An Arranged Marriage - Episode 17

 

"What is this place?" I ask in awe and as he leads me slowly to a seat.

"This is a lighthouse" he replies, seating me on a chair.

"I know what a lighthouse is, I wanna know what's its doing in the middle of a land and not at sea" I say and he nods.

"Well, this is an old land of the Kings, the lighthouse has been functioning for the better part of a hundred years, it was used as a watchtower before getting modified into a light house, legend says the former lord used it as a beacon to draw in strangers and raid them of their properties "I could totally see that, Caspian king as a pirate lord, looting goods and breaking hearts.

" Why did you bring me here then? "

" I thought you would like to see the meteor shower "He says.." It happens only once in ten years, I wanted to share that with you" He says quietly and my stomach heats.

"I loved seeing the meteor shower, thank you very much" I say gratefully and he nods, leaning over to pour champagne into a flute for me.

"Have you experienced a meteor shower before?" I ask as he leans back, waving a hand towards the dishes in front of us.

Only a King will decide to go on a date in a lighthouse and still meet up to standards, I didn't notice any of these dishes when he brought me up earlier, someone must have laid them out when I was distracted by the beautiful display of falling stars.

The lighthouse is a little ways away from the road, it had gotten dark before we got here so I could see the lighthouse from the road.I can hear cars driving by, but I can't see them, it gives a sense of privacy.

"Yes, once, in South Korea, I lived there for a while" He says, answering my earlier question before adding. 

"That was two years ago"

I nod, sensing that I'm going to make no move to opening the dishes in front of me he does so himself.

The smell of beef feels my nose and my stomach growls a little reminding me that I've had nothing to eat all day except my failed breakfast with the girls.

He smiles and I know he heard the little sound, I blush, refusing to be embarrassed so I just take a sip of water and wait for him to begin eating.

He does.

"You must like beef" I Comment.

"Why do you say so?"

"Yesterday, you were eating a steak too" I say and he nods.

"I like meat, beef just seems to be my new favorite dish right now" He says before nodding at my plate.

"Are you vegetarian? Do you want something else?" He asks and that spurs me into eating.

"I didn't thank you properly for your numerous help yesterday" I say and he pauses, his fork half way to his mouth before bringing it back down to the plate.

"It was nothing Anadia, I was in a position to help and I did" He says and I nod,

"Nevertheless I'm grateful" I say and I go back to my food.

After a while I ask.

"So, why did you want to meet me? I'm sure it's not because of my winning personality." I say and he grins slightly, drinking from his wine glass.

I vaguely wonder why he didn't offer me wine.

"Maybe that's it, maybe you've charmed me and I can't stop thinking about you" He says and I snort, mirth fills his eyes.

"I'm sorry, that was just too funny" I say and he laughs.

"So, really, why did you want to see me?"

"I wanted to get to know you, the girl who stood up for her sister to a psychotic asshole" He says and I blush..

"It was nothing" I find myself saying,my eyes going to the plate In front of me.

"Do you do that often?"He asks.

" Do what? "my eyes come up to meet his. 

" Taken care of your sisters in every situation? "

" They are my sisters you know, its my responsibility "I say, drinking water again.

" Who takes care of you then? "He asks softly and I almost miss it. My heart beats against my ribcage.

" What? " I ask, my mouth suddenly dry even though I just drank water.

" Who takes care of you? Who is by you when you are sick? When you are sad? Who looks after you while you are looking after your sisters" I don't know what to say so I grasp at straws.

"My sisters..." I begin but he shakes his head.

"Not like that, how long have you been hiding that you have a perfectly good foot?" He asks, leaning back into his chair, crossing his arms.

I blink.

"What?" I whisper.

"You limp, before you twisted your ankle yesterday I saw you limp, but the x Ray results show that your leg is perfectly fine, so why do you hide that part of yourself?" he and my heart falls.

"I.

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/an-arranged-marriage

. I.."

"Who takes care of you Anadia?" He asks again and I shake my head, I don't want to answer so I just deflect the question.

"I want wine" I whisper and he blinks slowly, seeing my evasion for what it is, but he gives me that play.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" He asks, leaning to get another glass to pour me wine.

"I've never had alcohol" I say as he places the glass in front of me, I grab it, ready to gulp it down when he holds my arm.

"You've never had alcohol?"

I shake my head, something flashes in his eyes before he asks.

"What more haven't you done Anadia?" He asks softly.

"What?" I ask.

His eyes clear and he nods at my wine glass.

"Slowly sip that, we don't want you tipsy just yet" He says and under his watch I bring the glass to my lips, not breaking his stare, I only close my eyes when the wine touches my tongue, delicious, I make a little sound and when I open my eyes his are there, darkened and alert.

He holds my stare as he leans  forward and swipes his thumb over my lips before bringing it to his mouth, his eyes fall close for a second and my mouth suddenly becomes dry at the look of ecstasy on his face.

"You had a little wine on your lip" he says by way of explanation and I nod.

I open my mouth but the sky splits and its  suddenly raining.

I squeal, he gets up, swiftly helping me up from my seat and sweeping off my feet, striding to the little room in the light house.

"Aren't we.. Shouldn't we get the dishes?" I ask as he sets me in the middle of the bed. 

"Leave it." he says, stepping back. 

"But I want more wine" I whisper and he turns to me.

"I promise to get you more wine tomorrow" He says quietly and I nod, I look around the lighthouse room to see its well a furnished, albeit a little small.

"i sometimes spend nights here when I want to be alone" He says and I flinch when lighting suddenly rents the sky.

"Is it safe?"

"You saw the gate we came in through?"

I nod.

"That's part of my land, there are guards on patrol, it's perfectly safe" He  says and I nod.

Maybe it's the wine, or the rain or the food or maybe the combination of all three I find myself standing from the bed and stepping towards his.

He doesn't step back, just watches me.

I tilt my head so I can see him better and I stare into his eyes.

It's like looking through the gates of hell.

AN

Good morning!

See, I'm being good today!

There was no late-night reading marathon so an update.

One more in the evening.

Thank you!

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