Mastering Wren (Melbourne Love Book 1), page 25
"Young!" my father slaps his hand down on the table, grinning, "Already working in such a good position at a young age, I like you more and more. How is your Greek?" he asks, furthering the chat.
"I don't know any, sorry!" Wren exclaims, blushing hard and glancing at me only for a moment. When she sees my sparkling eyes she becomes even more flustered and has to look away, "I wish I did."
"Have you had any other boyfriends before, dear?" Gaia asks her, this time a bit sheepishly because it's an awkward question but there was no other way to really phrase it.
"Um, no," Wren answers meekly, embarrassed even further. For a moment, she half smiles and her eyes light up, which is what happens every time before she is about to blurt something out, "I actually was asked a relationship question at the job interview and I answered it right! I used my... argh, pet," I try not to smirk as she now realises how absurd this is sounding but she tries to finish the sentence anyway, "My pet cat, Mr. Fox. We have a good bond, like a relati – never mind, ha ha ha!" she forces herself to smile and my dad chuckles.
"She is funny too!" Alex exclaims, suddenly turning towards me to catch my eye.
I raise an eyebrow at my father as he raises his hands into the air.
"When are you going to marry her?" he asks me, loudly and outright.
I don't expect him to ask this and my heart skips a beat at the words. My eyes instantly snap to Wren to see her looking at the table like she wants to kill herself in this moment.
Extreme stress is written over her features.
Panic.
I know her so well now, I know exactly why. She didn't expect me to approve of such a huge statement and she was preparing for the inevitable downfall. The negative words that would crush her.
"Let the boy relax, he was just engaged!" Gaia scolds Alex but I still want to answer my father.
All the while I can't keep my eyes off Wren.
If only she'd look up and meet my gaze!
"I don't plan on keeping her waiting too long," I murmur, quietly and truthfully.
In that moment, Wren tentatively looks up at me with both relief and terror sparkling in her gaze.
It almost makes me teary, her raw-emotion – not refined, not constrained by socially acceptable norms – which made her so... perfect.
Without a doubt, she was perfect.
I give her a wink, hoping that will make her feel reassured.
"Oh my," Gaia exclaims, looking down at her phone, "It's getting late, most people have left, look! We better get going, Alex, get up, we need to help with the food."
"That's my son," my father pats me on the shoulder as he stands with Gaia, "We'll see you next week. Wren better have a ring on her hand by then, you hear me, boy?"
"Sorry but I'm afraid I've gone bankrupt," I joke, referring to Cynthia's demise. My father bursts out laughing and even Wren smiles.
My eyes have not left Wren, in the meantime.
I assess her as she seems to realise something.
"Ha ha ha!" she laughs, forcing on a smile, deciding this was all apparently a joke. The only way for this to make sense. No doubt, that is how she was processing all this.
I'm tempted to confuse her even more but instead I stay quiet, which I know will drive her crazy anyway. When my parents have finally left, she grabs a fork and knife in front of her in each hand and for no reason, starts clashing them together.
"Well," she shrugs while the cutlery go to battle, "That was an interesting chat with your parents. I think they like me now. I think I also saw Arianna drop her plate of food before on her dress, did you see that? Zucchini, everywhere. She picked them out of the salad to eat alone. I hate zucchini. I like green beans though, and Brussel sprouts actually ... um, ha ha, yeah," she suddenly realises how hard she is smashing the fork and knife together and abruptly drops the utensils onto the table and pushes back into her seat, "I should help clean –!"
She is about to get to her feet and run, I can see it, so I choose to speak now to stop her.
"Stay," I scold, sitting up straight and leaning onto the table I make sure she doesn't dare look away, "What did I say about avoiding me, sweet cheeks? You know what happened last time."
"I wanted to help clean," she hisses, defensibly.
"I don't care. Stay, chat, we've got all afternoon and all night," I state, simply.
"So, we are 100% staying all night?" she asks, narrowing her eyes at me as she tries to work out my full intentions.
"I would just like some time alone with you, in luxury, is that too much to ask?" I question her boldly, just to see her reaction.
"You had a surprise for me?" she asks, "Something planned? What is it?"
"A long time ago I told you what you needed, do you remember?" I put in a riddle and when I see her sudden shock, I know she remembers instantly.
But a few moments later, she feigns ignorance.
And let me just say, she is the worst liar. She looks at the ceiling and taps her fingers from both hands on the table as she pretends to 'think'.
Nice try, Wren.
"I need something?" she asks, quietly.
"I was quite harsh when I told you the first time. I'm starting to think I can also calm your fidgeting by helping subdue your energy levels. You need a good work out, sweety," I smirk into my clasped hands as I rest my elbows on the table and think about having her totally under my hand and control tonight.
She had no idea how far I was hoping to take her soon, when the last few stragglers at the party left.
"So, I am fat?" she snaps, taking me the wrong way.
This statement annoys me, because she was anything but fat, and she shouldn't question her own natural beauty.
It annoys me a little too much.
"You want it rough, sweet cheeks? You're asking for it. In your case, you need tough lessons and discipline to learn not to say stupid things like that again," I add, finding that being more blunt with her was getting easier and more entertaining the more I got to trust that she wouldn't break from my words.
"I don't believe any of this was in the contract I signed for work, Theo," she tries to be witty and funny.
I smile.
She's given me more ammo to make her feel delightfully uncomfortable.
"Other contracts can be arranged," I murmur, very quietly. I knew it pissed her off when she could hardly hear what I said sometimes.
"Um... okay..." she also murmurs, pretending to know what she is even answering too.
"You don't drink," I add, changing the subject slightly, but I feel I should give her some sort of... warning. To be fair to her.
"No, I've never trusted to drink with anyone because I don't trust how I would react. How I would... become," she admits, "Why?"
"If you want, have a glass of wine," I suggest, lightly.
"But, why?" she asks, persistently, curiosity shining in her bright, blue, innocent eyes.
"If you want to know what it feels like to drink, you can count on me to keep you safe," I explain.
"Hmmm.... I don't know, maybe later," she gives in only marginally, but I have a feeling she'll be more open to it when everyone else leaves. She then thinks to herself, overthinking everything that's just been aired in the last few minutes, "Is there any reason I should try, Theo?"
"You'll loosen up, you'll listen better, you'll follow orders quicker," I admit, "You'll learn quicker."
"So, you are planning to teach me more tonight, aren't you? About how to be a real life... ah... Sub?" she asks, finally assuming she has come to terms with her situation.
"Far from it, sweet cheeks," I shake my head.
Too bad she still hadn't guessed right.
Her panic starts to settle back in again.
I decide to give her the answer she is looking for.
"Sometimes punishments are the only way to speed up certain lessons," I explain, "Are you afraid of getting punished?"
Now, real fear and excitement flood into her facial features. I see it from the nervous blush in her cheeks and the timid movement in her eyes as they glance to my hands and back up to my face.
I can't help but smirk.
Because tonight, she would be mine.
Wren was starting to realise it as her eyes cloud with want. Just now, she fidgets with her legs, rubbing her thighs together because she's been aroused by my words. She was so easy with me. It was cute how she thought I didn't realise it or recognise her instant reactions of arousal every time I bossed her around.
I noticed, too, how she liked it when I used harsher tones or commands on her; a natural submissive.
Looking to drown in full control with a confident, Dominant partner.
She didn't connect with this part of her deepest desires fully just yet, this I knew.
It was my job to show her and it was probably best she stayed clueless to the extent of what she wanted from me, anyhow. Because if she knew how easy I read her, she'd probably run a mile.
And showing Wren her inner desires was not all I strived to achieve.
Tonight, I wanted to show her who held her heart. I wanted to show her I would do anything to keep it safe and keep it warm, so that a cold, lonely moment never made her heart tremble in fear of being alone again.
Ep. 34 – Virgin Feet
Wren’s POV
My mind is running so fast I’m scared the next time I talk, instead of stuttering, I’ll literally just vomit instead. Like projectile vomit, everything I just ate including the multiple slices of cake Chloe had brought over for me during the prolonged conversation with Theo’s parents.
Alex and Gaia had thoroughly interrogated me and unexpectedly didn’t just choose to tolerate me; but they fell in love with me. I knew this because of Alex’s push on Theo to propose to me!
It’s why the food in my stomach was rolling around so much right now.
Theo has stood up and decided to speak to the few catering assistants whom are cleaning up the mess before they go. He is also congratulating Bryony on her 18th birthday party before she leaves with her family.
I’m left to sit, pondering his words about punishments speeding up certain lessons of submission. How he rubbed it in, scared me. Including but not limited to, how he said this not long after Alex’s pressure on proposing to me.
Clearly, it was a joke.
But what my brain was telling me, was that Theo wouldn’t connect engagement to positivity. His last fiancé fucked him over. As for me; I was barely just becoming his girlfriend! There was no way that the mention of marriage would be appropriate in the slightest at this stage of our… acquaintance.
That’s what it felt like.
“Goodbye, Wren, it was nice meeting you,” I’m startled out of my thoughts as Bryony passes my table with a finger wave, as her arms are piled with presents.
“You too,” I squeak out, reaching forward I pretend like I’m busying needing to hold something and I go to grab the wine bottle in the middle of the table.
I pull it closer to me and I watch Theo’s cousin’s family leave. I then gaze at Theo as he realises they left a small present behind so he picks up the tiny parcel and hurries out to catch them. As he does so he pauses briefly next to my table as I catch his gaze.
My gaze is worried and curious and I’m glad he has stopped so I can question him.
“Is it normal,” I blurt, holding up my hand in the air as if I’m trying to catch something, but I was just trying to be serious by using a hand gesture, “For people to… date their boss? It’s stupid… isn’t it?”
Theo’s eyes darken and I quickly let my hand drop back down onto the table, accidentally banging it a bit too hard so that other people cleaning turn to see what is going on. Theo clutches the package tighter and drops his hand by his side as the playfulness from before seeps out of his gaze, replaced with anger.
“What are you trying to say, Wren?” he asks, with a raised eyebrow, “What did I tell you about overthinking? You no longer have to think. I’m here to do that for you.”
“But, b-but… but what if… what if…” I try to think of how to phrase my words right, however, Theo raises a hand.
“Just a second, doll, I need to run this to Bryony,” he scolds, shutting me down, taking on a dominant tone. His tone is harsher than normal. He turns to walk off just as I think of the right question.
“…what if this is wrong and too fast?” I murmur, expressing a deep fear, “And… b-backwards.”
I believe I’ve said it to myself but just before Theo exits the room he spins on his heel. He passes me his most exasperated look, full of impatience, to show me he heard every word. I gulp, he sees, and then he turns on his heel once more, quickening his pace to catch Bryony before she leaves.
Wren, you idiot, you’re overthinking everything. He was happy, now he’s angry!
“We need to clear this table, miss,” I jump again as I didn’t expect a catering assistant to pop up behind me. I scramble to my feet, for some reason, still holding the bottle of wine.
“Sorry, go ahead,” I give them room and I go for a walk towards the other end of the room.
I assess the mess of this beautiful, glorious mansion, where not long ago everyone had been giving me curious looks about why I was here. Cynthia had been welcome at the start, I can’t help but remember, even if she was not so welcome towards the end.
Her absence was a temporary relief.
Theo’s parents, however… changed something in my brain.
I had just started a job a couple of weeks ago, Theo had just broken up with his fiancé, who was pregnant with Kyros’ baby… still… I admit… potentially Theo’s baby. Theo not long ago said I wasn’t his type, straight out to Kyros when he thought I couldn’t overhear. And then, not long after he gave me a sweet spiel about how he didn’t mean it and how I was special, one in a million.
I tremble a bit as my hand clutches the wine and I look at the bottle with disgust. He had tried to convince me to drink and I told him I didn’t like drinking.
Don’t do it, Wren, I place the bottle on a deserted table.
I had almost been tempted before to give in and try it. For the first time in my life.
But that was changing a part of me I didn’t want to change, something no one had been able to shake before inside me.
It was scary.
To top it off, I was terrified, quite suddenly again, about being nothing more than a rebound. Cynthia’s words were still burned into my brain… didn’t think you were a whore, Wren. You’re not his type, you’re just a rebound. He’ll be done with you in two weeks, I can guarantee it. You’ll bore him to death.
I was clearly a talented virgin to be called a whore, but the rest of her words were… soul destroying.
Even upstairs, being in their bedroom. Recently finished. Didn’t help. That room, his family, this house, the job… none of it was started with me but with another. I couldn’t shake it.
Someone who was the polar-opposite of myself.
I just didn’t belong here.
Everything I had been introduced to thus far was first started with the first woman he ever proposed to and wanted to spend the rest of his life with; Cynthia. A bitch? I didn’t doubt that. But he chose her first. And now the baby? Was he certain, 100%, that it was a fake document? It would be genius of Cynthia to think of a plan like that but what if out of all her scheming… that was an actual truth?
And I admit. Now, suddenly… I was doubting Theo again. Because everything, frankly, was overwhelming.
I find myself walking to the garden and fetching my phone out of my pocket.
This garden, well… this garden was beautiful. Roses, white, red and purple, scattered amongst beautifully manicured grass and a maze of decorative paving for the curious nature lover to walk over.
I find myself wandering to the fountain, huge with two sculpted, perfect figures. One man, one woman, in a naked dance. I smile to myself, it was so original and the water flowed out of their clasped hands.
It was gorgeous.
My eyes wander down to the engraving at the bottom and I see…
Argh!
‘T & C’!
It takes my mind a moment to play catch up and when it does, my heart stops beating. My hand forgets how to be a hand, and my phone literally slips out of my grasp, heading straight for the water. I do one heck of a jerk forward, like a malfunctioning robot, but I manage to snatch it… millimetres before it plops into the water and drowns itself.
Wow, Wren, wow… perhaps your worrying isn’t just based on overthinking.
“Oh, fuck,” I hiss, as suddenly my doubts are reaffirmed reading the initials on the sculpture a second, third and forth time.
Before I know it, my fingers a dialling a familiar number… a Taxi home.
Run, Wren, get some space. Before you end up losing your virginity in the worst way possible.
I was terrified, I barely speak calmly as I order in a taxi to this address. When I’m done, I put my phone back into my pocket.
What the fuck was I doing here?
I walk slowly back inside, my defences raised.
There was no way that Theo loved me. There was no way that I could mean something this quickly to him. This was all so backwards to how a relationship should start on a healthy note.
There was a reason Theo reached out to me, just after his fiancé cheated on him.
Revenge? I was sure he had some parts of him, secretly satisfied that he had another woman on his arm as Cynthia had his brother, Kyros.
What man, dedicated their life to one sort of woman… broke up… and then instantly became attached to another woman who is the literal polar-opposite of their dream fairy tale sex goddess.
In all honesty, what started all these fears in the first place… was Alex, Theo’s father. When he joked about engagement it suddenly brought home to me, real damn fast, that this relationship I was in, wasn’t about fun and games and taking it slow.
Theo wasn’t the average Australian male.
He was highly affluent in business, money and white collar families. Reputation was everything to that sort of person. Theo joked about not keeping me waiting too long and then about being bankrupt after Alex pressured him into marrying me. Funny? Perhaps. But perhaps it was something else entirely.
