Serial Story: Under His Wing, Part 17
This story is presented weekly in draft (unedited) form. Enjoy!
Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 17
Katie made her way down the wide steps of the manor. There was no path, or manicured lawn, just scraggly tufts of wild mountain grasses, tiny purple and white wildflowers here and there and small bushes interspersed throughout. She took a few more steps and then stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas came up beside her, his tone impatient.
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know where we are, so I don’t know which way home is.”
He nodded, turning to the left. “It’s this way.” His voice was softer as they started walking over the uneven terrain. “I should have gone over the map with you - my apologies. It’s not uncommon for those who find us to forget how they arrived. The clearing where Peter held you is just over that small hill. It’s quicker to reach the road through this thicket though.”
“I was in the trunk,” she said, the comment feeling out of place even as she gave it voice. “I think he put something in my drink. When I woke up, I was tied up beside the fire, about to be roasted.”
“Take heart, Katie. He will soon know the same fear he inflicted on you.”
She frowned, staring at the long staff strapped to the back of his broad shoulders.
“We’re not going to burn him alive though, right? I mean, I want him to leave me alone, but I don’t think I could actually kill him. Or anyone. Not on purpose.”
“It will be his choice,” Thomas said. “He will decide his own fate - we will merely facilitate the decision.”
Not entirely sure she was comfortable with that answer, she knew it wouldn’t do any good to press him on it. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“Tell me what the second task to break your personal curse is, Thomas. What will it take for you to finally be free of the manor?”
She could have sworn she heard him growl, but he still didn’t turn to face her.
“I told you it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. What we really need to do is come up with a cover story for my presence in your life. Would you prefer I play your brother or your cousin if we run into friends or family?”
Katie chuckled. “Nice sidestep. But I don’t have a brother, and everyone already knows that. And a cousin who sticks as close as you do is just creepy.” She grinned, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say next.
“I think you’re going to have to be my boyfriend - the guy who stole me away from Peter. Or fiance, whichever you prefer.”
Thomas stopped at that, turning slowly as he shook his head.
“That is a very bad idea. Surely you have some sort of male family member whose role I could borrow?”
She shook her head and started walking again, brushing his arm with her own as she stepped by him.
“Nope. You’re my new pretend boyfriend. I know you’ve noticed the tension we’ve got going on - there’s no use in denying it. Others will notice too, and I won’t have people thinking we’ve got some sort of kinky incestual thing going on between us. Boyfriend. End of discussion.”
It felt good, teasing him like this. She could practically feel the chemistry ramp up between them, and even though she knew it was a really bad idea, she was starting to think maybe a short-term thing wouldn’t be so bad...”
His fingers closed around her wrist and she twirled around, falling against that yummy chest when she lost her balance. She looked up to question him just as he bent to meet her, taking her lips in a full-on open-mouthed kiss that kept her dizzy and made her knees go weak. It was all she could to do keep up as he held her tight to his body, ravaging her mouth with his own.
When he finally let her pause for air, she stared into those impenetrable dark eyes of his, speechless.
“If we’re to pretend we’re a couple,” he said, his voice husky and low. “We’ll have to act like it.”
Katie nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yeah. I can see that. We should practice some more.”
Enjoy
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Dunning Manor, Book 1
Under His Wing
Part 17
Katie made her way down the wide steps of the manor. There was no path, or manicured lawn, just scraggly tufts of wild mountain grasses, tiny purple and white wildflowers here and there and small bushes interspersed throughout. She took a few more steps and then stopped.
“What’s wrong?” Thomas came up beside her, his tone impatient.
Katie shrugged. “I don’t know where we are, so I don’t know which way home is.”
He nodded, turning to the left. “It’s this way.” His voice was softer as they started walking over the uneven terrain. “I should have gone over the map with you - my apologies. It’s not uncommon for those who find us to forget how they arrived. The clearing where Peter held you is just over that small hill. It’s quicker to reach the road through this thicket though.”
“I was in the trunk,” she said, the comment feeling out of place even as she gave it voice. “I think he put something in my drink. When I woke up, I was tied up beside the fire, about to be roasted.”
“Take heart, Katie. He will soon know the same fear he inflicted on you.”
She frowned, staring at the long staff strapped to the back of his broad shoulders.
“We’re not going to burn him alive though, right? I mean, I want him to leave me alone, but I don’t think I could actually kill him. Or anyone. Not on purpose.”
“It will be his choice,” Thomas said. “He will decide his own fate - we will merely facilitate the decision.”
Not entirely sure she was comfortable with that answer, she knew it wouldn’t do any good to press him on it. Instead, she decided to change the subject.
“Tell me what the second task to break your personal curse is, Thomas. What will it take for you to finally be free of the manor?”
She could have sworn she heard him growl, but he still didn’t turn to face her.
“I told you it’s nothing you need to concern yourself with. What we really need to do is come up with a cover story for my presence in your life. Would you prefer I play your brother or your cousin if we run into friends or family?”
Katie chuckled. “Nice sidestep. But I don’t have a brother, and everyone already knows that. And a cousin who sticks as close as you do is just creepy.” She grinned, knowing he wasn’t going to like what she had to say next.
“I think you’re going to have to be my boyfriend - the guy who stole me away from Peter. Or fiance, whichever you prefer.”
Thomas stopped at that, turning slowly as he shook his head.
“That is a very bad idea. Surely you have some sort of male family member whose role I could borrow?”
She shook her head and started walking again, brushing his arm with her own as she stepped by him.
“Nope. You’re my new pretend boyfriend. I know you’ve noticed the tension we’ve got going on - there’s no use in denying it. Others will notice too, and I won’t have people thinking we’ve got some sort of kinky incestual thing going on between us. Boyfriend. End of discussion.”
It felt good, teasing him like this. She could practically feel the chemistry ramp up between them, and even though she knew it was a really bad idea, she was starting to think maybe a short-term thing wouldn’t be so bad...”
His fingers closed around her wrist and she twirled around, falling against that yummy chest when she lost her balance. She looked up to question him just as he bent to meet her, taking her lips in a full-on open-mouthed kiss that kept her dizzy and made her knees go weak. It was all she could to do keep up as he held her tight to his body, ravaging her mouth with his own.
When he finally let her pause for air, she stared into those impenetrable dark eyes of his, speechless.
“If we’re to pretend we’re a couple,” he said, his voice husky and low. “We’ll have to act like it.”
Katie nodded, finally finding her voice. “Yeah. I can see that. We should practice some more.”
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