Chapter 91: Don’t Cry, It Hurts

Chapter 91: Don’t Cry, It Hurts
Aurelia’s mind was completely frazzled. Where was the Vlad who’d practically barked at her yesterday?

Where was the one who’d ignored her in the reception outside the Throne room like she was nothing more than a fluff of dust?

This Vlad was melting away every grudge she’d become determined to hold against him with nothing more than a softened voice, deeply murmured words, and his fingers on her hair.

“Is… is that what offends you?” she whispered, gazing into his eyes.

He nodded. “You said he was only a friend.”

“He is…”

“Are you sure?”

His hand was tracing up her arm and over her shoulder. When it reached her throat, those icy fingers wrapped gently around the elegant column of her neck.

Her lips parted on breathless inhales, her pulse thudding against his palm. “Of course,” Aurelia whispered. “But… why do you care?”

Vlad paused.

Slowly, he raised his gaze to meet hers. “What?”

She didn’t turn her gaze from his. “About me and Syre. If he did fancy me, and I him, why would you care? It's not like you like me. You’ve made that very clear.”

His jaw clenched, teeth gritting.

“I… don’t,” he muttered.

“So, why?”

“You’re here because of me. So, I must take responsibility, even when I don’t want to.”

Aurelia pulled her most clueless expression on. “You? How are you responsible for it?”

Vlad stared at her. Ah. Right.

She still didn’t have her previous memories from all those times he's erased her memories of him.

“You won’t understand,” he said, letting his thumb brush along the tip of her chin. “So, don’t ask.”

“Is it why you hate me?” she softly asked.

Again, he paused, always caught off guard by her questions. “…I never said I hated you.”

“You’ve shown it.”

Her voice was so soft, he’d barely heard her. Watching her lovely eyes glimmer with tears, he felt his chest painfully tighten and clenched his teeth against it. “I don’t. So, stop crying, it fucking hurts.”

“Yes, you do,” she whispered. “You hate me, but you keep doing this. Keep touching me, and pretending you like me, only to shatter my pride at every chance you get.” A silver tear slid down her creamy cheek. “But I still can’t hate you. It’s so annoying. Why can’t I hate you?”

Vlad was speechless. He was witnessing, for the first time, her own battles with the soul tie he’d brought upon them.

He was a complete bastard, and yet, when he was weak for her, he found himself doing things like this—being gentle, touching her, pleasuring her. Only for him to turn cold again when the weakness passed.

He hadn’t considered how that would affect her. Of course, she wouldn’t want to go to Geminor with him. Syre was a much more pleasant option.

She sniffled as her lips trembled, and it was like one of his ribs had suddenly cracked. Groaning, he tightly closed his eyes.

Her tears were tearing him apart.

“Stop crying,” he rasped, holding her shoulders.

“No,” she said, sniffling. “You’re horrible.”

“Alright, I’m sorry.”

Looking into her eyes, he cupped her face and shakily wiped away the tears. “I’m sorry, princess, don’t cry. Aren't you embarrassed? Big girls don’t cry.”

“Yes, we do.”

“Alright, you do, but not right now, please? I’ve been a royal bastard, I know. I’m sorry.”

Surprise took the place of her sadness, and she looked at him with wide eyes.
His apology sounded sincere... She’d expected him to baulk at her tears and shove her off his lap or press another of those vicious kisses to her lips.

But, no. His gentle fingers were wiping her face as she sat on his lap. His brows were furrowed with worry, and his eyes deep with remorse.

Sighing, Vlad brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Aurelia? Do you want me to take this pain away? I know how. I can make you stop caring about my bad moods and stop you from getting hurt by me. Would you like me to?”

She silently thought about it. Slowly, Aurelia nodded.

Vlad brushed the back of his fingers against her soft cheek. “Alright, love. All I need you to do…” He met her gaze. “Is to look into my eyes.”

The words were an instant bucket of cold water splashed over her head. Aurelia tensed, still staring into his eyes despite knowing what he intended to do.

“Yes,” Vlad whispered as his eyes slowly began their glow. “Just like that, baby. Don’t look away.”

He was going to take her memories again. Aurelia’s mind reared with panic, her heart pounding as she mentally kicked and fought to drag herself out of his control.

Was this it? Was this why he’d put her on his lap and practically seduced her into a mindless puppy? So she could let her guard down, and he could get access to her mind.

“From this moment onwards,” he whispered, “nothing happened between us—”

She surged forward, and Vlad’s lips were suddenly sealed shut by a hard kiss.

“Mfff—” came his muffled reaction, eyes wide as she kissed him.

He broke breathlessly away. “Aurelia—”

Her lips returned to his, her fingers cupping his jaw to hold him still as she deepened the kiss.

He sat there… letting her.

Every brush and stroke of her lips on his took another piece from the guard Vlad was slowly letting down.

When she sighed and slipped her tongue in to heatedly taste his, he became defenseless. His body reared up in intense need, hands stroking upward to pull her flush against him as he let himself go, absorbed deeply into the pleasure she was giving him.

Her fingers slid up into his hair where she clutched a handful, her lips grinding hungrily against him until he failed to hold in a needy groan.

Good thing they were already in his castle, Vlad absently thought as the kiss grew deeper and hotter.

He needed her naked in his bed. He’d been strictly disciplining himself since that night in her chambers. But he couldn’t hold back any longer.

To his utter disgust, Vlad suddenly heard the sound of crunching gravel outside his front doors. They were at the table just before his bar, which was directly across the front doors.

If they opened, there would be nowhere to go. This was dangerous…

Vlad needed to…

His thoughts faded, erased by her lips.

Aurelia gently sucked his bottom lip, and his mind went blank. When she bit him, he groaned, putting her on the table and gripping her head to crush her lips against his. The depth with which he kissed her then was simply unimaginable to Aurelia.

His hand had slipped under her skirts to stroke her silky thighs as he rendered her completely thoughtless with his tongue in her mouth.

The door handle jiggled, and the sound echoed ominously through the room. Vlad hadn’t gotten time to teleport.

Then the door swung open and Xavier marched into the room. He froze, halting in his steps as he stared at them.