My lord and his mistress

Chapter 13

" I... I wanted to see... how I made you feel. It was like a punch in the face, wasn't it?" He whispered. I nodded.

" Even if I fell in love with you the same way I did with Rosè, do you truly think it would be that easy? You realize it was Joshua that sent me? You realize I couldn't stand a chance against him?" He said, not once raising his voice. I sighed. He was so right.

" I don't want Joshua." I whispered into his arm.

" I was working in his home. He... liked me, and did small things for me that no one else really noticed. I could talk to him, without him judging me. Than, he confessed he actually loved me. I loved him too, but... He wanted... He wanted to replace a void I could not fill. His wife went off and cheated on him with-"

" I know the rest from there. You begged him to stay when he wanted to send you away. Under the condition that he lie with you. You hoped you might get pregnant, which would force him to stay. But... You did not." He chuckled

" You don't get it... I was normal before all this idiocy. I went to school, I had a boyfriend and I had friends... I had so much to look forward to!" I whined. He chuckled. I frowned at his behavior.

" Than... I got kidnapped and thrown somewhere in France... I got a job in exchange for a place to crash. And little did I know..." I said glumly. Michael nodded, understanding.

" Please tell me you won't cry." He pouted.

" I will not cry." I said, sighing.

" Anyway... how did... your mother pass, if you don't mind?"

" Head on collision with a drunk driver speeding 15 above the speed limit. "

" That sucks." I frowned. He nodded.

" How old are your sisters?"

" Younger than you. 2 are 12, 1 is 14 and the other is 17." He responded. I kept my face down. I didn't know what was to be done. I didn't know if Joshua was coming back to get me or anything. We let the weeks go by, letting us simply play our roles. I never felt a real sense of time anymore. I just maintained a mundane schedule with Michael.

" Good morning, Michael."

" Good morning, Bella. Any requests this morning?"

" Maybe some blueberry waffles and eggs? But like, the eggs sandwiched in between." I respectfully requested. He nodded. I patiently waited, making sure not to disturb him.

" You're awfully quiet." He pointed out.

" I didn't want to interrupt you."

" Oh. Don't worry about that."

" If you could ever go back... would you change anything?" I waited patiently for him to respond.

" I wouldn't, as much as it would seem appealing. Everything I've been through has shaped me into who I am today. So, I don't think I would go back and change a thing, no matter how bad it hurt." I heard the slight pain in his voice. I couldn't help but cringe.

" Well when you put it that way..." I mumbled. He chuckled and served my breakfast. My eyes glistened. I reached my arms out to him. He stood there, looking at me funny.

" I want a hug."

" Am I given a choice to object?" I frowned at his statement. He pat my head. I growled.

" What am I? A puppy to you?" I snarled. His laugh was a sweet melody I couldn't get out of my head. I walked over to the cabinet. The maple syrup was all the way at the top. He knew I wouldn't reach it. He tried not to smile.

" You did that on purpose, didn't you?" I growled. I huffed and grabbed a chair. I balanced my weight on top of it. I reached for the maple syrup that Michael swiped from my grasp. I was going to get off this wobbly chair and murder him. I tried to get off, but I got my footing wrong. Michael quickly caught me and placed me right on my feet. I pouted, upset that he put me through this. He smiled sheepishly.

" I'm sorry, Bella. I didn't... mean for you to almost get hurt." He said. He hugged me to him. I blushed.

" I thought you wished to object, Michael."

" I don't this time." He whispered calmly. I sighed and hugged back.

" Thank you for making me breakfast. And saving my ass."

" Don't say that word." He whispered. I nodded. He let go and sat me down to eat. I grabbed the syrup and poured. I ate my food. I heard him crunch on a piece of toast.

" In all the time you've been here, I've never heard or seen you eat."

" I could say almost the same for you," he chuckled at one of our first big memories. He carefully bit a piece of toast.

" Is that all you're eating?"

" Yes." He said, as if that was all it ever was. I patted the seat next to me. He sat. I sliced a portion of waffle. I grabbed a fork and placed it between us. He came closer to try it. As soon as he closed his eyes, I took the food away and kissed him. He was absolutely stunned at the short kiss.

" Thank you so much for saving my ass." I giggled.

" Despite the fact that my girlfriend had breast cancer, I was always a boobs kind of guy." He said shrugging. I shoved the food at him and he ate it.

" As good as that was, please don't do that again."

" I'll try not to." I laughed. He couldn't help but smile. His head dropped to the table with no warning and I gasped.

" Stop." He protested. I tried to help him, but he insisted. I left him alone.

" Seriously, I'm fine. My head just... hurts." He whispered. I cringed as I saw his softly bruised forehead. He closed his eyes.

" I'm punishing myself." He said glumly.

" For what?"

" For letting that slip... I did not mean to say that." He said, taking my fork and feeding me. I ate until my plate was finished. He washed everything and almost disappeared. I huffed. I got up and slid in my chair. I didn't get him sometimes.