Denial (Goblin's Kiss Series Book One) (17 page)

“Hurt me? I thought I was just
meeting the guy.” She blinked her eyes rapidly and bit her bottom
lip realizing she did, in fact, make a bad decision to come
here.

“Yes.
That
’
s exactly right. Just don
’
t give him cause
to...don
’
t chew your lip like that. You should have worn more clothes.
And don
’
t walk like that either.” Her butt was swaying just
right.

She flipped
around to face me. “Ames Cahn, get a grip. Being over critical of
what you don
’
t like about me
doesn
’
t help my confidence walking in there. I will walk how I
wish. If you don
’
t like it. DON
’
T
LOOK!”

Don
’
t like?
Don
’
t
like? Who said I didn
’
t like?

Jones met us at
the gate just past the hazed entry located outside Johnson City
where the mountainous roads met the beginnings of a world I belong
to. Humans can
’
t see past the mist, or haze as
we call it. It is a kind of shield that keeps our world invisible
to them. We have many places around the world, but the mountains
are where we originated long before the humans came to the
Americas. In fact, it was the humans who forced us
underground.

Knowing I could
count on Jones in a pinch, I had already warned him of the task the
king had sent me on. I came back last night between watching her
and allowing Wicker to watch her for the hour it took to come tell
Jones what I needed from him. The backup plan. He
wasn
’
t happy with me or the plan. And he would only help if it
meant he wouldn’t be caught in the web. Fair enough. This was my
downfall. I would go down alone or with the best girl in the world
by my side. The odds were stacked against me but did I
care?

“This is Emma,”
I presented her like the princess she was. She just
didn
’
t know it yet.

Emma reached a hand out for my man
Jones. He looked at it thinking only of what was expected of him
for her status. So when he took her small hand into his and kissed
the back of it, her sweet lips parted and created a big, round
O.

“It is more pleasing to meet you
than any other.”

That was subtle. I scowled in his
direction. He cleared his throat and made it into a
joke.

“What Cahn? You
didn
’
t treat her like the jewel she is. She should be clad in fine
lace and fed strawberries like the breath of fresh air she is.” He
winked at her. He was such a flirt.

She sighed some with the way
swoony moaning girls did when guys spouted off gooey stuff like
that. Maybe I would try it on her. Later. Alone.

When
we
’
re both not dead meat walking into the tenderizer of
doom.

I rolled my eyes and said, “Okay,
Romeo. We are leaving now.”

He winked again at my girl and I
had to push her into the door. Maybe I really would try some of
that poetic stuff. She was severely distracted.

However, when
she found out what I know about what would happen if I were to
shove a kiss on her, she might change her mind. Last
night
’
s research was fruitful, but worse than anything I feared. If
I could only keep my face off of hers we weren
’
t all doomed. Why did
no one ever tell me how to fix it? Why, because they were all dead.
Anyone left alive grew in the same realm I did and we all knew the
older ones would never talk about the past.

Inside the compound as I called
it, the first of many snaked their way to her. They knew who she
was so they would keep their boundaries.

Greeted, a kiss of the hand, and
off again. Each one gave her their undivided attention and she was
even more severely distracted than with Jones. I hoped like heck I
could get her out of here in one piece.

The door to the
open courtyard finally emerged and the first of her
“
future
” servants were standing at the ready. Would she see the
resemblance in uniform with me and them?

Katelyn stood by, but was silent
and patient. I think Emma would like her, but the situation was too
weird for new friendships inside the realm just yet.

Ellen was first.
She was a sweet girl. After weeks of preparing for Emma to come,
she was the most excited. She wanted everything to be perfect. I
didn
’
t think Emma would hate this life initially.
It
’
s
just not what the girl I
’
d met a few days ago would want.
She wouldn
’
t want to be caged and used as a
weapon like the man she would soon meet wanted for her. I had to
protect her from him.

“Hello, Emma. We are so excited to
have you here finally. My name is Ellen and I will help you with
anything you need.”

Emma guarded her smile and
replied, “Thank you. I am glad to be here. I am anxious but will
have to be gone by eight to be home in time.”

Ellen crossed
her face sideways, “
But
we
’
ve waited so long for you. You can
’
t leave. He
won
’t let
—

“That
’
s enough for now Ellen and
Katelyn. She just arrived. Let
’
s let her get acquainted with her
surroundings before we scare her with future plans.” I begged her
with my eyes and she complied reluctantly. I watched her kind face
fall with what she
’
d hoped would be a long afternoon
of pampering for presenting her to the king.

Ellen opened her mouth once and
closed it before saying, “Well, can we at least change her
clothes?”

This was when
Emma
’
s tiger struck first. “What
’
s wrong with my outfit?” She
placed both hands on her hips and stuck her chest out in
Ellen
’
s direction. I worried she might just
strike.

Ellen stuttered out with a hurried
glance to me, “Nothing, princess. I just meant...that you might
want to be more...presentable for the king.”

Great. Emma would turn and run now
and I would have to chase her being expected to lock her up for him
until he could get his hands on her.

“I think she
looks perfect,” I gave Emma an appreciative glance over. Though I
wasn
’
t sorry for her blush, I would remain a gentleman. The king
would most likely make up for that. When Emma saw what she had
coming, she would think I was a saint.

Emma let Ellen
walk behind the interior garden path with a slip to the bathroom
and managed to perfume her up and slip a diamond hair clip of some
kind in her hair. I
’
m betting my butt off that Emma
didn
’
t know the diamonds were real.

Emma would now
be taken back to the room where he would be perched upon a chair in
leisure and enjoying his
treats
. I hated this. I hoped she
was horrified and would see him for the scum that he
is.

We ascended the
stairs and walked in spirals. For the time being, I was thankful to
be the guard chosen to bring her to this fate because I was near
enough to stay with her every where she went. I
wasn
’
t to leave her side.

Ellen left us at
the entry door and would stay right inside. Emma
didn
’
t know she was her personal attendant who would never leave
her side.

I was suddenly aware of what was
taking place and could see all manner of scenarios in my
head.

He would tell her she had to stay,
no choice. She would say no and refuse him insisting to go home
with her tiny arms crossed over her chest and her hip sitting
sideways. He would fume red sparks and lock her up. And...I would
be the one to do it.

Brilliant.

Two guards, friends of mine, bowed
her in the door and matched her steps as she moved forward. Awkward
as she felt, she continued towards the inevitable goal.
It was now that I finally took my eyes off her and saw him up
there. Alone. With no bimbos. And he had...chocolates and soda pop.
Did he think she was five?

Ames was quiet
while we walked through the areas that I couldn
’
t identify or give
name too. The girl in the gorgeous blue ball-like gown with an
apron around her waist to cover its lacy bodice I could see peeking
out followed me everywhere. I almost thought she might join me in
the potty room, but she stood outside of it. Thank
goodness.

I could see inside the next room
where we stood in wait.

Everything here was elaborate and
decorative to a large extent with a primitive dome-like ceiling
covered in colorless art. The picture depicted a cave with stacks
of gold and only two figures. With crowns on their head, I assumed
them to be the king and queen. A small baby with stark green eyes
was sandwiched between them. The walls were even a gold color and
matched the benches in the open area with the tons of flowers. I
loved that place most of all.

The path paved
with good intentions. I
’
d heard that once. Well, someone
lied. Cuz
’
the next room I entered had not so good
intentions.

The guards followed my every step
after Ellen dropped off. I was starting to think the royal
treatment was too much. If I was just this lowly relative then why
all the droolfest attention.

Suddenly Ames bowed in my
direction and then to some guy.

The most
gorgeous guy I have ever seen in my life stood in front of me, two
steps up, and holding his hand out to me. I wanted to pick up my
teeth that fell out and slam them back in. I just stared at him.
His dark eyes were narrow and sexy. His matching dark hair was
cropped short and a little bit of stubble sprinkled his chin. I
took in the whole package like a stalker girl would. I found him
strongly built and well fit. He was wearing some kind of midnight
blue that was a few shades shy of black pull over shirt that
matched his eyes and black slacks of some kind. Combat boots and a
ring. The ring caught my eye last. It sparkled in the light though
it wasn
’
t a shiny kind of ring. Thick and wound around his right hand
ring finger. He was quite the hotness and I was panting more than I
should.

Joshlin greeted me with a sexy
smile to go with the look. The girl named Ellen told me the king's
name. It was who Wicker had mentioned. Things were getting
odder.
“Jem.” His voice fit the rest of him. I was drawn in instantly. “I
hope you found your journey a happy one.” His eyes slid off me for
a small second to Ames before returning to me.

I, however, was in search for
freckles. I really wanted to know if it was a few or all of us who
were part of that freak club.

Careful observation told me no,
but I could only see so much skin.

Finding my voice
I finally managed to say, “Ames was very helpful.” Now that I
thought about it, the king looked nothing like what
I
’
d
pictured. He was all smooth like silk where Ames was all rough
around the edges. They kind of resembled each other in mannerisms,
but nothing else. Here I was comparing them like it would amount to
something other than a teenage lustfest.

I looked to Ames for the first
time since coming in the room with Mr. Holy Distraction. His face
was expressionless but before I turned back to the guy waiting for
me, I thought I caught a glitch of anger in his eyes. Checking his
emo meter I found the same. What was that about? His warning about
the man's intentions?

“Jem—Emma. Will
you join me?” his voice drew me back in. It was like a spell but
not nearly as mesmerizing as Ames. Where Joshlin was all suave,
Ames was rugged and tough. They were both sexy in their own way
holding a singular affect on any girl they encounter. Comparing
them yet again, I couldn
’
t help but get a feeling coming
from this Joshlin.

I moved not of my own volition to
the table where I found all...my favorite foods. I surveyed the
table. It was covered with chocolate, strawberries, cheese, the
little sausages, crackers, and more. I saw a drink was poured for
me. I was leery of that.