need to move downstairs. Grab some bedding and pillows. I will show you the way." Standing he removed the candle, holding it by the handle, the wax kept safe by the dish that surrounded the bottom. Callie gathered up the heavy doona that had been keeping her immensely warm at night, and pillows into her arms, following him out.

"Where are we going? What about the others? Surely George will be joining us?"

"He is seeing to the grounds and any potential damage. There will be with these winds."

"Surely that can wait until after it has passed?"

"And there is only us." She stayed close behind him because the candle didn't give the largest area of light, trying to keep up with his long-legged stride. The flicking light of the candle casting shadows across the half panelled high walls. Callie hitched up the doona, so she wouldn't trip over it as they approached the stairs. She couldn't even hold the handrail. Her hands were full.