Warning: NSFW
Songs Mentioned: Moonlight Sonata (1st movement) by Beethoven
It had been days since Amara last saw Aro. He hadn't made an attempt to corner her as of yet. She was mildly surprised by that. She figured he would have made an attempt to at least talk to her, but he was giving her the much needed space she needed. For now she enjoyed the quiet life without him bothering her.
She sat in Caius' office drawing him as he worked without his knowledge. She wanted to capture his focused features because she found him attractive when he was so absorbed in what he was doing. She kept looking up at him and studying him before going back to her work to add a few details. This time when she looked up he was no longer behind his desk. Her brows furrowed, 'Where did he go?'
"Do you paint portraits," came his voice from behind her which caused her to jump in her seat.
"Caius," she drew the sketch to her chest and turned, "Don't sneak up on me like that and no I don't. They always end up looking bad. It's why I won't tattoo portraits unless they are on the gray scale."
His hand came down from behind her and drew the sketch away from her. As he studied it as he spoke, "You're really good, Amara. With the proper training I can see you being an amazing painter."
Amara just shook her head, "And who's going to teach me, you?"
"No, but there is someone here that could," he answered cryptically.
"Who," she asked, her interest peaked.
Caius shrugged, "You'll have to ask around. Now, bellissima, I've got more work to do. Try not to stare at me so much it's distracting."
Amara sighed and closed her sketch book and gathered her belongings. "Where are you going," he looked up from his work at her packing.
"I'm leaving so I won't distract you besides I need to stretch my legs," she stood from the couch she was on.
He looked from the papers on his desk to her, "I didn't mean for you to go."
"Oh, no, no, no, I wouldn't want to distract you with my presence any longer," she said with a coy smile.
He rushed from his desk to her and asked to touch her to which she nodded her consent. He grabbed her from behind and held her to him. He bent down and kissed her neck where it wasn't bit. She tensed only slightly under his touch. She didn't mind it to be honest, but she felt weird accepting his advances especially after she has been with Marcus.
"What do you plan to do? Might I escort you to wherever you're going," Caius asked with his arms wrapped around her midsection.
"I might go the library, or to the gardens, I haven't decided yet," she turned to look up at him, "I have Felix and Jane today so I should be fine."
He bent further to capture her lips in a short kiss. When he pulled away he noticed her eyelids had slid shut. "Don't hesitate to come back if you get bored," he nuzzled the side of her neck.
She patted his hands with hers and opened her eyes before pulling away from him. "I think I'll be fine, Caius," she headed to the door, turning around to say, "Thanks though. I'll see you later."
She left him standing there in the middle of his office staring after her. As she walked into the hallway she was met with a smile from Felix and, as always, a straight face from Jane. She headed off in the direction of the library first to pick out a book and then she thought about reading it outside.
As she drew near she began to hear beautifully haunting music playing softly from around the library. That caused her to pause in her steps. Instead of asking her two guards where it was coming from, she decided to listen with her ears to find the source of the lovely playing. She knew the piece being played but could not, for the life of her, recall the name.
The direction she went, the music grew louder with each step. She quickly found the source of the music behind a door. She cracked open the door before she could be told otherwise and saw who was playing. Aro sat at a black grand piano slightly hunched over the keyboard playing the music as if his soul depended on it. When she opened the door though he stopped playing to look up at her.
"Please don't stop," her voice begging and small. She wanted to continue to hear the haunting melodic tune.
He, without a word, continued where he left off. The piece caused Amara's emotions to stir into a melancholy state. It made her feel things she didn't want to, especially with him playing it. The build up gave her a sense of loss of hope. She was compelled to walk further into the room by the beauty of it. When she neared the piano she stopped and allowed her eyes too close to really focus on the sound of the ringing strings.
When the music reached its end Amara was left breathless. It took a few seconds before her eyes slid open once more. Aro stared at her with his mask of indifference in place, but his eyes held a longing within them. She swallowed heavily before finding the courage to speak, "You play beautifully."
He cracked a small smile in his mask, "Thank you for the compliment."
She nodded, biting her lips together. She turned to leave only for him to call out, "Wait, please don't go."
She froze in her tracks. She turned her head to the side and asked, "Why?"
"I," his voice trailed off. He let out an unnecessary breath of frustration, "I am not good at showing who I really am. People tend to not like me for a reason."
Amara turned to face him fully at that. Biting back, "Maybe it could be the lack of privacy or the fact that you use people. I doubt it's your true personality to be manipulative, Aro."
He shrunk at her astute observation of himself. Aro walked toward her while she stood still. He stopped a few feet from her. His mask was cracking right in front of her, "Don't you think I know what I've done? There is a reason I am the way I am. I hate my powers most days and then others I love knowing everything. I am constantly thinking about everything I've done throughout my life and I hate myself for most of the decisions I've made, but they had to be done for the sake of the coven and the world. Would I change my power? The answer is no because without it I doubt we would have ever met. Fate would have led me astray and I'm glad it didn't.
"Will you at least get to know me before hating me like everyone else," he implored.
'What has he done,' she wondered what could have caused him to be the way he is. She looked up into his ruby eyes, "Aro, I said as long as you change I will give you a chance. If you can't do that then that's on you."
She went to leave again only for him to appear in front of her causing her to pause. Amara went to go around him for him to reach out and stop her. She flinched under his touch. "I'm sorry, Amarantha, I just... May I accompany you where you're going?"
She contemplated it. 'Give him a chance,' echoed in her mind, but also, 'It's too soon,' came across it as well. She bit her lower lip showing her nerves. Shaking her head she willed herself to overcome the battle within her, "Not today, Aro. I still need time."
Her eyes did not meet his as she left the room and continued on her way. Instead of going to the library like she originally planned she took a detour toward Marcus' office. If anyone could help her, it was him. She studied the old paintings that hung among the walls as she passed. She couldn't grasp how much history these men have gathered over the years. It made her head spin just thinking of how old they really were.
The closer she got to Marcus' office the louder her heart pounded. They hadn't been intimate like they had been on the island since they've been back, which caused Amara's cheeks to burn bright whenever they were close. She couldn't keep the image of him over her, pumping his flesh in and out of her heated channel, out of her mind. As she reached his door she was hesitant to knock. The thought of him being too busy for her company always loomed in her mind. She didn't want him to turn her away. Call it one of her irrational fears, but she would be upset if he didn't want her near him like she wanted him close to her.
Just as her hand was about to hit the wooden door's surface it opened revealing a smiling Marcus. Seeing his smile immediately brought one onto her face. "Amarantha, what a lovely surprise as always," he said, grabbing her out reached hand and kissing the top of it. His eyes roamed over her physique admiring the dress that hugged her in all the right places. It was an emerald green color with black butterfly sleeves that flowed down her sides. The dress stopped just above her knees allowing him to look at her luscious legs. He dismissed her guards for the rest of the evening as he drew her into his office. "You're such a lovely creature, mia dolcezza," he murmured against her neck as he placed a few kisses at the base.
Her eyes slid shut, her head moved to the side to allow him better access to her neck where he had sunk his teeth in not too long ago, and a whimper escaped. She was like puddy in his hands and she enjoyed it. "Marcus," she whined, forgetting exactly why she was even there in the first place.
He kissed her bite mark with a smile before pulling back. "What, mia dolcezza? Can't contain yourself," he teased.
She moved her head and raised hers to meet his. She kissed his lips softly before answering, "Not when I'm around you."
He gave her a smirk on his chiseled face. His hands were wrapped around her waist in an instant as she leaned forward again to capture his lips. The kiss was one of searing passion as she nibbled softly on his lower lip begging for entrance. He allowed her the control of this kiss and opened his mouth to her to dominate. When he could sense her arousal is when he reluctantly pulled away from her. His forehead rested against hers. "Amarantha," her name a prayer falling from his lips.
She looked up at him, their eyes close to one another, and pleaded, "I want more."
He gave her a dashing smile while pulling back slightly, being coy, "Amarantha, mia amore, explain to me what more you could want."
She stared at him with a suggestive look on her face. 'Two could play at this,' she thought as she raised herself on her tiptoes, hands fisted within the lapels of his jacket, she whispered in his ear, "I want you in your chair without your trousers. I want to straddle you and slip you inside me. I want to ride you until I find completion. After that I will allow you to do whatever you want."
He released an animalistic growl. He was close to giving her everything that she wanted. So close, in fact, that he grabbed her hands from his jacket and lowered them to the top of his pants where his leather belt was buckled. 'If she wanted him she would have to prove it,' he thought.
She bit her lip. Amara knew if she began to undo his belt there would be no turning back from what she started. Feeling brave and extremely turned on, she boldly began to unwrap her prize. As she slowly did so she looked up into Marcus eyes and watched as they deepened into their dark color. Once she had the belt undone along with the button, she pulled the zipper down and freed him from his confines. He released a hiss when she wrapped her hand around him and gave his cock a stroke, then another till it was his turn to be puddy within her hands.
"Amarantha, you have no idea what you do to me," he said through clenched teeth.
"I have an inkling that I do," she said cheekily as she stroked him some more. He groaned when she removed her hand from him and demanded, "Go sit in your chair."
He backed away leisurely from her and made his way to his chair. She watched his eyes roam over her drunkenly as she slowly removed her dress from her body revealing the matching underwear set underneath. She left her boots on for now, she was too focused on getting exactly what she wanted. If she had to crawl on her hands and knees right now she would, that's how desperate this man made her feel for his touch. Luckily for her he seemed just as desperate for her for he did exactly what she requested.
Marcus sat there as patiently as a lion watching its prey could. Amara didn't rush over to him. She took her time approaching his sitting form behind his desk while slowly discarding her bra then her underwear and afterwards her shoes as she drew near. It wasn't long before she stood in front of the hungry man naked as the day she was born. She straddled his lap and giving him no time to protest sealed her lips against his. His hands went to her waist and slowly roamed lower to her thick assets. She raised herself as he gripped her voluptuous globes and painfully slow, lowered herself onto his thick member. They both moaned at the feeling of her stretching around him to accommodate his thick length. Her arms wrapped around his neck, hands threading themselves in his flowing locks. She brought her lips crashing against his again as she lifted herself up and back down again. Sighing into the kiss from the feeling of having him withdraw and re-enter her body, she slid her arms around his neck.
Amara was as close to heaven as she possibly could be. To be wrapped around the man she thought she was in love with was pure bliss. She broke the kiss and leaned back a little to continue her slow pace of riding Marcus. As she rocked her hips her swollen clit rubbed against his pelvis causing delicious waves of pleasure to shoot throughout her body. Her pierced nipples brushed against the linen of his jacket causing them to grow harder than before.
Marcus swallowed his thick venom that pooled in his mouth. His teeth ached to find purchase within her neck, but he would not do that to her again. She was already marked by him and he couldn't wait for her to be able to do the same when she has turned. He let her take out all her frustrations out as she rode him in his office chair. His hands clung to her backside helping raise and lower her onto him. When he started to thrust upward every time she sunk down on his cock, it made her a moaning mess.
She chanted his name as she came closer and closer to her own release. It was the rubbing of her clit that sent her over. When her walls began to flutter around Marcus milking him, he roared, hauling her up with one arm wrapped around her while the other cleared his desk of all the clutter causing it to crash onto the ground. He set her onto the desk, laid her back, and began to plow into her at a brutish pace. His inhuman speed kept Amara in a state of high that even the most euphoric drug couldn't come close. He was careful not to break any of her bones, but she would for sure have a few new bruises on her flesh from his grip.
His cock continued to invade her dripping cave as he went to teak her nipples between his thumb pad and forefinger. "Oh fuck.. Goddammit Marcus," she nearly screamed. Her head flew back as another orgasm came crashing over her. The obscene sound of their skin slapping together and her wanton moans filled the room as Marcus pounded into her.
"That's it Amarantha," he growled, "Let everyone know who you belong to."
"Ah, you... Marcus," she panted. Her back taunt as a bow she felt another climax beginning to build throughout her. "Please," she whined.
Marcus managed to smirk before sliding one of his hands between them and finding her budding nub. He pinched the sensitive flesh causing her to buck against him. It was when he began rubbing her clit at the same pace he essentially fucked her at is when she no longer was coherent. She had tears streaming down her face by the time her third and final orgasm hit her. It was that last squeeze of her inner walls around his member that drew out Marcus' own climax. He grunted as he felt himself spill deep within his mate. Marcus stayed sheathed inside her while she panted underneath him.
Amara took a few minutes to come back to reality. She could have sworn she was dead. She had to be because of how wonderfully sinful it felt to be completely owned by Marcus. It took her a moment longer to finally open her eyes to see Marcus smiling down at her. She returned it with a goofy grin of her own. He bent down and stole a few kisses from her, careful as to not crush her. When he withdrew from her she whined in his mouth, clearly not liking the emptiness that she now felt.
Marcus unwrapped himself from her and took a seat at his chair and watched his venom like cum slowly leak from her. He groaned at the sight and took two of his fingers, gathered the cum and reinserted it inside her. Her breathing that had returned to normal started coming out in pants again as he fingered her using his cum as lube while she remained on his desk. As he continued his torment on her he casually asked, "So, mia dolcezza, what brought you here besides carnal activities?"
Panting, Amara managed to get out, "Mm, Marcus, please."
"Please what, mia amore," he picked up his pace.
"I c-can't con-concentrate with you. Oh," her mouth formed an "O" as he hit the spot deep inside her when he curled his fingers.
"What was that, Amarantha, I couldn't quite understand you," he grinned devilishly at her while watching her breasts rise and fall fast.
"You're s-so mean-ahh," her eyes rolled back in her head once again as she came around his fingers.
When he was satisfied with pleasing his mate, did Marcus finally withdrew his fingers. He stood, gathered her in his arms and brought her over near to the roaring fire and cuddled her on the couch. He drew her hair away from her sweaty forehead and watched her eyes slowly open once again.
Amara sighed and held onto him like her life depended on it. She rested her head on his clothed chest and raised a hand to mess with his collar. "Before I got distracted," she started and he gave a snort which caused her to look up at his wide grin, "What? Your presence alone distracts me."
His smile broadened at her admission. He admitted back, "I'm glad I'm no longer the only one."
She raised herself off of his chest and became serious, "We need to talk."
"About what, cara mia," his finger caressed her cheek before going below her chin and bringing her up for a quick kiss.
She whimpered softly against his lips before pulling back, "You're distracting me again."
"I apologize," he said.
"I don't feel like you really mean that," she mumbled before continuing, "Caius and Aro are what I wanted to talk about."
"Okay, and," he asked, his eyes never leaving hers.
"Is it technically cheating on you if I give in to their advances," she looked at him worried.
He shook his head at her. His smile still on his face. Marcus kissed her forehead, "Bellissima Amarantha, we are technically all yours to do with as you please. You're not cheating on me when I know what we have... Just know I cherish it. We all accept that there are three of us and have to share you. It's a part of our bond."
"So if I ever were to accept Caius' advances you wouldn't be jealous," she asked, curiously.
He nuzzled her head to get her to expose her neck to which he kissed, "Now I didn't say that."
Amara cocked her head and gave him a confused look before he continued, "I will always be jealous of whoever gets to have you like this, Amarantha. You're mine just as I am yours. Just because I have to share doesn't mean I won't feel these things."
She couldn't stop herself slowly shaking her head, "I don't want to make you fell that way, Marcus."
"Do you not think they're not jealous of me," Marcus questioned his mate. He looked from her to the fireplace, "Especially now after I'm sure they heard what we just did or will be informed shortly by one of their personal guards. We weren't exactly quiet."
Amara's cheeks reddened, "I didn't think I was that loud."
"It is the vampyric hearing. There is nothing you can do to stop it. There is a range, but those close by definitely heard us," Marcus stated as if it didn't faze him in the slightest.
"That's just great now everyone knows I sound like a banshee when I'm being fucked," she grumbled under her breath.
Marcus looked from the fireplace to her, purring out, "You definitely do not sound like that, Amarantha."
She looked up at him with her cheeks still pink, "It's still embarrassing to know that everyone knows how I sound. It's like there's no privacy here."
"You get used to it eventually, mia amore," he kissed her head and leisurely ran his hand through what little hair she kept.
"I don't mean to make them jealous by being with you either," she confessed after a short while. "I just feel for you differently than I do for them."
"And how exactly do you feel for me," he prodded.
She bit her lip not wanting to say the L word, but did want him to know how she felt. "I really care for you, Marcus. I have been affected by you since the first time I saw you. Butterflies erupt within my stomach whenever I see you. You make me feel so safe, Marcus. When we're apart my heart constricts leaving me breathless. I don't like the thought of being separated for to long as well. It makes me sound so clingy, but I don't know how else to describe it."
Little did she know what she just described to him Marcus knew to be love. He just wondered what kept her from saying it. He didn't want to rush her into saying anything just yet for fearing he would end up pushing her away. Instead he asked, "And how do you feel for Caius?"
"Like he's arrogant and full of himself, but he's very attentive and caring underneath. He makes me laugh with his morbid humor and constantly surprises me. My heart flutters when he kisses me. I just don't want his wraith directed towards me. I feel cautious around him, but he also makes me feel safe. It's confusing," she sighed.
"And Aro," Marcus finally asked after a long pause.
She shook her head. She was conflicted when it came to Aro. Half of her wanted to never forgive and never forget about what he did, but the other half wanted to forgive him and still never forget. What he did was still very fresh inside her mind and the fear and helplessness she felt was still attached to that memory. She hated it, she hated herself for her body's betrayal. How she, deep down, kind of craved that feeling again just under better circumstances and with a safe word in place. She was fucked up in the head and she knew that. She explained this to Marcus leaving out the last part.
He nodded before speaking, "Amarantha, your feelings are perfectly valid. Don't rush into anything you don't want to, but remember you did give Caius another chance and he did a lot more."
"I was a willing participant in the first go around even though I thought it was a dream," she defended Caius.
"But afterwards," Marcus asked, one brow raised.
She stared at the flames instead of him recalling exactly what he was referring to because it happened right in front of both Aro and Marcus. She had felt so degraded when that happened. "I know what you mean," she bit her lower lip harder before speaking once more, "Will it always be this way?"
"No, cara mia, it will not. When you're a vampire you'll understand more thoroughly the depths of the bond, and what lengths you'd go through to keep your mate," Marcus brought his hands down around her waist to just hold her close.
Amara and Marcus stayed entangled together for a little while longer till there was a knock on the door signaling to them they needed to get dressed. Marcus took no time in righting himself, but Amara took a little while to sort herself out. She was obviously slower being human in all, but also she was way more under dressed than him. He ended up helping her with her dress by slipping it over her head and smoothing it out. Once she was completely covered he called for whomever to enter.
A beautiful woman with black hair and dark red eyes entered with a silver platter. She wore a dark cloak with a very elegant dark knee length dress underneath. She was shorter than Amara by a good half a foot which made the woman look tiny against the full height of Marcus.
"Ah Renata, to what do we owe the pleasure," Marcus asked while wondering why Aro sent his prized bodyguard.
"Master Aro requests your presence in the throne room, Master, and also he wanted me to drop off some food for our Mistress," the female vampire set the tray on top of the cleared desk, "He said she has not eaten since this morning."
Amara raise a brow at the woman before looking at Marcus. 'Of course he's still keeping tabs on me,' she thought. They took a step toward one another and embraced. Marcus was the first to speak, "I will not be gone long. Enjoy your meal here, mia dolcezza, and await my return. You will have guards just outside if you need anything."
She nodded before stepping on her tiptoes to give him a small peck on the lips. "Have fun," she said as if he was just going to play with the other kids on the playground. She felt him slip from her grasp and left along with the short female, leaving her alone in his study.
She opened the lid to her food to reveal an Italian take on a Philly cheese steak. The food looked mouth watering so Amara sat in the chair she and Marcus had previously just been on and went about eating her meal. When she was good and full she closed the silver lid to the platter and removed it from his desk. She went about picking up the mess on the ground to occupy her time while she waited for him to return.
When she had straightened everything up she went to the door with her platter in hand. She knocked on it in hopes that someone would open it for her. When the door open Felix asked, "What do you need, Mistress?"
"Felix, I've told you to stop calling me that. Just call me Amara please," she stressed to him multiple times he didn't have to call her that. It made her feel awkward. Handing the platter over, "I was wondering if I could possibly get coffee please."
"Anything else," he inquired.
Amara shook her head no, "Nope that's all. Thank you."
Felix left leaving the door open. Amara turned her head toward the second guard who happened to be Santiago. She gave him a smile before ducking back into the room to await her drink. She stood by the fireplace staring into its dancing flames. She enjoyed the warmth it exuded. By the time she went to sit the door opened with Felix in tow. He placed the tray that contained coffee and some dessert that looked to be tiramisu. Felix pointed out, "I was told to give you this with your coffee, it's supposedly good with it."
"It looks really great. Thank you, Felix. I appreciate it," Amara looked up at the brute of a man with a smile.
"You're welcome," he gave her a tiny smile in return before walking out the door.
Amara sat there enjoying her dessert and coffee all alone. She didn't mind it right now, being alone that is. She hasn't really been left alone inside a room for quite a while having either her mates or bodyguards with her. She finished eating her sweet and drinking her coffee with gusto. Setting everything aside she decided to lounge on the couch she sat on and just relax. Her feet dangled off the side of the couch as she had boots on once again. She sat there for sometime thinking before the coffee ran out of her system and she slowly was lulled to sleep by the warmth of the fire having been exhausted from her previous activities.
Marcus reached the throne room shortly after leaving Amara with her meal. He saw that Caius was already sitting in his throne while Aro stood by his. Marcus went over to his throne feeling the eyes of his companions on him the whole way. He watched as Renata approached Aro offering her hand to him which he eagerly took. Without being too loud a low rumble seeped its way out of his chest. Marcus only smirked knowing full well that Aro was not happy with the state of everything.
Aro dropped Renata's hand and ushered her to stand behind him. He said nothing to Marcus, just gave him an envious look much like Caius' current reaction. As soon as Marcus had entered they both could smell the sex practically dripping off of him which didn't help how they felt now.
"Couldn't you have bathed Marcus," came Caius' snide remark. He wasn't actually disgusted with the smell of their mate. It was quite the opposite. The smell of her arousal on Marcus' skin caused a primal need within him to stir and he knew he wasn't alone in the sentiment looking toward Aro.
"I wasn't given enough time to Caius," he began seriously, but quickly became sarcastic, "I do apologize if I offend either of your senses."
Caius scoffed and straightened himself up while Aro remained silent for once, but the look in his eye said it all. Caius couldn't help but get one last word in, "Is she at least safe?"
That made Marcus' smug look disappear from his face. "You have the audacity to accuse me of ever harming her," he stated with bewilderment and anger on his face.
"You bit her, Marcus," Caius pointed out from his throne.
"I still did not hurt her, in fact she found it quite pleasurable. Why don't you just ask her," his question rhetorically.
"Enough," Aro hissed, "we have a guest and I'd prefer we saved our bickering for a more private setting."
Marcus and Caius each stopped speaking, but they glared at each other from across the way. Before anything else could be said the double doors opened revealing a short, stumpy woman in a pencil skirt and blazer. Her dirty blonde hair was tied up in a tight bun causing her to look very professional especially with her straight back and squared shoulders. Her face was impassive as she approached the three kings.
"Ah, Doctor Penterghast what a lovely surprise," Aro stated as he walked up to her. He offered his hand to her to take.
The woman bowed before the three men before taking Aro's hand. "It's a pleasure to be here," she said dryly. She didn't look nervous at letting the man sort through her thoughts. She knew she had done nothing to wrong the Volturi in any way.
Aro smiled when he released her hand, liking what he saw. "By now your probably wondering why we summoned you."
"You said in your letter you required my services which alone intrigued me. I wondered which of you could use a psychiatrist, but then I thought who doesn't need one," her voice was light and airy as she spoke. Her eyes roamed over Aro and then the two men behind him, "Which one of you is to be my patient?"
Aro smiled cruelly, "Actually, my dear, none of us will be your patient."
That caused her passive face to crack. Her brows cinched together in confusion, "Then who?"
"It is someone very important to us. She has had a very traumatic past and is in need of help. That's where you come in," Aro said before continuing his long winded speech, "She is our mate and whenever she is deemed fit to be changed we will do so. Till then we are in need of your services."
"So you have a human mate that's mentally unstable and you want me to, for a lack of a better word, fix her so you can change her," she studied the vampire king in front of her. Her head was cocked to the side in question.
"Essentially, yes. That's exactly what we need," Aro clasped his hands behind his back. He turned to his seat and zoomed over to sit. When he was situated he spoke again, "Will you take on this task?"
The woman knew that she only had one option to his question. She couldn't say no to the Volturi. If she did, who knows what they'd do to her or her mate that was currently in their lobby with the human receptionist. She nodded, "I will try, but ultimately its the patient's decision to go forward with any treatment. Mental health is not an easy road to travel. Does she want this?"
Marcus spoke, "We know she wants to be better. We also know it will be a long road to recovery."
"But does she know that," Dr. Penterghast asked.
Marcus gave a nod. He knew Amarantha was tired of suffering by her mind. They all knew it. The woman nodded before asking, "And where is the patient right now?"
"She is in my office resting, but can be brought here if need be," Marcus answered.
She shook her head, "If she is resting leave her be. We will have our first session tomorrow if she is up for it."
"Splendid," Aro clapped his hands once happily, "I'll have you and your partner shown to your rooms. There will be a meal later if either of you are in need to feed."
She gave a bow of her head and left with a lesser guard in tow. Aro couldn't help the creeping smile on his face. They were one step closer to getting their mate healthier. He turned to Marcus, "Will you be the one to give Amarantha the good news or shall we do it together, brother."
"No offense, Aro, but she still is not ready to be around you," Marcus stated while getting up from his seat, "I shall tell her."
"No more sexual activities for today please," Caius requested, "I don't think I can keep a hold of myself if I hear her again."
"Caius, I can't guarantee anything. It's hard to say no to something you want," with that Marcus left the throne room and headed to his office. When he arrived he heard her steady breathing from the other side of the door. Looking to Felix he asked, "How long has she been asleep?"
"Not for long, Master," Felix replied while opening the door for him.
Marcus entered to find her passed out on the couch. He smiled softly at the scene of her tousled hair framing her face which as always held her glasses. He always found it odd that she would sleep with them on, but never judged her for it. He caressed her cheek with his right hand. When he went to pull away is when her hand slid up lazily and grabbed his and pressed it against her lips, giving it a tender peck. Her eyes fluttered open and she gave him a sleepy grin, "Hey."
"If you were sleepy, mia dolcezza, you could have gone to your room instead of waiting for me," he replied, picking her up from the couch.
She squeaked in surprise, her arms flying around his neck to hold on to him. 'What was their fascination with always picking me up,' she questioned herself. "Where are we going," she asked as he began to walk them from the room.
"We're going to bathe, mia amore. We smell like sex," he stated.
She snuggled into his chest, "And what's so bad about that?"
He chortled at her, "Well when my brothers comment about it I feel it's time for us to bathe."
"Mmm, fuck what they think," she mumbled becoming even more tired as they slowly walked through the halls.
Marcus' smile broadened at his mate, "You're not the least bit ashamed that everyone can smell.."
Before he even finished she said, "Nope, not even a little bit embarrassed. Why? Should I be?"
His chest rumbled with a laugh, "You're embarrassed by them hearing you, but when it comes to scent you could care less? You're definitely one of a kind, cara mia."
She pulled back from his chest, "Are you embarrassed by it?"
"No, not in the slightest," Marcus kissed the top of her head, "But I don't want anyone else to smell what we've done. It's for me only."
She looked up at him, grinning, "Possessive much?"
He motioned for Felix to open the door with his head before they entered into her room that was attached to his. The door closed behind them once they entered the room. "You like it," he said as he set her on her feet.
She giggled and shrugged, "I might or I could be completely creeped out."
"I'm sure you'd let me know if that was the case," Marcus smirked while taking off his suit jacket.
"And what is that supposed to mean," she faked her irritation.
He was working on taking off his shirt when he looked up at her, "It means you're very opinionated."
He walked up to her and kissed her before pulling back and saying, "It's one of the many reasons why I love you."
Amara stood frozen, 'Did he just say what I think he said?'
She bit her lower lip and cast her gaze down low. A small voice left her mouth, "You love me?"
Marcus smiled and raised her head. Her eyes darted from each of his eyes seeking the truth, "I thought I was being obvious."
She blinked at him, stunned. What was she to say? 'I love you too?' It sounded to soon to say it. Amara felt it, what she imagined what love felt like. She was just scared of allowing herself to feel so deeply. She took a step back giving him a smile that didn't reach her eyes. He noticed immediately.
"Amarantha, you don't have to say it. I know," he gave her a reassuring peck before withdrawing from her, a smile on his face.
She caught him from pulling away from her and gave him a passionate kiss. When she pulled away, her smile reached her eyes. They pulled back and she slid off her dress. She took off her shoes as he did his. She took off her underwear and bra once more.
"Come on," she reached out her hand for him to take. She guided them to the overly large bathroom.
He took over the guiding and brought them to the bath that could fit four adults if need be. He turned the faucets on, adjusting them to the perfect temperature for her. As the tub filled Amara went about taking her makeup off in the mirror feeling that most of it already sweated off and she would no longer need it for the day. Marcus watched her as she wiped her face clean. He wondered why she felt the need to wear anything for he found her beautiful no matter what. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her midsection.
"You know you're beautiful with or without the makeup," he stated while kissing her head.
She looked at him using the mirror, when their eyes met she almost got lost in them. "I like to feel as beautiful as you say I am. The make up helps."
When she was satisfied with how bare her eyes looked, did she spin around in his arms. Their naked forms pressed together, each of them met halfway for a kiss. She was happy to stay like this for a while, but Marcus pulled back and went to the water. He stepped into the pool of warm water before beckoning Amara to follow. She tentatively headed to him and slowly lowered herself into the hot water.
She sighed at the feeling of being enveloped by the heated water. She sat on one of the underwater ledges used for sitting. The water was at about chest level when Marcus wasted no time apart after turning the faucets off. He could nearly swim as he got to her. He wrapped his arms around her once more and had her sit in his lap as they both soaked in the water.
"Marcus," she said, his name barely above a whisper.
"Yes, mia amore?"
Marcus looked down at her while she looked up. She turned in his arms till she was straddling his lap. Her face was slightly pink, either from the heated water or from the embarrassment she was about to endure. "This is just a thought I've had, but I'll never be a mother, will I?"
He contemplated on how to break it to her considering her eyes held hope. A hand came to cup her cheek, his thumb running along it. "With us, no. You'll never be a mother."
She could only nod her understanding. She didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Marcus continued with a question, "Are children something you want, Amarantha?"
She felt her cheeks redden under his stare. She dropped her eyes, no longer making eye contact, she admitted, "Yes and no."
"Explain, cara mia," he nudged her forehead with his lips so he could see her.
She took a deep breath, "Well I always entertained the idea of having a mini me running around, but was also too afraid to ever have a kid because I could pass down my mental illness to them. How cruel would that make me to force that on an unexpecting child?"
"Oh, mia dolcezza Amarantha, that does not make you cruel. Humans want to procreate because it's within their nature to. I would understand if you wanted a child. Sadly us vampires can't have them. There has never been a documented case of such an occurrence."
She nodded, "So that's why we've never used protection because there would be no use for it."
"Essentially, yes. Why? Were you thinking something else," he inquired, thoroughly invested in his mate's response.
Blushing further, Amara didn't move her head, but her eyes averted. She whispered, "Don't make me say it, it's embarrassing."
"Amarantha, you can tell me anything without judgment being passed," he caressed her before his hand drifted down her neck to her shoulders, drawing circles on her skin in its wake.
She mumbled her response to which Marcus said, "What was that, cara mia, I didn't quite catch that."
Saying it louder, she still mumbled, "I thought you were breeding me."
That response ignited something within Marcus. His eyes lit up while a creeping smirk made its way to his face. His head leaned down to where her shoulder and neck met, placing a few kisses there before moving up to her ear. His lips brushed against the shell of her ear while saying, "Is that what you want, Amarantha, for me to breed you?"
She took a shaky breath, she squirmed in his grasp, her core already anticipating what could possibly happen. "Marcus," her voice wispy, "please don't use that against me."
"Use what," he questioned, his smirk growing wider.
"My kink against me," she said. Her hands gripped his shoulders tightly when one of his hands dipped below the surface of the water. He found what he was looking for at the apex of her thighs. A skilled finger flicked across her clit causing her to tense up. When he continued her back arched and her hips moved on their own accord. She felt him hardening beneath her causing shivers of anticipation to spread throughout her.
"I wouldn't use it against you, cara mia, but I will use it to our advantage," he revealed before the continued with a quick session of mindless sex. Every now and then he would say certain phrases that drove her wild. By the time they finished cum was leaking from her open passage and Marcus sat back pleased with himself.
The water had turned cold long before they had finished, but Amara didn't care. She felt like she was on fire and needed to cool off. As she laid on the edge of the bath/tiled floor with half her legs submerged. She felt Marcus begin to clean her with a wet washcloth. She would have normally been embarrassed by such an intimate act, but with him she felt cared for. Raising herself on her elbows she watched as he focused on the task of cleaning up their mess. He was so handsome in the light of the bathroom. Technically he was handsome in any light, but right now he was even more so. Maybe it was the after sex glow that made her think this way.
His eyes lifted from her petals to her face to see her watching him intently. He withdrew his hand from between her legs and went to the side that had bottles of soap lining it. He picked up her favorite scent, grabbed a different wash cloth and lathered it up with the soap. He started washing her legs one by one before making his way up the rest of her body. When he reached her stomach she inched back into the water. He focused on gently scrubbing her skin clean while she focused on him. He silently motioned for her to turn around which she did. He lathered her back with suds before enclosing his arms around her to begin cleaning her upper chest. She leaned back into his embrace to give him further access to her body.
When he was finished Marcus helped her rinse her body off by cupping the cool water and releasing it over top of her skin. When she no longer was covered in soap she grabbed the wash cloth from him and returned the sentiment. They sat in a comfortable silence as she worked on scrubbing his skin clean. When she was sure she had cleaned every inch of him like he did her, she rinsed his body off with the wash cloth after the soap had been wrung out.
"I have something to tell you," he said as she ran the cloth against his skin, wiping away the soap.
She stopped what she was doing, "What is it? Is it something bad?"
He shook his head slowly, "No, Amarantha, it's not bad." His hands with to her shoulders and rubbed them, "We have found you a professional to help you with your mental health."
"Oh," was all she said. Amara didn't know how she felt starting to see someone new. She wondered if they hired a human for this and if it didn't work out what would happen to them.
"If you're up for it they said tomorrow would be a perfect time to get started," Marcus resumed speaking.
Her heart picked up its pace. She couldn't lie and say she wasn't nervous. She hated starting over with new doctors. She already missed her old one and she hasn't even met the new one just yet. She always hated having to relive her past and talking about it made her exhausted. She also didn't like talking about herself. She could barely point out anything positive about herself even if she tried really hard.
"Are you okay, Amarantha," Marcus inquired, soothing her with his hands. He could hear her heart begin to race. He wanted to know what caused her such distress.
She shook her head, not wanting to voice her irrational thinking. "It's nothing, Marcus, really."
"You don't have to hide from me, mia amore. Tell me what makes your heart beat so fast," his brows pressed together in worry.
"It's nothing but irrational thoughts.. I am nervous about meeting a new doctor and having to talk to them. It's not something I look forward to," she finally admitted.
"You'll be fine," he gave her forehead a kiss before pulling back only to dip his head lower to place his lips against hers. He stole her breath with that kiss. Pulling back to allow her to breathe, Marcus spoke, "This is the first step to recovery, cara mia. We are all excited for this moment."
"Everyone," she questioned, not sure how to feel about that.
He nodded, "Yes everyone. Now let's get you out of this water before you catch your death."
He picked her up and stepped on to the ledge before stepping onto the edge of the pool like bath. His cool skin made her wet body shiver against him. He set her down on the sturdy counter top and grabbed her a large fluffy towel. He dried her off before focusing on himself. He felt her stare burning into him. When he was finished he dropped the towel and opened his arms to her.
She hopped off of the counter into his awaiting arms. They both stood there naked as he held her to his chest. She spoke first, "Stay with me tonight."
A low rumble of a purr left him, "I would love to, but I have business to take care of."
She tried not to let the disappointment show on her face. He tilted her head back to look into her eyes, "I will stay until you're fast asleep, how does that sound?"
"Better than nothing," she retorted, still holding back the disappointment she felt. She, so badly, wanted him to be there when she woke up. Maybe it was the hopeless romantic inside her or the abandonment issues she had that caused her to want this.
He led them to her room stepping over the discarded clothing. Amara didn't bother putting anything on. She had the thick covers to keep her warm. 'It wasn't like anyone besides Marcus that would come in here,' she thought.
She crawled underneath the covers when they reached her bed. He followed behind her, staying on top of the covers so she wasn't exposed to his icy skin as much. He laid there comfortably in his birthday suit with her cuddling up to him. He circled his arms around her as she nuzzled into his chest. Her hand was splayed across torso, it being her turn to draw circles onto his skin. As she laid there she thought of no better way to fall asleep than with the one person she regarded compared to the other two. Before she drifted away in slumber her thoughts echoed of love.