Queen (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (96 page)

Albert rests on the side of the limousine smiling at me in comfort. I’ve always liked the driver, but our history of abduction and painful moments causes me not to meet his eyes.

Whitt and I wait for the family to gather so we can depart to ShadowHaven Estates for Kayla and Aaron’s nuptials. I didn’t want to go to the wedding because I was afraid to be at Marcus’ house and look at his wife, but that is pale in comparison to standing in the shadow of this house. The buttresses, with their angry gargoyles, look like they’re defending the house against me. Whitt and I are their future invaders. I could just be projecting my guilt onto the inanimate objects.

“Remember the first time you came here. I met you at the car,” I hear a smile in his voice.
“You were the most beautiful person I’d ever seen. I knew that my life had changed,” I smile back.

“For the better,” he teases. “I saw my savior when you pulled up. Grandfather saw how taken Grant was with you, but you reading me the story at bedtime is what I think he liked the most. I’ve never been sure if it was my fault or not that he tri
cked you into living with us.”

“Sunshine,” I say sadly. “Ade admitted that he worked her for almost a year. It wasn’t yours or Grant’s fault.”

“It doesn’t change the fact that I waited patiently for you to come. I was selfish. I wanted you here with me. When Grandfather told me that the car was bringing you to live with us I sat on the front steps for hours. I have six days in my life that I will always remember- life changing days: The first two times we met, Niel’s birth, Grant’s death, my initiation reward, and our marriage. You were the center of each and every one of them.”

“You will get more of those moments that don’t involve me. If you weren’t so stubborn you’d have added a few by now,” I chuckle. “Most of mine involve you, too. My favorite moment was when my children hugged each other for the first time and you held me up. Nothing will ever compare to the gift you’ve given me.”

Whitt holds my gaze and softly smiles at me. When my scowl turns into a genuine smile he kisses me. A brush of lips flutters against mine. It’s sweet and affectionate- filled with hopes and dreams for our future. He and I stay away from the sexual, but sensual intimacy is commonplace between us.

I hum my approval against his lips and he moans and fully embraces me. I chuckle when he tries to turn the kiss into something more. I nip his lip in punishment and he growls.

It’s not that I don’t lust after him and miss our passion-filled touches. I won’t be his security blanket. I won’t hold him back from finding true sexual enlightenment. We have a no sex rule in place between us. I said no until he finally learns what it means to be a gay male and he turned it around on me by giving me an ultimatum. I have to let Marc catch me and I have to keep him.

His strong hands caress my back though the silk of my dress. I press tighter to him and moan when I feel his reaction to our touches. A warm palm at the nape of my neck controls the kiss and finally gets me to respond. I open for him and we both moan in happiness.

“I’d often wondered if the happy couple was out of convenience. I’m very proud of you, Regina,” the smarmy voice freezes me mid-action.

Whitt steps to the side but pulls me into the protective circle of his arms.
“Son, may I have a moment of privacy with your wife,” Daniel asks with a tiny smirk.

“No,” Whitt says firmly.

“I’m not going to hurt her for Christ’s sake. Just go chat with Albert for a moment,” he patronizingly laughs.

Whitt slowly strides away with a hostile expression on his face. He leans against the limo and neve
r takes his eyes from my face.

“Daniel,” I take a step back to put at least an arm’s reach between us.

“You are magnificent,” he sings with pride. “I knew you would be. I was wasting you on Grant. I can’t believe the difference in my son.” His blue eyes widen in pure pleasure. “You have a gay man drooling over you. I’m thoroughly impressed.”

“What do you want, Daniel? I don’t need you to falsely stroke my ego,” I hiss snidely.

“Oh, it’s not false. I couldn’t have prayed for a better person to bear my grandchildren. I just wanted to say thank you for creating such an exceptional young man. He’s better than every Whittenhower before him, myself included.”

“Cut the shit! What do you really want?” I say impatiently.

“My grandson is watching from the front of the house. I was told to make nice,” he grumbles and smiles in the direction of my son.

“You’re scared of him,” I say in awe.

“He has my DNA and yours. You’re his mother so he’s nice to you. Don’t underestimate Niel, Regina. I know that Whitt has always shown me a side that isn’t truly him. Niel only shows me that side.” His voice breaks, but he plasters a congenial smile on his face. 

“Is he as manipulative as your children?” I ask out of curiosity. No one could top Whitt in that departm
ent.

“Worse… much worse.
He wanted you and your family to move in here and I agreed. He wanted me to move out so that you’d be comfortable. I couldn’t agree to that and I know how much you hate this house,” he says in relief.

“It’s not the house, Daniel. It’s the memories and what they represent. It’s your presence inside the house.”

“Fair enough. May I shake your hand so that my part of the bargain is complete?” He uses all of his commanding force and charisma to get me to comply, but I’ve been around too many men like that and I possess more power than he does. I don’t fall prey to his charms.

“Wh
at was the bargain?” I demand.

“I had to make nice with you or he’d tell everyone at the wedding that you’re Whitt’s wife. I can accept you as my grandchildren’s mother. I can accept that you married Whitt because I can see the effect that you have on him, but I can’t
allow the public to know it.”

“I’d say you’re saving face, but I know that isn’t the case. Would our marriage upset the balance of power somehow,” I muse and he scowls at me.

“Allowing us to go as a family was also a bargain, Regina,” he chastises. “Niel wouldn’t let me speak to Ella. This was the only course that’s end result was meeting my granddaughter.”

I frown at my son and he winces. He’s been caught in a lie. Niel’s been negotiating terms with his grandfather for far longer than I’d realized.

“He’s my grandson- a true grandson. He makes me so proud that I’m frightened,” Daniel says as a parting shot. 

I walk to the limo with wobbly legs. For once I am thankful that my height prohibits stilettoes; kitten heels are hard enough to walk on when in shock. I don’t care who witnesses my confusion. I fall right into Whitt’s waiting arms and hold on for dear life. I can feel Daniel’s asserting gaze on my back the entir
e time I try to center myself.

“Mom,” Niel
says softly and pats my back.

I look at my son and he looks back at me with guilt and shame. Emotions scroll across his face. He wonders if I can love the real man he is- I see it in the eyes gazing back at me. He’s still a child playing a grown up game.

“It’s okay. I understand,” I reassure him.

I don’t want him to know that I’m frightened of him in the way that Ezra scares me. My son is using his mother, brother and sister, his father, and his girlfriend as pawns. I pray that he uses his mental abilities for good instead of evil. I’m hurt, but yet again, I find myself understanding Marcus with clarity. Niel is my son, and I will accept everything he does and still love him despite of it. I will do everything in my considerable power to make sure he stays on the right path. 

“Ready to go?” I infuse excitement in my voice and take my son’s hand.

The Whittenhowers ride in the limo with Albert driving us to ShadowHaven.

Kate and Priscilla aren’t with us today. Jr. Senator Preston is making a bid at Governor of our state. Kate and Priscilla are on the campaign trail offering their support. Whitney and Prissy have been staying with me in their absence. I wouldn’t allow Daniel to watch a pet, let alone two young women.

Whitney and Niel sit across from me talking with their grandfather. The younger girls are feeling my stormy emotions and channeling it. They needed to feel comforted and secure. I hold a seventy pound twelve-year-old in light pink taffeta. Prissy sits on my lap chattering away to Ella, who had to sit on Whitt’s lap.

I feel for my husband as he holds her heavy weight. The smile on his face says he doesn’t mind at all. My daughter is a big girl. She’s petite, but since she entered womanhood she’s gained a lot of weight. I hope that when her hormones even out so does her weight. She carries it well and I will never push her to change. It’s her natural size and she never complains. The moment insecurities arise I will help her through it. I know what it’s like to be uncomfortable inside your own skin.

“We’ll be okay,” Whitt murmurs to me and ca
resses my cheek with his palm.

Two huge smiles beam up at us at the contact. I’d do anything in the world to see those smiles.

Chapter Thirty

I growl at the sky as the vultures circle overhead, “Jesus, I could never live with this.”

“I hope we never have to,” Daniel growls too.

The ten minute drive turned into an hour. We had to drive through a mile of paparazzi and news vans. When the car pulled through the gate several squeezed in with us. Whitt had to get out and push the people out of the way so the gate could shut. Albert almost ran a photographer down as he stood in the middle of drive taking hundreds of candid shots of us through the windshield. Another photographer stood on the running board trying to get pictures of us through the tinted passenger windows. When we stopped in front of ShadowHaven, security swarmed our car and removed four paparazzi that had circled us. They knew who was in the car since Daniel’s arrogance had to have front and rear license plates screaming Whittenhower.

Prissy was scared shitless, but the rest of the kids were going wild. It was the first time I’d seen Daniel smile for real. He even laughed when Ella was taunting the paparazzi as Albert played chicken.

I stand on the back terrace hiding while the reception takes place inside. The staff diligently removes all of the chairs from the ceremony to set up for the dance floor. I stare at the helicopter as it circles overhead and ignore Daniel. He won’t let me out of his sight.

“Why haven’t you gone inside?” Daniel smirks and I know he knows why- bastard.

“It’s a beaut
iful night,” I say pleasantly.

“Ah, yes… the breeze is quite splendid,” he says sarcasti
cally and straightens his tie.

I snort and almost choke. “You just made a joke- it was pompous, but it was definitely a joke,” I laugh.

“You do find yourself in the most precarious situation,” he answers the question of why I won’t go inside. “Hiding from your lover’s wife I presume.”

“I have no l
over,” I say flatly and shrug.

“Past, present, future… It’s really all the same,” he says ominously. “Or are you hiding from your lover?
” He asks in amusement- bingo!

“Don’t you have someone else to bother? I know Niel wanted us to get along, but I doubt he meant as bosom buddies,” and the sarcastic tone flows nicely over the hurricane strength winds from the helicopter. 

“I’m just waiting for someone,” he pleasantly offers.

“Wait for them elsew
here,” I grumble.

“Ah- finally!
Here she is,” he says grandly and my heart drops to my feet. “Regina is most impossible to occupy, my dearest Diane.” He kisses my nemesis on the cheeks and disappears.
I don’t dare look up because if I see her then she’s really here. I want to hide my head underneath the covers and pretend the monster isn’t in the closet.

“Diane,” my tone is tainted with hostility.

I glare at the woman who infected her son and twisted her husband. My fists clench at my sides as I stare at the woman who is responsible for ruining my best friend’s life. Bile rises in my throat when my eyes clear of the red-hot fury and I finally see her.

Diane is spectacular, which makes me jealous and I hate her even more. I’d once said that if I ever met her face-to-face I’d want to blow her face off with a shotgun… and I do… My fingers twitch in eager anticipation.  

Marcus loved this woman. He loved her so much that he married her. He proudly screamed to the world that she was his and he was hers. I can’t compete with that… 

The woman before me is in her early fifties and she looks my age. Huge, alien-like gray eyes glitter with evilness. Silky, white hair falls in a wave around her shoulders and back. It’s as unnatural as her eyes- it reminds me of spider webs or caterpillar silk. Her small, waiflike body is hidden by a pure white, gauzy dress. She looks ethereal or like an angel, but pure evil radiates off of her. I hate her because she is everything I am not and everything Marcus ever wanted.

“The feeling is mutual, my dear,” her tinkling voice sings to me. It’s the tone Ezra uses when he’s pissed- glass grating on glass.

“I’m glad we can agree on something,” I say snidely.

“How did it feel to watch him make love to her? Did it hurt?” Her voice isn’t taunting as I expected it. It’s calculating and curious. It’s how Ezra sounds when he’s playing psychiatrist. Diane is a sociopath; she doesn’t have the ability to feel and process emotions, especially empathy. She wants me to describe my pain so she can relish in it.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I shrug.

“It was my idea,” she gloats. “It was interesting to see how it affected everyone- especially you. My son was upset because he thought he was doing something right for once, but it was wrong. Marcus will do anything Ezra asks. I wanted to punish Katya for betraying our bond; to fall for your rapist is the biggest sacrilege,” Diane sighs heavily.

“You’re insane,” I hiss.

“Undoubtedly,” Diane says without remorse. “I do feel bad that Cortez is hurting,” she scowls and worries her lip.

“Why Cortez?
Why chose him over your own family?”

“Imagine if you combined all of the love you feel for your children, your husband, all of your friends and family, and you shoved it all into Marcus. Even now you can barely look at him. It’s the most tragic and painful love. It sings sweetly in your ear while tearing your beating heart from your chest. I had that with Cortez’s mother. It was platonic on her part, but I did everything in my power just to have her by my side. I ruined countless people just to touch her hand. Cort is all I have left of her. He’s the only one that makes me feel… something,” she mumbles and bites her lip.

“You want Cort?” I say in disgusted astonishment.

“Don’t be vulgar, Regina,” she scolds me. “He’s the
closet thing I have to a son.”

“You have a son,” I snort.

“The closest thing I have to a son with Celeste. I am excited about Katya’s pregnancy. I’m sure that Celeste will be blessed with a grandchild.”

“You’ll be blessed with a grandchild. You already have Ava,” I say incredulously and she just shrugs her fragile shoulders.

“I’m most angry with you, Regina,” she says in disappointment.

“Because I touched your husband,” I growl at her and she waves me off like that was no big deal.

“Adelaide,” she simply states. “You are on the wrong side of the game. Someone who is all about female empowerment should be on the girls’ team.”

“Playing for your team or being on your team,” I stress and she laughs a tinkling sound.

“I can see why she loves you so. Hmm… it is a pity. You are very appealing to the female eye. But, alas, I mean on my side of the quest. The moment you fell for that vile man I had Adelaide back off. Love always ruins a woman’s reasoning skills.”

“Why are you disapp
ointed then?”

“I feel something for her. I was… upset,” she thinks for a moment. “Yes… upset that she touched you intimately. I thought you loved her. I needed you to keep her grounded. So much for the sisterhood you demand of your ladies. I had to cut her off because she’s no longer listening to me. I fear that she may actually need help at the asylum,” she says hopelessly. 

“What are you talking about?” My voice breaks with panic.

“I told her to leave Katya alone. At first it was entertaining. She and I had Ray released on parole, and we stalked Katya and watched her scramble. I pulled back when it upset Cortez. Ade went behind my back and continued to taunt her even after we found out she was pregnant. Nothing can happen to Celeste’s grandchild,” Diane
seethes.

“So
your pet slipped her collar,” I deadpan.

“Yes, exactly,” she says brightly because we understand each other.

“Why is this my fault?” I grumble.

“You always kept her in balance. She’s upset and feels alone and it’s making her chaotic. You need to make nice before it’s too late,” she stares up at me with guileless eyes and a beatific, evil smile.

Diane’s eyes gaze over my shoulder and her expression turns feral. A warm, possessive palm rests on the small of my back and I breathe a sigh of relief. I lean back into his touch and gain strength from my Master.

“The dancing is about to begin,” he says coldly.

As if by his command the band begins to play eclipsing the sound of the helicopter rotors.

“Thank you for asking, husband, I’d love to dance,” Diane says sweetly and places her hand on his forearm.

I’m not sure who he was asking but I find relief. I wasn’t ready to touch him and I’d do anything to get away from Diane. I spot my husband near the entryway to the terrace.

“Marcus, Diane,” I nod to them in turn and walk steadily to Whitt. I want to run but it would be undignified.

“She is by far the most insane, vile, evil creature I’ve ever met,” I whisper in his ear.
“At least you recognize it for what it is when you see it,” he sighs.
Daniel snickers and smirks at us as he walks by, undoubtedly he overheard our exchange.

“Shall we dance,” Whitt offers and whisks me down the steps to the dais.

“You should dance with Marc,” Whitt teases me after three songs.

“You should dance with Dalton,” I taunt. “
He’s stared at you all night.”

“Regina,” he says as if I exhaust him. “I’m straight…
remember. I can’t dance with a guy at an event filled with the press and a helicopter filming it. Besides he doesn’t want me that way.”

“You know who you re
mind me of?” I taunt him.

“Who?”
His dimples appear and I know he’s just making me say it out loud for my own benefit. He knows exactly who he’s acting like.

“Me- the disillusioned me who is in denial of her true feelings.
You like him, he obviously likes you. Go for it!” I coax him.

“I will negotiate terms. The duration of your dance with Marc, I will talk to Dalton,” he offers.
“Deal, but Marc doesn’t want to dance with me,” my voice quivers in nervousness.

“Hmm… disillusioned is the perfect word to describe you. Give him a taste to make his chase more rewarding,” Whitt teases and catches s
omeone’s eye over my shoulder.

Whitt gazes at me and smiles mischievously. He leans in and bites my pouting lip. I sputter a protest just as that possessive hand makes
a reappearance at the small of my back. My eyes flutter shut and snap back open when Whitt laughs.

“Laugh now, pretty boy. You just wait and see how you feel when Dalton touches your naughty parts,” I taunt him and he laughs harder.

“What is this I hear of naughty parts?” Marc smoothly asks as he draws me into a dance that’s too close to be friendly.

His hands traverse the landscape of my back and shoulders and his nose skims the column of my throat.

“I was trying to get him to talk to Dalton,” I stumble over my words because his presence unnerves me. I lick my suddenly dry lips and find no relief from my cotton-mouth.

“They like each other,” he chuckles.
“Look how shy they’re being.”

I smile as I watch them both shuffle from foot-to-foot while awkwardly trying to hold a conversation. Dalton has hit every member of Restraint with his douchebaggery except for me and Whitt.

I ignore the conversation we should be having and the sensation of how right it feels to be in his strong, supportive arms. He keeps trying to catch my eye and snickering when my gaze flits away.

“I will earn your respect back. I don’t care if it takes a lifetime. Eventually you will listen to wha
t I have to say,” he promises.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I ignore his attempts to tell
me why he’s behaved as he has.

“Regina,” he growls in frustration and
his fingers clench on my hip. 

“They look beautiful together,” I say in appre
ciation. “So perfect,” I purr.

Marc and I watch with goofy expressions on our faces as Cort and Ezra slow dance together. I look for Katya and notice that my husband is happily dancing and chatting with her. I push the jealousy down and try to ignore it. It isn’t jealousy over Whitt. It’s that she captures everyone’s attentions. I instantly feel shame over the thought.