Bound to Him [Dark Temptation Book One]

Chapter 3

Venus

“Tyler. Asher,” Micah’s voice boomed around the foyer. Calling two people named Tyler, who I had met recently. And a new man called Asher.

We were walking back to the foyer after Micah finished taking me for a tour around the house. He said it was our house, yet I felt foreign about it. I couldn’t blame anyone since I lost my memories and I had no sense of familiarity around the house.

I looked up at the stairs and saw Tyler and the other young man who must be Asher walked down side to side and stopped in front of us. “Venus, baby. Let me introduce them to you again. You’ve met Tyler before and this is Asher. They are working as my bodyguard and yours as well,” he introduced us as Tyler lightly nodded his head while Asher was smiling charmingly. “Usually Tyler is the person who always accompanied me when I was out of the house you will be together with Asher.”

I saw Tyler walked closer to me. “Tyler Case, Miss Skylar. It is so unfortunate that you’ve forgotten about us. But I am pleased to have you around again,” he said politely.

“Yeah, totally weird,” followed by Asher. He had brunette hair and a pair of grey eyes. It seemed like he was the opposite of Tyler. He was more cheerful. And handsome too. He walked forward and stood next to Tyler. “But we have to introduce ourselves again. Name’s Asher Connor. Hope we can get along…again.”

“Um, it’s nice to meet you all again,” I said. Yeah, it was really weird. To have to introduce ourselves again while in reality, we already knew each other.

Asher smiled at me and I instantly thought his smile made him look more handsome. As a matter of fact, both him and Tyler were very attractive. Too handsome for a bodyguard standard. And they looked young, how old were they anyway? Around Micah’s age?

Asher suddenly leaned forward. “Excuse me, little lady. I think I have affected you too much,” he playfully said while the side of his lips tilted up. My cheeks warmed up immediately. He saw through me.

I felt another hand on my elbow, grabbing me away from him. It was Micah. “What the f**k, Asher?”

Asher raised his hands in defeat. “I was just joking. Besides,” he paused and directed his grey eyes on me. “Even though she lost her memories, she’s still the same.”

I blinked at his words. “Were we close before?”

Asher grinned. “You will regret yourself for asking me that.” What did that mean? “But I’m glad to see you awake again. I don’t want to see your man in such a mess again.”

“Asher!” Micah scolded him again but Asher merely laughed.

“Come on, you motherfucker. Leave the girl alone. We have work to do,” Tyler said and grabbed Asher’s elbow, pulling him towards his direction. “Please excuse us, Boss, Miss Skylar.” And both bodyguards left us.

I heard Micah sighed and he turned to me. “I apologize for Asher’s…inappropriate behavior towards you.”

I only smiled. “I like him.”

He sighed once again. “You just said the same thing like before.”

“Was I close to them?

“Quite close, especially to Asher. Maybe because of his friendly demure but I should remind you to be careful around him. Since that attitude of him always got himself in trouble, especially around women.”

“I’ll remember that.” Micah smiled and he rubbed my hair.

“I want to spend the rest of the day with you.”

“Then, stay.”

“I will.”

“Can we go to the place where I got into an accident?”

“No!” he replied almost immediately. Too quickly. Surprising me. His tone hinted anger and disapproval. “N-No, I’m sorry. It’s just…I’m not ready to take you there. And I thought you’re the same as well. I wanted to take everything slowly and the place where I almost lose you is the last place I wanted to show you. Can I at least tell you about myself first?”

“Okay. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to.” He leaned forward and kissed my cheek, taking my hand, and walked me upstairs. Heading to my room. The room where I opened my eyes.

I should have known. Micah must be in trauma. I couldn’t imagine how panic he was when he was looking for me. And he found me on the verge of life and death. I was so stupid and didn’t think of Micah’s feelings when I requested him to take me there.

Once we reached the bedroom, I turned to him. “Is this our room?”

“No. It’s your room.”

“Where do you sleep?”

“In our room.” I stopped my steps and looked up to him. He realized that I was staring at him and fully turned to me. “When you were diagnosed went into a comatose state, I always thought that you don’t want to see me again or even talk to me when you came around, so I decided to put you here. So you won’t get panicked. I wanted to fix everything after you woke up and hopefully one day, you will return to our old room.”

“Micah.”

He grabbed both my hands and stared at them. “I’m not going to push you now; we do everything slowly. Based on your rhythm.”

“Okay.” Although I was happy because I had Micah as my fiancé, but I felt strange having this ridiculously handsome man as my lover.

I had to get to know him. To learn more about him.

I looked at the window and saw a comfortable white couch near it and a long coffee table in front. “Can we sit there and talk?” He lifted his eyes to me and nodded his head. We sat there and I looked at him. “Okay, let’s talk,” I said.

Micah smirked and turned to me. “Well, I’ve said my name. What would you like to know?”

“How old are you?”

“Twenty-eight.”

“How about me?”

“Nineteen.” I was left shocked. Not just because of how old I was, but Micah was so young to had a business of his own. And our age difference was quite far. Nine years to be exact. “You’re not too young for me, baby,” he smirked like he could read what’s inside my mind. “To me, you are perfect. And I only need you.”

I could see that Micah was serious. Just by looking at his eyes. And by listening to his tone.

I cleared my throat. “What’s your business?”

“I’ve told you that I’m running a service business.”

“What kind?”

That’s when I could see the hesitation from his eyes. Also from his body gesture. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. Rubbing his temple until he replied, “I’m providing people to work. Like an agency. What my clients wanted; I gave them the best one I had.”

I blinked my eyes a few times. Confused. “Is that like a consultation?”

“Something like that. I’ve told you that you never liked listening about my work because it made you confuse and got yourself a headache.”

“Well, that’s the old me. I wanted to know now.”

He showed his sexy smirk. “Maybe you’re right. So, basically, my company attracted some of the potential clients and they explained what they wanted from me. I deliver their wants to them, trying to reach even overreaching their expectations. Maybe that’s the easiest way to explain how my business works.”

I was overwhelmed. “Wow. That’s…very nice of you to exceed their expectations.”

“It’s business, baby. And by the end of the day, money speaks everything.” I didn’t know why but I didn’t want to hear more.

I decided to change the question.

“How did we meet?”

“Since childhood. You always wanted me to be your husband one day.”

“What? Really?”

Micah nodded his head. “I remembered the time when me and my family came to play at your house and whenever I wanted to go home, you always prevented me to go. Begging me to take you with me.”

I scoffed. That was hilarious. Well, maybe I wouldn’t let him go since he was like the description of a rare specimen in this world. “I can’t imagine myself doing that to you.”

“But you did.”

“My parents must be shamed watching their daughter acted like that.” As soon I realized the words that just came out of my mouth, I raised my eyes and found Micah was smiling but not the kind of smile like he was happy about something. It was a sad smile. And I found myself losing my smile as well. “My parents…”

And this time, Micah lost his smile completely. “They’re gone when you’re still a little girl. You were adopted by your father’s relatives right after.”

“What happened to them?”

“It was a terrible accident.”

“What accident?” I realized I sounded demanding.

“I…can’t tell you now. You just woke up and I don’t want to make you remember something you don’t want to.”

I suddenly felt sick. “I’m fine. I have to know everything about myself, my family, my life, and you as well.”

“I know.”

“How old I was when I lost them?”

“Five years old.”

“And where’s my adoptive family?” My head began to hurt. It was painful and I could feel myself getting dizzy. The world was like circling around me.

“Venus, stop.” I touched my temple and closed my eyes.

Behind my closed lids, I saw a woman. A woman with short hair. Dark color. And she was very tall. Possibly almost the same as Micah but I couldn’t see her face.

“Venus?” I heard him call me and then I could feel his hands on my shoulders.

…Run…

I heard her voice. Instantly brought me back to my dream when I was running away from someone. The more I tried to see her face and my attacker, the more my head was hurting.

“It…hurts…” I put my other hand on my temple. Trying to get rid of the pain.

“Venus, stop. Ah, f**k!” Micah suddenly pulled me closer. Hiding me in his chest. “Breathe, baby. Slowly. Follow mine, baby. That’s it.” I swallowed hard as I was trying to listen to his heartbeat. “Focus on my voice. Breathe in. And out.” I followed and slowly I could feel myself starting to calm down. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You don’t need to remember everything so quickly. We have a lot of time. What matters to me now is you finally opened your eyes. Just by having you walking and smiling to me is enough. I will help you regain your memories but please, do everything slowly. I’m not going anywhere and neither you.”

I squeezed closer to his chest. Concentrating on the sound of his heartbeat. It made me wonder how much I had made Micah worried sick about me. I wrapped my arms around his back. “I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to. Everything is my fault.”

“Please don’t blame yourself.”

“I can’t help it. Even until now, our fight is haunting me.”

“Then, stop remember it again.”

He chuckled and pushed me gently. “You need a bath. You definitely need it.”

“Hm. Maybe I should since I haven’t showered in six months.”

“Correction, you have some shower while you’re sleeping.”

I looked up to him. “How?”

“What do you think?” I needed three seconds to adjust his words into my mind. Once I realized, Micah just answered it for me. “I was the one who bathed you. You don’t need to be shocked because,” he paused and leaned forward, close to my ear. His warm breath tickled my ear. “You are mine. But this time, I should let you have your private time.” Micah stood up.

“I’ll see you at dinner. There’s something I need to do a bit and if you need anything.” He pulled out a phone and gave it to me. “You could use this to call me. Asher will come and teach you how to use it.”

“Thank you.” I grab the phone from him.

“Never thank me for taking care of you.”

And he walked out of my bedroom.