Who is my Husband

Chapter 5 Blackmail

            This was way more attention the Kailee was used to getting. And a lot more touching. After dinner she found herself being carried again. She felt the warmth of Grum’s body on her skin as he delicately carried her. He didn’t seem like someone who knew how to be gentle. Yet, he was carefully carrying her and trying to be smooth in his actions so as not to cause discomfort to her. He carried her down the familiar hall to where her room was. Lance hurried ahead and opened the door for them as Grum carried her inside. He gently laid her on the bed as Lance lit a few candles in the room.

            “Thank you.” Kailee said feeling a bit uncomfortable. She looked at the two men who stood there beside the bed. She tilted her head and smiled. “You guys can go. I’m just going to relax for the rest of the evening.”

            Grum nodded his head and walked out. Lance looked at her for a moment longer as he hesitated. Finally, he said, “I’ll be just outside of the door. If you need anything just call for me. I’ll stand guard until Trey makes it back.”

            Kailee smiled and nodded her head to Lance. She sighed in relief when he shut the door. Finally, a moment to herself. She had not seen her husband all day. Well, he at least didn’t make an appearance in front of her with his mask on. She didn’t get a good look at his eyes last time. She was hoping she would tonight so she could see what color they are.

            She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. It had been an interesting first day in her new home. And she felt like she was constantly getting force fed. There was so much food at dinner. Both Grum and Lance would not relent about eating more. She finally ended up snapping at both of them. Telling them she could not eat anymore.

            The sun had vanished from the sky and not long afterwards she heard the door to the room creep open. She looked up to see a man walking in with a gold mask covering his face. He grabbed one of the candles and rushed over to Kailee’s side.

            “Let me see.” He came to the side of the bed and looked down at her with his emerald eyes.

            Kailee felt her body tense up. She may have spent an intimate night with this man but that was in the dark. The idea of exposing herself to him was still embarrassing to her. “It isn’t anything to worry about.” She said softly. His eyes continued to hold onto her own.

            “I want to see.” He sat the candle to the side of the bed. He then reached his hands out to lift up her shirt. He saw the stained bandage on her side and he frowned. “This needs to be changed again.” He got up and went to his desk. He opened up a top drawer and then soon returned with fresh dressing.

            “Do you always keep stuff like that in here?” Kailee thought it was weird to keep things for being injured in there.

            “It is convenient. You never know when you might need it.” Trey removed her old bandage and then inspected the cut on her side. He reached his hand up and softly traced underneath it. She couldn’t see what his facial expression was but he was staring at the wound intently.

            “It’s really not too bad.” Kailee said softly.

            Trey glanced up to her eyes and then started putting the fresh dressing over the wound. “I was told you have stitches.”

            “Yes, I needed them for the cut on my thigh.”

            He lifted her shirt back down and then grabbed the top rim of her pants. “I want to see it as well.” He looked up to her and she sighed with a nod. He gently pulled her pants down until he was able to see the cut on her thigh.

She watched as his fingers tightened on his other hand. “This must have been painful.” His eyes squeezed shut tight and then he pulled her pants back up.

            “I don’t know what was the worst part. The alcohol being poured on it or the stitching.” Kailee looked over at her husband. Everything about him was very similar to both Lance and Grum. Even their voices were similar. He could be one of them. She just wasn’t sure which one. “At least the little boy is alright. It would have been much worse for him.”

            “I’m glad you helped him, but I don’t like that you got hurt. I don’t like that you were in pain.” His voice came out sad. “Do you mind if I blow the candles out? I would like to remove my mask.” Trey asked as he looked up at Kailee.

            “No, I don’t mind.” Kailee said quietly. She imagined wearing a mask was quite uncomfortable. It didn’t take long for the light in the room to vanish. She heard the familiar sound of his metal mask landing on the desk along with the ruffled sound of his clothes being changed. Soon she felt his body dipping into the bed. She felt a warm arm come around her shoulders as he gently pulled her good side into him.

            “I’m so sorry you were hurt.” Trey’s voice whispered out as he pressed his lips into the top of her head.

            “You have nothing to apologize over. It was an accident. Those do happen at times.” Kailee relaxed into the side of her husband. “You are not going to punish anyone because I was hurt, right?” She wasn’t sure who her husband was and if he could be Lance or Grum. But she was going to play her unsuspecting part who believed he was someone else. She listened to his chesty low scoff.

            “You were supposed to be looked after today. I can’t let that go without a punishment.”

            “It was an accident though. Trust me. You can’t go punishing people every time I cause an accident. Otherwise, everyone might end up being punished.” Kailee listened to his baritone chuckle reverberate in his chest.

            “Are you telling me you are prone to accidents?” She could hear his laugh in his voice, and it relaxed her.

            “Mmmhmmm.” Kailee allowed her head to rest against Trey. “My uncle came looking for you today. Of course, I am sure Lance told you. I am curious though… why? Why would you trade your land for me? Why did you want me? Is it because of your identity and having to keep it secret?” She waited a second and then shook her head. “I’m sorry. I guess it isn’t my business.”

            “I traded my land because it was you. I wanted you.” Trey said simply. He rubbed his hand gently over her shoulder. “I’ve wanted you for a while. But I knew if I showed any interest your uncle would make it hard for me to take you. When he came to me asking for my land I knew then that I had him. I told him there was only one way for him to get the land and that was to trade you for them.”

            “My uncle would have sold me for a cow that doesn’t even give milk.” Kailee said dryly.

            “No, he wouldn’t have. He… It isn’t important now. You are mine. And I am going to protect you.”

            “Protect me from what? Grum mentioned that earlier that they were here to protect me. Do I need protected?” Kailee could feel some minor tension in Trey’s body.

            “I just want you safe. Call me extra cautious is all. You are mine Kailee. And I protect what is mine. I don’t share what is mine also just so you know.”

            Kailee furrowed her brows down. “What does that mean?”

            “It means… I am not around a lot during the day. There may even be a night here and there when I won’t be around. I’m going to leave men around to guard you. And… well…” Trey cleared his throat. “I only want you to look for me and not for them. I don’t want you to develop feelings for anyone but me.”

            “Well, I can’t really look for you because I don’t know what you look like.” Kailee said wryly. “When you say develop feelings you are talking about something deeper than a friend relationship right? Or is being friends off the table as well? And what work would require you not to be here at night? Am I the only one who isn’t supposed to look at anyone else or does that apply to you as well?” Honestly, she was a bit offended. He might not have meant it offensive, but it was. It was an attack on her moral character. He was her husband, whether she knew who he was or not. She wasn’t about to try to get romantically involved with someone else.

            He let out a heavy sigh. “You know exactly what I meant when I said developing feelings. I don’t want you falling in love with someone else. Just me. And sometimes I have to travel. When I do I can’t make it back. Trust me, there is no other place I would want to be but here with you. There is no one else, Kailee. No one. It is only you.”

            "I’ll have to take your word for it. Since I have no clue what you look like. You could be kissing another woman right in front of me and I would be none the wiser.”

            “Kailee…” His voice cooed to her in soft baritone tones. “I know it has only been a day but I want you to give your heart to me.” He kissed the top of her head again gently. “I want all of you. Not just your body but your heart, soul and mind.” He pressed his lips and nose into her hair.

            Kailee felt confused. Why? Why did he want her? “Why? I don’t understand. How do you even know I am someone you would want? I could be a horrible person.”

            She felt his lips smile against her head. “You’re what I want. The person I need. That is all there is to it. There is nothing to understand. Just that you were meant to be mine. And one day I hope you feel the same way about me.”

            “Maybe if you don’t punish anyone tomorrow then I will think about it.” Kailee smiled as he gently chuckled next to her. “And it wouldn’t hurt to be able to spend some more time together.”

            “Are you blackmailing your husband?” She could hear the amusement in his voice.

            “Just a simple suggestion.” Kailee smiled into the darkness. “Oh no.” She went to sit up forgetting about her injured side. She sucked air in between her teeth as she winced from the pain.

            “Easy. What’s wrong.” Trey put his arms on Kailee and gently eased her back into him.

            “I promised Cain and Abel I would bring them up a treat after dinner.” Kailee frowned. She couldn’t break a promise to them. Especially because she was sure they understood her.

                “Speaking of Cain and Abel. Have you bewitched my dogs? I heard they both loved you instantly.”

            “I guess they are like their owner with jumping into relationships.”

            “Relationship.” Trey corrected. “Only you.”

            “I have to bring them up a treat.” Kailee pouted and he laughed through his nose quietly.

            “Stay here, I'll send up Lance to give them a treat.”

            “Tell him to tell them I am sorry I forgot after dinner.” Kailee listened as Trey let another airy laugh escape him. She listened as he grabbed the metal mask off of the desk and walked to the door.

            “Good. Glad I caught you walking by. Can you go and give Cain and Abel a snack from the kitchen. Kailee said to tell them she was sorry for forgetting to bring it to them.”

            She heard another man’s voice talking and then his voice dropped lowly to a level she couldn’t make out. She heard Trey scoff at him. “Just go and keep your comments to yourself.” Trey snapped in irritation as he shut the door. The sound of his mask clanked on the desk and soon the bed dipped with his weight again. This time though he didn’t pull her back into him. She felt him dip lower and the sound of him fluffing up his pillow. She could sense he had some agitation.

            “Is everything okay?” Her voice was quiet, and she was unsure if she should be asking.

                “Everything is fine. Just Lance being Lance. Maybe he should get punished after all.” Trey growled out.

            Kailee slowly tried to adjust herself lower. She had been sitting up and pulling herself downward was more of a chore then she had imagined it would be.

                “Let me help you.” She heard his calm voice as his hand landed on her. She didn’t even hear him sitting up but he was now. His hands gently lifted her and eased her down onto the bed. Then she felt his body lay close to her once again. His hand gently rubbed over her arm.

                “I’m sorry for causing trouble for everyone.” Kailee whispered out.

                “Shhh. You aren’t causing anyone trouble.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “Well, you might be causing me a bit of trouble for now, but I’ll just have to show some restraint for a couple days.” He said in a sultry voice  next to her ear.

                In the darkness she blushed and then settled her head on his warm chest. She wasn’t sure why, but she wanted to be close to him. Her body was seeking his for comfort. And he was her husband so why not? Her body relaxed into him and soon she found herself drifting off to sleep.