CHAPTER 89: WHAT OF YOU?

Shelby had no idea any of these were going on with her friends. In Ian’s ’hidden kitchen’, she sat so satisfied from the meal that she let loose her vigilance, if any, towards Ian.

She watched as her husband’s smile turned mischievous and felt an excitement build up deep within her, as he settled himself between her legs. She leaned back slightly, taking in his features. She just could not get enough of it. ’I wonder what he looks like under all that facial beard?’

Ian hooked his index finger underneath her chin. His piercing grey eyes locked onto her bright blue ones, creating a captivating contrast that sparks a palpable tension between them, leaving her unhinged. Her heart quickened as excitement bubbled up inside her, eager for what was to come.

She longed to touch his thick, long hair that fell over his shoulders and onto his chest.

"You really do need a haircut,"

In response, he moved an inch closer, and Shelby took the gamble. Her hands that had been supporting her on either side of her came up, and she gingerly touched his hair.

He closed his eyes and leaned in slightly.

Taking that as an encouragement, Shelby ran her hand through his hair, lightly touching his neck in the process.

Ian sucked in a shuddering breath, and Shelby saw a rush of goosebumps on his bare skin.

She stopped her actions suddenly and in surprise at his reaction.

"A-re you turned on? From this?"

Ian re-opened his eyes and tilted his head slightly, his eyes intense, retorting in almost a whisper,

"What do you think?"

"Uhm, I-"

Ian closed the distance, and she unconsciously closed her eyes as she felt his breath wisp over her face; her heart thundered, but then Shelby realized,

’Is he sidestepping my previous question?’

She turned her head slightly just as his lips were about to touch hers. He only caught the corner of her lips with his.

Ian chuckled. A sweet rich sound that spread around the soundless kitchen. Ian dropped his hand and turned her to face him.

He kissed her forehead. His lips lingered a little too long. As Ian took a small step back from her, Shelby felt the cool air rush between her thighs where he had been standing a moment before, and regret filled her up.

He, on the other hand, took her in with her one-piece attire, which was so short that it looked like a swimsuit. The neck dipped dangerously, making his emotions summersault and blood rush to a certain part of his body. ’Why is almost she wearing almost nothing?’

"So, are you going to answer my question?"

"What question was that?"

"The food? ... and what you had been about to tell me earlier in the room."

"You won’t give up, will you?"

She shook her head slightly but held his gaze.

"Come with me..."

He lifted her effortlessly and set her down. She flushed and held his outstretched hand. They left the room, back into his bedroom but then turned and entered another room.

A huge walk-in closet greeted them. She did not have time to take the scene in before Ian stopped briefly; a panel slid open, and then they entered a room filled with computers.

She gasped, and her arms went around her in reaction to the temperature of the place. The cold room was referred to as such because it was constantly kept cold for the computers’ sake. He seemingly did not have any reaction to the room’s temperature, though, even though he still had only the apron on his bare chest.

"You really did have a house in here!"

"Hahahahahaaa.... Your sense of humour is sweet."

She felt herself go warm at once. Ian had found a thick jacket and draped it over her shoulders. He patted her shoulders and then helped her into a big swivel chair that made her look like a child.

"What is this place?"

"You wanted answers, right?"

She nodded just as her eyes chanced upon her and her family’s information on some of the screens. Each monitor was lit up with some details about someone around her even including Royston.

"You searched up data on me?" She wasn’t sure how she felt about that detail, though.

"Of course! It’s not every day that someone shows up in my bedroom introducing themselves as my wife."

She calmed down, nodding. "So, what did you find out?"

"First things first. We can talk in here in seclusion."

She looked around as if checking who else was there.

"What I am about to say is difficult for me as I am not sur-.... Just leave an open mind for this, okay? And know that I am a perfectly sane person."

"Okay...." She scrunched up her eyebrows, wondering what he was driving at.

Ian pulled his chair closer to hers and then took her hands in his.

"What -"

"Come out!"

Their voices collided, and she stopped what she had been about to say.

"Who are you talking to, Ian?"

Ian did not reply but held on tightly, squeezing her hands slightly as if he was nervous. This was the first time she had seen him like that. A giant, usually confident man, uncertain about something like that.

Just then, a tall, lanky man with copper hair appeared right behind Ian. The man bowed,

"You called, Your majesty..."

She was so startled that she nearly jumped out of her seat. It turns out that this was the reason Ian had clasped her hands in his.

"Where did he come out from?" She shrieked as her eyes widened, registering how shocked she was.

"He -"

"Greetings madam,"

She pointed to herself, in askance and then her face contorted into deep thought,

"Are you Murray?"

This time, it was Ian’s and Currey’s turn to be shocked.

"You know about Murray? Are you able to see him?"

"Oh, so you are not?"

"No, he is not. He is Currey."

"How so you know Murray?"

"Gabriel tells me that he is always around me.... Wait. You know him? Can you see him, too? Is he here?"

Currey exchanged glances with Ian.

"He can see Murray? Gabriel can?"

Shelby nodded.

"You can leave us."

"Please to see you, madam," Currey said and then swiftly left.

"Since you know about Murray, then I think that the shock may not be too much for you when I let you in on things. Currey and Murray are family members. But Murray is slightly different and cannot appear at will as Currey does. If what you are saying is true, then my son may be like me in more ways than I thought. Also, Murray will not be here with you as you are with me."

"Wait, I don’t know, nor do I understand anything you are saying."

"Let me start from the top. From that night we met ...."

Ian went ahead and explained all that had happened and the blood oath that bound them. He took his chances with telling her this time because he knew that she needed to know.

Shelby’s mouth dropped open.

"I don’t understand. You are saying that my tattoo is not a tattoo but something that binds me to you?"

"Yes, I know that; this is a lot to take in, and I am not even sure if it sounds any logical to you, but please give me the benefit of the doubt."

"I have seen my fair share of abnormalities in this life. It’s not that I do not believe you, but it’s still a lot to take in. Didn’t I come here through a catalogue selection and a contract? What has that got to do anything?"

"It’s a little complicated with that. But your coming here was inevitable after that night. I hate to say this, but you should have technically died that night. The extent of your injuries had been beyond human help then... and also, that oath is never forced on anyone. You should’ve wanted it for it to work."

"So, you’re saying I willingly did this?"

He nodded gravely. Looking at his grave face, Shelby knew that he was telling the truth, and she also knew that he had called that Currey person to add some validity to his statement.

"So, you’re saying that this is why you also have a similar tattoo?"

He nodded again.

"It is also why I could not help but touch you constantly." As if to lend some truth to his words, he let go of one hand and cradled her head, bringing their lips together. He pried her mouth open with no warning, kissing the daylights out of her. Ian did not end there; he slid off his chair and knelt in front of hers while still kissing her deeply. As he did this, he slid his nail through one of her palms and then sat back suddenly. The kiss stopped as abruptly as it had started. Both were breathing heavily.

Ian held her palm up to her, and her eyes bulged nearly out of their sockets. The euphoria from the kiss was overcome with shock so strong that she did not know what to do as she stared at her palm held up in front of her.

Her eyes trembled, and she tried to form coherent thoughts, her eyes darting from his face to her hand as she asked, "W-what is that? I mean, errrmh, w-what a-re you?"

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