Chapter 3

Aro had disappeared for the rest of the day, almost. When he returned, he approached me. Taking my face in his hands, he gave me the kiss I didn't want. Despite it being quite tender, it still scared me. Last time, things had escalated quickly and I had found myself in a position I didn't yet want to be in. I still didn't. Sooner rather than later. But after a moment, he simply let me go. I had been about to climb into bed, so he immediately went to lay on one side and patted the space in front of him. The thought of sleeping on the floor briefly danced through my mind. How will you ever be comfortable with me unless you're with me? I hesitated for a minute, realized he was right (unfortunately), and slid into bed beside him. My back was to him in hopes I'd better be able to ignore his stare. It was slightly successful. But after a moment he began to twirl a strand of my hair around his finger, forcing my attention back to him anyway.

Once I did sleep, I dreamed of him. He held me against the wall, as he had the previous night. The skirt of my dress got pushed up to my waist and he lifted me from the floor. Aro pushed himself inside me and moaned into the crook of my neck. It hurt, and I begged him to stop. But his movements only grew more frantic. I cried the entire time. When his body tensed, I knew what was coming. Or, I thought I did. He sank his teeth into my shoulder. I loosed a blood curdling scream as fire began to consume me.

I was still screaming when I woke and my face was stained with tears. The mattress dipped as Aro suddenly reappeared, gathering me to his chest. He tucked my head under his chin. Despite the nightmare, I needed this. As terrified of him as I was, I truly felt safe in his arms. Though I was a bit unnerved at how right it felt. I nuzzled my face into him and noticed how nice he smelled. It was a scent I recognized, actually. A cologne I had smelled elsewhere before and found attractive. I wondered if that was something else he had picked from my mind. With a big yawn I began to drift back to sleep.

When I woke the next morning I was alone. After getting to the bathroom, I discovered why. That time of the month was upon me. Thankfully, someone had thought ahead and stocked the necessary items. Aro didn't show for several days, having meals brought to me by the human secretary and ordering her to keep me company in his absence. Since I was locked in "our" room the entire time. Her name was Rosetta. She was right around my age and was incredibly hopeful that she'd soon become one of them. Rosetta's favorite color was purple, she loved horses, and was awful at tennis. This woman rambled on about pretty much everything. She reminded me a bit of Aro with how much they both loved to talk. I wondered if they just liked the sound of their own voices. It was a welcome enough distraction, I supposed. I was sure Aro knew enough about reproduction to know once I stopped bleeding would be the ideal time to really start trying. No doubt he'd be pushing for my cooperation, and I was really not looking forward to it.

"Killing the girl would be unwise."

"Pardon?" Aro asked in confusion.

"The girl," Marcus said, leaning a bit closer, "You say you will kill her if she refuses you. Doing so would not be wise."

"And why is that, brother?"

Marcus only stared with raised eyebrows.

"No." Aro quickly dismissed the notion. He had been certain what he was feeling was just the pull of a siren. Mesmerized by the call of her blood. Oh, how it sang to him! If he were being honest with himself, he was a bit concerned. Controlling himself could prove difficult once she finally engaged him in coitus. Aro frowned. It would be a tragedy for him to accidentally kill her trying to conceive the child. She could be saved, of course. But his chance at obtaining a hybrid of his own, as far as he was concerned, would be lost. He was feeling quite dissuaded from finding another partner. Hmm, he wondered...

"No, I think I'd like to keep my dearest Ashleigh. In time I will turn her and claim her as mine for eternity. For now, I will do what must be done to see that I get what I desire."

Willingly, or perhaps not.

The covers were pulled over my face so I could hide from the sun. Much of the past week had been spent here, sleeping when cramps and Rosetta would allow. This morning, however, I just didn't feel up to facing the day. But the blanket began to recede, one small tug at a time. Oh no.

"Come, my dear. It does no good to stay in bed all day. Unless, of course, you'd like my company."

I got out of bed to face him. He smiled, as usual, and caressed my cheek with the back of his fingers, "I've missed you, dearest Ashleigh."

Not knowing what to say, I chose to not say anything. I didn't want to admit there was a part of me that had missed him too. Or that what he was currently doing made me want to melt right into him. Though he would know that now without me having to speak it aloud. The look in his eyes said he did. Aro played with one of my curls, "Since we've been apart all week, I thought we could spend the day together."

When I still didn't say anything, he nudged me in the direction of the bathroom, "Go get ready, my dear. I will wait here for you." He flashed a playful smirk as I closed the door.

I was very uncomfortable right now.

When I had emerged from my shower, Aro was seated in the chair in the corner. He beckoned me to him. I obeyed, expecting he would stand and we would go about whatever business he had planned for us. Instead, he pulled me onto his lap. My posture immediately turned rigged. I could have passed for a vampire with as straight as I sat. He nuzzled into my shoulder, "Do tell me more about yourself, my dear."

I shifted a bit, "I have a feeling you know more about me than I'd like you too."

"Oh, I do. For instance, you're frightened of me because you have yet to know a man's touch," his lips brushed my neck, "How I'm looking forward to taking that from you."

Not helping. I flinched as my stomach turned. I tried to stand up, to get away from him. But he grabbed my wrist and pulled me back down. Now I almost wished he'd kill me.

"I'm afraid that's no longer an option for you, my dear," he tucked my hair behind my ear, "you see, I've realized I'm quite fond of you. The thought of you leaving me is rather upsetting."

He pulled my legs so that there was one on either side of his lap, forcing me to straddle him. My heart hammered in my chest as he kissed my collar bone, a hand creeping up my shirt. Aro pushed my hips tighter against his. Feeling his erection sent a wave of fear and desire through my core. I hated that my body was betraying my mind. I hated that I wanted him. He gently squeezed my breast and whispered a single word into my neck, "Submit."

His tone suggested I didn't get a choice this time.