Josie POV
I stared at the bedroom after Kane left, wondering how on earth I had ended up here.
Ronan’s bedroom. My husband’s bedroom.
The room was exactly what I expected from him. Everything was dark, simple, and masculine.
Black furniture, a huge bed, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the gardens. There were no unnecessary decorations, no photographs, nothing that made the room feel lived in.
It was cold, just like him.
I sighed and looked at the closet. My clothes had already been brought here, so at least I didn’t have to spend the night in my wedding dress.
I headed into the bathroom as I was truly in need of a shower. I needed to wash away this entire day. The wedding and the humiliation. The look on Ronan’s face when he saw me and, most of all, Sadie.
I turned on the water and stepped underneath the warm stream, closing my eyes as my shoulders finally relaxed.
For the first time since leaving home, I could breathe.
I stayed there longer than I should have, trying not to think about the fact that I was now married to a man who didn’t want me.
I took a long sigh and finally wrapped a towel around myself and stepped out.
I stepped outside, realizing I didn't bring my pajamas in the bathroom. However, the bedroom door suddenly burst open, and I froze.
Ronan was in the doorway, his eyes fixed on me, darker than night. Before I could react, the towel slipped from my fingers.
I gasped and grabbed for it, but it was already too late. My face burned, and I winced in embarrassment.
I snatched it up and held it against myself, turning slightly away from him.
His penetrating gaze on me, searing my skin shamelessly and unwavering. A low, animalistic sound resounded from his chest, and once again, I felt like my skin was burning.
I finally managed to clear my throat, and he startled out of the spell he had been under, his eyes met mine again, and slowly, mesmerized, I watched as the dark color faded and his blue returned.
“W-what are you doing?” I demanded, trying to sound braver than I felt.
He narrowed his gaze.
“You're in my room, naked." He barked, his fist clenching and unclenching, breathing heavily, as if willing himself to stay in control.
“I was told to stay here,” I retorted, instinctively taking a step back.
My face was redder, I was naked, and the towel barely covered my legs, for Christ's sake!
He took one step forward, and I took one back, before I could open my mouth to say something, the door flew open.
“What the hell are you doing?” A voice growled. Literally growled. Sadie.
Her eyes landed on me, then on Ronan, and her expression darkened with fury.
“You shameless little slut!" She crossed the room before I could react, grabbed my arm, and yanked me toward the door.
“Wait!” I cried, clutching the towel with my other hand. She didn’t care.
“I warned you to stay away from him!” She screamed, pulling me into the hallway. I stumbled after her, desperately trying to keep the towel from slipping again.
“Let go of me!” I yelled.
“You came here to seduce my mate!”
My mouth fell open, "What? No!"
“You’re standing half-naked in his bedroom!” She accused.
“Because his grandmother ordered me to stay there!”
That stopped her for half a second and pulled me harder.
"Sadie," Ronan's voice came, a low, dangerous warning that sent shivers down my spine.
Sadie froze, and her grip loosened. I used this chance to push her away from me, angrily.
She gasped and pushed me back, my back hit the floor hard and shot through me, stealing my breath.
Tears stung my eyes.
"Why?" A single word cut through the hallway, and Sadie went silent. I looked up, an older woman was standing at the end of the hallway, watching us with cool, icy blue eyes.
She walked towards us slowly, her steps controlled, and expression unreadable. He gaze moved from me to Sadie and finally settled on Rona.
My husband was standing there, with clenched fists, jaw locked.
“Lady Gigi, this woman -" Sadie started to speak, but the woman glared at her harshly, and Sadie whimpered and shrunk under her disdainful stare.
"Why is your wife in the hallway dressed in nothing but a towel, Ronan?" She addressed Ronan, her voice was monotone and quiet, yet carried authority.
“Grandmother-"
“You may be king, Ronan, but that does not make you exempt from basic manners.”
I lowered my eyes, suddenly wishing the floor would swallow me.
“Oh my goodness!” A girl asked, rushing past everyone to come to me, she was horrified. She took off her cardigan and wrapped it around my shoulders.
“Are you okay, Josie?" She asked, concerned as she helped me to my feet. I looked at her, surprised, and she smiled warmly, the kind of smile that made me smile even in my situation.
“I’m a little embarrassed right now," I said, a shudder going through me. She hugged my shoulders.
"It's okay, Sadie is a b.i.t.c.h," she whispered, and I nodded in agreement.
Her smile grew wider.
“Hi, I'm Flora, and I’ve been dying to meet you.”
"Hello," I whispered.
The older woman, Gigi, walked towards me. She lifted her finger and tilted my chin so our eyes met.
"You're beautiful as a flower, Josephine." She said, inspecting me. "Welcome to the family."
I blinked a few times, my throat going dry.
"T-thank you." I felt so shy that I couldn't look her in the eye anymore.
A strangled cry left Sadie's mouth, and Lady Gigi turned and walked away without another word, only a glance in Ronan's direction.
Flora linked her arm through mine as if I was her best friend,
“Come on. I'll find you a new room to sleep in before someone else decides to drag you through the castle.” Flora sneered, glaring at Sadie, and we walked past them. I didn't dare glance at Ronan, even when my whole body was begging me to.
"No," his voice came. We stopped in our tracks, my heart stumbled. "She isn’t sleeping anywhere else."
My breath caught, I didn't turn, but Flora did.
"She's sleeping in my room."