Graham soothed Emma to sleep with a sedative he inserted into her tea. She did not panic when she felt dizzy and her vision hazed; she simply allowed the dark sleep to overpower her.
He carried her to his bed and tucked her in once the drug took effect, then left her in peace.
For hours she was drowned in her sleep. But when the sun fell down and darkness took over the realm, she awoke. Her body did not feel tense but a strong migraine, a lot more in comparison to a death headache, pounded her head that made it difficult for her to see steady.
She turned her head and found three uneasy shadows moving behind the screen. It was Graham. She looked the other way when he stepped out of the screen. He went toward her and sat on the side of the bed.
His hand went to her hair and stroked a tendril away from her eyes. "Slept well?"
She held her head with both her hands and gave him a small, careful nod.
"Are you hungry? I sent a maid earlier with your dinner."
She shook her head gently.
"You must eat, Emma. You'll need your strength."
"Did you drug my food too?"
He smiled and shook his head. "No, beautiful, I have not."
"I still don't want it."
Emma moved her hands in between her sides, while pressing her palms against the bed she then positioned her arms to pull herself to sit upright. She almost failed but succeeded with all the effort she could make with her ill body. Graham's hand crept down to her back and pulled her forward to his chest. Before his arms had the opportunity to embrace her small frame, she pushed him away angrily.
"Don't. Touch. Me."
"That sleep certainly didn't do the trick to soften you up. Do you want any more of that sedative, my love? I have plenty up my sleeve."
"Graham, we need to talk."
"Anything."
"You don't seem to understand the horrible shit you led us both into."
"On the contrary, Emma, I know it very well."
"No you don't. You can't seem to get the idea in your head that we are strangers; we don't know each other. And yet you brought be here and informed me a few hours ago that this is my home. No, this is not my home. I do not belong here. I need to leave and return back where I came from."
"Emma -"
Emma lifted her hand in defense. She confidently licked her lips and prepared herself on her next speech, yet made a personal effort to keep her voice soft and low for her head continued to ache, however, her vision was finally returning to clarity.
"I don't like you, Graham. And there's no way in hell I'm going to start doing that now."
"I don't expect you to feel the same way for me, Emma. But that doesn't change my mind on my arrangement."
"Do you hear yourself? I hate you, Graham. Hate you. You need to take me back to the bakery. Now. Now, Graham."
"I cannot allow that."
"I don't want to be here. I don't."
She fought the idea from the beginning to never use desperation. But at this moment, she cannot help but expose every bit of it. Yet, it seems to be nowhere effective for he simply looked down at her with the same dangerous firmness in his eyes, and wrapped his fingers in the back of her neck. The nape of her neck plunged almost slightly to the palm of his hands as she gulped hard and tried to press hard to his hand to back away from him.
"What am I to you then? Suppose I stay here. Just what do you see me as? Not a slave, I hope."
"I have not decided on that just yet. But in the mean time, consider your stay here as a permanent residence. Within time, I will decide what you'll be newly labeled as. During that period, behave yourself and remain here as I say, then all will be well. I'm certain I'll be able to sleep more fondly from now on..And have little fun too."
Graham violently forced her lips hard to his and hungrily devoured her mouth. She angrily fought him and turned her cheek to the other side. He laughed wickedly and kissed her across her jaw line all the way to one of her earlobes. In frustration, she pushed him away and freed herself from his iron grip. Before she had the chance to leave the bed, he grabbed her and pulled her back down.
"You are to stay here with me. If you like I will personally inform the news to your family, but that is all I can grant."
But Killian will be back. He will be. How will he find me with me gone? I need to be there and wait for him.
"I can think of one million horrible things that could happen to me right now. And this is definitely one of them. I hate you, Graham. There is no future with us, and I will never let you get your way with me..Never. All this is not worth the risk, Graham. You're wasting your time."
"I'll be the judge of that if this arrangement displeases me in the end." He stood from the bed and headed to the door. "I will go to your family at once and inform them the news. Stay here while I'm gone."
"You're not going to tell them anything. Hey!" She crawled out of the bed sheets and gazed ahead of him. "I can't stay here! You can't keep me here!"
"Try to sleep while I'm gone. You'll need your rest."