Christian's POV

To bare my soul, even a small part of it in front my lovely mate, was a strange feeling. I wasn't used to share my past with another. Adam knew of course my childhood and what had led me that fateful day at his mercy on that ship. He had never judged me for my choices in life as a human. Life was different then, I was poor and I had wanted more in life than my small hometown. I had dreamt of adventures, of money, gold and exciting life. I hadn't been able to settle on only once space, it was boring. I longed to see the world. I had been so sick and tired of being poor. I could help my family that way and it was good. I had found out that I enjoyed the danger, I was like addicted to it. There was something about the way I felt when we stole from the rich that had made me addicted. To be able to wear nicer clothes, to not be hungry, to give money to my family. Yes, it has been dangerous, I had been hurt many times. I had been caught once, but my friends had rescued me. Otherwise I would have been hanged for my crimes. But still that didn't make me give up this life. I had been young and I had so many dreams. A married life hadn't interested me then. I had some fun with different women, but no one had managed to capture my heart and mind. Besides a woman and kids would have tied me to one place and that was never my wish.

So I had nothing to lose when Adam had turned me. He had told me that this life wasn't meant for everyone. Not everyone could hurt another person, even kill . But I have found out that this was no problem for me. I had fought so much as a human and doing that as a vampire wasn't any different.

But Angelina might not like my life as a human. I wanted this woman to like me, I needed it like the air . I have never thought that some girl would cause such reaction in me. That I would be so enchanted with her that I would completely lose myself. All the times I had followed Lina as she bought groceries. How even the sight of her made my head spin. How I had walked behind her, not close enough for her to spot me though, but still I could easily see the lovely angel. How she bit her lips as she thought what to buy, how Angelina seemed to do everything so gracefully and amazing. Or maybe I was thinking that because she was my mate. Maybe that was it. But still Angelina Davenport was very attractive woman and the thought that she was mine gave me such immense joy.

I had to protect her. My stalking got me the perfect possibility to see my angel and protect her at the same time. I had enjoying killing one guy that wanted to rob her near one parking lot one night . I had read his thoughts and quickly pulled him behind one car. His blood wasn't so tasty but I adored every minute of that criminal's death. No one could steal from my angel. No one could hurt her. I had become Angelina's secret guardian angel. I had been following her at the nights to make sure she went to home safely. If anyone dared to try to hurt her or even thought of it, I had quickly interfered. I had been very careful if someone tried to put something in my mate's drink at the disco or the bar, to drug her or something. I had paid extra attention on the guys that made a move on my angel while she danced. The ones that had touched Lina even for a second, were quickly dried of blood later. My darling knew how to take care of the flirty men and she could defend herself but still I had to protect her. For my biggest joy she never accepted some man's phone number or an offer for a ride. Like Lina knew she was mine, and no one would be right for her. I was so glad my darling wasn't a flirt, that she never got wasted or throw herself in some guy's arms. That despite the fact that she was gorgeous and many men wanted to have a date with her, Lina never accepted. I was so glad for that. Otherwise my bloodlust would knew no boundaries. I have watched this woman sleep countless times through her window. I just wanted to make sure that my darling would have a nice sleep, without something to ruin it.

God, what had happened to me! This woman held my heart in her hands, and we had never been on a date yet! Angelina had put the biggest and strongest chains around my heart on that fateful day in that store when I met her eyes. Now I only had to make her like me.

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Angelina's POV

I tried to get more comfortable on the seat. This conversation was maybe the weirdest I have ever had . I was speaking with a creature, who has lived for 400 years and I was at his mercy.

'' But all of this…''- I struggled to find the right words to express myself. Still the idea that someone might choose to become a vampire, a creature condemned to drink blood to survive, was hard to swallow. Yes, life was tempting , but the price was too much.-'' This is a big sacrifice.''- To live for so long, to never be human again. What kind of life would that be? To lose your humanity.

'' Yes, it was .''- Christian eyed the vampire bite on his wrist again.-'' But I would do it again in a heartbeat. I wanted to live so much that I didn't care what it would cost me. And even now, after so many years, I would still choose the same thing.''- The dark-haired man's eyes moved to my own hands.-'' Your hand, Lina! I forgot the ice for your bruise!''- I was rubbing again my sore wrist, which was slowly turning purple. –'' Stay right here while I bring you some ice.''- I nodded as another strong wave of energy hit me and glued me on the sofa. The vampire vanished so fast that it took my breath away .I couldn't move freely again. How would I ever escape this guy! He was strong and incredibly fast. And he could bend me to his will just with simple words. How exactly does someone escape a vampire?! I had read vampire novels as a teenager, watched movies, but this was the real life, not some actors and special effects. I certainly knew how to defend myself, but how would I beat Christian's mind control or whatever that ability was called? My head was buzzing from so many thoughts that I wanted to scream.

'' Here you go.''- Christian entered and handed me an ice bag. I smiled politely as I took it. Our hands touched and I tried to suppress the urge to wipe mine in my trousers. Christian noticed my discomfort and blushed, but didn't say anything as he sat down on the armchair again. I put on the ice on my bruise and winced when the cold eased my pain. I didn't like the following silence, it was very uncomfortable. So I had to continue the conversation again. Just anything to not feel those dark eyes devouring me.

'' Did you see your family again?''- I immediately regretted asking this. How could I have been so stupid! Christian had said that his childhood was a hard topic and I didn't want to provoke his anger by speaking of it. –'' I am sorry, I didn't mean to..''

'' No, it's all right, darling.''- The dark-haired vampire smiled at me to reassure me that he was calm.-'' Normal question, isn't it?''- He sighed.-'' Yes, I did, but not right away. I wanted to, but with my change I couldn't.''- Christian rubbed his eyes tiredly and smiled at me.-'' Adam wouldn't let me see them too, it wasn't safe for them. I couldn't control myself in the first few months, I wasn't myself.''- I shivered just imagining what that must have felt like. I didn't want to pity my abductor, but still I felt a little sympathy for what he has been through. –'' I can try to describe to you what the first few months have been for me, Lina, but I fear you could never understand. No mortal can. ''- I couldn't look away from his eyes.–'' I saw my family when I was ready for it. Or I thought I was ready. ''- I took the cup of tea because my throat was dry and I drank the remaining liquid. I waited for Christian to continue, but he seemed to hesitate. Maybe I had made a mistake by asking him this, the topic clearly was difficult for him. I wondered if he had told them about what he was now? Had he craved their blood?

'' I shouldn't have asked you that, Christian.''- He smiled when he heard his name from my lips. –'' Really, I can see that's hard topic for you. I am sorry.''- Probably I shouldn't care about that, he drugged and abducted me. He had stalked me for months and has seen me God knew where. But still I felt bad that I had asked him about his family. Just that when he cried about his dead sister and spoke about the poverty, something inside of me made me pity him. Had the vampire told me this sad story so I could feel empathy and like him easier? Was this some trick to make me accept him as closer? To make himself more human and normal in my eyes? Whatever the reason and the motive behind these were, I still didn't want to cause another person discomfort. And it was crazy for me to feel this way, this person had violated my privacy so many times, and I shouldn't be bothered from such a simple question. God, I was so tired! It was so exhausting to think what to say and do so I could escape!

'' There is no problem, Angelina.''- Christian winked at me.-'' But maybe we should avoid my family for a while, OK?''- Until he could trust me, I got the unspoken meaning. Until he feels comfortable enough in my presence to speak about his relatives. I nodded. I didn't want to pressure the matter and anger him.-''There is so much I want to talk to you about, darling. I have been dreaming of this moment for so long. You and me, so close…''- The dark-haired vampire reached a hand as if to touch me, but seemed to remember his promise , and dropped it down on his leg. He had been fighting his impulses to touch me so many times, and I could see that it was tough for him. So maybe I should keep him engaged into a conversation, so maybe he wouldn't want a physical contact with me so much. The fact that my abductor could just influence me to do anything but he hasn't , still kept me on my toes. I certainly wasn't expecting this from a man that drugged me and abducted me. And from a vampire , who could end my life without batting an eye. I wondered how many victims Christian had brought to his home. I bit my lips. No, I must not think of that! Thinking about death was out of the question now. I must not panic or think about all of the people he had killed before me.-'' Please, don't be quiet. I like that you have started to talk to me.''- His voice sounded almost desperate. I tried to think how to continue our conversation. I removed the ice bag from my bruise.

'' You can take it. It's better now.''- Christian nodded and went to return the ice, of course not forgetting to tell me not to go anywhere. I nodded as another wave of compulsion glued me on my seat. I took one biscuit because I desperately needed chocolate. Christian had been gone only for a minute. He didn't seem to want to leave me alone longer. Yes, he had left me to shower, but maybe that was more for my privacy and comfort than his wish not to leave my side. Had my abductor stood in the bedroom while I slept? I shook my head to get these scary thoughts of my mind. Christian, the vampire that abducted me , waited for me to start the conversation. So I swallowed my fear as best as I could .

'' You have lived for so long…''- Well, four centuries exactly, and shiver ran down my spine. I took another cookie to keep my hands occupied. This was absolute madness!-'' Have you lived all of this time in here? In this country?'' – I wondered if someone had tried to call me. Christian surely had turned off my phone. I had never switched off my phone, I always carried a spare charger with me , so I had tried to always be available for calls. My parents and all of my friends knew that and I would always call them back even if my phone was on vibration or silent mode. So right now I imagined the panic they must feel. And I rarely didn't respond to texts in Messenger or Viber. I wasn't always logged into my profiles, but I had always checked my messages and tried to answer back as soon as possible.

'' No, Angelina.''- Christian gave me a boyish smile .-'' It would be a waste of time to live at only one place.''- He sighed and stood up. I tensed, thinking that he would try to come near me and touch me. But instead my abductor began walking around the room, like sitting on one place was too much for him. –'' I have switched so many cities that it's hard to remember them all.''- He went to the window and stared through it. I wanted to stretch my legs, sitting on this couch was killing me. –'' You can walk around the room, if you want, Lina.''- Christian said to me with his back turned. How did he know what I was thinking? Could the vampires really read minds, like I had seen so many times in movies? Was any of it real?

'' How did you…?''- I immediately paled just from the thought he had heard my mind. Because then Christian would know that I had some kind of a plan to distract him and escape. And all of my planning could go to waste.

'' No, I haven't read your mind, Angelina.''- He turned to me and smiled.-'' As a vampire I can easily enter any person's mind and hear his every secret. Whatever his heart desires.''- Chills ran down my spine as I listened to him. Did he know my plan ? –'' But it's different with you, darling. Adam had warned me about this.''-The dark-haired man ran a hand through his hair.-'' Apparently, a vampire can read everyone like an open book, except his mate. Some part of their unique charm. No matter how much I try, I could never hear your thoughts. At first I had thought that it was because of some music, the traffic, the other people around. But after a while I realized the true reason. A vampire can't read his mate's thoughts. ''- Christian eyed me with such a sad look. Was he telling me the truth?-'' I wish I could hear what you are thinking, angel, what your dream of. But sadly your mind is a like an impenetrable fortress.''- The vampire smiled at me.-'' It's fascinating because that just proves that you are meant for me, Angelina, because I hadn't felt this with anyone else in my long life.''- I didn't know what to say. I had wanted to ask how many times the vampire had tried to read my mind, and how did he do that. But everything just got too much. All of this got too much. –'' And to your question about how I knew- you seem to want to stretch out and move, so you can do that.''- Christian gave me a reassuring smile. Yeah, like I would feel safe in a foreign home, abducted by a supernatural creature that was obsessed with me! I felt that the force that was keeping on the sofa was gone, and I could move my legs freely.

'' Thank you.''- I answered and stood up carefully. My legs were not as steady as I would want them to be, but I had to be in control. I had to show this guy that I wasn't so easily breakable. I had to be in control. I made a few steps and went to the nearest wall and leaned on it. I looked through the window and it had stopped snowing. I still didn't know where we were, how far was my town. I couldn't ask Christian that of course. But how far were we? Did someone live nearby? –'' So where have you have lived, Christian?''- Saying his name, like we knew each other, was still hard for me to do. But maybe if I said it often, that would create some sort of an emotional connection between us for him. People liked to hear their names, that makes them feel liked and accepted. So I could call this monster his first name in our conversations, hoping that somehow that would bring us closer. I didn't know if that was a good strategy or not. I have never been abducted in my life before and from a real vampire. I wasn't prepared for this. I wanted to lash out at my abductor again, break something in his head and go to look for his car . But he was a vampire, and that was scaring me so much. He could hurt me more than I could him. I didn't doubt for a second that I wasn't his first hostage here. Had all of them fought back? Or pretended to fall for his fantasy for perfect love ? What had happened to all these people?!

'' I have been all over the world, Lina.''- Christian crossed arms over his chest and leaned on the wall opposite mine. He was mimicking my pose, I realized.-'' Italy, Spain, France, Greece, Brazil, Turkey. I have been to every city and seen all there was needed to be seen. Well, I had been there when most of the famous statues and bridges were made.''- The vampire licked his lips.-'' I know every little detail about most of the tourist sites now. Some things no one remembers.''- My head began to spin again. It was a lot to imagine what had been to see some of the places thousands of tourist visited now and how many creations had the man in front of me witnessed. Accepting my abductor as a creature that had lived for so long was like someone had taken away my air.

'' This is incredible.''- I said to not let silence between us. Christian nodded without lifting his eyes off me. I wasn't even surprised that the vampire's eyes were glued on me. I felt like a prey, and that didn't make me feel any calmer. No man in my life had looked at me like this.

'' Are you hungry?''- His voice sounded like a caress and I winced because I thought he had somehow touched me and I hadn't seen it. But Christian hadn't moved from his spot.

'' Hungry? What time is it?''- I looked around to see a clock somewhere but there wasn't one. How long I had spent here? How long I was missing? I nearly fainted but I pressed my back more firmly against the wall.

'' It's nearly noon.''- Christian eyed his wristwatch. Lunch! I have spent the whole night in this guy's home and since I woke up it has become noon. So I must be missing for more than 12 hours. My lip began to tremble, but I bit it hard. I didn't want to panic and have a mental breakdown or do something brave like attack the vampire. I repeated over and over in my head that I must be calm and save my strength. That panicking would get me nowhere.-'' Lina, are you all right?''- The dark-haired man was in front of me and his hand touched mine.-'' Do you want something or to sit down?''- My eyes were glued on the wristwatch on his hand and the time on it. Of course Christian would have a fine brand , I recognized it and it only rich men bought it. It was very classy model, with what seemed like a genuine leather strap. I betted it cost a fortune. –'' Angelina?''- He gently touched my cheek and I snapped out of my daze.

'' Please, don't touch me.''- I whispered and he quickly backed away. I was breathing deeply to control myself and to stop the rising panic. What if I never got out? What if he killed me? What if no one found me ? No, stop it! I dug nails painfully in my palms. I had to survive. No matter how hard it was.

'' All right. I am sorry, angel.''- Christian put his hand in his jeans' pockets.- '' If you are hungry, I had made something for lunch last night.''- I blinked rapidly. My abductor had prepared a meal for today? And last night? Before or after the abduction? So he had planned it all?!

'' You know how to cook.''- I said, still in shock. I wanted to yell at him how would he expect me to just have lunch like I was his guest. I had wanted to say so many mean words, to pour all of my anger out. But I didn't. It wasn't part of my plan.

'' Yes, I have learned it a century ago. It became a hobby of mine. Come.''- I followed like a good girl the vampire to the door and held it open for me. I looked at the now empty cups of tea on the table and the plate with cookies. –'' I will clean this up later.''- Christian smiled at me. I exited the room first and waited patiently for the dark-haired man to show me the way to the kitchen.-''There are so many incredible things people can do with food. I have learnt from the best.''- We walked down the corridor and headed right. My abductor knew how cook. Great! Another part of his perfect image and nice behavior. Not only he had let me sleep, made me very delicious breakfast, but now he seemed to be some chef or something. And to add to his good boyfriend material image the fact that he lived in a huge and very well furnished house and he was super tidy man. It was like he wasn't even real or he was trying too hard. Was all of this some sort of an illusion for me? I doubted Christian had treated this nicely all of his victims. No, stop! Thinking about all those poor people that had been at this guy's mercy won't help me.

'' Can you eat food?''- Why bother even learning how to cook if you can't taste it? According to all of those books and movies, the vampires only needed blood to survive. Nothing else.

This house was huge! I had never been to such a big place before. I tried to memorize the way, so I could know where to run when the time comes. I had to know my way around this house. Christian had so many advantages , while I had none. No phone, no money, no car and no information where I really was. No shoes even or a warm coat so I wouldn't freeze to death in this weather outside. I had nothing I could use as a weapon so far. The least I could do for now was to remember where we passed by so I could at least not get lost in here. I tried to remember every details, every little thing I could use as a weapon. That vase maybe, or that shaped like a sun mirror.

'' Well, yes, very small part of it.''- Christian stopped in front of the kitchen and opened the door.- '' It took me nearly two centuries to figure out what I can eat. The blood is my eternal source of food, but I can still consume human food and not get sick from it. ''- The dark-haired man welcomed me into the kitchen. If I hadn't seen this guy's bedroom, bathroom and living room, I would have been surprised from how his kitchen looked. But now I hadn't expected anything else than some sort of a masterpiece, a well spent amount of money. Seriously, this guy's home looked like come to life from some catalogue. It didn't fitted his abductions and the fact that he was insane.-'' Take a seat, Angelina.''- Christian watched me with a smile as I looked around, probably proud I found his home very classy. I didn't want to give him that satisfaction, but I couldn't help it. The color of the walls was apricot and it made the whole room warmer. The kitchen island was a striking Z-shaped island topped with a slab of grey-veined white marble. The vampire didn't stop me as I looked around for a bit. There was a magnificent black stove, integrated wine chiller, a fridge, oak cabinets with glass doors. Big windows, the curtains were pulled aside. A table with four purple chairs in the middle of the kitchen. All of the equipment looked expensive and top class. A perfect kitchen. And again it wasn't messed up at all. There were no dirty plates or cups in the sink, nothing was forgotten on the island. It was too good to be true. I went to the fridge and noticed that there were some fridge magnets on it. Like I loved to do at home. There was some from Italy, Greece, Mexico.

'' Can I have a glass of water?''- I turned around and nearly screamed because Christian was behind me, and he could easily touch me if he reached out.

'' Of course, darling.''- He went to one cabinet and took a glass from it. I hurried to sit down on one of the chairs, because I didn't want to faint or something.

'' Thank you.''- I said like a good girl when the vampire handed me the water. It was wonderfully cold and refreshing.

'' I hope you like my cooking, angel. I made Caprese chicken lasagna.''- Christian blushed a little, like I was his girlfriend and he had cooked for our date. I loved lasagna and I was sure he knew it from his stalking. Another favorite thing of mine to make me like him. I had drank the water and carefully went to place it on the kitchen island.

'' That sounds good.''- I wasn't hungry, but I didn't want to offend him by refusing. Somehow I was certain that the lasagna would be as delicious as his pancake was. Why was Christian trying so hard to make me like him?-'' Do you need any help?''- If I could find some knife or anything sharp...

''I just have to heat it up a bit.''- The vampire opened up another cabinet and handed me the forks.-'' Will you help me set the table, darling?''