Ryker waits for me at the bottom of the staircase.
He wears a red velvet tailcoat, lace speaking through the sleeves and up to the collar. A brass brooch is clipped at the centre of his chest with thin chains attached to it and looping upwards to connect to each of his shoulders. He was regal.
He doesn't turn around fully until my heel hits the first step. Despite being able to smell me from a mile away, he chooses to pretend like my presence was a surprise. So dramatic.
A hungry smile curved against his cheeks, his eyes lined with kohl reserved for special occasions. I focused on not slipping down the stairs as sweat beads on my neck from the attention. I wasn't nervous. It was definitely just this stupid dress cinching every curve of me.
My bosom is pushed upwards in a fruitful manner from the tight corset that Ulrica had to return to help me with. Ribbons flared dramatically from my cleavage and the sapphire bell sleeves matched with Ryker's attire. The skirt was long and silky but a slit was cut on the left leg so that when I stepped, the pearly tone of my leg jutted out and revealed my lace-up satin boots underneath along with my upper thigh. I was cake on a platter and by the lazy blinks from Ryker as he stared at my descent, it was very much intended.
"Ryker." I say plainly.
"Aza." He purrs the nickname.
I shove past him, not wishing to catch how much his eyes may roam me but I'm stopped by a strong hand on my wrist. I'm twisted back and a shiny stone meets my eyesight.
"Don't forget this."
He drags my wrist upwards aggressively causing me to wince and he slips the ring onto my finger. The diamond gleams from the candles around us and his hot stare burns into me with dilated pupils.
"You're married, remember?"
His breezes past me with the smell of mint and juniper berries left to fill my nose. I observe the ring, having forgotten what it looked like when I left it behind before making my bargain. It was beautiful and it was wrong. Another thing to cage me in.
A carriage awaits us outside with two obsidian mares reigned with ropes. I know they're undead from the way there is no one to guide them as Ryker and I pull into the musky interior and they robotically trot towards our destination.
Ryker sits on the opposite bench, his long tapered legs spreading out to frame mine. My mind wanders off to a common thought in this tight space: why hasn't he fed from me?
It aggravates me for no reason to think whether my blood is too destitute for him to drink. Yet, someone else manages to overflow his cup just fine. Would my blood please him? If he caught a taste of it, could I make him want more? My breathing hitches and Ryker notices it.
"Nervous, are you?" He teases.
"No." I gruff and watch the trees go by out the window. They're too tall and cut off the view from the night sky.
He hums darkly. "What do you think of the dress?"
I shift when he mentions it. "Suffocating."
A soft chuckle elicits from his mouth. "Are you sure? I made sure there were enough open spaces."
I cut him with a glare. "Of course you did."
"Now, now. No need to get so…flustered."
"I am not!"
He leans forward into my space and I'm too preoccupied by the growing of his fangs as a chilled hand finds the slit of my skirt and cups the area just above my knee.
"Yes, you are."
My chest rises and his attention flickers to my breasts. Ryker growls softly. An edge of a claw scapes against my vulnerable skin.
"Tell me."
"T-tell you what?"
The hand hikes further upwards and he tilts his head like a monster. It contrasts against his boyish locks and hooded eyes.
Something pools at my core and I have to squeeze my legs together.
"Tell me that you hate me."
Confusion and heat warps me and it's not until I feel how far his hand begins to travel closer to neediness that I squeak out.
"I hate you!"
All sense of Ryker disappears as he settles back into his seat. The effect of our proximity no longer haunts him as he returns to his controlled self. Blue shadows from the trees and the moonlight brush against his face, his orbs gleaming at me from the darkness.
"Good girl."