Osvaldo Adkins was dressed in a sheer dark green silk shirt, clinging to his defined chest like a lover. His pants, perfectly tailored, accentuated with long legs and sharp hips. Tattoos coiled down his arms like ancient spells, his skin so pale it gleamed. Milk kissed by moonlight.
He blinked at the light, the golden sun stinging his eyes. His long tongue flicked out, tasting the morning air like an animal newly unchained.
He looked up. The sky, blue and vast, was a new world to him. A limitless world outside the prison of his penthouse. His gaze shimmered, raw with wonder.
Even the air around him seemed to tremble.
Ariana clutched Chris's arm, lips parting. Her pupils dilated, her mouth dry. Her ovaries were screaming for this man.
"What… the hell," she whispered, jealousy consuming her like fire licking gasoline.
Though this man was mad, he looked even much better than Chris who has been normal all his life.
Compared to Osvaldo, Christian's well-groomed good looks shriveled into ash. He was nothing compared to his brother.
Osvaldo was madness sculpted into perfection.
A king who could tear down the world with a kiss.
He raised his face slowly and everyone's breath caught at the beauty before them. Never in their life could they believe a man can be as beautiful as this.
His silver eyes darted around everyone in the yard. The sunlight bounced off his shirt, exposing the sinews of his muscles, the glint in his eyes animalistic yet… strangely calm.
As his eyes moved, they landed on the weapons on the floor and he frowned. He knew these things all too well, they're the things that brought him only pain.
"Grrr." He growled deep in his throat clenching his fist ready to fight when he saw her. Those familiar blue eyes met him, and just like water, it calmed him.
Everything else faded at the sight of her. Osvaldo growled again, low and deep in his throat. But this time it was not for anger.
He took a step forward and everyone froze. The guards standing there had already tightened their grip on their weapons, their fingers hovered over the triggers.
But Osvaldo didn't flinch. He didn't rage. He only looked at her.
"Go to him," Ariana sneered, shoving Penny forward. "Go tame him before he hurts us all." Penny staggered from the shove but quickly caught herself.
She raised her chin, and without hesitation, began to walk towards him. Her heart raced, but she took deep breaths to calm down.
For some reason, she had no idea why the man before her looked different from the one she had met last night. She wondered if he was angry because she hadn't brought the divorce papers as agreed.
"She's doing it."
"Is she mad?
"She's the one that tamed him before, she has to prove herself somehow."
"Oh, I feel so bad for her." The whispers from the maids were endless as they were genuinely scared for Penny. But she had to shut Ariana up, today.
She would explain to Osvaldo why she couldn't get the divorce agreement. She wondered how he'd feel if he found out she wanted to be married to him.
She doubts he would want her, but when she explains her reason, she doubts he would want rid of her.
The wind played with her hair, the sun brightening the golden strands even more. Her steps were silent but filled with quiet thunder.
When she reached Osvaldo, she didn't bow. She didn't tremble.
She lifted her hand… and touched his cheek. Though yesterday had been a different story, she hoped he wouldn't hurt her today.
Penny opened her mouth to explain the situation, but Osvaldo's next action caught her off guard.
"Mine." He closed his eyes leaning into her palms. That alone was enough to shock everyone standing in the yard.
A ferocious beast, the untamable mad master was brought to his knees by a single touch. No one could believe it.
Penelope Willard, the girl once called useless and unworthy, had tamed the mad devil. A man they had all feared for years.
Hughes and Barnaby were both stunned at this. They couldn't believe it.
Penny looked over her shoulder at the rest, "Is this proof enough?" But she barely finished speaking when Osvaldo groaned. His body trembled as he pushed her away and staggered backward.
He began to shake violently, wiping at his nose, as if trying to erase her scent.
"Master Osvaldo?" Hughes called wondering what had happened to him.
"Master," Barnaby called as they watched the madman clean his nose violently. Penny who was still seated on the floor wondered what had happened. One moment they were fine and now...
She was still in her thoughts when she heard a roar. Penny looked up and froze.
Osvaldo launched at her, eyes bloodshot, teeth bared like a beast ready to rip her apart.
He was no longer the man who leaned into her hand.
He was the monster they feared. But before he could get to her, the guards there held him so tight.
Penny's eyes moistened staring at him. What was happening, this was not the man she had met last night, this was a monster. Hughes and Barnaby helped Penny off the floor.
"Are you okay Miss Penny?" Hughes asked and Penny nodded. Her eyes were still on Osvaldo who fought the guards like some beast. She has never been terrified of anything like she did this man right now.
"Come with us, let's get you cleaned," Hughes said leading Penny away but before they could go far.
"Where do you think you're going, Penny?" Ariana's voice sounded and Penny froze.