"Darling." Marcus shakes me gently as I open my eyes tiredly.
"Hm?" I question and bury my face in his chest.
"Renata is here with your food." He nuzzles my neck and I whimper when he starts to pull away. He chuckles and relaxes back into my embrace.
"Come in, Renata!" He summons and she enters with a tray of food.
"Hello master Marcus, princess Isabella." She nighs politely and places the tray on the bedside table as Marcus motions towards it.
"Call me, Bella, like old times." I smile at her. She smiles back before she exits the room quickly and quietly.
"How are your wrist feeling, my mate?" Marcus asks as he pulls us up, seated against the headboard, and places the tray in front of me. I look down at my wrist and move it gently, wincing.
"Sore, but it'll be fine in a few days." I assure him and he growls quietly.
"I have locked him in the prison." He whispers soothingly as he studies me while I start eating.
"That's good." I mumble and he crawls behind me on the bed and wraps his legs and arms around me so I'm leaning my back against his chest. He starts purring as he nuzzles my neck, watching me eat.
"May I take you out for dinner tonight, my Bell?" He asks and I smile widely and cuddle deeper into his embrace.
"I would love to." I assure him and he purrs louder. "I have a question." I say and he nods, holding me slightly tighter. "How did courting work in your time?" I ask and feel him grin against my neck.
"It was quite simple, darling. Our parents would arrange our marriages, then a week before the wedding the man would begin taking his future wife out for dates, giving her flowers and taking her dancing. On the fourth night out he would go down on one knee and ask for her hand in marriage. On the fifth and sixth day everything was about planning the wedding and on the seventh day they weren't allowed to see each other until they met at the altar. Then they would leave for a month and when they came home they were most likely pregnant." He explains and nuzzles my neck some more. "How does it work in your time, my mate?" He whispers and I chuckle.
"Everyone walks around trying to find their perfect partner but few find them. Almost everyone sleeps around. The guys are afraid of talking with girls and nobody can dance or buys flowers for their dates." I say amusedly and he swallows thickly.
"Isabella, have you…" He whispers hesitantly. I turn my head, staring worriedly into his eyes.
"What do you mean, Marcus?" I ask confused and he caresses my cheek, swallowing thickly.
"Have you been physical with another man?" He asks and I freeze before I scrunch my face in disgust. I detangle myself from his embrace, moving the tray away and then I turn around completely. His eyes look pained, but I can also see his possessiveness. He doesn't like the idea that someone else had claimed me. I straddle him and place my hands on his cheeks.
"Marcus, I have never had sex with anyone. I've never even been kissed by anyone before Edward. I'm only yours, Marcus." I assure him and he caresses my cheek with his thumb softly, lovingly. Suddenly he pounces on me, pressing me down on my back against the bed, hovering over me just a second before he claims my lips. I moan at his demand and wrap my arms and legs around him. His tongue licks my lips and I open them willingly. Instantly his tongue battles mine into submission and he kisses me harder, dominantly.
I realise I need to breathe so I gently try to pry my lips from his. He moves on to kissing my neck. He peppers my neck in small kisses until he comes to his mark, licking and sucking it roughly. I bare my neck automatically and he purrs at my submission, continuing to assault my neck. I pant for air as his hands roam my body dominantly and he starts to nibble on the mark.
"Marcus." I moan, trying to talk with him, but I can't hide the pleasure in my voice. He hums in answer and bites slightly harder on the mark, making me shudder in pleasure.v"Marriage." I almost whimper as his hands find their way in under my shirt. It feels so good, but we can't. He growls quietly and holds me tighter.
"You're mine!" He growls against my throat and I bare my neck even more.
"Yes." I moan and he purrs at me, liking my mark. He starts to pull the shirt over my head but I cling tighter around his neck. "Marcus." I whisper, trying to keep the pleasure out of my voice. He growls quietly and his eyes find mine. His beast has taken over. "Marcus, listen to me." I plead and his eyes just snap back to the mark, then his lips are on it again. "My mate." I plead and he purrs. "I'm only yours, my mate, but we can't do this now. As soon as we are married you can claim me completely and change me, okay?" I murmur as I try to keep my mind off my growing arousal.
"MINE." He growls louder and I pull him tighter.
"Yes, yours." I assure him and he purrs a little, but starts trying to get my shirt off again. "I'm thirsty." I whisper to him, knowing it will stop his beast since it always prioritises my well-being over everything else. He stills for a second then he bites the mark deeply, making me moan while he can make sure his scent is deeply mixed with mine. Then he nuzzles my nose gently and sits up, placing me in his lap. He reaches for the tray, that somehow has been placed on the bedside table, takes the glass of wine and gives it to me. I take it with a small smile and drink a little while I watch his eyes, they are still dark with lust and possessiveness. He's just waiting to pounce on me again.
"What was the meeting you had with Caius and Aro about?" I ask and his eyes look confused at me, then they start to lighten slowly until they are a lighter red.
"Oh Bella, I'm-" He begins apologetically, but I smile and interrupt him.
"I didn't mind, but we decided to wait." I nuzzle deeper into his arms.
"I still want to apologize, but the thought that someone else has kissed you when I hadn't…" He shakes his head with sorrowful eyes.
"I know." I murmur and peck his lips quickly. "And I only want you to kiss me, okay?" I clarify. He smiles gently at me and nods.
"You should eat." He murmurs and places the tray in my lap, then he smirks at me. "I'll behave this time." He promises. I chuckle and start eating.
"Soon you won't have too." I say and he smirks as he kisses my cheek.
"Do you still want to go out to dinner with me?" He asks, I smile widely and nod.
"I always want to be close with you, Marcus." I say and he smiles at me.
"Good, because I don't think I can let you go." He whispers in my ear and I shudder, making him chuckle. "When you have eaten I would like to introduce you to the rest of the guard." He says and I nod a little. "I want you to be safe everywhere in the castle, not just here in my wing and apparently you're not even safe here." He almost growls the last and I quirk a brow at him.
"Do you know why he growled and grabbed me?" I ask and he sighs, nuzzling in my hair.
"His name is Karl and he's Didyme's brother." He whisper and I nod understandingly.
"He's upset that you have found me and that I carry a similar necklace as her." I say and he nods solemnly.
"Didyme was my mate, but Bell, you are my true mate." He breathes and I look surprised at him.
"I am?" I breathe and he smiles at me, nodding.
"Yes, you are and he is afraid that I will stop mourning Didyme." He says sadly and I caress his cheek.
"You will never stop mourning her, but you will move forward. You can't stay in the past." I whisper soothingly. He smiles gently at me and kisses me quickly.
"You're right." He breathes.
"I think you should let Karl out of the dungeon, okay?" I ask and he sighs.
"I don't want him to hurt you." He mumbles in my hair and I nod.
"I know, but he's hurting. Why don't the both of us sit down with him-" He starts growling but I silence him with a glare. "-and some guards if you'd like and explain to him that this doesn't mean you or anyone will forget Didyme." I suggest and he relaxes, hugging me tighter as he nods.
"We should do that." He agrees and I smile. I eat the rest of my food during silence and as I put the tray back on the bedside table.
"Let's go and meet some new guards." I say and he smiles down at me.
"Yes, let's go." He agrees as he helps me out of bed. I stretch out and my joints pop quietly but Marcus turns around slowly and faces me with scared eyes. "Are you wounded? Did I injure you when we? Did Karl injure you?" He starts roaming his hands over my body desperately and I sigh.
"I'm fine, I just stretched and then my joints sometimes popp. I'm not injured, my mate." I calm him down. He stills, searching my face for something, then he relaxes and pulls me tightly to his side.
"I'm so relieved." He whispers as he walks with me by his side. "Let's go down to the throne room and introduce you." He adds and I lean into his side, wrapping my arm around his waist. "I'm sorry that my instincts are all over the place, darling." He whispers and I smile up to him calmly.
"I know and I like that you are protective. It makes me feel safe." I assure him as I cuddle into his side. He purrs all the way down to the throne room, then he quiets as he leads me over to his throne, pulling me down in his lap.
