Chapter Seven: Squeezed

When the two cars arrived at the entrance of the quidditch match, everybody inside was bombarded with journalists and photographers. Regan was slightly disturbed when she was forced to take Lucius's arm, but she pushed the revolt from her mind. She was just happy to be outside. Despite wanting to avoid it, Regan was quickly a source of curiosity. The reporters called out for her name, but she kept her mouth shut and her eyes down. Lucius also refused to give away any details; he just smiled and waved to the flashing bulbs of the cameras.

They took their seats at the top box and as soon as they sat down, the game began. Regan hadn't really gotten a chance to see a match, the few offered at Hogwarts were ignored due to studies and not really caring, so she was actually eager to see them play. Sadly, Lucius insisted on speaking the entire time and wouldn't give Regan a moment of peace. She even missed the moment when the seeker caught the snitch twenty-five minutes into the game and consequently ended the match. Regan was actually disappointed; she had wanted to watch a good, long match. Her stomach was in knots when Lucius once again insisted that Regan ride with him. This time, Astoria did not object. She merely got into the car after Draco and shut the door while Lucius patiently waited for Regan.

"It's getting cold out," he reminded her as the sun slowly began to set. "Get inside, let me warm you."

Regan wanted nothing more than to slam the door in his face and run away as fast as she could, but she knew that she wouldn't get very far in heels. So she climbed inside, but made sure to glue herself to the door to stay as far away as possible. It hadn't mattered, though, because he was quickly pressed against her with his arm around her shoulders as soon as the car lurched forward.

"You look beautiful," he muttered, his hot breath fanning across her neck. Regan kept her eyes focused out the window, ignoring the hand that was gripping her shoulder.

"Thank you sir," she whispered, her hands gripping the edge of her skirt with her fingers shaking.

"You shouldn't be afraid of me, I only wish to please you." His free hand rested on her knee, moving across the smooth skin.

"I don't want this." She whispered. Lucius gently kissed the spot behind her ear, nuzzling his nose into her hair.

"Let me prove to you that you need it."

Lucius squeezed her knee to emphasize his point. Regan tightly shut her eyes, feeling his hand slowly move up her leg into uncharted territory. They only opened again when his fingers brushed against her most intimate area, earning him a small gasp. Her eyes locked with the driver's who had clearly been watching them the whole time. She silently pleaded with him, asking him to do something to make this torture end. While Lucius was busy kissing and licking Regan's neck, the driver began to speed up much to Regan's relief. She mouthed him a 'thank you' with a nod to acknowledge his subtle kindness. After a swift ten minute drive, they arrived just as Lucius was removing his jacket. He looked up, clearly startled.

"That was fast," he murmured as Regan pulled down her dress hem and bolted from the car.

"Goodnight sir!" She called out as she rushed through the front door. Instead of going to her new room on the top floor, she ducked down into the servant's quarters. Natalie would let her stay the night; there was no way that she would ever turn her away. Regan knocked eagerly on the white door, her heart pounding. Her light was off, but there was no way that she could be asleep yet. She began to fidget as she waited for the door to open, intently listening to Lucius's slow footsteps. She could tell that he was contemplating whether or not he should go and find Regan to finish what he had started. Luckiliy, she didn't have to wait long to find out.

"What are you doing down here?" Natalie asked as she opened the door and took in Regan's disheveled appearance.

"May I Please come in?" Regan asked, forcing herself to smile. Natalie nodded, stepping aside and allowing Regan inside. The room looked exactly as it did when Regan had first moved in. They had yet to hire a new maid, which was actually surprising to Regan. Many people would kill to work in the Malfoy household.

"Are you all right?" Natalie asked. Regan pulled the fascinator from her hair, shrugging off her tight jacket.

"Just thought I'd come and…spend the night, I've missed you." Natalie's eyes seemed to light up, but she still looked confused.

"You didn't bring any pajamas," she commented, quirking her head to the side like a troubled dog.

"I can sleep in my knickers, it's fine." Regan quickly said as she kicked off her shoes, literally hearing her feet let out an exclamation of joy upon their new freedom.

"Regan, if something happened at the quidditch match, you can tell me." Natalie quietly insisted. "I won't judge you…I'm your friend, I would never judge you." Regan's heart almost broke at the tragic expression on Natalie's face.

"I know Natalie," Regan said with a soft smile. "Nothing happened at the match, I just really missed you."

And that was the truth...sort of.

Regan was hating her life of solitude and had missed Natalie's smiling face. She had also missed her constant chatter.

"Alright," Natalie said with a soft smile. "Do you want to borrow a night shirt?" Regan nodded, pushing back her hair.

"Sure, if you've got one to spare." Natalie rushed to her dresser, pulling out a clean, faded yellow shirt.

"I always have one to spare for you."

Regan slept peacefully for the first time in weeks. Since it was Sunday, she would not have to do anything for Lucius and could do as she pleased. She slept in until ten and ate a lazy breakfast with Natalie and a few other maids. They pestered Regan all morning with questions about the Malfoy family. Regan could see in their eyes that they greatly admired the powerful family, and it disgusted her. She gave brief answers until Natalie finally made them stop and shooed them away. It was then Natalie who turned to Regan to ask her questions. Regan answered the few questions that she had patiently, smirking to herself. Everybody acted as if Regan had been blessed to get such a fortunate job.

Oh if only they knew…

"A whole room, all to yourself?" Natalie asked with wide eyes. Regan nodded as the pair slowly walked up the back staircase to the private third floor.

"Yes, but I don't spend much time in my room, I'm always busy."

"This is so wonderful, I've never been to the third floor!" Natalie said eagerly. Regan smirked, pulling out her narrow key and just as she went to slip it into the lock, the door swung open. Regan almost toppled down the stairs as she and Natalie were suddenly confronted with the smooth figure of Master Lucius. He smirked when he saw her, his hair pulled into a low ponytail. Regan felt heat rush to her face as she stood staring up at him, mentally cursing her state of dress, wearing only her dress from the previous day.

"Good afternoon, Natalie." Lucius said, his eyes turning to Natalie as she stood half hidden behind Regan. "Would you mind going downstairs and telling Mr. Harvey that I would like tea for Ms. Westwood and myself?"

Natalie could only nod before turning tail and running down the stairs. When her footsteps had diminished, Lucius reached forward and slowly took away Regan's shoes and her wrinkled jacket.

"Go to the sitting room and wait for me." He said, stepping inside to let her in. Regan gritted her teeth as she stepped past him and went to the room across from hers. The room was very simple with a few chairs and a large fireplace at the far side of the room. Regan had only been in here once and it was to take notes for Lucius during a meeting. She sat close to the fire, letting the heat warm her exposed legs. Lucius came into the room a moment later, carrying a small tray of tea and placing it down on the small table between them. "Did you sleep well?" Lucius asked as he began to slowly fix his cup of tea. Regan just stared at him silently, her hands remaining still in her lap as Lucius leaned back in his chair and took a careful sip of his tea. "I expect an answer." He said, his eyes suddenly darkening.

"I slept fine." She said, the words clearly forced. Lucius nodded before taking a quick sip of his tea and then setting it back down on the tray.

"Regan, I want to have a rather frank discussion with you." He began, for the first time appearing rather uncomfortable. "It has come to my attention that my behavior towards you has been…inappropriate."

Well no shit.

That was like saying the sky was blue.

"I apologize if my actions have made you uncomfortable, but it is difficult for me to hold back my attraction for you. To be frank: I find you very beautiful and desirable."

Regan wasn't buying any of the sweet words that dripped from his mouth.

He wanted to fuck her and dump her.

"I accept your apology, may I please go?" Lucius seemed surprised by her answer as she stood up to leave. Was he really expecting her to say something different? Did he expect her to be excited about this? He quickly hopped up and blocked her from leaving. When Regan tried to go around him, he took hold of both of her wrists to force her to stay put.

"I feel that I should make my intentions plain," he said. "I intent to court you…and then marry you."

Regan almost fell to the floor. How could he intent to marry her?

He didn't even know her!

"I have no desire to marry you." Regan said simply. "I'm sure that you could find somebody else that would kill for the chance to marry you."

"It's either marriage or I make you my mistress." Lucius said as he yanked her close, his hot breath once again fanning across her neck. "I am simply trying to keep you from being labeled a whore." Regan grimaced, trying to shrug away from him.

Like she needed to be protected by him...

"I have no interest in either position," she said through gritted teeth. Regan finally ripped herself from his grasp, stumbling back a couple of steps. "As soon as my parents have been found, I am leaving." Regan let out a mental cry of frustration, fighting the urge to smack herself. She hadn't meant to reveal her plans, but she hoped that if he knew that she would never be a permanent fixture in his home, he would give up on her. Why chase something that you could never have? Despite her most sincere hope, Lucius just smirked at her, making her heart sink.

"Oh dear, I see that Mrs. Harvey hasn't had the heart to tell you…but I suppose that it doesn't matter now." Regan furrowed her brow together, watching Lucius slowly reclaim his overly cushioned chair.

"What are you talking about?" Lucius took a slow drink of his tea, his eyes remaining fixed on Regan.

"Your parents are dead…you have nobody left in the world."