Chapter 152
Standing in front of the wide dressing mirror, Anna stared at herself as she studied the plain black long sleeve cloth she was wearing.
Roshan had made her wear one of his shirts and she had to admit that it looked really big on her. The length of his shirt alone was getting past her thighs, making her wonder exactly how different their height really was as she tilted her head to the side in curiosity.
As if he just red her mind, the glacier came to stand behind her, his hands habitually resting in his breeches pocket as he looked down on the woman who was almost hidden in his shirt, making her look cute and adorable that he had the urge to squeeze her in his arms like she was one of those soft toys.
The sight of the handsome being standing right behind her made her heart triple beat almost at the same time, but it didn’t stop and increased the pace when he rested his chin on her shoulder, his hazel-green eyes looking baby-ish and almost too innocent that she was tempted not to leave his side at all.
Clearing her throat to calm her racing heart a bit, she began, “do I really have to wear this?” Not that she didn’t like it, it was cozily warm, shielding her from the morning cold and she could smell him from his shirt alone, but what if someone sees her wearing it while she sneaks back to her chambers, surely they’d figure everything out, most especially Lady Odette.
“You can change into something else if you don’t like it.” He added in that addicting deep voice of his, that only sounded deeper and more alluring when he woke up from sleep.
“It’s not that.” She quickly cut him off, a light blush creeping onto her cheeks due to how fast she was to clear his judgment.
“I’m just saying that today’s going to be a very busy day, everyone should have been up by now, the decorations and preparations for the family ball must have begun already and I...I can’t be seen outside like this.” She carefully pointed out, making him understand what she was trying to pinpoint here.
.....
“You don’t want everyone to discover we had a moment of pleasure?” He straight-out said what she had been trying not to say herself and the color on her cheeks blossomed even more, knowing he did it on purpose.
A slow smile curved his lips after seeing her reaction and he nuzzled against her neck, sending sweet tingles through her veins to her heart that it made Anna feel she was floating with the clouds above.
It felt as though he wanted to say something, and she wondered why she herself was anticipating something as well.
Was he going to ask her to stay?
Her heart leapt at the thought.
And just like she had randomly guessed, Roshan didn’t want her to leave just yet, he wanted to tell her that so badly but yet, he might as well be asking for too much. She was a big distraction to his mind and body and he has a lot of things to get busy with starting from today, and with the scroll, he needed a clear mind to be able to handle it.
But then, the urge to cuddle against her warm self and enjoy how complete she made him feel was too tempting to let it get past him. He wanted to spend more time with her, he didn’t want her to leave.
She did this to him, she got him addicted.
“Is there something you want to say?” Her dulcet voice broke him from his thoughts and he moved away from her neck, shaking his head.
“No. If you can’t sneak out, I can get you back to your chamber, if you’re stable enough for it.”
Anna pressed her lips together, feeling a bit disheartened that he doesn’t wish for her to stay a bit longer, but she shook the uneasy feeling away, knowing they both had a lot to do today and wasting anymore time could lead to them getting caught.
After convincing herself with those terms, she nodded with an understanding smile.
“Okay, I’m ready. I’ll have to attend to one of the demoness this morning so I must leave.”
Despite trying to sound alright, Roshan could send her hesitation and made her turn to look at him. Anna tilted her up, meeting his stare.
“What’s the problem?”
She shook her head with a faint smile, “nothing actually.”
“We’ve spent too many times together for me to fall for that unconvincing word, tell me.”
Hearing him speak so softly like he was genuinely concerned about what was going on through her mind, the faint smile on her lips faded and the worriedness he felt from her were now visible before him.
“I don’t know why but...” she hesitated, “I don’t have a good feeling about this family ball happening tomorrow night.” She admitted.
“Why? What happened? Is it about me picking a mate?” He asked. If that was the case then he really has no interest in picking one of those women and never will. He was willing to convince her but to his surprise, it wasn’t that.
“That’s not the issue.” She shook her head in response, still obviously worried as her heart felt uneasy, “I have this strange feeling that something bad is going to happen tomorrow night.” She admitted before lowering her gaze and pinching the skin in her palms.
“I don’t know why but...” her voice was already trembling, she’s never felt anything like this but somewhere, deep down, she could sense something appalling and she has a feeling that it’s going to center around her.
“Anna.” He cupped her cheeks in his palm, lifting her face so she could look at him and when she eventually met his stare, they weren’t filled with the iciness she always saw in them but they were warm and comforting, easing her heart a little bit.
“Nothing will happen.” He assured her, “If you still feel frightened during that day then I’ll make sure to have Levi accompany you, along with Gemma if it makes you feel any better.” Roshan barely had the slightest idea of how to console people, he never did but after lingering around this woman, he had learnt a few things on how to eventually console someone, most especially when they’re genuine and it seems to have worked because she was smiling now.
“I’d like that.” She nodded with a grateful gaze but never was she expecting to be kissed by him.
It left her eyes open wide when she felt his soft, but cool lips pressed against hers. It wasn’t harsh or rough like last night, it was gentle, almost like a sweet caress that sent her toes curling in reaction and she impulsively closed her eyes to savor the moment.
Her eyes only fluttered open the moment he pulled back and to her surprise, she was back in her chambers, alone with Roshan nowhere at sight.
He must have brought her back while they were kissing and vanished the moment he pulled away.
Her heart felt like it’d explode into tiny speckles if she didn’t calm it but she was so happy that it discarded every uneasy feeling from her system.
Taking a deep breath, she reminded herself that this wasn’t the time to daydream, but to get ready before one of those demoness came knocking at her door.
Adhering to her alarmed thoughts, she had already taken a bath in Roshan’s chamber and all she had to do now was to change.
Rushing to her wardrobe, she brought out one of her plain Coral-colored gowns and wore them. As expected, a knock came on her door no sooner than she was done dressing.
“Coming..” she hurried to go open it and it was Becca who stood at the front of her door, earning a smile and a beautiful, yet scornful gaze from Becca.
“You silly human, I’ve been knocking on your door since yesterday, what happened to you?”
“Oh, I’m sorry if I worried you, see I_” Anna was in the midst of explaining things to her when Becca dropped a basket of clothes in her hands.
“You aren’t forgiven just yet but unfortunately today’s a busy day so I can’t hear the full gist right now.”
“Whose clothes are this?” Anna proceeded to ask and Becca smiled, “they are for lady Melrose, I just got them from the laundress and since you’re in charge of Melrose’s chamber today, you have to hurry out now and attend to her incase she needs something.”
“Who are you attending to?”
“Lady Iris.” She was about to gist Anna about something before realizing they had work to do and her demeanor turned half-serious, “don’t make me talk Anna, come on before the head-maid gets here, you’re lucky you haven’t met her. She acts like the second woman in charge, now move it.”
“Yes ma’am.” Anna giggled heartily at Becca’s act of being bossy before exiting her room with the basket of clothes and heading up the stairs to find lady Melrose’s chamber.