Chapter 17: Scarlet

17

SCARLET

I awoke in my bed, my head whirling like nobody's business and throbbing softly. The events of yesterday flooded back with startling clarity, and I let out a heavy sigh.

Cristian and I had shared our pain, our losses bringing us together in some dark, twisted way that I couldn't quite comprehend. He'd sat with me in that shower, the warm water cascading over us, holding me in such a way that all my hatred towards him had started to hinder, cracking like thin ice under the weight of our shared grief. And he'd said I was to be his, those words echoing in my mind with a mixture of fear and... something else I couldn't quite name. The intensity of it all left me breathless, unsure if I was ready to face another day in this new, unsettling reality.

His change had been obvious throughout the entire day yesterday, with how sweet and affectionate he'd been. It had thrown me completely off balance. It was as if I'd glimpsed another side of him, one that made my heart ache in ways I couldn't quite comprehend .

I rolled over, wincing at the familiar cramping in my abdomen. Great, just what I needed right now to add to the jumble of physical and emotional discomfort I was experiencing.

Ever since I'd gotten the IUD, my periods had been less frequent, but I'd been waiting for one to make its appearance.

Groaning, I sat up slowly, my head pounding harder from the aftermath of last night's drinks. The room spun slightly, and I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself. When I opened them again, I noticed a glass of water and some painkillers on the nightstand. Had Cristian left those for me?

The thought of his unexpected kindness made my stomach flutter in a way that had nothing to do with my period. I reached for the pills, grateful for the relief they'd bring, all while trying to reconcile this gentler version of Cristian with the monster I'd known before.

Great, I'd have to ask the guys for pads now.

I groaned, and the soft meow had me smiling as I lolled my head to the side.

Julian strode in with Kenny cradled in his arms, the gray tabby purring contentedly. I couldn't help but smile at the sight of the cat, his presence already soothing my discomfort. Julian's brown eyes met mine briefly as he entered, his angular features softening slightly when he noticed me awake. I wondered if he'd come to check on me or if it was just a coincidence that he'd brought Kenny by at that moment.

"Should get up, Cristian wants to take you out today," Julian stated as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"How much did I drink?" I mumbled, my tongue feeling like sandpaper in my mouth.

"Nearly two whole bottles through the movie and dinner, plus another one earlier in the day. "

"Ugh." I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to will away the headache.

"Don't worry, Cristian said he gave you water before bed, which you drank, so hopefully your headaches eases. Did you take the painkillers?" he asked, nodding at the pills and water on the bedside table.

"Yeah, but I still feel a bit yuck," I said with a slow bob of my head. That was a mistake as it throbbed harder. "And crampy," I added, wincing as another wave of discomfort hit me.

Julian's brow furrowed. "Crampy?"

I sighed, not really wanting to get into it. "Lady stuff."

"Oh." Julian nodded, understanding dawning on his face. He stood up, gently placing Kenny on the bed beside me. "I'll be back. Take Kenny, he'll help with the cramps."

I snorted, not sure how a cat could possibly help, but I didn't argue. As Julian left, I snuggled closer to Kenny, his warm, furry body pressed against my side. His purring vibrated through me, and I had to admit, it was oddly soothing.

Closing my eyes, I found my thoughts drifting to the three brothers. Something had changed, something big. The dynamics between us had shifted in ways I couldn't quite grasp. Cristian's vulnerability, Tyrone's unexpected kindness, and even Julian's quiet concern - it all felt surreal.

I drifted off, lulled by Kenny's purring and the residual effects of last night's alcohol and the painkillers finally kicking in. My consciousness ebbed and flowed, caught in that hazy space between sleep and wakefulness.

I wasn't sure how long I dozed, but I stirred when I heard footsteps approaching. I opened my eyes to see Julian returning with a bag in hand. He placed it on the bed next to me .

"I wasn't sure what you needed exactly, so I grabbed everything," he said, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

I blinked, surprised. "You didn't just send someone?"

Julian shook his head. "Nah, besides, I wanted to get goodies."

I frowned and sat up as he offered me the bag. "Call out if you need me. I've got to go handle a computer thing for Tyrone," he said, already heading for the door.

I nodded, watching him leave before turning my attention to the bag. As I went through its contents, I couldn't help but be impressed. There was a range of pads, tampons, extra painkillers, a hot water bottle, and even chocolates. Oh, and a selection of panties, which made me snort.

He got all this for me?

I looked at Kenny, who was still curled up next to me. "They're just full of surprises," I said to the cat, shaking my head in disbelief.

I slid out of bed, shuddering as I felt the blood leak into my panties. Yep, I needed a shower, and I opted to take the whole bag in with me for now until I knew just how bad my flow was.

I was quick to strip and cast my panties aside, grateful that not much had gotten on them before I eased into the shower and set about bathing.

The warm water eased some of my discomfort, and it didn't take long before I was stepping out feeling much more alive and refreshed. After drying off, I assessed the flow situation and decided on a thin pad. It wasn't too bad, thankfully.

Back in my room, I rummaged through the pile of clothes Tyrone had given me. It still felt strange wearing things they'd provided, but I didn't have much choice. As I dressed, I wondered about Julian doing the laundry, since he was the only one home when my pile of dirty clothing would mysteriously disappear and return fully washed. The thought of him handling my dirty clothes made me uncomfortable, but I pushed it aside. There were bigger things to worry about.

I made my way out to the main area, where Tyrone was waiting. His dark eyes scanned me from head to toe, and a wave of self-consciousness swept over me.

"Those clothes won't do for a day out," he said, his tone matter-of-fact.

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you propose I wear? Nothing at all?"

A smirk played at the corners of his mouth. "As much as I'd like to see that, no. You're going out with me."

My cheeks flushed at his words, a mix of embarrassment and something else I didn't want to examine too closely. "I thought Cristian was taking me out?"

"He's out currently," Tyrone explained. "He'll be home in the afternoon to take you out, so we've got a few hours."

I nodded, trying to process this change of plans. The idea of going out with Tyrone both intrigued and unnerved me. He was still an enigma, and I wasn't sure what to expect.

"So," I said, crossing my arms, "what exactly did you have in mind for me to wear?"

"We're going to get you new clothes. Come." With that, he turned on his heel, leaving me to hurry after him and into the elevator, glad I'd left my shoes by it.

I shifted from one foot to the other as the elevator headed down, the classical music doing nothing to ease the charged air between us. He was, thankfully, preoccupied with texting on his phone, leaving me to gather myself and get my mind in order.

I followed Tyrone out of the apartment building when the elevator opened, doing my best to keep up with his giant strides that matched his imposing stature. The sleek black car waiting for us screamed luxury, and I slid into the soft leather seat in the back, feeling out of place. Tyrone joined the driver in the front, leaving me alone and feeling a little deflated in the back seat.

"So, you're taking me shopping?" I asked carefully as I glanced out the window as the car pulled away from the curb.

Tyrone nodded, his eyes on the road. "You need proper attire."

We pulled up to a high-end dress shop in record time, the kind I'd never dared enter before. As we walked in, the staff's eyes widened at the sight of Tyrone.

"I want her looking classy," he told the ladies, his voice clipped, who nodded eagerly.

I moved to the nearest rack of dresses and glanced at a price tag and nearly choked. "So, you paying for this?"

A smirk played on Tyrone's lips at my reaction to the hefty prices. "I own the shop."

Well, that certainly made things easier for him. But what would I even wear? I wasn't one to shy from shopping, but I was more of a bargain shopper, taking advantage of sales and good old thrift shopping. There was no way I'd ever buy anything so lavish and the price of one of my internal organs.

"Maybe we should go somewhere else? These are all dresses… fancy dresses," I said as I perused one rack.

"Cristian wants you looking nice, in a dress," Tyrone stated, those dark eyes roving over me and my oversized clothing he'd given me. "Let the ladies do their job."

I swallowed, stepping away from the rack, unsure on how I felt about giving full control of my attire to some strangers, but it was their job, I just had to have faith in their ability.

Besides, this wasn't coming out of my pocket, and after the shit I'd gone through, this was a welcome gift. As long as it didn't come with its own underlying price tag .

"What will I owe for this?" I asked.

"Nothing. It's a gift," Tyrone said gruffly before glancing at his phone and disregarding me.

I rolled my eyes, knowing this was him shutting me out for a moment.

Whatever, I was getting somewhat used to their hot and cold antics, although the whiplash was getting difficult to deal with.

The ladies returned with several selections, and Tyrone directed me to the back room to try them on. It was spacious, reminding me of those bridal shops where women sat watching the bride model different dresses. I was grateful for the thin pad I'd chosen earlier, as two of the dresses looked quite form-fitting.

The ladies had done an amazing job, the first dress my perfect size and absolutely stunning on, the navy sweetheart dress hugging my body and accentuating my waist and somehow making my boobs look even better.

"Show me. I want to see them," Tyrone commanded more than asked, but I was feeling too confident to care as I pulled the curtain back and strode out.

I twirled before him, my lip quirking at the way those dark eyes drank me up. But he just nodded and said "the next."

I pursed my lips, wondering if he'd even liked that one before retreating to the change room and slipping out of the elegant piece and into the next one, a fiery red gown with a dipping neckline.

As I emerged in each dress, one after the other, Tyrone watched me carefully, his dark eyes intense. The dresses were stunning, far more elegant than anything I'd ever worn.

"They're all good. But this one stays on for now. Bag the others," Tyrone ordered on my final dress, which I secretly loved the most. The deep mahogany red gown was both stylish and elegant, hugging my body and making my ass appear even more defined, while giving me modest coverage in the front with the sweetheart neckline. The slit in the side showed off enough of my leg without it revealing too much either.

"Style her hair as well," he instructed the ladies, who nodded obediently. I frowned, not realizing it was a service offered, but I didn't argue as I found myself ushered to a make-up section, where I sat down, enjoying the pampering. The women offered me snacks and a glass of champagne, which I accepted gratefully while they got to work on my hair, asking me about my make-up as well since apparently that was included.

We settled on a simple, natural look that would compliment the outfit, and I put my trust into the cheery blonde who was handling me the most, her brunette colleague having only nodded along and then darted off to bag the other dresses.

Rachel was her name, and she spoke in a hushed tone as she set about styling my hair and sorting out my make-up look.

As I sipped the bubbly drink, I noticed Tyrone on his phone, his voice low and authoritative. The family business waited for no one it seemed, and I focused on Rachel instead, chatting with her pleasantly about make-up and a wedding she'd recently done for a very rich couple who'd wanted a rainbow wedding.

Tyrone left the back room, his phone call growing rather heated, but I pushed it to the back of my mind, obeying Rachel's soft requests as she worked on me.

She didn't take as long as I would've thought, but when she finished, she got me to swivel in my seat to check the mirror, and the breath was sucked out of me .

She'd turned me into someone I'd expect to see walking the red carpet.

"Some teardrop earrings or studs would suit this look the most I think," she said thoughtfully with a soft nod to herself.

"This is stunning, thank you,'' I said breathlessly, awestruck by my reflection. My hair was curled and styled in such an elegant way, and my makeup looked natural, yet she'd highlighted all my good qualities, making my eyes pop the most. Not to mention my lips looked amazing as well.

Tyrone returned, his dark eyes trawling over me as I stood to give him a better look at my full look. All I needed was some suitable shoes and jewelry now.

A slight nod was all he offered. "This'll do."

My heart sank a little at his lukewarm response. I felt beautiful, transformed even, looking better than ever before. His casual dismissal stung more than I cared to admit.

"Ladies, give us the room," he commanded, his voice offering no argument.

As the staff filed out, I turned to face Tyrone, unable to hide my disappointment. "This'll just do, huh?" I said, unable to keep the slight hurt and frustration from my tone.

In an instant, Tyrone crossed the room. His large hand wrapped around my throat, not painfully, but firmly enough to make me gasp. He pushed me back against the mirror, his body pressed close to mine.

"You misunderstand," he growled, his face inches from mine. His eyes, usually so cold and distant, now burned with a fire that made my breath catch. "When I say it'll do, I mean it's taking every ounce of my self-control not to tear this dress off you right here."

I swallowed hard, feeling the movement against his palm. The heat of his body, the pressure of his hand on my throat, the fierce look in his eyes - it all combined to make me quiver, a spark igniting within me as well.

"Oh," I managed to whisper, my earlier indignation evaporating in the face of his raw desire.

Apparently I had misread him.

Completely.