Tales of the Forbidden (7 page)

* * * *

When Devon awoke in the morning, he was surprised at how relaxed his body felt. In fact, he was so relaxed that he didn’t want to get out of bed or move. He stared at Kera and smiled at the peaceful look on her face. The sheet was tucked under her arms, showing the outline of her breasts. One arm was up by her ear and the other draped over her stomach. He brushed some of her hair from her face, and then ran his finger down her nose to her lips. She stirred, turning over with a groan. She had to be sore as hell and, strangely, he felt a small sense of pride in that. He had loved every minute of their time together and couldn’t wait to have more of her.

Love.
Now there was a strange word that popped into his mind. Sure he wanted her, wanted to possess and keep her always, but love? The thought that he could love this woman brought a frown to his face. Things were too new, too uncertain for him to be thinking along the lines of love. Now, he did care deeply for this woman. The urge to protect her, to cherish her, to do everything he could to make her happy, and to help her accept her fate, he felt intensely. But, at this point, love was not 56

there. Devon wondered if he even knew
how
to love someone.

Sure he did. He loved his best friends. He just had never really loved a woman.

He laid back and, snuggling closer to her, wrapped his arms around Kera. It was still very early in the morning, and they didn’t have to leave until they were refreshed and fed, so he would let her sleep as long as she needed.

He didn’t even realize he fell back asleep until his eyes fluttered open to the sweet smell of hot bread and that warm body he’d loved thoroughly pressed up against him. Kera had turned over and was now laying half on top him with a leg draped over his hips. He brushed the hair from her neck and then ran his hand down her back, which seemed to nudge Kera awake.

“Wake up sleepy head,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

“It’s time for us to get up.”

* * * *

Kera opened her eyes slowly, thinking she was still in some kind of dream. But the muscled chest her head rested on and the hand roaming up and down her back was no dream. She pushed herself up fast, pulled the sheet up to her chin, and scooted away from Devon like he was Satan himself. “Oh, God! This is real,” she groaned as she glanced around for a place to hide.

Devon sat up and smiled at her. “I would think your body would tell you that this was no dream. But if you need help remembering it, I’m more than happy to oblige you.”

Kera scanned the table of hot food and her face turned red.

“Someone came in here and saw us?” she whined. “Like this!”

The grin he gave her answered the question. “Come on.” He handed her a new robe. “Let’s eat while it’s hot. We can fight after if you want.”

She took the robe from him, staying put as he got off the bed and put one on also. Only once he was heading for the table, his back to her, did she get off the bed and put the robe on in a hurry.

Kera sat across the table from him. Her body felt so sore she didn’t think she would be able to move much. The small feast set up in front of her was ten times better than the oatmeal or even the best meals she had eaten at her father’s.

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Scrambled eggs, sausage, hot bread, croissants, fruit, and cinnamon rolls were piled high, along with three kinds of juices and two types of coffee.

It was a feast she had only ever dreamed about.

Kera ate like there was no tomorrow. She put at least one of everything on her plate as Devon sat back, drinking coffee, eating some fruit, and watching her.

“Boy, you weren’t kidding about not eating much, huh?” he asked her, teasing and playful.

Kera swallowed with some difficultly, wiping her mouth.

“Sorry. Guess I thought I wouldn’t see food like this again.”

“Don’t be sorry. You hardly ate anything at all yesterday.” He refilled his cup and took a grape from the bowl. “Eat until you are very full.”

She felt her face heat up as she glanced down at the plate. “I could smell the bread baking. I knew what was being cooked and what I wasn’t allowed to eat. I guess after a day of oats and a lifetime of my father’s scraps I’m stocking up and pigging out.”

Devon forked up some eggs and chewed on them as he watched her. “Understandable. Think if all I ate was scraps, I’d store up and eat what I could also. But you don’t have to do that now. Take your time. I don’t want you to get sick.” She nodded and went back to her food, trying to take smaller bites. “So why did your father sign you over to the Compound?”

Quickly she directed her eyes down, and she stiffened. “Can we
not
talk about my father?”

“Sure.” He shrugged his shoulders. “What’d you want to talk about?”

Kera took a drink of some orange juice before she answered him. “What happens to me now?”

Devon took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. His body language had Kera stiffening, fearing the worst. But what was worse, really; him or the Compound?

“We get ready to leave the Compound after we have both eaten.” He viewed her closely. “Nothing’s changed from yesterday at the pool, Kera. You’re my wife now.” He sat forward, taking hold of her hand gently. “So hurry up and finish your breakfast so we can get the hell out of here. I want to start spoiling you.”

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Kera was a bit shocked at that. Spoil her? What did he mean by that? She wondered as she finished her meal and headed for the shower.

* * * *

An hour later after having a long shower by herself, which sort of surprised her, Kera stood in front of a full-length mirror looking at a girl who just didn’t seem like her at all. The day she spent here didn’t really change her. What changed her was the one night locked in a room with Devon Noved. And the proof of it was staring back at her from the mirror wearing something she only ever saw in shop windows. She was dressed in pale pink silk with a top that had long sleeves loose on the arms and tight at the wrist. The neckline was so loose that the top hung off her shoulders and an elastic band fit tightly around her waist. A matching skirt with a high slit fell just above her knees. Around the hemline and slit were ruffles to match those around the neckline and wrists of her blouse. Soft, cotton leggings graced her legs, and knee-high boots with soft pale fur were on her feet.

In the mirror, she watched a maid pull both sides of her hair up with purple diamond combs, letting her hair spill down her back in soft waves. Because it was a warm day the special cloak that went with the outfit wasn’t needed.

Devon slid up from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist and rested his chin on her shoulder. “You look more beautiful than I could ever imagine.” He took her left hand and brought it up to his lips, watching her watching him. “I have something for you.” He straightened up and draped a purple diamond heart around her neck. He kissed her shoulder as he clasped it. “I had this made especially for you when you knocked me over. I kept my fingers crossed that you were the one.” He slid both hands down her arms, picking up her left hand. He slipped a ring on her finger; a very large purple diamond ring with black diamonds encircling it. “And now that I know you are, it’s yours.”

“I can’t take this,” Kera gasped in shock.

“You can, and you will.” He kissed her hand, and then the finger the ring was on.

Kera looked down at her hand and at the ring. Being so 59

poor, she knew something like this could feed her household for months, yet she didn’t feel bad wearing it. In fact, she didn’t have one ounce of regret as she watched the light graze it. The reflection shone on his face as she moved her hand.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here before I make a mess of all the hard work these girls did getting you ready.” He winked.

Devon took her hand and walked with her out of the bedroom. This time, as she walked down the hall she didn’t have a guard escorting her. True, she wasn’t alone either, but it felt different. One of the questions on her mind; was she leaving free or still a prisoner? When they reached the front doors, which were opened for them and a few others who were leaving, and she saw a black car parked in front, Kera knew she was no longer considered a prisoner.

A black Royce with a driver holding open a back door waited for them. Kera stopped and just stared at it. Very few people in Treece had cars like this. Upon approaching the car, Kera knew now that Devon definitely had money.

A slight tug on her hand and she was going inside, sitting down on the leather seat with Devon right next to her. The driver closed the door, got in behind the wheel, and the car pulled away from the Compound, taking her to a new life she didn’t dream she could ever be a part of. If his life was anything like what she was riding in, then Kera knew, without a doubt, she was going to have to leave. He had a reputation, and she could only tarnish it by staying. He mattered to her now, and she wouldn’t mess his life up.

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Treece is a town surrounded by thick woods and rests pretty much right in the middle of it all. Many of the prominent families owned large amounts of the woods and grounds that were called the ‘outskirts’. Horse ranches went up, a few cattle ranches and several mansions. At least thirty percent of the woods were owned, and of that percentage, Kera only saw a tiny amount of the foliage during the drive to their destination.

“We’re heading toward the outskirts of town,” Kera stated as she looked out the window.

“Yes.” Devon studied her, trying to decipher what he was feeling for her and why and how these feelings had happened so soon. My home is in the woods. My father was one of the first to buy ground when it finally came up for sale. He built my mother a home.”

“So you’re pretty rich then, huh?” She gave him her full attention.

Devon crossed his arms over his chest, hoping like hell that she didn’t blow up on him. His gut was telling him that she might be looking for a fight. “I do okay.”

“Better than okay,” she chuckled. “Look at your car. You don’t even drive it yourself.”

“Normally I do,” he stated, watching her closely. “But I hired a driver so I can spend time with you.”

“Why?” Kera gazed at him with confusion.

He took another deep breath, picking his next words carefully. “I thought you might be interested in knowing what I do.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, turning in her seat. “I thought you were just some golden boy who played around on his daddy’s money.”

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Devon laughed, “Most do. But unless you’re like my buddy, Blaine, and have the money gushing out of your pores, then one does have to work for it. Blaine has this huge ass property complete with stables. But, since he never held much interest in horses and I do, he’s given me free rein with them. So I breed, buy, and sell horses. I produce and sell some of the best stallions around.”

“And they’re all at his place?”

He nodded. “Every one of them. I only live about twenty minutes from his place. In fact, all four of us live pretty close to each other or at least have homes within a short drive.”

“Four?” Kera frowned.

“Yeah, you sort of met Dane when you ran into me.” She made a silent “o” with her mouth, and he went on. “Well, he lives with his grandmother right now, but also has a house of his own.

Not sure if she knows about it or not,” he chuckled. “Guess if you look at it from another angle, I’m the poorest one of the group.

However, Darius and Blaine are out of town a lot so I’m not sure when you’ll get to meet them. I’ve ordered Dane to stay away until I call him.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m not ready to share you with anyone right now.”

Again he took hold of her hand, but this time she pulled it from his grasp.

“Or maybe it’s because you know I don’t fit into your world.”

Kera once again turned in the seat, staring out the window. “And you’re ashamed of me,” she added softly.

He moved closer to her, pressing the side of his face to hers, chin on her shoulder, “I’m not ashamed of you Kera. I’m very selfish.”

The car turned in the direction of the woods. Sighing, and thinking about how he was going to help her understand that she did belong right where he was putting her, Devon sat back in his seat and watched the trees go by.

His cell phone went off, causing Kera to jump and turn to look at him. Devon reached into his jacket pocket for it. “Talk to me.” There was a pause, and then he continued, “When? Does he know where I’m going to be? Good. Keep it under wraps for a few days. I don’t want to be bothered with him or anything else 62

for a couple days.” He hung up and tried to smile at her. “Sorry about that. I have a cousin that likes to just drop by whenever he’s broke and needing money.”

“You don’t like him?”

“It’s not so much that I don’t like him as I’m tired of taking care of him. But don’t worry about it. Instead, take a look at your new home.” He pointed out the window.

A cabin came slowly into view, surrounded by trees.

It was a two-storey home with wrap-around porches on both floors, along with private decks. The main windows on the second floor were oval with stained glass designs. Off to the side of the house a winding wood staircase led down to the main deck, and a built in hot tub rested on the second-floor deck.

“Oh wow!” she gasped, her eyes wide open.

The car pulled up to a small circular drive and parked right outside the front door. Devon reached around her, opened the door, and got out first. He took her hand, helping her out as she stared up at the house. The driver also got out, popped the trunk and began to unload Kera’s bags.

“Welcome to your new home, Kera,” Devon remarked with pride in his voice.