Romance: Sold To The Alpha Dragon: BBW Paranormal Shapeshifter Romance (BBW Romance, Paranormal, BBW Shifter Romance) (2 page)

Chapter 3

“I guess…” Maria said.

As she walked up the white stone staircase, she grazed her hand along the soft tulips that were in the prime of their lives. Most were white and yellow. She caught Will smirking at her and she stopped admiring the flowers and topiaries that lined the entire house.

She examined the mansion instead, thinking she could find a possible escape route or secret side door or window in case she needed to safely get out of Will’s grip.

She didn’t truly believe Will would hurt her but she reminded herself that even her own uncle had the ability to appear gentle.

Will opened one side of the wooden double doors and released Maria’s hand. She looked inside and then back at Will, realizing that she could run away and take a chance on running to the next village, possibly starting over, finding a welcoming Christian family to take her in, to find a job.

But something in the house was so warm and calling for her to enter. She peered inside the foyer and took a step into the large ancient-looking home with its decorative wooden columns lining the spiral staircase.

She stared down the hall. A long wooden table and chairs. A black chandelier hung over a large statue of a dragon perched on a stone. Maria was surprised that it wasn’t scary to her. It just stared at the ground, like she had done for most of her life. She guessed that it was brass.

Will followed Maria inside and flipped the switch to reveal how bright the dark home was. The wood was shiny and the marble floors were so white, Maria was afraid to walk on them.

“It’s nice,” Maria half-whispered, still staring at the dragon.

“The house or the statue?” Will asked.

“Both. Is it from your clan?” Maria assumed Will inherited the statue.

“Um… yes.” Will quickly looked away with a sigh and rubbed his hands together.

“You stay here, and I’ll grab some bread, cheese, grapes? Or do you want a meal? Of course, we’d have to wait for Mrs. Hogan-“

“You have a cook?” Maria asked.

“I have a maid too.” Will smiled.

In the light, Maria could finally see how white his teeth were. And How perfectly shaped his lips were.

“Bread is fine,” Maria replied. “I’m more tired than anything.”

“Then go on upstairs,” Will said.

“You can sleep in the bedroom. Fourth door down the right wing.”

Maria was excited to walk up the stairs and explore for a little while. When Will turned his back, Maria watched him walk with confidence past the dining room to a hallway she couldn’t see.

When he was out of sight, she ran up the stairs and reveled in the green drapes hanging down from ceiling high windows. She only looked down the left wing and saw endless doors on both ends.

She headed down the right wing, being used to obeying most orders. But she didn’t go into the fourth room.

There was a black door, different from the other gold ones, to her left. Since it was ajar, Maria only lightly pushed it open to reveal a king sized bed with gold bedding. The room had the same green drapes and tall windows throughout the room.

Maria flipped the switch to see the room glow with gold-rimmed lampshades and a gold door that she assumed was the closet. She opened it to find a huge walk-in room with rows and rows of designer shoes and women’s skirts, sweaters, and blouses.

A few gowns hung in the back. One, a light blue gown, caught Maria’s eye with its beaded bodice and taffeta skirt.

She thought she heard a door squeak open. She quickly whipped her head around to find Will standing behind her with a tray of food and pitcher of water.

“Didn’t mean to scare you,” Will said with a laugh.

“No reason to be jittery around here. Well…” Will paused and looked down. “You can feel safe here for a few weeks. Until you’re all healed up.”

“Then why not take me to a doctor if you’re so worried about me,” Maria snapped back.

She wanted to like him and think that he was a good person, but she didn’t trust him yet.

“If we go to a doctor, we’ll have to explain that your uncle caused this.”

Will paused and glanced up at Maria, who nodded.

“And I don’t think you want him to get into trouble. Unless you want to tell someone.”

Maria shook her head and said, “Who would run the pharmacy? He knows everyone in town and what they need. All their health…”

“And I’m sure you don’t want to alienate family. Even if they are…”

“Don’t talk about him like you know him,” Maria spat back.

She didn’t want him to judge her for seeming like a weak little girl who needed the protection of her uncle, even if it might have been true.

“Or me.”

Will defensively put up one hand and set the tray on the bedside table. Maria leaned back and fell on top of the bed, which she didn’t know was behind her.

Will held out both hands. Maria didn’t take them. She just stared at him angrily; trying to bring out the bad man in him that she secretly believed existed in him.

Maria knew that if he showed his harsh side, she wouldn’t be attracted to him and, therefore, it would be easier for her to leave him and escape. Start a new life.

“No,” Maria said, refusing his hands.

She spread across the bed and spread her legs open more.

“Just get it over with.”

“What?” Will said, sitting on the bed next to her.

“I’m serious about those wounds. You have to get better before going back home. And you need to eat because you look like you haven’t eaten in a while.”

He handed her a bowl of grapes, which she reluctantly took. He grabbed a handful of cheese and headed for the door.

“Wait,” Maria called out.

“You’re not going to-“

“You’re not a whore, Maria,” Will softly said.

“I won’t hurt you. Or touch you. I promise. Act the way you want to be treated.”

With that, Maria stood and walked over to him. She decided that he was mostly good and trustworthy.

“I’m sorry I was snooping,” Maria began.

“Thank you for everything. Where is my room?”

“You can stay in here if you like. But this room may be a bit dusty. No one has slept in here since my parents died,” Will said in a monotone voice.

“I’m sorry.”

“Your parents are gone too,” Will said.

“You don’t have to be sorry.”

Will left abruptly and shut the door in Maria’s face. She thought it was a bit rude but then noticed how tired she was.

After a few grapes and the entire bread and cheese plate, the silky sheets in the bed felt so relaxing. She didn’t even remember falling asleep.

Chapter 4

Maria woke up in the middle of the night with a giant headache. She poured herself some water from the pitcher and drank out of it, what she thought, was the nicest piece of glass to ever touch her mouth.

She drew the drapes open and saw the light blue night sky. There was a pond in the distance that reflected the moon, which helped her see the beautiful garden that had an intricate walkway that lead into the woods.

She contemplated going outside to explore but knew that her undershirt tee and boy-short underwear wouldn’t protect her from the cold. So she stole a white robe from Will’s mother’s closet.

She didn’t feel sleepy. She actually felt rested and decided to walk down the hallway to see what was down the left wing. The hallway was longer and darker than she expected.

Maria got to the end and saw a light emitting from the furthest door down another hallway to the left. She looked back, wondering if she could find her way back to her room.

The curiosity pushed her enough to enter the glowing room. There was no one there. Nothing but a large billiards table and television hanging on the wall stuck out from the bland beige carpet and walls.

A few tan loveseats lined the walls and sat in front of the television. A rustling from the closet behind the billiards table startled Maria. She turned away to get out of the room, but she wasn’t quick enough.

“I’m sorry I didn’t see you there,” said a soft female voice.

Maria turned around to see a tiny middle-aged woman with black pants and button-up shirt that matched her pitch black, clearly dyed, curly short hair.

She held a vacuum attachment, a spray bottle and a few rags.

“I’ll get out of your way,” the lady said. “Didn’t know William had a guest in this hallway.”

“He- he didn’t,” Maria stuttered.

“I was…”

“You were exploring. Trying to figure him out.” The lady laughed and nodded.

Maria felt relieved that the lady, who she assumed was the maid, was friendly and seemed understanding.

“He’s a hard one to figure out,” Maria replied with an equally haughty chuckle.

“I’m Maria.”

“Well, if you need anything, call on Mrs. Gilbert,” the maid said, pointing at herself.

“Will do,” Maria said as she proceeded to exit.

“But if you were trying to figure him out,” Mrs. Gilbert said, stopping Maria, “I wouldn’t.”

“Excuse me?”

“It’s not my place, but he’d not want you to snoop.” Mrs. Gilbert paused.

Maria gave her a horrified look.

“I’m not being rude. If you get in trouble, though, I’ll get you out.”

Mrs. Gilbert winked at Maria and shooed her away with a gentle hand. Maria nodded and bid her goodnight.

The maid replied with a smartass comment.

“It’s early morning.”

Maria didn’t feel turned off by Mrs. Gilbert but she did wonder what she meant. Of course no one likes a snoop, but Maria thought she was in the right direction since she was sleeping in a stranger’s home.

With a stranger who could assume it as his business to hurt her. She was being cautious. Not a snoop. What worried her more was Mrs. Gilbert’s warning.

Why talk about Will as if he was such a complicated person?

She returned to her hallway and gently, trying to be quiet, pushed her door open. It squeaked.

She felt a presence walk up behind her.

“Were you looking for something? Bathroom?” Will asked.

“Um, yes,” Maria answered.

She turned around to see his perfectly tanned and sculpted abs. She tried her hardest not to stare.

“I found it.”

“Funny,” Will said, pointing in the opposite direction from which Maria came.

“Bathroom’s that way. Let’s get breakfast and then clean up those wounds.” He started towards the stairs.

“And you’ll have a bath!”

Chapter 5

Maria and Will sat across from each other at the long dining table. The silence between their bites of potatoes and eggs bothered Maria. Made her skin crawl. She took a long time chewing to stare at Will who cut his food so precisely and with such grace.

When he took a bite, she did think it was odd he opened his mouth so wide and bit with so much ferocity. Like his food was a giant piece of meat. Maria closed her eyes and imagined him biting her that way. On her neck. On her thigh. Anywhere.

She watched him lick grease from his peachy lips, wanting to touch them and kiss them herself.

He stopped chewing and stared at her.

“What is it?” he asked with a mouthful of food.

Maria laughed.

“Don’t chew with your mouth open.”

“I’m sorry,” Will said, smiling and embarrassingly looking down at his messy plate.

“I was hungry. Are you almost finished?”

Maria only had a few bites left, so she nodded and put down her fork.

She followed Will up to the restroom. It was painful for Maria to walk. Her knee and thigh throbbed with every step.

The bathroom was so pearly white and flawlessly clean that it made her forget about the unhealthy state she was in.

The tub was centered in the middle of the marble floor with hung ceiling lights surrounding it. Brass accessories, like dragon-shaped towel-holders, lined the walls.

“This is gorgeous,” Maria stated breathlessly.

Will took out a few towels from a brass cabinet and handed them to Maria. She sat on a stool next to the tub and hung the towels over the side. 

Will stared at her knee. Maria noticed and tried to cover the bloody scab with the bottom of her robe. Some of the dried blood spread to her thigh.

Will bent on one knee and opened her robe, tapping the dried wound.

“Don’t worry,” Will almost whispered.

He turned on the faucet in the tub and wet half of a washcloth. He pressed it against Maria’s wound, which made her quickly suck air in her mouth. Whatever intimate heat she felt while Will was so close to her legs, it was gone because of the pain.

She looked up at the ceiling to avoid revealing the pain in her face to Will. She realized how many bruises she had up and down her arms and back too.

She reached behind her to rub the bruised back of her neck. It burned to touch, so she pulled away quickly.

Will gently wrapped two fingers on both sides of her chin and moved her head from side to side.

“What’s wrong? I don’t see any blood anywhere else,” Will said, examining her body.

“Nothing. My back,” Maria answered.

He took her hands and made her stand up. He untied Maria’s robe with just one finger. Her heart raced as the silky robe fell to her ankles, revealing her curvy thighs and bottom with only her underwear.

She tried to cover her protruding nipples under her white tee with her hands, but Will grabbed her shoulders and stroked both arms, pulling them apart.

Maria felt vulnerable and exposed. She didn’t feel unsafe this time, though. She watched Will examine her side and walk around her.

He stroked certain parts of her body and pressed on her side.

“Does that hurt?” he asked.

Maria shook her head.

He pressed on her middle back, which made Maria squirm away from him. He grabbed her waist and kept her from falling over.

“It’s okay. I’m sorry,” he whispered.

He stood directly behind her and lifted her shirt.

“Tell me how badly it hurts. We want to make sure nothing’s broken.”

Maria stood still, frozen, enjoying Will’s breath on her neck.

When he spoke behind her ear, he sent shivers down her spine that made Maria feel electrified.

“Are- are you a doctor?” Maria asked.

“I studied some,” Will began. “I learned from my father, who was a doctor.” Will gently wiped hot water on her back wounds.

“Is that why you live in a mansion?” Maria asked, chuckling.

“Yes,” Will responded quickly. There was a long pause before he said, “And I make business deals in Edinburgh. Selling real estate. I’m good with money. So I help businesses with theirs too.”

Maria accepted the vague answer and asked, “Then why were you in the village yesterday?”

“I go there every once in a while,” he answered. “I have a few friends who I like to visit every few weeks or so. We were friends as kids.”

“Then why didn’t you live in the village?”

“My father didn’t want me living around a lot of people,” Will quietly said.

“He, um, wanted me to focus on my studies. And he loved living in a big place with my mom and me in seclusion. It was peaceful.”

Will put Maria’s shirt back down and walked to the door.

He turned around to face her and smiled.

“Take a bath and I’ll send Mrs. Gilbert up with clothes,” he ordered as he left.