Page 36 of His Atonement
Perhaps it is for me since I shall never see her in the boots and corset, never get to bind her to her bed and use that riding crop on her glorious ass, but it really isn't a form of payback at Frankie.
Did I think of this before I spent over two thousand dollars on the highest quality toys and wardrobe? No.
Did I readjust my plan accordingly after I realized it? No.
Did it prevent me from opening those packages as soon as they came to the house, stop me from inspecting them thoroughly then fantasizing for hours about Frankie wearing those garments and using those tools while I had endless wanks all over my dungeon?
Absolutely not.
Did I rush out to her cabin and prevent the young wolf Ronny from leaving them on her doorstep three days in a row despite knowing it won't achieve any purpose at all?
Again, no.
I even added a little note in order to justify my gifts, claiming them to be tools of her devilish nature, but that is hardly an insult or able to be viewed as negative in any way.
And when Frankie didn't come to dinner, then didn't surface Saturday for breakfast, I started to think that perhaps I crossed a line.
Then I became furious with myself over it because I should not give a shit if I cross a line. That is the whole point of this game we play, to push each other's buttons, to get under each other's skin and if that's what I did and it caused Frankie to admit defeat and give up, so be it.
Except I couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, that Frankie went into hiding for a deeper, more disturbing reason, and my level of concern over that was so great I couldn't even be disgusted by the feeling.
The next evening at dinner, just before I was going to swallow my pride and ask after her, Allie offered up that Frankie sent her a text saying she was ill and didn't want anyone to catch whatever stomach bug she claimed to have and was self isolating.
I should have been relieved by this, should have been at ease knowing she only suffered a minor human sickness, but I wasn't, am not, and that is because I believe it to be bullshit.
I still harbor that feeling of dread, the great concern over her health, her mental health because that is what my gut is telling me is actually at risk.
By Tuesday, I was a complete mess and had started toward her cabin more times than I can count, only to rein myself in and turn back home because I do not care what becomes of this human female.
At least that's what I keep telling myself anyway, but her lack of appearance, and lack of retaliation have me so on edge, so close to losing my shit I have to face facts.
I do care about what becomes of Frankie and I need to find out what the hell is going on or else I will drive myself completely mad.
Which is looking to be a very short drive because between my withdrawal and the fact that today is the first day I've had an opportunity to get out to her cabin undetected by the others and still have to wait before I can do so, I will surely slip into insanity at record speeds.
"Ok, how about this one?" Cora says as she finally walks out of the bathroom.
I pull my eyes from the clock and try to focus on my gem, something that has proven to be difficult despite how much I love her.
She stands before me in an adorable sundress, a crisscross pattern over her shoulders and chest, the bodice form fitting before it flares just under the bust and flows all the way down to the ground in deep earth tones splashed into elaborate mandalas all over the fabric. The material is a light linen, breezy and cool since my sister runs hotter than the dragons do thanks to her pregnancy. My sweet Cora looks beautiful, and thank fuck she seems to know it by the look on my face.
"I believe that is the one, my gem." I wipe the sweat off my brow with the back of my hand. "You look stunning."
She beams at me then does a little twirl. "You think Havok will like it?"
"I do. I imagine your mate will find you to be even more breathtaking than he normally does." Both knees are bouncing out of control now and my shirt is positively drenched with sweat.
Cora smoothes her hands over her belly, smiles down at the twins then meets my eyes with a brilliant smile that falls almost immediately. "Are you ok? Are you not feeling well?"
Not wanting to alarm her or disrupt her plans, I force a smile and nod. "I'm fine, my queen. I feel a touch under the weather but it is nothing my remedies you have grown for me will not cure." I smirk a little and it hurts my entire face. "Had I known this was to turn into a runway show, I would have taken the proper precautions."
She scowls with a giggle. "I'm sorry I took so long, I really am, but I'd hardly call four or five dresses a runway show."
"Ten dresses. It was ten dresses, three skirt and top combinations, and those capris that you could not get up over your belly. Watching you rip them to shreds was a lovely little encore though."
"Oh, shut up." She snorts. "You would wait all day while I tried on one hundred dresses and tore up thousands of leggings because you love me."
I nod because she is absolutely right, withdrawal be damned. "I would and I would do it again every day here after if it brought a smile to your pretty face."
