Chapter 27: Chapter 27

Chapter 25: Austin.

Looking out the window for what seemed like the tenth time. As Austin tried to keep calm and sit down he could not keep his foot steady as it tapped on with frustration. Harriet had went to a church convention... whenever she was present she would not let him breath. She wanted and needed for him to always be with her. She seemed needy for his attention and it ticked Austin off. He constantly told himself that he needed a woman to keep him in check. The beast in him could easily unravel and he needed to be calm. He needed to have something going on for him especially with Harriet. Alone, he would go mad. As much as she was aggravating, she kept him in check from going to see Merrigold.

Deciding to take a walk around the plantation something he never did. Although he'd never admit it, he hoped he would see her even if it was from afar. Just to know that she was doing alright and that she had settled in well. His mind kept replaying scenes from when they were together and alone. How had this escalated so quickly, a few month ago... he had no knowledge of her existence and now... he thought of her always. With his hands in his pockets, people greeted him, it annoyed him.

'Master Austin...'

'What a great surprise Master'

'Hope all is well Master'

'Good to see you Master'

'Afternoon Master..'

It annoyed him, he almost regretted coming down there. He looked at the divided plots, people were suddenly working harder than usual. He did not pay mind to it, Austin could have cared less. Grover gave him a nod as he roamed around the area. Austin's eyes had still not met the person he was looking for. Continuing with his walk, he roamed around the woman's commune...

"Uh...Grover...you had informed me of the roof needing fixing on the Commune B?" Austin said.

"Uh not at all."

"You did! Have you forgotten so soon?" Austin faked a laugh, scratching the tiny stubble forming on his jaw. He had not had time to shave, he could not fathom the thought of shaving when he had not seen her in over a month now. It felt odd, how could her absence put him in so much grief.

Deciding to run with it. Grover nodded. "Oh yes, now I remember..."

As if right on time Merrigold came out of the wooden cabin she called home for the past three and a half weeks. Austin's gaze was stuck on her like poles of magnet, his eyes delighted.

"Uh... I suppose since Merri is here, she will have to run me through it." Austin smiled. Merrigold had been holding a bucket of the clothes that she had washed for herself and Thomas. Seeing him only awakened the hate she felt for him. She decided to ignore him, walking past him. He was quick to run after her, People at the commune were shocked by Merrigold's bold behavior.

"Long time no see Merrigold." He said walking beside her. She turned to look at him with a deadly eye then looked away.

"That is no way to greet the love of your life.." Austin joked but it only seemed tense. It was as if none of his quirks and flirts worked on her anymore. Perhaps the last line might have been a bit too much. Stopping near wooden two poles that held two or three ropes. Merri, put her bucket down, it had once been for paint but she put it to good use. Austin stood beside her not knowing what to say to get her attention.

"You know Merrigold, you're really letting yourself go." Austin gestured at her weight. "Eating too much and enjoying your stay here are you?"

For a moment her throat dried up, she thanked God, she was wearing a dress that did not show too much. Her bump was a bit visible now. Squeezing all the water out of her wet clothes, she hung it then turned to look at him.

"If I may ask, what is the purpose of all this?"

"Oh nothing, I just noticed you put in a bit of weight than the last time I remember. I could only assume you're enjoying your stay and overfeeding."

Shaking her head Merri, gave him a sarcastic laugh. "Yes, I'm enjoying my stay here shagging anything that walks and has a zipper."

"Are you?" Austin smirked, he loved her humor. Merely talking to her felt good. It felt as if it had been so long. She could be yelling profanities at him and he'd still just stare and be glad that they were talking.

"So when will it be my turn?"

Rolling her eyes at him, she felt beyond aggravated. The way he was casually talking to her shocked people at the commune. It seemed as if they were 'friends' 'buddies' as if they knew each other well enough and that was very unheard of. They seemed too comfortable and the way Merri disrespected him without him doing anything caught everyone off guard as they looked from afar. They knew Austin to be a tough, pretentious demanding numbskull. Pretending to keep busy. They had never seen Austin step foot on this side of the dump either. He was hardly involved with any of the work, he always sent people but here he was and it was not even for work.

"You're the most disgusting, obnoxious being I've ever met. I hope you know that. Harriet awaits you, go play house."

A tad bit hurt, Austin sighed putting on a serious face. "Merrigold?"

"No, don't. I've had enough of this already. I hope you were entertained with your tricks to peeve me off."

"If it's about your weight, I meant no harm. In fact you're glowing and uhm..." he looked around then looked back at her. "Your breasts look fuller, you no longer have those tiny lemons of yours huh..?"

With a straight face, Merrigold replied. "Does any of the things you said sound appropriate to you? You're deranged. Seek help before it's too late."

"It was a compliment, you do not fancy compliments alright noted!"

"..."

"I love your lemons regardless."

"Be quiet, just shut your mouth!" Merrigold hissed.

"I LOVE LEMONS!" Austin yelled daring her.

"There's actually a lemon tree downhill, Master..." someone responded trying to please him as always. Merrigold felt embarrassed, beyond embarrassed.

"Are you proud of yourself?" She questioned.

"Not quite, I still want everyone to know that I love your breasts, they're not big but I love them."

"Disgusting pervert!" She hissed, folding her arms.

"You're quite adorable when you pretend to be upset." He smiled, for a moment he seemed to be happy and carefree. Not many people got to see this side of him.

"You marched down here, took a ten to fifteen minute walk to tell me this rubbish? You've really outdone yourself."

"Fine... I miss you."

It was in this moment, Merrigold almost broke. These two men were playing with her feeling likes a rollercoaster, she did not know where to stand. She felt only rage for her indecisiveness and how she easily fell for these idiotic comments. She wouldn't break, she needed to remind herself of the things he had said in front of his mate and Harriet. Remind herself that he said he loved Harriet.

"Do not dare say her name—" he said quickly when she was about to move her lips. Clearing his throat. "All jokes aside, I came to see you. Simply see you even if it's from a distance. I, you've been on my mind lately."

"Are you horny or drunk or your cigarettes are finally killing you slowly in the head? Which is which?"

Slowly biting his lip, Austin looked at her stunned. Was this what drove him to like her this much? She was feisty and made him speechless and feverish. "Yes, I'm horny have been for a while now it's unbearable, I haven't had a cigarette since I thought of coming to see you..." Clearing his throat and looking around. "I know how much you hate it and I was hoping you'd give me a kiss."

"Oh God, this is what I have to deal with? What did I do to deserve such!" She muttered under her breath.

"You just can not be pleased.."

"Was that meant to please me? I apologize, I ruined the script you made for yourself in your numbskull."

"Here we go again... you're so aggravating. Thank you for reminding me why I should never come looking for you." Austin said harshly. "You're unbearable, goodness gracious! This is what happens when I confuse the vagina with the face. You're a shitty person Merrigold and your vagina is the only impressive quality about you."

"You—"

"Be quiet before I lose my temper!" He yelled pointing at her threateningly with his index finger.

"You're my property and you better believe it that when I want it, I will come for it. Your petty jealous attitude will not get you anywhere, I thought I was being nice but clearly that's not something meant for an untamed animal like you."

"Atleast you know you're the psychopath for sleeping with this animal." She hissed back. Out of instinct hurt and offended, Austin gave her a backhand clap, she landed on the muddy gravel. She held her stomach scared for her child. She would not cry or let him feel as if he had won. She kept a straight face unaffected.

"You bring the worst out of me!" He yelled before storming off. After he had left one of the people from the commune came to help her up. Her hate for him had only went up a notch. He had made a great choice kicking her out of the mainhouse. They were pure insanity for each other.