10 Your Carriage Awaits

The next week passed quickly and before I knew it I was standing outside my apartment waiting for Blade to collect me for the engagement party.

Thanks to a team of hair stylists and make up artists I looked nothing like myself, my long hair had been waved and was in a half up half down style that complimented my dress - a sleeveless long ball gown that was a dark night-blue that shimmered and sparkled like the stars in the night sky.

There was a slit up the side to the top of my thigh and it was backless with a low neckline meaning it was the most risqué outfit I had ever worn and certainly the most amount of skin I had ever shown unless I was at the beach!

Surprisingly, despite the fact it was all new to me, I felt strong and confident in the dress, the make up and outfit like a costume I was donning for my part as Blades fiancé.

I hadn't spoken to Blade since that kiss, however his assistant had kept in touch with me via text so I knew what time to visit the stylists and when he would be collecting me etc.

There was a storm of butterflies that had taken up near permanent residence in my tummy any time I thought of President Night and they were out in force tonight.

A pair of headlights approached and as the driver got out to open the back door I noticed it was Briggs.

Seeing Blade as he stepped out of the car my stomach felt like it had melted into a pool of hot liquid and my heart felt like it would beat out of my chest. If this was sexual desire I wanted no part of it. I hated feeling out of control and the fact that I felt like I would die if he didn't touch me scared me.

Blade was looking at me with an intensity that took my breath away, his eyes running over my body and face almost adoringly.

"You look incredible kitten"

he growled his voice low and sexy and a little rough.

"What's the plan?"

Answering the look in his eyes was too dangerous so as we settled into the car I moved the topic back to the reason we were doing all this.

"We need to be careful, your step father knows you hate him so we need to approach him carefully. You should introduce me to your mum but never really seem like you are trying to introduce me to him, that way it shouldn't raise any red flags with him."

Blade was leaning back, his arm along the back of the seats and his fingers playing absently with my hair.

I was having to try a little too hard to focus on what he was saying and the desire I was feeling for him was starting to overwhelm me.

People would think I am strange but I have never been attracted to anyone sexually male or female. Don't get me wrong I would look at men, actors and such and think they were gorgeous but I had never had the desire to kiss them so these feelings I was experiencing for Night were foreign to me and I didn't have the experience to ignore or deal with them.

"Ok I can do that.. my mum will love you but my guess is that Jasper will try and approach you himself as your families hate each other he won't want to waste the opportunity of getting the heir on side. "

"Exactly what I'm thinking and then we will be able to go from there. Oh before I forget here"

Blade grabbed my left hand and slipped an engagement ring onto my ring finger. It was garish and not me at all, to be fair I wasn't a jewellery person anyway but this was so ostentatious - set amongst some smaller diamonds was a large pink coloured diamond with a white gold band.

"It's lovely but I would be scared wearing something like this it's like a neon sign asking someone to rob me! Can we agree you keep it and I only wear it when I'm with you?"

Blade smiled a hard smile

"Kitten by tomorrow everyone will know you are my woman - do you think there's anyone out there stupid enough to try and harm my woman?"

I sighed loudly in exasperation

"Ok that's great for you but I would feel uncomfortable so please agree."

Blade smiled suddenly and as usual my stupid heart skipped a beat. Reaching out he removed the ring from my finger and placed another one on, a plain silver band with a small diamond, it was exquisite and I looked at Blade bashfully.

"How did you know?"

He smiled gently

"I've never seen you in jewellery and you don't seem the money minded or look at me type."

I grabbed his hand and squeezed feeling moved that he had judged me in such a sweet way. He squeezed back and it took me a moment to realise the car had stopped and Briggs was waiting next to the open door. Blade looked at me and smiled

"showtime".