He drapes my robe over my shoulders and turns me to face him. “Forgive me. I know I am being an overly sensitive idiot.”
“Yes, you are. The best way to get the picture out of your head is to create a new one.”
“I don’t know. It’s a pretty vivid picture. You aren’t the quietest Vampire in the castle,” he says with a wry smile.
I blush furiously as his insinuation hits me and I look down, mortified that he heard me. “I’m sorry,” I mumble under my breath, feeling the need to apologize for some reason.
“Don’t apologize. I know he is exceptionally talented, as are you. It only makes sense that you would enjoy each other.”
My blush deepens even more if that is possible at his words, said so matter-of-factly. It makes me wonder how he can be so cavalier about it and yet so hurt at the same time.
“I know you have given him everything he wanted,” he whispers to me.
That makes me look up. “You’ve spoken to him?” I ask sharply.
He hesitates, probably from my tone, but then says, “No. But I know that you have. It makes me happy that he is happy. Even if it is at the same time difficult for me.”
“He told me about his wife,” I say suddenly, wanting him to know that I know.
He steps back, his arms still around me. He peers down at me in surprise and asks, “Which one?”
Which one? How many has he had? “Err, I don’t know. The one who betrayed him,” I say, now feeling foolish for bringing it up. Clearly, I don’t know the half of it.
“Which one?” he asks me again.
“There was more than one?” I ask, shocked and outraged on his behalf.
“Unfortunately, yes. Several, in fact. He was a complete romantic at heart, and he was determined that there was someone out there he could trust.”
“Oh. Uh, he said it was over two thousand seven hundred years ago, so I am going to assume the first one then?” Why would he tell me about her and not the others, I wonder to myself? I will have to ask him at some point.
He nods. “Ah yes, Isebella,” he says her name in disgust. “His first charge. It was a disaster. They were happy for over fifty years and then she just got greedy and betrayed him. Tried to sell him to the highest bidder. The clean-up was…messy,” he says distastefully.
Messy? I think what he means is ‘many’. Many Vampires killed to protect his secret. Shit. I really don’t know the half of it. I’m not sure that I want to know.
“Well, rest assured his secret is safe with me,” I say.
“I know,” he says. “You are a good woman, Aefre. He is lucky to have you as a friend.” He places just a bit too much emphasis on the word “friend,” almost as a warning to me to never take it further than that. Again, I hope that Drake, King of the Dark Fae, never shows his face around here or I am going to have some explaining to do.
“Now, why don’t you take a nice long bath and get ready. I am unable to take you out as we aren’t supposed to be here, but I can still create a wonderful date for you right here,” he says, brushing my hair back from my face.
“Ooo,” I say. “A date. I am impressed, sir,” I tease him affectionately and he gazes happily at me.
“Yes, I hear you are quite fond of those.” He takes my hand and leads me to the bathroom. “In fact, I have it on good authority that it is an excellent way to get you where I want you.”
“And where would that be?” I ask seductively.
“Completely at my mercy,” he says with his gorgeous smile that makes my heart thump.
“Humph,” I say as I bend over to fill the massive tub. “You had better pay up, D’Arcangelo. A girl could get a complex if you withhold much longer. I will take you by force if necessary.”
He laughs and says, “Oh, I’ll pay up, my sweet. You have nothing to worry about. Although, I do quite like the sound of you taking me by force, I may have to play hard to get.” He takes my hand and helps me into the tub that is now filling up nicely with lavender-scented bubbles.
“Play hard to get and you will be playing by yourself,” I say as I lean back and relax.
“Well, that is just no fun.” He mock pouts. “Am I going to have to be a wanton man-slut and ravage you before the entrées?”
“You wouldn’t hear me complaining. I quite like the idea of you being a wanton man-slut. It’s a pity that we can’t go out. The thought of you taking me in a crowded restaurant thrills me.”