The Royal Contract

Then, Alex thought that having their two best friends on the trip might make things more comfortable for Dani. He still believed that she avoided taking on trips because of her traumatic experience.

Besides, he still owed her a honeymoon vacation. This trip could partially serve as an opportunity to continue what they had missed.

“This place is incredible.” Jacky expressed with her red lips curving into a big O, showing her appreciation of the unique beauty of the place.

She was fascinated with the new scenery since she had never visited places like this before. Her experience in traveling would be close to negligible compared to her three companies.

She gazed from her left to the right, getting the feeling of relaxation in the air. With the cool breeze on her skin, she could finally say that this was the break she was looking for.

“Absolutely.” Dani also liked the view, joining her friend in admiring her surroundings as she stepped out of the vehicle with Alex’s assistance.

.....

She could feel the crisp air as it touched her skin. It was a welcome change from the increasing cold in the city where they just came from.

“Do you girls like it?” Alex joined them, alongside Marcus. “Marcus, you can take this cabin while we would take that one.” He pointed to the other structure just a few meters away from theirs.

His bodyguards already knew where they would be staying since they had been here before on some occasions. In addition, they had to establish a strategic position to guard the place against possible intruders.

He was not saying that their enemies might attack them again. But paparazzi also lurked in the shadows, waiting to get a juicy story about them.

“Wait till you see the inside of the house,” Marcus whispered in her ears, breaking the spell she was in as he dragged her towards the front door. “We will see you in a while.” He shouted over his shoulder.

Jacky was left to follow closely behind, trying to match his stride, leaving the other couple behind, still standing by the car the last time she looked.

“What about our things?” She questioned as she tried to catch her breath, remembering that they had left it still inside the trunk.

She snatched her hand away from his grip and stood her ground, not planning to move from her position. She refused to be dragged any further like an animal.

“It will have to wait because what I want to do with you can not wait any longer.” He said in frustration.

With a sudden movement, he scooped her up. She landed on his shoulders, shocked by his caveman behavior. “Put me down!” She ordered when she finally got over her initial shock.

But he never did as he continued to walk towards the first house until they both disappeared behind the door. He never once looked back at the other couple who was left gawking at them.

“Do you think Marcus will be alright?” Alex asked his wife after watching the scene that the two had displayed.

He saw how Jacky’s eyes bulged at Marcus’s stunt. Based on his experience with Jacky, she was the kind of person he did not want to mess with.

“Jacky is all bark but no bite.” She said, shaking her head at the hilariousness of their friends. “Marcus will surely be fine.” She assured him. “But, let us talk about you.”

She turned to him, pulling his arms until he was facing her. Then, she wrapped her hands on his shoulders. Finally, letting them slide down slowly on his body until her palms rested on his firm chest.

She could feel the steady rhythm of his heart drumming on the palm of her hands. She wished her heart could be as calm as his. As if nothing could faze him at all.

“What do you have in mind?” He asked, glad that she had overcome her fear of flying, breaking the sudden silence that surrounded the two of them.

He placed his hands on her waist, pulling her closer to him until there was barely enough space for air to separate them apart. When she finally looked up again to stare at his eyes, he used it as an opportunity to tease her lips.

Dani raised her hand and used her fingers to stop his lips. “Not here.” She reminded him, suddenly feeling her cheeks redden out of embarrassment.

She was not against public display of affection, but still, she did not condone more than kissing in public areas. At this point, even if this place was private, there were still many eyes watching their every move.

“Oh, right,” Alex said, remembering their earlier incident, too. “Come, let me show you the house.”

Unlike Marcus, he simply guided her towards the other house, situated in the slightly woody part of the lot. But it had a good view of the lake where they could do some fishing.

It was the cabin that he occupied when he would visit this place with his family. This place had a good hunting ground that his family loved to go to if they wished to go for a hunt.

“Do you also own this place?” She asked, mesmerized by the decorations that hung on the wall.

She let her eyes wander around the room, checking every piece of decoration that showed the history of the place. It appeared to be an old wooden house that was well-maintained.

Judging from the decors spread across the single floor room. It seemed to have a rich background. If the artifacts and displays were not bought in an expensive antique shop.

“No, but my family does.” He answered her, following close behind her as she inspected every piece of an object she could touch.

He enjoyed watching her move from one place to another. It was as if he saw the entire room for the first time. But, he had been in this place countless times.

“Did you kill any of these animals?” She asked, stopping by a head of a deer that had his soulful eyes staring back at her.

She was not repulsed by the stuffed head of dead animals that occupied the many corners of the house. As long as the hunting of these animals was done according to the law of nature.

“No, these were killed by my ancestors.” He answered, but he was unsure if the question was a trap. “But, I joined the hunts before and killed my share of animals.” He admitted anyway.

He had no idea if she had something against killing animals. He had met many animal advocates that did not agree with their ways. But he was raised to survive in the woods. To kill if necessary to survive.

“Well, I am glad that you are the predator and not the prey.” She said as she moved along the room, finally reaching a door that could only lead to one thing.

Of course, she could not deny that early humans were raised to hunt, being on the top of the food chain. Actually, it had become an intuition of any specie to fight for survival.

It was indeed one of the primal instincts of man.