Page 18

SISI

I t's hours later that I reemerge from the basement. I'd been extremely surprised to see a panic room in the lower level, the steel door ensuring nothing can come through. It makes me wonder if it came with the house or it's a new addition.

Specifically built for him.

When I reach the ground floor of the house I come face to face with a freshly showered Vlad, a towel wrapped around his waist.

"I was just coming to get you," he says.

"Glad to see you're doing better," I nod my head at him, this time having a better grasp on my indifference. "Now, if you can take me back, that would be great," I add, crossing my arms over my chest.

I need to be as far away from him as possible. Only then I'll be able to get myself under control. Even now, seeing the signs of weariness on his face has me worried, one foot forward, my body prepared to go to him to make sure he's okay.

And I can't have that.

I'd come to grips with the fact that he has a certain unnatural effect on me a long time ago. But knowing that my natural inclination is to reach for him, means I'm also able to control myself.

"That's not happening," he answers casually, using a towel to dry his hair. "Your room is unlocked. I left some things for you there so go make yourself comfortable," he says, walking past me.

"What do you mean? You can't keep me here." I frown, turning to follow him up the stairs and into a room not unlike the one I'd woken up into.

"Oh, but I can, Sisi," he gives me a devilish smile, "you're officially my wife. That means your place is with me." He picks up his watch from a table, placing it on his wrist.

"Against my will. Really, Vlad, what's the point of this?" I sigh, done with everything. "Why can't you let me be?"

"Because I told you," he speaks slowly, enunciating each word. "I'm never letting you go. Where I go you go. And where you go…"

"I go alone." I don't let him finish his words, already getting mad at him again.

"I follow." He comes closer. So close I can still see some drops of water clinging to his skin, the ink drawing my attention. But as I notice that my eyes go lower and lower, I immediately whip my head up.

Too late.

He's regarding me with an amused expression, one eyebrow raised.

"Like what you see?" he asks, his voice arrogantly bold as he positions himself in front of me.

"I've seen better," I lie, shrugging and moving past him to sit on his bed.

"We need to have a serious conversation, so drop those," I wave my hand toward his body, "seductive moves you're trying to pull on me.

It's not going to work." But even as I say the words, I can't help the way my eyes try to drink him in again.

And then I see it.

I frown as I look better, realizing his tattoos look different. There's…

"That wasn't there before." I speak before I can help myself, pointing toward the triangle drawn over the evil spirits, almost as if it's caging them in.

"Perceptive." He smirks. "You're right. It's a new addition," he says, but doesn't elaborate.

I feign a cough to clear my throat.

I need to get a grip on myself.

"Right, so," I straighten my back, "I need to get back to New York. Marcello must be worried by now."

"I left a note." He shrugs, moving around the bed and toward a big walk-in wardrobe. Seeing that he's trying his best to avoid this conversation, I just follow him.

"So he knows I'm with you?" I ask, surprised he would have been so direct.

"Something along the lines," he says, amused, before dropping his towel.

It's so sudden, I barely have the time to react. My eyes widen, my mouth forming a small O as I simply take in his body.

Definitely bulked up.

I can't help but feel the heat creep up my neck as I see his ass, so insanely well sculpted. Even covered entirely in ink, the way his muscles flex when he moves is unmistakable.

And then I move my gaze up and I see him watching me with a smug expression on his face, so I immediately turn around, embarrassed to be caught staring.

"I didn't hear anything about your fiancé. Won't he miss you too?" he asks, and to my everlasting shame, it takes me a while to get my errant heart under control in order to answer him.

"Of course. Raf too. He's probably frantic with worry," I say absentmindedly, images of his naked flesh still playing in front of my eyes.

Damn it!

I was right the first time. I am cursed. And my curse is being saddled with him.

"Too bad you're already married, wouldn't you say so?" His breath is suddenly on my throat.

Moving my hair aside, he trails his lips over the back of my neck, settling over my scar. It's the ghost of a touch, but enough to make me shiver from head to toe.

"Vlad," I say his name, my nails digging into my palms as I force myself to remain motionless. "Drop the game."

His tongue sneaks out, and I feel him slowly move against my skin. My breath hitches, but as I realize he's getting the reaction he wanted out of me, I quickly turn around, pushing him off of me.

"Stop for one moment. Please." I'm breathing hard. From arousal or from anger, I don't know. His pupils are dilated as he gazes at me, and I don't even have to look down to know he must be hard. "And put some clothes on," I say flippantly, keeping my eyes on his face.

"Go to your room, Sisi," he rasps, threading his fingers through his hair. "Unless you want something else to happen, you'd better go to your room and lock the door."

"Vlad," I groan, exasperated. "We need to talk and sort this mess out.

I really don't understand why you're doing this, but I need to get back home and you need to mind your own business," I say confidently, pleased at myself for getting so many words out and so smoothly.

And with how he's looking at me, it's a wonder I'm not already hiccupping, or worse, panting.

Panting… Good Lord, but I'd be screwed. Literally.

"If you're going to stay here we can talk, yes," he starts, and a smile of satisfaction pulls at my lips. "But it's not going to be the type of talk you're thinking about." He smirks. "So unless…" he continues, the innuendo clear as he's coming closer to me.

"Go to hell, Vlad." I turn around, already out the door.His chuckle echoes behind me, almost goading me to react.

Damn him, and damn this and damn everything!

After wandering about the house for a while, I finally found my way to the room, locking myself inside.

There has to be a way to get in touch with Marcello.

I can't just stay here, waiting for Vlad to get bored with me again. Because I know how this game is going to end. With me heartbroken—again.

"Damn," I whisper to myself, my eyes damp with tears.

I take off the wedding dress, remaining only in the satin shift underneath. Tired and frustrated, I climb into the bed and wait for sleep to come to me.

Damn you, Vlad. Why do you have to keep on hurting me?

Couldn't he have disappeared from my life forever? At least then the pain would have faded over time. Now the pain is raw again, my wounds opening up and bleeding anew.

After a good night of sleep, my resolve is strengthened. I just need to find a phone, call Marcello to come get me and everything else should be solved, too.

Eventually.

Getting out of bed, I notice that Vlad hadn't lied when he'd said he'd deposited some things in the room. There are a couple of dresses like the ones I used to wear, as well as shoes, toiletries and even under things.

Damn him.

I have to begrudgingly appreciate he'd supplied me with everything I needed, but that doesn't make me any less of a prisoner.

Getting ready for the day, I open the door, intent on seeking him out for another bout of discussions. I don't get to take one step outside of my room, though, as the entire hallway is filled with toys.

There are teddy bears in all shapes, and sizes, all scattered across the hallway and blocking my path.

What the… There must be hundreds of them.

"Vlad!" I yell out his name, sighing deeply as I realize another argument is forthcoming.

"Yes," he replies, coming out from the end of the hallway.

He's wearing a black shirt and a pair of gray sweatpants, and I have to say, I don't think I've ever seen him dressed so casually before.

"What's this?" I ask, waving my hand toward the army of teddy bears that seem to have laid siege at my door.

"Well," he starts, looking a little uncomfortable. He brings his hand up, scratching the back of his head as he all but avoids my gaze.

"Why is there an army of teddy bears here?" I ask, tapping my foot impatiently.

"For you," he eventually says, his voice going down a notch.

"For me?" I repeat, incredulous.

Closing the door to my room, I wade my way through the many teddy bears, trying to ignore the way they are so soft and oh so cute. But this is neither the place nor the time to gush over stuffed animals.

"Did you rob an entire teddy bear store?

" I cross my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Unless…" my eyes widen. "Did you put something in them?

Bombs? Listening devices?" I'm quick to grab into the nearest bear—a tiny blue one that is so soft I want to just pet him—and I pull, ripping it at the seams.

There's no way Vlad would do this without a reason. What is his purpose? Get me to lower my guard?

Speaking about trojan horses…

"Sisi," he groans, trying to take the bear from me, "there's nothing inside the bears."

"I don't believe you," I counter, tossing the first bear and taking another one, repeating the procedure and feeling it up for hidden wires or any other devices Vlad might have placed inside them.

"I knew you were a scoundrel, but I didn't realize you'd stoop so low to use teddy bears. What's wrong with you, Vlad?" I shake my head at him, sad that I'm destroying such cute toys.

"Sisi." His hands cover my own, stopping me from continuing to tear into the bears. "They were a present. Nothing else. I promise," he says solemnly, but I just push his hands aside.

"As if your promises count for anything," I mumble, not looking at him.

"I'm serious. I just wanted to give them to you."

"Why?" I fire back immediately.

"So that you're not… lonely," he admits, lowering his head.

I frown, unable to get a read on him. What's his angle this time?

"So that I'm not lonely?" I repeat, my eyebrows shooting up at his explanation before I simply burst out into laughter.

"I gather you didn't like them," he says quietly, staring at what's left of the little bear on the floor.

Before I get a chance to reply, though, he's gone, taking the broken teddy bear with him.

I knew it.

It must have something inside that I didn't notice, so he's taking it with him to hide the evidence.

Shaking my head at him, I decide that the sooner I get out of here, the better. Who knows what other tricks he has up his sleeve.

To my surprise, I don't see Vlad the rest of the day. It's only the next morning that I note his presence again, and this time with an over the top gesture too.

"Seriously?" I roll my eyes at him, lifting up the hem of my dress, so that it doesn't get dirty. Then I try my hardest to bypass him and head downstairs for breakfast.