Kade stood by the mansion’s entrance dressed in dark brown breeches, white satin shirt and coat. His hand idly brushes the hilt of his sword strapped to his hip, humming tunelessly as his gaze listlessly wanders over the forest before him. Despite his calm outward demeanor, his mind runs amok with thoughts of the girl. Sin’s slave.
Inayah.
It had been long since a female ever caught his attention in such a way. His attraction to her stemmed not from lust but curiosity. His brother had not brought up the purchase of a new slave, hence the sudden sight of her was surprising. It made him wonder why Salem failed to mention the new member to his home.
That is until Kade spent a few hours watching the slave girl. There was something about the girl. Hardly nineteen years of age, with a little flower-like face, a small Greek head with plaited coils of dark-brown hair, eyes that were earthy brown wells of passion, lips like the petals of a rose. She was the loveliest thing that he had ever seen in his life. Perhaps not the most beautiful, but her simplistic nature drew him even closer.
He wanted her from the moment he saw her.
Salem was but a mere object on the path.
Yet Kade knew he had to maneuver about his desires for the girl with a discrete profession. Sin owned her from the moment he exchanged gold, and that in itself solidified the contract. But it did not stop Kade from trying.
Rabbit, that was what she reminded him off. A shy little thing that held something of a fire within. His little spitfire rabbit.
God the things he would do to that girl.
“Master Kade,” Inayah’s sudden quiet voice disrupted his thoughts as his attention slanted towards the girl who now stood by the doorway. Kade’s start of a smile falters at the sight of her clothes, still regular, no shoes.
Her face was flushed an attractive red, hands fumbling at the front, eyes fixated to the floor as though something far more interesting lay there. Kade already knew her words before they left that mouth, and a sliver of hot anger flashed through his veins, so quick it hardly cracked his cool exterior.
He chuckled, somewhat lightly with a slight harsh edge, “I see,” he speaks stepping forward and her head ducks even lower. Kade places a reassuring hand on her small shoulder, “Worry not rabbit,” he rubbed her earlobe, noting the flush of her cheeks and slightly hazed over eyes. “I will speak with him, remain here.”
His steps are swift and purposeful. Boots clicking sharply on the wooden floors as he rounds a corner and takes the stairs three at a time with ease. Kade reigned in the heat within that stirred his wolf to life, a sort of primal desire to fight his brother over the girl. His gums ache, but only briefly, as the door of the study room comes to view. Knocking once Kade pushes it open whilst striding in.
“Good morning brother mine,” he announces rather coolly. Salem does not glance up from the papers set on his desk.
“Kade,” he regards curtly.
“Who is Inayah to you?”
The pen in Sin’s hand stilled, “Why do you ask?”
Kade’s shoulders lift in a mild shrug, the corner of his mouth twitches, “It seems you’re rather insecure with my presence around her.”
“She is a slave, she has chores.”
“She can complete her chores later on.”
“Unfortunately, no.” Salem’s gaze finally rose to clash with his brothers, “If you’re so intrigued with slaves, why not buy yourself one?”
“I am not interested in slaves,” Kade corrected, slowly walking about the room, reaching a gloved hand out to touch random books on his shelf. His head turns, a wicked smile curving, “but I am interested in yours.”
Sin watches him with a wary, imperturbable expression. Sighing, he sits taller, “Your lust knows no bounds, does it.”
“But that is where you are mistaken, I am not lusting over Inayah.”
“No? Do tell then, dear brother, why are you so eager to take my slave out?”
Kade falls silent, deliberately mulling over his words. Allowing the stretch of noiseless to unnerve him as he paces about with a mocking thoughtful look. He stops before the table and half-sits on one edge, “Inayah has no clothes, I have noticed. Including sweaters.”
“And that tugged at the strings of your heart?”
His smile is guileless, “Am I not allowed to display good intentions without being questioned?”
Salem studies him with a hard expression, “We all know how questionable your intentions are.”
Silence ensues between the two, tensed communication settling between and the air sparks with untold words of the past. Kade searches his brother’s eyes once then twice, his own smile dropping to a thin pressed line. “The past is in the past,” he explains stiffly and Salem nods.
“Yes, yes it is.” He picks the fountain pen, resuming to write, “let’s avoid another repeat of it, shall we?”
Kade’s shoulders grow stiff with pent up rage at the dismissive manner of his brother and subtle reminder of his past actions. His gaze wanders across the room briefly, waiting until his emotions are reigned in tight and sealed.
“Does she interest you,” he begins slowly, “in ways other than slavery.”
Salem does not pause, “She is a slave.”
“Vague answer.”
“I have no interest in slaves.”
“Is she good in bed?”
Salem falters for a heartbeat, but Kade takes notice. “She works as any other female would.”
“So dismissive,” Kade tuts but says nothing more of the situation. He lingered for a moment then finally rose, “I will be heading out then.”
“Without my slave.”
“Without your slave.” He echoes with an eye roll whilst exiting the room.
Inayah still stood where he had told her to wait, staring out past the porche and into the forest with an entranced look. Kade hovered behind for a moment, following the line of vision situated at a specific spot in the forest. He saw nothing. Stealthily approaching her from behind, his head dips to her ear and whispers hotly; “He allowed.”
Inayah leaps, startled, and whirls around hand clutched over her racing heart. Her eyes sought his own sparkling ones warily, “Really?”
Kade nods, “Indeed, however, our trip will occur at night.”
“Night?”
“Yes,” Kade smiles, “be ready by eleven PM.”
Inayah studied his face for any signs of dishonesty or skepticism, she does not see it. Shoulders slumping in relief, she grins for the first time and it feels foreign. “Okay.”