And if I win, what do I get?
Dora was taken aback when Austin rang the doorbell instead of using his keys to open the door. A moment later, a woman in her forties opened the door and greeted them warmly.
“Did Ronan give you the details?” Austin asked the woman, not noticing that Dora was still standing at the threshold.
“Yes, sir,” the woman replied politely.
“This is my wife, whom you’ll be taking care of…” Austin stopped mid-sentence when he followed the woman’s gaze and realized Dora hadn’t stepped inside yet.
“Dora,” he said, walking back to her. “This is Ann, your caretaker.”
“I don’t need anyone. I won’t..” Dora started, but Austin cut her off.
“Ann, can you give us a moment? In the meantime, prepare some refreshments for my wife. She seems cranky, probably because she’s hungry,” Austin said, his tone firm but calm.
“It’s normal in her condition, sir. I’ll be back,” Ann replied before heading to the kitchen.
As soon as Ann left, Austin grabbed Dora’s hand and dragged her into the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind them.
“Let’s get one thing straight,” Austin said, his voice steady but intense. “We’re staying here from now on, and Ann will be looking after you.”
“Austin, please,” Dora pleaded, her voice trembling. “Let’s talk like adults. You and I both know this isn’t…”
Her words were cut off as Austin pinned her against the door and kissed her. Dora groaned in protest, pushing against his chest and pounding her fists on him, but he didn’t budge. She knew what he was trying to prove, and it terrified her.
Despite her resistance, her body began to betray her. With each passing second, she felt herself giving in. She had read that pregnancy hormones could make women feel more sensitive, but she never imagined she’d find herself in this situation because of it.
When Ann knocked on the door to announce that the refreshments were ready, Dora’s face flushed with embarrassment. Her cheeks turned red, and she wanted to disappear.
“Now, tell me,” Austin said, panting slightly. “When two people kiss each other without resistance, what does that mean?”
“You scoundrel!” Dora glared at him. “You forced me and took advantage of my pregnancy hormones.”
Austin pulled her closer, his hand resting on her waist. Dora thought he was going to kiss her again and closed her eyes in fear. Instead, she felt his breath near her ear as he whispered, “No matter how much you deny it, one day you’ll admit that you still have feelings for me.”
He chuckled when she muttered, “That day will never come.”
Austin stepped back, his expression calm but determined. “I challenge you, Mrs. Dora Austin. Try as hard as you want, but one day, you’ll come back to me. And until then, I won’t touch you without your consent. You have my word.”
Dora was stunned. She hadn’t expected this. She was sure Austin had some ulterior motive, but his promise not to touch her without her consent caught her off guard.
“And if I win, what do I get?” Dora asked, her voice steady despite her racing heart.
“Then you’re free to go,” Austin replied, though she noticed his jaw tighten as he spoke.
“What are you planning now? For someone so determined to keep me with him, this bet doesn’t sound genuine,” Dora said, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Austin simply smiled, not giving her a direct answer. He knew he didn’t deserve her trust, but he was determined to earn it back.
“Three months,” Austin said. “Three months with me. If you win, I’ll let you go. If I win, only death can separate us.”
Dora thought about it for a moment. This was her chance. If she could endure three months with him, she’d be free. And with his promise not to touch her, she felt a little more confident.
“Agreed,” Dora said. “But you can’t touch me.”
“I won’t touch you without your consent,” Austin corrected her, a sly smile playing on his lips. “The kiss in the elevator was without your consent, but the one we just shared? You didn’t resist that.”
Dora’s face turned red again, and she quickly changed the subject. “I want to rest for a while.”
Austin nodded, his expression softening. “I’ll ask Ann to bring you something to eat. Have something before you rest.”
True to his word, Austin left her alone after that. He didn’t hover around her or make her feel like he might pounce on her at any moment. Ann came in occasionally to check on her and bring her meals, but otherwise, Dora was left to herself.
It was almost midnight when Austin entered the bedroom and locked the door behind him. Dora immediately sat up, her heart racing.
“What are you doing here? Why did you lock the door?” she asked, her voice filled with fear.
“Where else am I supposed to sleep?” Austin replied with a shrug.
“There’s another bedroom. You can’t sleep here,” Dora said quickly.
“Why not? Are you scared you’ll lose the bet?” Austin teased as he began removing his clothes.
Dora’s mind flashed back to a similar, dreadful memory, but Austin’s voice brought her back to the present. “I already told you I won’t touch you unless you ask me to. You’ll have to trust me.”
“And the other room is occupied by Ann. I can’t ask her to sleep in the living room or the kitchen when she’s here to take care of you,” Austin added.
“Too bad you didn’t negotiate the terms and conditions before agreeing to my challenge,” he said with a smirk before heading to the shower.
When Austin came out of the shower, he found Dora gone. He didn’t go after her, though. Instead, he lay down on the bed, wearing only his sweatpants, and closed his eyes.
In the living room, Dora tried to make herself comfortable on the couch. It was dark and uncomfortable, but she preferred it over sharing a bed with Austin. She was surprised when he didn’t come after her or force her to return to the bedroom.
As she drifted off to sleep, strange noises startled her awake. The living room window was open, and the shadows of the hanging plants looked like hooded figures in the dim light. Dora’s imagination ran wild, and her breathing quickened.
When she heard a loud thud, a scream escaped her lips, and she bolted to the bedroom without looking back.
To her relief, the door was open. She slipped into bed, making sure to stay on her side, and locked the door behind her. She glanced at Austin, who was sleeping peacefully, as if nothing had happened between them.
Once she was sure he was asleep, Dora turned her back to him and closed her eyes. As her breathing evened out, Austin opened his eyes. He scooted closer to her, gently cuddling her and covering her with a quilt.
He placed a soft kiss on her head before drifting off to sleep himself.
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