Chapter 8

Rose froze at the mention of a kiss. A kiss in exchange for someone's life sounded simple but she never wanted to have to kiss Graham again. She had seen enough that kissing led to other things and being trapped in Graham's room right now was not going to end well for her.

"You must be quick with your answer, Rose. A kiss or will Henry die?" Graham questioned, looking forward to either end.

Rose flinched when she heard Henry's cries from outside. Though he was rough with the way he handled her, Rose didn't want Henry to die because of this. 

Rose gripped the blanket that covered her. She stared at Graham who was impatiently waiting. "You're going to kill him even if I kiss you," she said, knowing Graham.

Graham smiled, caught red-handed. He picked up Rose's hand, ignoring the way she tried to pull free from him, to kiss it. It was his fault for scaring her over the years but he couldn't help himself. Sometimes he had to get a little taste of what awaited him.

Rose felt sorry for Henry since his fate was set and it was all because of her. She hadn't tried to run away but someone was going to be killed as if she did. All because she had called out to another man though she knew Graham's jealousy.

Rose had to make a hard decision to protect herself. "I am not going to kiss you," she answered.

"You'll let him die without trying to save him? It doesn't make me happy to hear that you would let him die just to avoid kissing me. I'm starting to grow tired of the way you treat me," Graham angrily spoke, grabbing her neck. 

Graham pushed her back against the bed. While he was glad that she didn't try to save another man's life, he didn't like that she rejected kissing him. "You are mine. If I give you the option to kiss me, you should choose that."

"Is it because I haven't shown you what it is like to be with me in a while? Are you answering me this way because you have forgotten what a good man I am, Rose? You fail to see that if you were in the hands of other men, you would not be treated so kindly. I could have offered you to any man who came to buy your time. Have I not been generous?" Graham asked.

Rose nodded her head to please him. Her fingers touched his hand around her neck. Any more and he would leave a mark on her skin. 

She had been through this before. Graham would get upset to the point he injured her and then cry on her chest as he apologised and made her forgive him. 

Rose closed her eyes, waiting for it to be over.

A knock on Graham's door was her saving grace.

Graham's hand shook as he realised what he had done. As he moved his hand away from her neck, he saw a slight red mark. "A-Are you fine? Your neck," he said, touching where he hurt her.

"The door," Rose whispered, wanting his attention to be elsewhere.

"Do not misbehave, Rose. The next time you call a man and run to him, I shall treat you as what I bought you for. You'll have your new guard soon," Graham said, getting up from the bed to see who had come to disturb him.

Rose's messy appearance was enticing him, but this wasn't imagined how he would have her.

Rose slowly sat up. Now that she was awake, she had the right to leave the room since Graham didn't need to care for her. She needed to get back to her room before the customers started to come in or he would make her stay here.

Rose slid off the side of the bed and from here, she could see the open door. 

Once more, the foreigners had come to see Graham. Didn't Graham know the trouble this would bring if the soldiers were to come here tonight?

Zayne lazily looked from the man who could not stop smiling to the woman sitting on the bed. She resembled an animal caught in a trap. 

"Mr. Hamilton," Graham said, moving to the right to block Rose from Zayne's sight. "I was busy taking care of one of my girls so my apologies for not having a room prepared for you. Isn't it a little soon for you to be here?"

Graham was looking forward to the king's men visiting the brothel tonight. After a long trip, all the men would want was drinks and women. Graham didn't need either side getting upset with each other and destroying his brothel.

Zayne acknowledged Graham once more since the brothel owner seemed desperate to get his attention. "Why are you jumping around before me like a little grasshopper? Do you entertain your guests as well?"

"Watch how you insult me. Once more I find myself having to stop you from looking at a woman I have said to be mine," Graham answered, dropping the act of trying to please Zayne. "Why are you here? You are not blind to see that the king's men are here. I don't want any fighting tonight or any other night."

"What is it with everyone here trying to assume the things I will do? I did not come here to fight. I came here for a room and drinks for the men that I travelled with. Can I not do that or should I go elsewhere?" Zayne asked, ready to leave. 

Graham didn't like the bastard since he wouldn't listen but he did like the money. "Why go anywhere else when you are at the best brothel in town? I shall have some rooms, drinks, and women-"

"No women," Zayne rejected the offer. He had seen what crawled in here to use Graham's business. He would rather not ruin himself. "I would also like to continue our talk from last night if you are not busy."

"Now?" Graham looked over his shoulder at Rose who stood up from the bed, ready to make her escape back to her room.

Graham wanted her to stay in his bedroom so he could continue to question her about the man she saw and continue the fun of getting a kiss out of her. Still, he had to entertain his guests and keep the soldiers from destroying his business. 

"Very well. The first bottle will be on me, but you must promise to drink a lot more by the time the sun comes up tomorrow. I have just the women to serve drinks," Graham said, stepping out of the room and closing the door behind him.

Zayne snuck a glance at the woman inside just before the door closed to hide her. She looked relieved to not have to entertain Graham. He was curious why she wasn't working like the others, but at the same time, he didn't want to get stuck in anyone's problems.

Rose stared at the door. She dropped to the floor as her knees suddenly turned weak. If not for the disturbance, the evening might have taken a bad turn for her. She was not ready to be that way with Graham.

"My room," Rose said, trying to find the strength to stand. She had to make it there to protect herself.