Chapter Sixteen
-Volterra, Italy-
As soon as we walked through the door he had me in bed.
And we did something we had never done before: made and held eye contact. Aro got on top of me, kissing me, exploring my mouth with his tongue. His lips pressed against my jaw, my neck. I ran my fingers through his chest hair. He positioned himself, watching my face as he pushed inside me. I gasped, my body automatically tightened around him as he went as deep as possible. He echoed my pleasure.
I stared into his red eyes. What I saw made my stomach knot further. There was an adoration in them I hadn't noticed before. Or maybe I had and ignored it. The man didn't just want me, he wanted me. Part of me had known that already, but I hadn't known the depth of it. He didn't want me as his guard, to have something shiny no one else had. He didn't want me as a play thing, he wanted me as a lover.
It felt as though a rug had been pulled out from under me. Everything came crashing down in an instant. I didn't know what to feel, what to do. I didn't understand. This was the man who ordered the destruction of my pack, not that it was entirely a bad thing. Kidnapped me. Held me prisoner. Treated me as an animal. Fuck, he even threatened to get sex by force if I didn't give it willingly. I shouldn't want this man. I didn't want to want this man.
But I did.
I reached up, brushing my fingers down his cheek. He turned his face into my hand, but not enough to break eye contact, and began to move quicker. I gasped, the pleasure radiating from my core at an intensity I hadn't felt before. I gripped his shoulders, squirming beneath him, as it overwhelmed me and I whimpered. Hopefully my face didn't look too stupid, because he was taking in every single detail. Only a moment later, he reached his own climax, his fingers clawing the sheets. Aro never once looked away from me.
What the hell did we just do?
The sun rose on the morning of the day of the moon. I woke with my head resting on Aro's shoulder, a hand on his chest, our legs tangled together. He pulled my chin up so he could kiss me. Things escalated quickly from there. Which he must have been hoping for because he was ready to go. He rolled on top of me, one hand roaming my body as he pushed his tongue in my mouth. I wrapped a leg around him, rubbing his chest. His fingers dug into my thigh, he teased me and I squirmed. He whispered into my ear, "What do you say, my dear?"
"Fuck me or I'll kill you?"
He hummed and began to pull away, "No."
"Please?" I quickly asked. I was rewarded, "Good girl."
It was difficult to describe how good it felt. My body ached for him so badly, to finally relieve that desire was overwhelming. That single motion was almost enough to shatter me. He started out slow, but gradually grew faster and harder. Like last night, he seemed to study my face closely as the pleasure built within me. Then he stopped, and I didn't like how he looked at me. He opened his mouth to say something.
Please do not!
I pulled myself up, cramming our lips together. My hips ground against his, hoping to get him back on track. Luckily, it worked. Even being a vampire, he was such a simple minded creature at times. He was slow but forceful, pushing me into the mattress, breaking our kiss to pant in my hair. I huffed each time. Partially by choice, but mostly because he shoved the air from my lungs. I held him tightly, arching into him as best I could. It did me in
It seemed Aro was always waiting for me to come out of the shower. This time he had clothes on, though. He turned to face me and smiled, "I think there's something we need to discuss, my dear."
"No, there isn't," I said quickly as my anxiety threatened to choke me. He stepped closer, sounding more stern, "There is."
He reached out and tucked my hair behind my ear, his fingers brushing down my jaw and pushing up my chin. I was certain I knew what he was about to say. The same thing he had tried to say before when I had shut him up. Hopefully I didn't look terrified. I didn't want him to do this... Did I?
"Lorna, my dear-"
Just then Caius burst through the door. Saved by the douchebag! I was sure his sudden appearance wasn't entirely coincidental. He was afraid of the exact same thing I was. He cleared his throat, "Brother, your presence is required in the council chamber."
Aro turned to him, looking quite annoyed, "Can it not wait a moment? I am in the middle of something."
"It can't," the blond's answer was clipped. Aro sighed, facing me again, "We will speak about this later, my dear. I do, however, need to inform you I will not be able to run with you this evening. I trust you can manage on your own?"
I gave him a thumbs up. He pressed his lips to my forehead before following his brother from the room. The latter narrowed his eyes at me as he left. I still could not wrap my mind around what was happening. We were incompatible, for fuck's sake! I hadn't done anything to earn his affection. And I didn't think I was that good in bed. Likewise, he hadn't done anything to coax me into gaining my attraction either. It was just there. Where a murderous rampage was supposed to be. And was he really stupid enough to let me run alone? I mean, obviously he was. Or maybe he was testing me? All I knew, though, was if I wanted out, this was my chance. But I was torn. I didn't really want to leave, but I didn't want to stay either.
I needed a walk. Do some soul searching.
With no real destination in mind, I picked directions at random, just wandering the corridors. That was, until I caught a scent I didn't recognize. Mindlessly, I sprinted toward it and it didn't take long to reach its source. I pinned the newcomer to the wall, snarling in her face, "Who are you and what do you want?"
She looked quite young, with a mess of dark hair. She didn't look frightened of me, "I'm here to see my husband."
I rolled my eyes, "How helpful. Your husband is who, exactly?"
"Aro."
Insert record scratch sound effect here. I froze, staring at nothing as what she said sank in. As if to clear a fog, I shook my head, "I'm sorry, Aro is your what now?"
"My husband?"
"That's exactly what I thought you said," I tried to pretend my voice had not cracked. Her brows knit in concern, "Is there a problem?"
"Nope!" I blurted out. She probably thought I was an idiot. It's all good. Because that's exactly what I fucking was, "Just can't believe the asshole actually found someone willing to put up with him."
I let go of her, brushing imaginary dust from her cloak, "Sorry about that, I'm his guard dog. New smells get me going. Okay, carry on."
Turning on my heel, I walked away before she could speak again. That motherfucker. Of course he had a wife. How had I not figured that out? He wasn't interested in me beyond what I physically had to offer him. Gods, I was so fucking stupid. For feeling anything towards him, let alone... Instead of grabbing the elevator, I continued beyond it. Toward the back exit Aro had let me out so many times. A keypad kept it securely closed. I jabbed the buttons angrily, yanking the handle when the light flashed green.
My plan had been to run to the woods. Sit against a tree, probably cry, and wait for the moon. But once I reached that spot... I didn't stop. Fuck him and his games.
"Ah, Sulpicia, my dear," Aro was cheerful as he approached her, kissing her on the cheek, "Your travels were safe, I assume?"
She sighed, "Mostly."
"Mostly? What was it that happened?"
Sulpicia shrugged from her cloaking, folding over the back of a chair, "On my way in, I was attacked by some woman claiming to be your guard dog."
Aro's brows knitted.
"Lorna?" he muttered, though he knew she could still hear him, "I apologize, my dear, I should have kept her locked in her room during your visit. Were you harmed?"
"No, I was not," she pressed her lips together, "What is she?"
He replied with a smile, "Lorna is a Child of the Moon-"
"A Child of the Moon? But how? I had thought their kind had been eradicated. And I thought their prey drive was unbreakable?"
Aro sat in one of the chairs, "They were kind was destroyed. Here in Europe and in Asia. We hadn't even begun to touch the other continents. Lorna was brought over from a North American pack we put down."
His wife shook her head, "I still fail to understand. Why would you do something so foolish? You've put the entire Guard at risk."
He tried not to let his grin slip, "She refused to attack. I decided I had a use for her."
"Or several." Caius mumbled behind him, standing at the bookcase. Sulpicia frowned, "I assumed as much. I can smell her on you, my husband."
Aro tapped his fingers against the table, "If we could step away from my private affairs, it would be greatly appreciated."
"I just hope you understand the risk you take, Aro," she answered with a sigh.
"I do, quite, actually. Now," he replaced the smile on his face, "Shall we finish settling our separation?"
"Let's, please."
