Chapter 48

With those words he turned and left. No doubt to find someplace where he could shed his tears in peace. It brought a funny feeling within me knowing that a better Vladimir existed and that maybe this one I could have. I still wanted to know what happened to his brother. Was he older or younger? Was the sister older? I don’t know. Nora was right. Vlad didn’t trust people. I mean, what sort of man walked around with a device that tracked listening devices? I wanted Vladimir to trust me…no I needed him to, and not for just satisfying my curiosity about him.

Every time I found out something about him, I realized I was living with a virtual stranger for the last decade. I was married to this man and knew absolutely nothing about him. I don’t know his favourite food, colour, drink, sports team…nada. I didn’t even know he was still mourning for a mother that died when he was a child.

Maybe, the small voice prodded, you should learn a few things about the man to make him happy, other than how to keep your legs open. It was a good suggestion, but I was beginning to hate the voices in my head. Mainly because I didn’t know whose side they were on sometimes.

I shook my head to clear it and went to check on Irena. Once I was assured, she had settled in, I headed back to our room. I couldn’t go anywhere else anyway. Unless told otherwise it was rude to wander around your hosts home without being given a proper tour and I was never promised one.

It didn’t take a degree to figure out I wasn’t completely welcome here. The Countess did her due and wasn’t rude to me and bowed when necessary (as I outranked her) but she didn’t offer me a visit nor a tour of the house. No future plans were made to see to my entertainment at any time. I was tolerated relation at best. Welcome, yet not.

She may be following the lead of her husband who acted as though touching me would contract him a disease. A maid stopped me on my way back, curtsied deeply and informed me tea would be served in thirty minutes. Another slight, one to send such a low ranked member of the household to tell me this and two for the hostess not to remind me in ample time.

They were hoping I would be insulted and snub them which was my first thought but then if His Royal Stuck-up-ness couldn’t deal with me at mealtimes what was I to do eat every day in my room? I’ve had enough of that with Vladimir, I didn’t intend to continue the habit here. I told her to wait to escort me down ad her eyes widened at the breach in protocol she didn’t argue.

I headed to the walk-in and changed out of my travel clothes and into a three-quarter sleeve off shoulder blue and white gingham summer dress. England’s cold was nothing compared to Russia. Summer here was actually warmer. Besides, it felt nice to show some skin. I breezed out into the hall wearing strappy brown wedges and proceeded to head downstairs with the maid in tow.

I glided into the sitting room and made a production of thanking the maid for her service in front of them. Vlad’s face grew stormy, Clarissa’s was red faced with shame and His Royal Asshole…he was smiling.

No mention was made about the slight and I was offered a seat and we chatted about the most boring subjects imaginable, the weather, horses, dogs (I discovered Vlad took care of the wolves on his property, so that was at least new) needlepoint, (I thank God that Vlad didn’t think that was something I had to learn.) and children.

The last wasn’t so boring especially when I discovered Clarissa was barren. Charles spoke about his children and since I was neither taught nor informed beforehand, I had casually asked what about her children. The room was so silent I could hear the slight wheeze when Charles took a breath. Slowly as if speaking to a child…or a simpleton, she explained that she was childless. Then the sound resumed and with it my boredom.

The hour ended, and I asked to take a stroll on the grounds, another breach as I shouldn’t have to ask. Vlad took my hand place in the crook of his arm and we left the room together. I knew he meant it as a show of support rather than an affectionate gesture. Once we were in the gardens, I found he had another purpose for tagging along.

“This dress looks beautiful on you.”

“Thank you.”

“There is a gazebo ahead.”

So, why the hell was he telling me this? I wondered. Then when we approached, I saw it a tall hedge wall.

“It’s through a maze.” He informed me softly when I gave him a puzzled look. “I’m going to give you a head start if you make it through the maze to the gazebo the rewards will be of your choosing, if you don’t then the reward will be of my choosing, deal?”

“Why do I get the feeling you’ve played this game before?” I frowned.

“That’s why I’m giving you the head start. To be fair.”

“Nothing you do is ever fair.” I whined. “You always seem to have a trick up your sleeve.”

“You know me so well sweet wife.” Vlad praised. “Now run, your head start begins…” He checked his watch. “Now!”

“Grrr.” I growled before taking off. This was stupid but …exciting and after the hour of death, it was a nice change. I found myself trying to stifle my laughter so that I wouldn’t be found so easily. Bumping into dead ends and retracing my steps, had me lost in no time but I wasn’t afraid. Vlad would surely find me. I had a feeling that there was nowhere I could go, and he wouldn’t find me. It used to scare me before that thought but not it covered me in a blanket of warmth and security and the thing I refused to name.

I knew I had no chance of reaching the gazebo on time and after my hormones got the best of me. I stood my ground and wait for him to come get me. I wasn’t disappointed. Before long he arrived and stole my breath with a fierce kiss before carting me over his shoulder and taking me to the gazebo.

I wasn’t very far away, and I was disappointed that I could’ve won the game but glad that I didn’t. I was weak kneed and soaking wet by the time he set me on my feet. I didn’t want to waste any more time and neither did he. He lifted my dress and tore of my panty as I freed him from his pants. It was ecstasy as he filled me. I rode him like a wild thing and clawed his back tearing at his shirt till he removed it with a chuckle. Then we were at it like wild animals on the floor of the gazebo.

If someone happened upon us (which they could) one would think it was years since we last had sex instead of a mere day. We were that hungry for each other. Later that night as we had sex again still not satisfied will our fill of each other, the question that was bothering me so much lately popped up again. What was happening to me? The answer unfortunately had shot though my brain like a lightning bolt, but I refused to acknowledge it.

Even Nora knew that was a bad idea. Vlad couldn’t be trusted but the more he was nice to me, the more I wanted…more. A more I should despise far less want. His family was tainted, and he was a trained killer. This was about survival no more, I told myself until he pulled me in his arms in his sleep and snuggled into me. What’s so wrong in wanting more? I whined internally.

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“I miss the curls.” Vlad complained as I opened my eyes. “When will it grow back?”

“It’s already growing back.” I answered sleepily.

“Not fast enough.” He whined.

“Maybe I should get a weave with it, so you’d have something to play with.” I grumbled sarcastically.

“It won’t be the same.” He answered sadly.

As if that was actually an option! I sighed and tried to go back to sleep but Vladimir had other plans. The first touch of his lips on my cheek had my eye popping open. The hand that squeezed my breast made me gasp and his erection digging into my backside brought me fully to life.

“I need you now, Kitten.” He groaned and flipped me onto my back as he did and spread my legs. “You are always so wet for me, kitten.”

And aching, I added mentally as I pulled him down for a kiss. Those magic fingers went to work and soon I was moaning his name and begging him to take me. Instead of doing as I asked he stopped and sat back on his heels and shocked me to the core.

“Do you love me Azura?”

I knew I was gasping air like a fish, but I didn’t know what to say. A voice sneered, yes you do but I shook my head to clear it and he took that for his answer. Crawling off the bed, with his erection deflating, he bemoaned on his way to the bathroom. “It was too much to ask anyway.” Then he shut the door quietly behind him.

I crawled into a foetal position and hugged his pillow. I didn’t what to admit anything to myself, far less to him. I was so afraid of his returning to his old ways and still loving him as he beat me senseless. It was a weakness I couldn’t afford, and I was already in a situation that he made all the rules for. It was his world, his laws, his crown. He had all the power. Giving him this last bit of myself was just too dangerous, even though it took all of my will to stay in that bed and not go to him.