~ATHENA
"You're dead, Athena." He gruffly said before getting into the back seat of the car, placing me sideways on his thighs, and securing my back with his arm. I didn't bother to fight him because I knew it was a loosing game even if I tried to. "Take us back to the mansion. Fast." He told the driver who immediately stepped on the gas and drove off.
I felt so trapped, stuck in the backseat of the car with Reid's thighs which felt like a solid presence beneath me, his left arm wrapped around me like a vice, as if I was going to bolt the minute his hold falters from me.
I was rigid on his thighs and the closer we got to the mansion, the more my heart sank into the depths of my stomach. What if he was actually going to kill me? Will this be the end for me? Is this how my life would end?
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me like I was an inconvenience, his anger was prominent on his face and he did nothing to hide the fact that he was going to murder me.
My chest began to tighten and the thought of this being my last moment alive made my lungs burn as I tried to suck in air but it felt like the air in the car was limited. My skin was clammy, and my mind was a jumbled mess of worst-case scenarios that could happen to me.
"R-Reid, I can't b-breathe." I whispered, my voice barely audible, even to my own ears. My head fell to his shoulders while my hands trembled as I grasped for something, anything, to anchor myself. Reid's free arm was within reach since his other hand was wrapped around my lower back in a possessive manner. I wrapped my fingers around his wrist, holding onto his hand as if it was going to bring me out of the discomfort I was in.
Reid's expression changed, his eyes flicking down to my hand on his wrist before meeting my gaze. For a moment, he just looked at me, his eyes searching for something. Then, his expression morphed into one I hadn't seen on Reid's face before, his expression softened and he pulled me closer to his warm body, putting his palm on my hip which soothed me.
"Athena, look at me." He said, his breath whispering against my ear. "Breathe with me, okay?"
I tried to match my breathing to his, feeling my heart rate slow ever so slightly. The world was still spinning, but I was anchored to Reid, his solid presence keeping me grounded. His chest rose and fell with each breath, and I focused on the gentle movement, letting it calm me.
The car slowed to a stop, and Reid's arms relaxed around me. I took a shuddering breath, feeling the panic which had left me drained and shaken, recede. Reid's brows pinched together and for a moment, I would've called his expression 'worrisome' but I knew that it was impossible for Reid to be worried about me. After all, I would probably be dead soon.
"Good?" He asked, his eyes boring into mine as he brushed a strand of hair from my face, tucking it behind my ear.
"Y-yeah." I croaked out, my eyes burning with unshed tears because of all the thoughts that were swirling in my head. "I'm sorry." I apologized, before I started bawling my eyes out, crying against his chest like the pathetic human I was. "P-please don't kill m-me." I mumbled in his clothed chest which he seemed to have heard because he let out an exasperated sigh.
"I won't." He simply replied before picking me up and walking us into the mansion. He carried me in a bride-like style with my arms firmly draped around his neck, my face was on his chest and I couldn't help but to stare at his face which had turned indifferent.
As he walked, the world around us blurred and all I could focus on was the warmth of his body, the beat of his heart, and the gentle rise and fall of his chest. He smelled like Sandalwood and spice, a heady scent that made my senses swim while my eyes momentarily drifted shut, savoring the feeling of being enveloped in his warmth.
The world tilted as he nudged the door open with his foot and carried me inside, his eyes scanning the room before he gently set me down on my bed. But he didn't let go, no, he lingered, his arms still wrapped around me with his face inches from mine and I could feel his breath on my skin.
The room was quiet, the only sound was the soft hum of the air conditioner and the gentle rustle of my clothes as Reid's hands slid down my arms, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake.
"Do you have anything else to say?" He asked, his voice cold and bored. At least he doesn't look or sound upset and he had promised he wouldn't kill me….at least not yet.
I nodded, my voice caught in my throat, as he was so close, and I could feel the warmth radiating off his body, his scent was messing with my train of thought because I couldn't comprehend anything at the moment.
Reid's eyes examined mine for a while, before he leaned in more, his lips was a hair's breadth from mine, and I felt my heart stop. What was he doing? Was he going to kiss me? Do I want to kiss him too?
The moment stretched out like a taut string, and then he pulled back, his eyes never leaving mine, as he began, "We're getting married in a week." He didn't raise his voice, but the weight behind the tone he used was enough to make me succumb to him. "And we'll be going on a month vacation immediately after the wedding." He added with an irritated sigh, running his fingers through his already disheveled hair. "Papa already bought a reserve which was unnecessary." He spat out, as if the idea of us being in the same space irked him to the core.
"Oh…" I couldn't help the tone of my voice as it came out disappointingly.
"What?" He snapped with a raised eyebrow and walked closer to me. The look he had on his face made me feel agitated and so, I crawled further away from him but he already grasped my ankles in both his palms, and pulled me back to the edge of the bed which made me let out a yelp. "Don't tell me you were looking forward to a lovely vacation?" He whispered, his hands releasing their captives on my ankles before caging my jaw in his right palm. "I'm sure you're aware about the fact that we aren't getting married out of love, hm?" He asked, the hold of his hand on my jaw tightening and I closed my eyes shut.
"I know." I whispered weakly, before opening my eyes.
"Good. Because I will never love you, so get your head straight and play the role of that loving wife whenever we're out in public and keep your distance when it's just us two, okay?" His words settled on the room like a shroud which demanded immediate response and so, I nodded.
"Words, Athena." He growled.
"I-I understand, Reid." Immediately the words left my mouth, his fingers dropped from my jaw and I felt an instant relief, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Good." And with that, he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me feeling like I was the most unlovable person to ever walked this earth.
Maybe I am.