Chapter 198 - Guilty Energy (1/2)
Joslyn's hand trembled as she tried to fasten the tiny button of the plain black blouse, she had tucked neatly into pressed the salmon pencil skirt. ”Here let me.” The deep, husky voice made her swallow hard with added nervousness. Nothing had happened after the kiss the night before, but the kiss itself had been enough alone to have her nerves on edge... not to mention the fact that he had simply tugged her back down onto the sofa with her back against his chest and talked the rest of the night until she'd fell asleep. He had then carried her to her own bed, more than likely covering her and Shelly both up before going back to his own room. Now he'd quietly entered the bedroom and was simply offering to help her with buttons. He really was the perfect gentleman. She released the button and turned toward him, giving him better access.
Arei smiled at her reflection in the mirror as he worked the button between his huge, thick fingers. ”You look beautiful.” He whispered.
Jos let out a heavy sigh. ”I suppose it was a good thing I had packed for a business trip before all this went down... and that I'd left so many clothes at X- I'd been able to bring so many clothes with us here...” She couldn't bring herself to say the man's name. A heavy frown settled over her expression.
”What is it kitten?” Arei asked as finished the button and held his hand out for the necklace that was laying on the dresser in front of her.
She handed it to him as she spoke. ”I just can't get over the fact that even at my age I've acted so stupidly... Between trusting Xavier and allowing what I have with Russ...” She shook her head. ”It was very dumb and reckless on my part.”
Arei studied the necklace as he thought over her words. ”Do you still have the necklace I gave you at the spring?”
She nodded. ”It's in my bag, why?”
He handed her the other one back. ”Wear it. The paperwork has been submitted but not approved yet. That necklace will be proof of our 'union' that's hard to ignore.”
Jos nodded her head as she took the plain necklace she'd selected and turned toward her bags. She pulled out the large, heavy necklace Arei had given her. Studying the horses that resembled the tattoo on his chest and the opal seated between the two massive horse heads, she whispered. ”You don't expect these trials to go well, do you?”
Arei walked over to her and took the necklace. Carefully placing it against her chest and moving the chain around her neck, he answered. ”I don't think a verdict of innocent is anywhere in the cards. I feel like that was taken off the table the second Russ confessed to the two of you having a relationship. The council will feel slighted that the two of you openly and knowingly went against their longstanding orders. I believe the best move forward is taking their attention away from the kid's involvement and giving them something else to focus on.” He tapped the necklace. ”And if Father is right and one of the council members is working directly alongside Zeus, then this will be an even bigger slight... whether it's genuine or not.”
She held his gaze, her eyes searching his stormy eyes. ”Arei...” Her words were cut off as the doorbell to the room reverberated down the hallway and into the bedroom. It was probably for the best anyways; she had no idea what to say to the massive man. With her forth glass of tea this morning and the reel of her past causing her sleep to be restless the entire night, and the added anxiety of the trials beginning today; her nerves were shot, and her emotions were all over the place.
He was the first to look away. Glancing toward the hallway as he ran his hand through his perfectly styled hair, he said. ”That must be the guards that will escort us to the courtroom.” He turned back toward her and held out his hand. ”Ready?”
Jos nodded. ”As ready as I'll ever be.” She paused by the door of the room and slipped into a pair of sleek black stiletto heels. She nodded toward Shelly who was already waiting by the door by the time they made it into the living room. She watched as Arei released her hand long enough to pull on a fitted, somehow dressy leather jacket. Her eyes trailed over his attire, really taking him in fully for the first time since he'd gotten dressed. He wore tight black slacks that hugged the thick muscles of his caves, thigh, and... ass... The jacket rested right at the top of his perfectly rounded backside, emphasizing its perfect roundness. She'd noted his tight button down, black dress shirt earlier that he'd tucked but not buttoned all the way at the throat. His above the ankle Doc Martin's only added to his edgy business casual look making it even more s.e.xy.
”Alright lady's, let's get this show on the road.” He forced a smile as he pulled the door open and took Jos's hand again, leading her out of the room.
Jos's breathing became more erratic the closer they got to the floor to ceiling double doors of the courtroom. She could feel the moisture gather on her palms and knew Arei could feel it too. When he pulled her to a stop directly in front of the massive double doors and bent and kissed her, she thought her breathing would all together stop. Her eyes widened as she looked questioningly up at him.
He pressed his forehead to hers. ”Breathe, Kitten. I'll be beside you the whole time.” He lowered closer to her and whispered into her ear so that only she could hear. ”The council will all be waiting and would have most likely saw that just now.”
She nodded in understanding as she forced her heart rate and breathing to ease. ”I... I'm ready...”
He nodded and kissed her forehead before releasing all but her hand and guiding her into the room. He walked to the second box and pulled a seat out for Jos. Turning he pulled out a chair beside the box for Shelly and waited for her to work her way into it, before taking his own seat beside Jos. His eyes moved to her hands that were fidgeting nervously in her lap. Resting his hand over hers, he leaned in and whispered. ”Remember, I'm right here. And you have Father's backing whether the papers are official or not.”
There was a low murmur of voices throughout the courtroom as individuals filled the audience behind the half wall that separated them from the boxes. One of the council members stepped down and walked over to the plaintiff box and another walked toward them, while the other council members sat stiffly in their seats.
Prometheus nodded in greeting to Jos, Arei, and Shelly as he stepped into their box. He sat a folder of papers onto the small table along with a recording device. ”Each table will have their own along with the main council box providing a full picture of everything to be said here today.” He said the words as more of a warning.
The courtroom fell quiet as three chairs were moved forward away from the rest of the council and three beautiful women took their places there. Themis set center as her two daughters set opposite sides. Vicky held a gavel as she had the night Russ had stirred up so much trouble. The other, Mia had an extra thick book opened before her along with a pile of files. With a tap of the gavel, Themis declared. ”Order. You may begin.”