This Cruel Love

“Fine. Anything else, Master?”

“I’ll send your outfit over this afternoon. Be ready for seven sharp. I don’t like being kept waiting.”

Like hell was I going to be dressed like a bloody Barbie doll. Who the hell did he think he was? He’d probably send over a string bikini style bondage dress or some other slutty outfit.

“I have my own clothes. I’m quite capable of dressing myself,” I snapped back.

“Not to my tastes, you’re not.”

The bloody cheek of him! Was he attacking my taste in clothes now? Okay, so I didn’t wear designer suits every day like him, but I was no slob.

“I’ll wear what I want.” I fought the urge to stomp my feet. I wasn’t ten years old, but he was certainly treating me like I was.

“No, you won’t. I’ll send your outfit over and you will wear what I tell you. This is an important event, not a frat party.”

He spun round to face me, just as I was doing my third eye roll of the morning.

“Don’t push me, Ryley. You come dressed as I see fit, or this little deal of yours becomes null and void.”

What an asshole. If he thought I was going to roll over and play nice, he had another thing coming. I was no pushover.

“Fine,” I lied. “Anything else, Sir?”

“Yes, drop the attitude. You’re not a teenager anymore. I need you to dig deep; really, really deep, and find the lady that lies within you… somewhere. You’ll need to put on your best act tonight and charm some very influential men and women.”

“Being on your arm and looking like I’m enjoying it will be an act, trust me. I’ll be winning Oscars before these three months are out.”

“Whatever. Just don’t fuck it up. Think you can handle that?”

He could go take a run and jump. There was delicious food and coffee waiting for me in the kitchen; I was so over this little exchange.

“I don’t fuck up… ever.” I smiled.

“No, you just get engaged to fucked up, don’t you?”

Ugh! My eyes went wide, ready for attack, but he laughed at himself and strode out of the apartment. The man was insufferable. How the hell was I going to last three hours, let alone three months?

Well, I’ll be damned. The Harrods delivery came at midday, and what I found inside totally blew me away. The most stunning pastel-green, floor-length silk gown. With thin straps, subtle sequin embellishments, and a thigh-high split up the left hand side. I loved it. It was also the exact same shade of green I’d worn the day Cillian branded me as his ‘Tinkerbell’. Was the colour a conscious choice? No, it couldn’t be. Heartless demons like Caine never put that much thought into stuff like this. He’d probably asked Sylvie to pick it out, or one of his whores. All the same, it was so me, and even though I wanted to defy him, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wear a dress like this.

As I shimmied my body into the sublime creation, I felt like I was being caressed by the softest, most gentle touch. The silk clung to me like a second skin. No sneaky burgers for me tonight; this dress showcased every curve. There were also silver kitten heels and a matching clutch bag in the delivery. So I popped my lip gloss away and fluffed my blonde curls as I made my way to the living room to wait for Lucifer himself. I stroked the small, silver heart locket at my neck for last minute courage as I rounded the corner, staring at the floor and willing my nerves to stay in check. Justin had given the locket to me last Valentine’s Day, and it had a picture of us inside. Even though I was heading out to play my part in this whole farcical circus, I still had my man close to my heart.

I looked up and almost tripped over my feet as I saw Jackson standing in the middle of the living room, hands in his trouser pockets and looking totally… distracting in a black tuxedo. I hadn’t even heard him come in. Boy, he knew how to wear a suit. The devil does indeed wear Prada, ladies. Or Armani… whatever.

He burned me with his stare as he looked me up and down. Was his breathing getting deeper?

“So you can follow orders. Who knew?” He smirked as he continued to strip me bare with his silver-grey eyes.

“I didn’t wear it for you. I wore it because it’s a beautiful dress.” I smoothed my hands down the front in admiration of this divine creation.

“It is.”

Well, that stopped me in my tracks.

“Was that a compliment?”

He shrugged nonchalantly.

“I like the dress, but then I did choose it.”