Chapter 53 - Santorini, Greece

Natasha's POV

The sail from Athens to Santorini was approximately 4 hours but it became 6 because of all the miracles that Valerian and I did in the middle of the ocean.

I can't believe that we even did it outside on the deck!

When Valerian finally told me that we were going to Santorini, I got so excited that I just gave in to him and did whatever he wanted us to do and now I'm rethinking my decision because I feel kind of uncomfortable right in the middle of my thighs.

"Are you okay, darling?" Valerian asked. "Does your feet hurt?"

"Yeah, I'm okay," I just answered as I did my best to walk properly without limping towards the bed.

I sighed loudly when I finally reached the bed and finally laid down.

"What happened?" Valerian asked as he sat down beside me on the bed.

"You happened," I replied.

We're at the Villa house that Valerian got for us here at a resort in Santorini. I wanted to explore the place even the whole villa but I really felt uncomfortable in between my thighs that I kinda limp when I walk.

Gosh, why did I let Valerian do me so hard knowing how big he is? Well, not that I can't stop him because he looked so hungry for me earlier and couldn't be stopped and it's not like I didn't want it either.

Valerian creased his forehead at me. "What?"

I took a deep breath. "I just feel uncomfortable in between my thighs."

"Oh, is it because. . .?" He trailed off.

I nodded, shamelessly admitting it.

"Oh, I'm so sorry darling, I didn't know."

I shook my head. "It's okay. The soreness will go away later."

"Are you sure? Should we go to the hospital? Just tell me."

I can't help but laugh at Valerian's face. "I'm fine, Valerian."

He's treating me like a kid that he seems to have forgotten that I'm a werewolf.

I sure can handle a small thing like this.

"I'm amazed how you still didn't adjust to me considering how many times we did it already," he said.

I wanted to roll my eyes at him because of how he emphasized the fact that we had sex several times already.

"You know the vagina goes back to its normal size, right?"

Valerian nodded. "I know, darling."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"O... kay. I guess I'll just take that because you're feeling uncomfortable. Get some rest, darling," Valerian said as he tucked me into bed and gave me a kiss on my forehead.

~*~

I just laid down the bed with Valerian for several hours without moving or saying anything.

I guess Valerian really understood that I was feeling uncomfortable because he didn't bother me or anything. He doesn't speak when I'm not talking to him and he doesn't move when I don't either.

He's so understanding mainly because he knows that he was the reason why I feel this way.

"Valerian," I called out to him.

"Yes, darling?" he immediately replied.

"Can we go out?" I requested.

"What do you want to do, baby?" Valerian placed his head on his palm as he stared at me and softly caressed my face.

I immediately felt calmed and all the uncomfortableness that I was feeling went away.

I breathed deeply as I felt his warm touch.

I feel so much happiness in my heart right now that I just want to stay here with him like this. I suddenly don't want to go out anymore and explore the place. I don't care about that anymore. I just want to be here with Valerian-- just the two of us.

"Do you want to go to dinner?" he asked.

I pursed my lips.

I just want to stay in bed with him like this. I want him to never let go of my face and never make me crave his touch ever again.

"Do you want to go bar hopping?" he asked again.

It piqued my attention.

"What's that?" I questioned.

"Well, remember when we first met at that party? It was like that but we will go to the bars here together. You and me," Valerian explained.

My face immediately turned sour when I remembered the scene of him being circled by other girls. I'm not sure if Valerian did mean to do that because he knew my plan even from the start but I despise the sight of that and I don't want to see something like that ever again.

"No, thank you," I said, bitterness lingering in my voice.

"Then what do you want to do, darling?"

I shook my head. "I don't know."

"Alright, you go and get ready, I will plan everything. Just go get dressed or do your makeup-- whatever you want to do to be comfortable," Valerian told me.

I pursed my lips. "Okay."

I lazily got up off the bed and went inside the bathroom.

I appreciate Valerian taking all the responsibilities for our activities here tonight but I already changed my mind and just want to stay indoors but I don't want to tell him that though because I already said that I want to go out. I don't want to be labeled as a spoiled brat or anything-- I'm not like that.

I quickly finished my shower and I got out of the bathroom.

"Where are we going?" I asked Valerian as I browsed through my suitcase, trying to find what to wear that was appropriate to the place that we would be going to.

"Valerian?" I called out his name when a couple of seconds had passed but he still didn't answer me.

I turned to my back only to see him staring at me.

He gulped.

Right, I only have a towel wrapped around my body.

I chuckled. "Oh, come on. You said it yourself; you already saw everything in me. You can't be stunned seeing me just wearing a towel around my body."

He cleared his throat. "You're such a temptress."

I bit the insides of my cheeks.

Gosh, Valerian is attracted to me? Like attracted-attracted to me.

"Wear something formal," he added as he turned his back on me and went inside the bathroom.

"Oh, Valerian," I blurted out as I slumped my palm on my forehead.

He's making things so hard for me.

Him being like this makes me want to just turn my back on my life back in our country and just live here in Greece with him.

"What am I thinking?" I groaned.

I put the thoughts at the back of my back and started to get ready.

I don't want to sulk and spoil my own mood for me.

I put on a color black halter bodycon dress partnered with black heels with Dolce & Gabbana written on it.

I also put on my light makeup and tied my hair on a high ponytail and I'm good to go.

The moment I finished getting ready was the moment Valerian finished getting dressed too.

He wore a white long-sleeve shirt that hugged his well-built body perfectly.

"You ready, darling?" he asked.

I nodded as I stared at him.

"You looked so handsome," I unknowingly said.

"And you are so beautiful too, darling." Valerian walked up to me and held me by the waist. "We are perfect for each other."

I smiled at his words.

~*~

Valerian brought me into a place that looked like a restaurant by the sea.

I thought it would be just a normal dinner outside but it was not just a simple one. He brought me to a candlelight dinner and it's funny because we both don't really need to eat but here we are.

I'm always going to be amazed by how Valerian can blend in with humans and how he mastered the art of pretending to be one.

I will take this dinner as a step toward teaching me how to subtly live in the human world.

"Are you ready to order, ma'am and sir?" A waiter approached us with a big smile on his face as he handed us the menu.

'I don't know what to get' I spoke to Valerian inside my head.

He looked at me.

"We will both have your best sellers, please," Valerian told the waiter. "And your best wine."

"Our best seller is our rib eye steak, sir. And the best wine-- coming right up."

"Thank you," Valerian thanked the waiter.

He smiled at us before leaving.

"Do you eat steak?" Valerian asked me.

"Yeah, we have a normal diet but I prefer fresh meat of animal," I told him.

"We can hunt. As far as I know, they have a forest here on the island."

My jaw dropped because of what Valerian just said.

"You can't be serious," I blurted out, unbelievably.

"What? If you prefer to eat fresh meat then we can get you fresh meat. I will even hunt it for you, just tell me--"

"Oh, gosh Valerian." I cut him off. "You can't do this to me, Valerian."

"Do what, Natasha?"

"This, your treatment--"

"Am I being inconsistent with my treatment again? I'm sorry, darling. I know I promised you that I would be consistent with the way I treat you but seems like I'm doing a bad job. I apologize and I'll make sure that I will do-- Wait, why are you crying, darling? Did I say something wrong? I'm sorry, please don't cry."

Valerian tried to reach for me but I covered my face with my palms as I sobbed.

"Natasha, please don't cry. I'm so sorry, my love."

Valerian stood up from his seat and walked up to me.

He knelt in front of me as he moved my chair so I could face him.

"What's wrong, Natasha?"

I tried to calm down but my sobs just won't stop coming out of my mouth.

"Come on, darling. Please tell me what's wrong and I will fix it."

"Y-you're making things. . . h-hard for me," I managed to say in between sobs.

"I'm sorry. Please tell me how can I fix it."

I shook my head as I removed my hands from my face, finally looking at Valerian.

"I-I don't know." I sobbed. "I don't know what to do."

"With what, darling?"

"With you!" I breathed sharply. "I don't know what to do with what I feel right now for you. I don't know what to do when we go home. I don't know what to do with my mission."

Valerian fell silent, he was just staring at me with expressions that I could not seem to read.

"Please, I'm so torn and lost. I don't know what to do anymore," I added.

I have no intention of ruining this beautiful night with him but all the thoughts that have been bugging me are getting hard to ignore. They keep on popping out of my mind and hearing and knowing how Valerian truly cares for me just snapped something inside me. And the emotions and feelings that I'm trying so hard to contain just hit full force.

I can't believe I'm crying in front of him right now.

I can't believe that I will see myself crying in front of anyone because all of my life I taught myself to be strong but deep inside, I'm still so weak. I just had a way of hiding everything that I felt.

"Let me help. Let me fix everything, Natasha."

I stared at Valerian's eyes upon hearing what he said.

I can now read his expression and I can see nothing but sincerity in his eyes.

I even sobbed harder.

Do you love me, Valerian?

Do you?

"This is wrong," I muttered.

"None of this is wrong, Natasha. We are meant for each other. Our destiny has been written ever since the day you were born. We belong to each other and this is not wrong."

"Oh, Valerian." I took a deep breath.

"Just let me, darling." Valerian caressed my face softly as he wiped the tears falling from my eyes. "Let me make this easier for you. I promise I will."