The Blood Bride (Blood Secrets) (20 page)

“I don’t think that would be a great idea right now. How about I go order you some breakfast? What would you like?” His face became shuttered, as it had done more often in the last few days.

He pulled the cover away as if making to get up, and she could see the blue striped pyjama bottoms he had worn for the last few days.

“I don’t want breakfast. I want to see my parents.” She knew the tone was childish, but it was time for something to give. She needed to know what had changed between them, and what she could do to bridge the chasm. “Ask them to come down here.”

“No.”

“Oh come on, Xavier. I haven’t been upstairs in nearly two weeks. If I can’t go up, they can come down.” She wheedled, but he was unbending. His face could have been cast in granite.

“No, they are not allowed into this area. They have never been. Not even for you will I allow it.” He didn’t face her.

 
She slumped against the pillows. “Xavier? I need to see them.” She sighed the words, looking away briefly.

“I can’t allow that, Hope.”

Frustration like a burning tide swept through her. “So, I’m to stay here, like a prisoner in a gilded cage? For how long? Until I die? What if I don’t want to stay?” Her own voice turned cold. She watched as he made his way towards the door. “Xavier? When? When will you let me go?”

“I can’t, Hope. Don’t expect me to give you an answer to that. I can’t.” He had reached the door and gripped the wood edging tightly.

“Can’t or won’t? I won’t stay in hiding forever. Don’t expect me to either.” She gripped a pillow and threw it, seeking a way to relieve her feelings of anger. The frothy pillow bounced and rolled off the end of the bed to the floor in silence. She looked at it. What was she doing?

“Feel better now?” His mild voice broke through the silence.

“No. I don’t.” She hung her head, feeling shame at her childish behaviour, but the pressure inside her needed to escape before it choked the life from her. “I need to know what has happened. Please?” Tears pricked her eyes. Why was he being so obstinate? “I need to find out what has changed. Why my father reacted like he did.” She gulped as emotions almost overwhelmed her. “Why my mother hasn’t made an effort to contact me. Can’t you see? It’s tearing me apart.” The tears trickled down her face, a hot wet river. Her chest heaved with the effort of containing her emotions, as she wrapped shaking arms around herself.

He turned around, hiding his eyes behind closed lids. She could tell her pain was hurting him too. “I can’t allow that. Having Lisi and Emily is pretty close to breaking the rules. Catriona is taking Emily to the safe room tonight, for the change, so that will no longer be an issue, but I can’t bend the rules any further. I had to get a dispensation for those two.” His voice was strained, and when his eyes opened, the green in them was tired and pale. “I may be the Master, but I have to abide by the rules too. If I could do what you wanted, I would.” He sounded beaten. The lines that bracketed his mouth told her of his struggles. The ones she had missed, feeling miserable and sorry for herself. He was suffering too.

“Xavier? I’m sorry… I didn’t realise.” Hope squeezed her eyelids shut, lifted her hands and scrubbed, but the tears ran down her face still, shattering her brittle composure and her face flamed.

She was so hurt, confused, desperately in need of reassurance. For weeks she had been accepting of the soft touches invalids received. But she needed more. Not sexual, but reassuring and reaffirming.

The dip of the bed told her he had returned to her side. Strong arms encircled her, and she slowly let the tears flow. “Why? Why don’t they want me? I mean, they weren’t demonstrative or emotional or anything like that, but never cold like this. I mean, even when they were cross with me as a child, they made sure I knew they loved me. I don’t understand. I don’t know what I’ve done wrong.” Her words were muffled against his shoulder, as the shudders racked her body.

“I don’t know either. There is so much more to this than meets the eye, but I know this is something we need to look into.” His kissed her on the top of her head, rubbing soft hands over her back. “Right now, you need to know that this isn’t about you. I can assure you that you aren’t unlovable and that it isn’t anything you’ve done. You’ve done nothing wrong. It isn’t your fault, and we will get through this.” He whispered the words against her hair, his arms tight around her, holding her close against his bare chest.

She inhaled the scent of him, it filled her senses. She opened her mouth over his skin, allowing her tongue to peek out and take a quick taste.

 
He sucked in a breath. “Honey, if you keep doing that, I’m going to want to go all the way. And that might hurt you. So, maybe now isn’t a good time. Right?” He started to pull away, and she could see the erection tenting his pants.

“You won’t hurt me. We can be careful,” she pleaded, but he pushed her farther away, making his point firmly.

“I’ll tell you what. When the doctor gives the all-clear, I’m yours.” He smiled at her.

His eyes glittered and those sexy lips of his curled at the corner. A flicker of flames licked at her belly
. The doctor is here today, so just you wait!
She let the thoughts fill her with anticipation, but didn’t say anything. Just smiled and he looked at her. Suspicion was clear in his eyes, as she grinned wider. Just wait.

* * * *

“Now then, young lady. You seem to be healing quite well. Have you been getting around, using either crutches or a cane? You are young and healthy enough.” As Hope nodded, he continued. “Master Xavier is also hoping to arrange for a trained physiotherapist for you. I know of one attached to a friendly nest. I will pass it by your Master, and we can go from there. Though in the period your nest is in shutdown, they may prefer to consult via the Internet. Any questions?” The doctor started packing away his torture equipment, and wasn’t looking at her. Hope considered that a good thing as her face turned red.

“Yes, doctor. There is something I need to ask. Umm… Is my leg well enough to stand up to…you know…activities of a personal nature?” God, how embarrassing this was. At least she didn’t have to worry about birth control. Her face reddened at the thought of what they had done, and how regularly before the incident. But until she had something in writing for Xavier, he wouldn’t countenance a return to the intimacy they had shared beforehand.

“What? Oh, well as long as you are careful. No hanging from the chandeliers, of course, but with appropriate care, yes, that should be fine.” He looked at her, and she wanted to shrink into the sheets. His face glowed with interest, and she could almost hear the questions bouncing around in his head.

“Umm… Can I have that in writing?” Her voice was little more than a whisper now, and he smiled. He had to be at least sixty and with a shock of white hair.
It’s like talking to my grandfather,
she thought. Except hers would have been horrified in this instance, Hope reminded herself. The doctor continued to look, and her face flamed. The longer he watched her, the broader his grin was. All Hope wanted was to find a crack in the floor to crawl into.

“Yes, of course.” He pulled a notepad and a pencil out of his long jacket, licked the end and started writing. “Whom shall I address this to?”

A twinkle shone in his eyes, and Hope felt like a naughty teen caught doing something she shouldn’t. She had to stop her body squirming.

“Err… Just ‘to whom it may concern’ would be great, thanks.” Hope watched as he finished the note, and handed it over to her. She grabbed it quickly, and shoved it into the drawer beside the bed. “Thanks so much. When should I see you again?”

The conversation retreated to neutral topics, and she felt some of her embarrassment starting to ebb away. He took his leave, the door shutting quietly behind him. She scowled.

That had been an ordeal, but at least she had got the note, which she retrieved from the drawer, scanning it quickly.

To whom it may concern,

Miss Hope is now well enough to resume an intimate relationship. However, it is my opinion it should be neither physically taxing nor uncomfortable.

Swallowing a strangled gasp at the humour, she held it tightly in her hand, before rising as carefully as the bright cast would let her. She was attempting to make her way to the bathroom—a slow and steady task—when Xavier opened the door and entered silently.

“What are you doing out of bed?” His demand was tempered only by his smile.

Once more she got the flutter of butterflies deep in her belly.

“Going to the toilet. I think I can manage that on my own these days.” Hope’s grumble was met with a small chuckle, as he reached out a hand. She looked at him, then into his eyes. He must have seen something in her eyes that told him she needed this small bit of independence, and withdrew the hand slowly, letting it drop. Hope let go of the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding, before continuing her painful hobble past him, reaching from one piece of furniture to the wall, and slowly towards the door.

Just as she reached it, Hope turned and held out a hand, the one holding the missive. “Here, you may want to read this.” He took the paper from Hope’s hand with a quizzical look, and she moved again, shutting the door behind her.

* * * *

Everyone was finally gone and the lounge was quiet. Hope was tired, but happy. She was moving around, with the crutches firmly under her arms. When they’d first arrived, her steps had caused mirth and merriment among all watching, but she was now used to them and could manoeuvre smoothly around the room. Each time Xavier looked at her, the heat in his eyes stole another little bit of her heart.

Dinner had been silent. For Hope, it had consisted of grilled chicken with assorted vegetables, followed by chocolate mousse to celebrate her all-clear from the doctor, but her appetite had been non-existent, and she had sipped on the water Xavier kept pushing her way. She would have preferred a nice white wine, but the one time she had suggested it, she had been met with a short ‘no’. She didn’t ask again, knowing he was concerned she would fall and reinjure herself. Something she wanted to avoid as well..

Xavier had sipped his blood wine slowly while Hope ate. His eyes practically glowed and the heat grew inside her belly. She was sure he was mentally undressing her, and she warmed at the thought. His gaze dipped down into the valley between her breasts, displayed in the hot pink camisole he had ordered for her, and she watched his eyes as they travelled over her body, feeling a tingle as her nipples tightened with awareness. Only one word described how he looked at her—hungrily.

Finally Hope pushed the plate away. The mousse was hardly touched, but she couldn’t manage any more. She hadn’t tasted any of the flavours she usually savoured. No. All she had done was watch Xavier gazing at her, becoming more and more aroused. Each time her lips closed around the spoon, his eyes had darkened further, a flush cresting his cheeks, and she knew his thoughts.

She squirmed, wanting to run a hand under the band at her neckline. Sometime in the last while, it had grown tighter, and she felt choked by it. A single trickle of sweat moved down her spine. She shivered, and it cooled her fevered skin.

She gathered the crutches near, popping them under her arms, and pushed herself up. Xavier was there, pulling out the chair, steadying her as she positioned herself. He splayed his hand against her belly. Her flesh quivered in response.

“Xavier…” The words died on her lips, as his found the back of her neck. She leant forward slightly, while he slowly inched his fingers across her stomach, over the silky fabric, where they sought entry to her flesh.

The shock of his touch against her skin caused her to quake. Hope arched back slightly, nearly losing her balance with the crutches. He disentangled himself before scooping under her body. The crutches fell to the ground, forgotten with a thud.

“Xavier.” She moaned, as his lips found the sensitive skin at her throat. The bed gave slightly underneath her, as he slid down with her to the covers. The touch of his hands—his touch—inflamed the desire that had been licking at her since the doctor had left.

“Tell me how to love you. Tell me what you want.” His guttural words filled the air.

She reached out blindly. “Just love me, Xavier. That is all I want.” Her eyes fluttered closed. He settled his hand around her breast, softly kneading the flesh, but not touching her distended nipple, even through the light cover of her top. She ached inside, and only Xavier could fill the need that rippled through her.

He placed warm hands under the waistband of her shirt, working on the elastic. She shivered in reaction, lost in the sensual web he wove.

He found the indentation at her waist and flicked in and out of her navel, while the other hand slowly pushed the shirt out of the way. Up, up, up it crept. He sought the band of her bra. The one that wasn’t there.

“You didn’t wear a bra tonight, did you? Each time I looked at you, I burned at the thought of your beautiful breasts hidden below the silk, but no bra to get in the way is very sexy. Did you wear the panties I bought for you, though?” His tone was harsh, and she cracked her eyes open to see his face, set with need.

“I…ah…had Lisi go shopping for me. I…” He touched and tortured her flesh, as she tried to answer him. Thoughts fled as he pushed the skirt slowly down her hips, to reveal the green panties beneath. He sucked in a breath at the sight of the lacy thong that covered very little. The thong matched the colour of his eyes.