Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Rupert glanced down and immediately noticed Sylvia standing barefoot on the cool kitchen tiles. He loosened his arms around her ever so slightly. "You're not wearing shoes?"

Sylvia wiggled her toes, a little sheepish. "Your slippers are huge, you know. I kept tripping. It's not like I forgot or anything."

"Didn't ask," Rupert replied, a trace of a smirk playing on his lips as he studied her.

Sylvia squirmed, suddenly self-conscious, and tried to step away, but before she could, Rupert swept her up and set her down on the marble kitchen island.

"Don't move," he murmured.

He turned around and carefully picked up the shards of a broken glass from the floor, tossing them into the trash. Only when he was sure the floor was safe did he wash his hands and return.

Sylvia made to climb down, but Rupert blocked her, hands braced on either side of her, trapping her against the countertop.

She leaned back a little, putting a hand on his chest to keep him at bay. "Uncle Rupert, weren't you hungry? I could make you some oatmeal or something?"

He gave a low, amused snort. "Too bland."

"Okay, what do you want then?" she asked, but the second the words left her lips, she met Rupert's intense, almost predatory gaze. Her heart skipped a beat.

"What do you think?" His voice was rough, barely above a whisper.

Sylvia bit her lip, cheeks warming under the kitchen lights. She tried to push him away, but he caught her hand, pulling her closer, his arms caging her against him.

Rupert's dark eyes bore into hers. "Sylvia, patience only goes so far."

She understood exactly what he meant, and her cheeks heated even more.

She was about to protest when he nudged her knees apart with his own. As he leaned in, her body tensed, and a chill crept through her, all the warmth draining away.

Rupert immediately noticed her change in demeanor. The last time she'd reacted like this was back at Willowbrook Manor, when Bailey had lit those fancy candles without asking. She'd tried to push through, but when it came to intimacy, she always seemed to freeze.

Maybe she just hadn't been ready before, he thought. But every time he tried to cross that line, she would turn ice-cold in his arms.

He frowned. "Did I hurt you the first time?"

Sylvia was caught off guard by his directness, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

Rupert stepped back, gently lifting her off the counter, but instead of setting her down on the floor, he slid her feet into his oversized slippers.

"Wear these for now. I'll order us some takeout."

She nodded, letting out a shaky breath as she tried to regain her balance.

Half an hour later, dinner arrived.

Sylvia figured she'd eat, then hearet

home. But halfway through the meal, rain started hammering against the windows.

Rupert ate slowly, unbothered. "You're staying in the guest room tonight."

Sylvia listened to the rain pounding outside and gave in without a fight.

Thankfully, there were plenty of rooms here—she just had to pick the one farthest from the master bedroom.

Rupert caught her plotting and pointed to the door next to his. "That's the only guest room."

She made a face. "Fine."

After dinner, she got up to clear the table, while Rupert disappeared into his study, deep in thought.

In his study, Rupert called Chris.

Chris waited a while, then sighed. “You call just to breathe into the phone? Because I'm hanging up."

Rupert cut to the chase. “Is her anxiety tied to our first time?"

"I'm not a shrink, Rupert. My old college roommate's a urologist, though. He guarantees a fix

everything." Chris snickeredel

"I'm not the problem."

"Oh, so you're saying you're just too much for her, huh?" Chris laughed again, teasing.

Rupert's voice went cold. "Christine."noveldrama

"Don't call me that!" Chris groaned,

then sobered up. "Look, I doubt it's you. And it's not like her issues ust started. Any leads on that string of numbers yet?"

"Nothing."

"Well, Christmas is in a week. Maybe we'll find out then."