“I disappeared from their lives and became what I am,” he finishes up and I know that is all I’m going to get out of him, but Christ, it is more than I ever expected… ever!
“Your turn,” he says as I’m still gaping at him and his admissions.
“Erm, well, clearly you know that my father gave me to Radulf on my fourteenth birthday to be wed. I was terribly shy, and my mother never discussed anything with me about what to expect or what I was expected to do. Although, I don’t suppose it really matters. My wedding night consisted of me being stripped by my drunk husband and held down as he forced himself on me.” I stop dead, not wanting to continue.
CK takes my hands in his and says quietly, “Go on.”
Do I have to? What’s the big deal? But then, I think of all the times I have pushed him, and I suppose I owe him something more.
“What else is there to say? It was horrendous. Painful and humiliating and it only got worse.”
“Oh, my sweet Aefre. I wish I could have spared you all that. If I had truly known what you went through, I would never have asked so much of you so quickly.”
“I wish you had turned up sooner. That first time in the barn, I think of that as my first time. You may not have taken my virginity, but you took everything else. Showed me what it was to love. I was so in love with you. I would have done anything you asked,” I admit shyly.
He smiles his made-for-me smile and says, “Same here. I just didn’t know how to show you. How to really show you. How to treat you. I was so used to being with other Vampires, women I had sired or was going to sire, just because it was what I had to do. I had never fallen in love before. I wish I had handled it differently.” He sighs.
“Me too.”
He frowns and I elaborate, “I spent so many nights waiting for you. Wishing you would come to me. Or calling me to your bed. I loved it when you did that. Made me feel special.” I trail my hand up his chest, all the way to his face. I turn him towards me and gaze into his beautiful dark eyes. “You were my whole world. My savior. There isn’t anything I wouldn’t have done for you.”
He closes his eyes as my words sink in and says, “I should have known from the start you would be different. That you wouldn’t take to our lifestyle as easily as the others. What we talked about at the Penthouse last year? You being so sweet and innocent? It truly surprised me that you had managed to hold onto all of that. I should have known though; I should have paid more attention. I should have been more protective of you.”
I smile a slow, wide smile as I know he is talking about William.
“I liked him, you know. Had he not been so busy conquering a nation we might have gotten to know each other better. If it had been anyone, it would have been him,” I say quietly, finally admitting the possibility.
“Humph. Well, in that case, Long Live the King,” he grouses at me sarcastically.
“Don’t be such a grouch. He taught me a lot.”
“Yes, I recall he was all for teaching you new things.”
“Well, you wouldn’t so I found someone who would.”
“I didn’t want to teach you how to fight because I didn’t ever want you in a position to have to fight.”
“And yet. There I was at your side at Constantinople and kicked a lot of arse if I recall.”
He grins at me. “Yes, you fucking did. Christ, I have never seen anyone quite so skilled and without mercy.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I say with a half-smile.
“Oh, you really should. Even Dmitri was impressed, and he is pretty ruthless.”
Oooo, what an opening, something I have dying to know more about, so I say, “Speaking of Dmitri. He said he was there when you rescued me from Lance’s? I don’t remember.”
“Well, you weren’t exactly in your right frame of mind. But yes, he was.”
“But he didn’t recognize me in my natural form last year,” I say, confused.
“That’s because, to my utmost surprise, you Shifted. I don’t think I have ever been quite so startled in all my life.”
“What?”
“After I found you and you drank from me, you Shifted. He never saw you as you are.”
“What?” I ask again stupidly.