Orange Is The Color Of Untamed Urges

Chapter 6

Trinity stared at herself in the mirror. She had refused to eat dinner last night, refusing to even be in the same room as the ignorant man. She had paced for what felt like hours before realizing that she had played right into the man's game.

He had been trying to scare her off and had nearly succeeded! Her heart was still pounding thinking about it. His lips had been...soft and his tongue had been firm.

She blushed furiously. What was she thinking?

She raised her hand, brushing her lips with the back of her hand. He had had no right to kiss her, she had not given him permission to do something so intimate.

She stood, taking a moment to take a deep, calming breath. She had only made it through one day here and yet it already felt as if she had been here a month.

She gripped her dress in her hands before moving out of the room and heading down the hallway. She intended on confronting the man head on today. She needed to establish boundaries, set up rules! She would not let him scare her off. She was not a coward! She was a Hugh! And Hughs did not run away!

She climbed down the stairs with quick feet before making a swift line for the door. The doorman pulled it open for her and she thanked him quickly as she walked through it, the sun shining down on her caramel skin. She shielded her eyes as she rounded the house, headed for the stable.

She hoped to find him there.

"Artair?" She called out as she pulled the stable door open. She searched around but sighed in frustration when she realized that he was not there. She moved to leave but froze as she nearly knocked into the small stable boy.

He was carrying a bucket of water in his small arms. She reached down to help him and he stared up at her with wide eyes. "Let me help you." She said with a soft smile as she grabbed for one end of the bucket.

His blue eyes widened and he shook his head, "Um...no, you don't have to, I'm strong!"

She grinned at him, "I'm sure you are, I don't doubt it. But I nearly made you spill it and this is my way of apologizing, you wouldn't deny me a clear conscious now would you?"

He blinked up at her before blushing, "No ma'am, not at all."

They carried the water to one of the stalls, placing it on the floor.

She held out her hand, "I'm Trinity and who are you?"

The boy blushed harder before taking her hand tentatively, "Ean. My names Ean."

"Well, it's nice to meet you Ean. I could use a friend while I'm here." She mumbled to him.

He met her gaze before grinning up at her. "I'd sure like that ma'am."

"Oh, just call me Trinity, ma'am sounds so impersonal."

He looked up at her for a while before tilting his head, curiosity exploding in his blue eyes. He bit down on his bottom lip in thought and she laughed, "What's on your mind, Ean?"

He blushed again, his gaze sliding to the hay covered floor. "I'm sorry for staring."

"It's alright. Is there something you want to say to me?"

"Are you going to marry Artair?" Ean asked in a rush of words, his eyes wide.

Trinity grit her teeth, there was hope in the child's eyes. She groaned inwardly as she realized that everyone she had talked to all expected her to work magic on the man. She was not a magician in anyway shape or form. But the look in Ean's big blue eyes held her hostage for a moment. She had always been a sucker for children, they did something to her. They played with her heart strings in the worst way.

"I...I-," before she could answer Artair's voice boomed over the both of them, causing them to jump in surprise.

"You're still here, woman?" He asked as leaned against the wall beside the stable doors.

"You tried to scare me off with that kiss yesterday but I'm not sorry to tell you that I'm not so easily frightened."

He raised a brow, a scowl growing on his face.

Ean suddenly spoke up, "You kissed?"

Trinity blushed, Artair shrugged before waving Ean over. "That's none of ya' business, lad."

Ean limped over to Artair, his arms spread open. Artair picked the boy up with ease, one arm underneath his knees and with his free hand he startled ruffling the boy's hair. Ean laughed but pretended to protest, fixing his hair haphazardly.

"How are feelin' today?" Artair asked with genuine concern.

Trinity watched the change in him, shocked at how quickly he went from being rude and brutish to kind and fatherly. It surprised her but she couldn't help but stare at the scene before her. It was almost as if she were staring at father and son...she almost felt as if she were eaves dropping on their time together.

As if sensing her apprehension Artair whispered something in Ean's ear before placing him back down on his feet. Ean smiled at her, "It was nice meeting you, Trinity." He said before leaving the two of them alone in the stable.

Trinity smiled at Ean, saying good-bye to him before he disappeared.

"You're very good with him." She said with a soft smile.

Artair frowned at her, running a hand through his shiny brown locks. He shrugged, "I do not do anything special."

"He has a limp...have you noticed it? I don't think it's wise for him to be working...with the...horses...," her voice trailed off as Artair's whole body grew rigid. His face twisted up as he glared down at her, his brows knitted together.

"You think I do not know he has a limp? He has a bum leg but I will not baby him, woman. He is a boy and he'll grow into a man, I willna' baby him, he will be strong and I'll make sure of it."

Trinity stared at him, her heart pounding in her ears. She hadn't expected that from him at all. From what she'd seen and dealt with regarding this man, she hadn't expected him to be capable of anything expect barbaric thoughts. But after hearing the passion in his voice she couldn't help but smile at him a little.

"You're good to him, I'm glad." She mumbled.

Artair stared at her for a moment, shock on his face. She was a pretty woman but with a smile on her face...she was like a vision. It was the first time she had smiled at him and for some reason he couldn't help but want that smile to stay on her face.

"You shouldna' look at me that way, do not tempt me, woman. And stay out of the stables." He said starkly as he stood upright and walked out, leaving her to watch him go. Her smile disappeared and she scowled.

"Tempt you?" She asked in confusion but he was already gone.

"You brute...," she murmured, picking the skirt of her dress up as she headed for the door. "But you're not all bad. Maybe this will go a lot smoother than I originally thought."

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