Sweet Cage

Seven days. Jenna repeated in her mind, walking down the hallway. The conversation with Kali still jarred, the reason she decided to stay back. She wanted a taste of a man who yearned for her. Might be her delusions that it'd work, but she wouldn't know if she didn't try. And for once in her lifetime, she wanted that feeling. She was already attracted to Rhane, so why not.

And now, with Kali's suggestion, Jenna wanted to give Rhane a chance. Seven days didn't sound like it would hurt her.

Now dressed in a fresh periwinkle-colored shirt and brown breeches, with ankle-high boots, Jenna strolled around the mansion. She noticed how some of the girls paused in their tracks to greet her, while others scanned her outfit with subtle judgment. After bathing, she had been informed by Kali that Rhane would be waiting outside for her.

Just as said, Rhane stood at the entrance of the mansion beside a smaller pond, dressed in his best. His hair tied back neatly, a white shirt, fitted plain black trousers, and polished boots. He stood in place, moving his hands as if unsure what to do with them.

Jenna paused, studying the young man. He still looked like the same Rhane she brought home many nights ago. Blank expression. Hazel eyes, dull, yet brimming with mystery. Broad shoulders. A chest to match. Height enough to make her neck ache.

"Ehm," Jenna cleared her throat. A few more steps, and she stood next to Rhane.

Rhane turned at the sound of her voice. He quickly dropped his hands, then folded them behind him.

"You look beautiful," he said, his eyes locking with hers.

In that moment, it didn't look like Rhane owned the mansion. Instead, Jenna looked like a noble lady entertaining a suitor in her private garden. An adorable big cat, regal and just a little dangerous.

Jenna smiled with her eyes. "Why do you keep moving your hands?" she pointed out.

"I've seen noble men do this. I don't know why, but…" Rhane rubbed the back of his head.

Jenna pressed her lips together, stifling a smile. It wasn't exactly on her top card to see Rhane trying to act noble.

"I think you should be just you. Trying to act noble isn't original. I don't like phony," Jenna said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Rhane arched one brow, his gaze sliding from her lips to her eyes. "Be me? I don't think…" his voice trailed off. "I don't think you like me being me."

It took Jenna a moment to catch his meaning. She chuckled. "You mean you don't think I like being teased?" she asked, but didn't wait for an answer.

"I can defend myself just fine. As long as you don't use fists. My tongue does its duties very well, you see."

Rhane pinched the bridge of his nose. The corner of his lips curled, though he didn't smile. "Well then, if you start moving… we'll be enjoying a walk. Unless you want something else," his grin started slow, his eyes lighting with mischief.

Jenna almost gasped. Rhane's ability to shift from meek, humble servant to mischievous trickster always caught her off guard. No wonder she hadn't seen him for who he was all this time.

"What else can you do besides shifting personalities?" Jenna asked as they began walking side by side.

Rhane tilted his head, glancing down at her. "Do you really want to know that?" he asked, brow raised.

Jenna was tempted to say yes. But with Rhane's wicked tongue, she wasn't sure that was wise. She turned away from him and pointed instead.

"A hummingbird!" she gasped, her voice a breathy whisper. She dropped to her knees, careful not to startle it.

Rhane took a step, but Jenna shushed him, and he froze.

"I heard they're really rare… and they only come to you if your mind is pure and at peace," she whispered, mostly to herself.

In the presence of Jenna, even the rarest bird lost meaning. Rhane swallowed softly, staring at her jet-black hair, full and rich, falling over her face every time she leaned toward the grass. Her Bambi eyes sparkled with curiosity, lashes fluttering like wings, brushing her cheeks with every blink. Her full lips… he wanted to trace them with his thumb.

Her soft, unblemished skin alone was enough to entrance him. He didn't hear a single word about the bird or what it liked to eat.

"Rhane?" Jenna snapped her fingers. "What are you looking at? The bird's gone." She whined, brushing wet grass off her palms and trousers as she stood.

Rhane blinked, glancing around like he, too, was searching for the bird.

"Maybe my soul's not peaceful enough to keep it," Jenna murmured, eyes lingering on the spot where the bird had been.

Rhane frowned. "I can bring the bird to you if you want," he said, completely serious. "With the right food and cage, it'll be trapped by nightfall."

Jenna shook her head. "No, Rhane… I don't want to cage something that beautiful. It's meant to roam free. And if it chooses you...then, lucky you."

Rhane hummed, chewing on her words for a while. "If you're saying this to make me let you go, it won't work."

"Ah!" Jenna groaned. "I thought I was nailing the hammer," she snickered, kicking her feet in the air before bounce-jumping across the grass.

"So this entire mansion belongs to you?" Jenna asked, shifting the topic.

Rhane followed closely. "Um… yes," he cleared his throat. "Do you not like it?"

Jenna turned, now walking backward so she could face him. "Not like it? Look at this place! It's almost the size of a palace."

"Sweet cage, isn't it?" Rhane teased. "I'm glad you like it."

Jenna scoffed, rolling her eyes. "So, the seven days, what show will you be putting on for me?"

"Show? Seven days?" Rhane squinted, confused.

Jenna nodded. "Yes… what are you planning to do that'll make me stay?"

"Oh," Rhane smiled. "I won't have to put on a show. I'll just tell you every day what I want to do to you… and with you. If you trust me."

Jenna opened her mouth. Then closed it. She was curious. Too curious. She didn't hold back this time. "Let me guess? Dance with me?" she asked, giggling deliriously.

"While pretending to be a noble? I told you, I don't—"

Rhane's cold smirk cut her off. Two steps and he was already too close.

He brushed the strand of hair he'd wanted to touch since this morning. Then, he traced the side of her face with his finger.

"If the dance involves us naked, your leg around my waist, and me so deep inside you hitting your walls that I can even hear your soul sing, then yes, I'll make sure you dance, my lady."

"..." Jenna froze, eyes locked with Rhane's sinful, unholy gaze. She could see every image play out in his pupils like a cursed prophecy. And she was ready to eat the apple.

She tried to shake it off, but it was too late. The thought had bloomed like forbidden fruit. She could already see herself pinned to a wall, Rhane inside her—

"You are shameless!" Jenna shoved his chest, but Rhane didn't budge. "How can you say such—" her face turned blood red. Her ears burned. Blushing this hard was rare for her.

Rhane twitched his lips. "You asked me to be myself," he said with an innocent shrug. Noticing the pink flush crawling up her neck, he licked his lips.

Jenna struggled to recover. She cleared her throat. "You don't have to be so raw with a lady," she said, though her croaky voice betrayed the thoughts running wild in her head.

She loved it. Damn it all, she loved it.

When she looked up again, Rhane was still staring.

"Why do you look at me like that?"

"Like how?"

"Like… the way you're looking at me." Jenna stuttered, rubbing her neck. "Right now… with those eyes… like- I don't know how to explain it."

Rhane grinned, dipping his hands into his pockets. "I can explain it. Since I can't do what I'm thinking with my hands, I've got no choice but to use my eyes."