Claire

I just looked at another set of reports rather than watching him in the car. I pissed him and he pissed me. His answers made little sense to me. Hence I was giving the silent treatment.

I surely would have a lot to stay, but I needed to check on the facts what he was talking about before I opened my mouth only to speak to piss him off. We were going to Mr.Kraven's house together as was asked for. All through the day we had talked to each other about nothing but work and it worked well for me. It gave me space.

"George called," he said out of the blue making me look up at him from my tablet.

"And that concerns me how?" He and George were good friends. If George needed to talk to me, he would have called me.

"Because he wanted to apologize for touching you last night." I saw him through snaked eyes. He had really got to be shitting me.

"Tell me this are you going to make every man apologize to you if he touched me with my consent?" I asked with a raised brow.

"No one should be allowed to touch you without my consent." He said staring right into my eyes as if asking me to defy him. I could see the old Daniel in those eyes who was a control freak and wanted me to do everything he asked for. the man who controlled me in every aspect of life when we were closed in our home.

"Maybe no one should be allowed to touch you without my consent too," I said trailing a finger down his cheek. "But sadly you let it happen and I let someone else touch me. So let's call it even."

"I'm going to have a dinner with George to make it up with him for what you did to him," I informed him looking back at my tablet.

"Than maybe I should take her to a dinner too for apologizing for leaving her in the middle of the event alone." He was quick with the reply. I looked at him from the corner of my eyes.

"You could but I hadn't got a call from her apologizing for her behaviors. May I add she gloated the fact that she was close to you and my days in your bed were going to be nothing but limited." I didn't care to look at him. I knew I would be seeing nothing but a pissed off expression over his face.

I felt his hand on my neck and before I could say something I was on my back with him hovering over me. We were in a moving car and the driver was in front but that had never stopped us. I should say that had never stopped him and I have allowed it because yea there was an exhibitionist in me. I loved to do something adventurous but right now I knew I was not in the mood of getting adventure.

"If you don't stop this right now, Claire. God help me I would be locking you up in the room until you have got your senses back," he said in my face. Parting my legs with his knees his other hand moved up from my leg to my upper thigh.

"I love you and only you. We both know that so don't make me repeat myself again and again because it has been pissing me off." I looked into his eyes as his hand on my neck grew a bit harsh to tell me that it was him that was in control.

"George had no right to ever touch you or meddle in our business and he knew that very well other than that."  His finger now on the edge of my panties. My body was a betrayer. For him, it would arouse on its own.

"And neither did that woman." My words were nothing more than a whisper. 

"It wasn't my decision, Claire," he spoke harshly. Letting go of my neck he sat back in his place moving my feet.

"You can take that up to him for all I could say. Just stop blaming me for things that are out of my control." I could see the frustration in those eyes as he spoke. I saw the man whom I didn't want to hurt. Moving his fingers through his hairs he tried to calm himself down. With his eyes closed, he took deep breaths and it was really not easy to see him like this. Those fingers of him didn't stop. His leg was moving as if trying to do anything to control this situation.

I liked him dominating me. I liked fighting with him. We were a couple who breathed for each other and seeing him like this didn't sit well with me.

I knew I had to submit to him. It was what he needed right now. Sitting up straight I moved towards him.

"Not now, Claire!" He snapped as I came closer to him but it didn't stop. I knew I should have listened but I knew he needed this. I crawled until I was on his lap. His breaths came out harsh. He was angry and pissed off. He was paying off for someone else's mistake with me punishing him all the way.

"I'm sorry,"  placing my hands over his chest I whispered against his lips. I saw his eyes shot open seeing the anger inside of them.

"Now you say that," I could hear the anger in his voice and also how he now held my hair. My ponytail was wrapped around his fist making sure we were eye to eye.

"I love you," my words stood suspended between us as we stared at each other.

"I promise to not piss you off anymore but tell me whatever goes inside here," I told touching the side of his head. The fewer secrets between us and the more communication were the only way we could move forward. Letting go of my hair his hand rested on my back.

"I hate when someone else touches you." He pulled me closer towards him and I could feel the hardness of him beneath me.

"I hate it too.  I promise to not let anyone touch me and you should promise you shouldn't too." He didn't have any answers and the only one who did was the man who we were going to meet. My words were at least going to put him at ease. I loved Daniel, cared for him and he was the only sole purpose for me living. Giving me small kisses I eased out the tension he was dealing with. We were kissing madly by the time we reached Mr. Kraven's estate.

Touching my makeup and making sure we both were presentable enough to be in front of team of doctors and Mr. Kraven. This was the place where Daniel had grown up and I had spent a few years with him but with the demanding nature of Daniel, he had decided to have some private space for us. We had spent a lot of time there not because we wanted our space but because it was easy when we were working late. We would just sleep there.

Mr. Kraven's estate had its own set of rules. all meals were meant to be taken together. Our private businesses should never be seen or heard by other people. It was the set of rules to keep us disciplined to make sure we both were in line. With growing years Daniel didn't like the rules but that didn't mean we would abandon him. We keep our lives balanced and scheduled to make sure Mr. Kraven wasn't alone.

"You both are just in time. The doctors have just checked up on him and are waiting for you in his suite." Holland, the butler informed us. Daniel led the way towards Mr. Kravens suite even though I knew every part of this house on the back of my hand. I was taught all about it. Ingrained was the knowledge of every nick and corner by Daniel.

He was the one to knock and we both waited until we were called in. Mr. Kraven sat there in the bed. He was an old man but you could tell by looking at him that once he was a handsome striking beauty.

His nurse stood beside him with the two doctors just on the couch waiting for us. He was aging and detrioting too. I could see in the eyes that he was unable to hold on longer but knew he was damn stubborn and wouldn't go down that easy. He was always a fighter and with his heart condition, he would fight till the end. Until that heart that was thought to be as hard as rock stopped beating.

"You both were late," he snapped. I  smiled at those words nothing could stop him from giving us lectures about being late.

"There was a meeting and we were working," Daniel said sauntering towards the bed and plopping down on the edge of the bed.

"Good evening, Mr. Kraven." I greeted with a smile. He looked at me with a smile.

"There you are. How is he treating you?" he asked. It was the same question and I would always reply the same answer but not this time.

"Good but there were some hindrances. Something you already know about." I replied never keeping a thing from him. It was necessary at all times to ever tell him the truth. Ever since my first encounter with him he had made sure to let me know that it was the truth that he always wanted. A lie would get me nothing but punishment and ignorance. I saw his face growing serious.

"We will talk about that." He told confirming the knowledge that it was all his doing leaving me more confused. why?

"How is he doing?" I was the one to ask as I moved towards the two family doctors.

"Well if you ask me for a man who is almost going to cross his ninety in a few months." the kind smile of Dr. Edward Kane always reminded me of the priest when I was young. He always had a smile on his face but more than that he was always optimistic and had a solution to everything.

"How is his heart doing?" Daniel asked in a serious tone looking at him. turning towards him I saw he was sitting with his back straight.

"His heart is not too well. He can't take too much stress. the cholesterol levels were off the charts but I think we can have it under control but he is taking stress. It is one of the things I'm concerned about. The last attack he had last year did great damage hence I would like you to keep the business talks out of the way for sure." He was straight forward as he stood and moved to Mr.Kraven. I could see that he wasn't really happy with the doctor.

"I'm doing good and that is final." He raised his thoughts telling us that he didn't want anyone ruling him. Stubborn man as I said.

"You aren't and that is why I had to make sure that Daniel and Claire were here tonight. You have been thinking a lot lately." Edward didn't hold back as he looked at him. Mr. Kraven and he stared out at each other as if they were both having a silent battle. everyone could feel the anger that Mr. Kraven held onto.

"I'm not going to the hospital or the nursing home that you say." Mr. Kraven's words had us cleared about the fact why this was happening. Edward wanted him to shift where he could be taken care of and a stress-free environment.

"You want him to shift to a nursing home?" The edge in Daniel's voice had me moving towards him. The anger shone brighter in those eyes. None of this man would understand the concern of the doctor. Placing a hand on his shoulder I tried to calm him down.

"Why do you want him to shift? What's wrong here?" I asked Edward. Mr. Kraven and Daniel were both staring at him as if he was enemy.

"Have a look around there is no one here besides a few staff. this old man is doing nothing but thinking and overthinking is causing him stress. Both of you spend half a part of the month in the city when you should have been here. He is alone and he needs family, not some nurses and staff." He gave it straight looking at me. I wanted to tell him it wasn't my idea but would it matter. He already knew that but knew well to point it at him.

"If anyone of you were here I wouldn't have any problems because I know someone would be here to talk to him. Keep him in conversations and not have him overthinking." He enlightened us with his thoughts. The other doctor which I was sure was his junior stayed put with the set of reports.

"Either a family person stays with him every day or he gets under my care in my nursing home or hospital. The choice is yours." The ultimatum was set and it had everyone's feathers ruffled a bit. Daniel could kill him with looks but Mr. Kraven on the other hand a glimmer of sadness wash over his face. It was the stark truth that we weren't seeing. He needed us.

"We will see to it," I said rubbing my hand over Daniel's shoulder. I didn't want him to be pissed off anymore. I think the past few days have been enough with him for the stress.

"I will see to it personally, Edward. Believe in me." I saw his eyes soften. He gave me a nod of acknowledgment. Daniel didn't say a word but I knew inside he was fuming. His thoughts run around in the line who was he to question him?

"Daniel, go and see the doctors off. I have something to talk to with Claire," Mr.Kraven's voice broke the silence that enveloped the room for so long. Daniel looked at him and when he gave him a nod he stood up. The doctors picking up their bags and moving out with daniel just behind.

"No fighting," Mr. Kraven warned to Daniel's back. Daniel turned his head back and rolled his eyes at him. The infuriating men in my life.

"You can leave too." I looked at Mr. Kraven thinking he was dismissing me only to realize he was saying it to the nurse. She left with a small nod. It was only when the doors were closed we looked at each other. We both knew we had to talk about what happened.

"What are you up to Mr. Kraven?" I asked moving to sit on the edge of the bed staring at him seriously as he smiled at me and there was the stubborn man I know.

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Here is the next chapter

I had to go out on a trip in an emergency hence forgive me for no updates.

So do you think this was all Mr. Kraven doing because he was lonely?

Or there is something else going on.

Is Claire in the right kind of relationship or it is just a controlling, obsessive, possessive man in love with her?

Is it abuse or love?

Let me know your views.

Until next time.