Chapter 23 Vivi
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
VIVI
Over a Week Later…
Strigoi are real. And the proof of it is growing inside me.
Not that I plan to write about it. Instead, I simply marvel at the development as I stare at my reflection in the bathroom mirror.
I can’t see anything yet. Can’t even feel it. But Ciprian woke me this morning with his tongue between my thighs, then informed me that my heat was successful.
The actions of the last eight days or so are foggy in my head. Like a really good dream that I only remember pieces of. Everything after him taking me with his tail and his cock is a blur. Yet I know we did… a lot.
Biting.
Penetrating in all ways.
So much licking.
Sucking.
Swallowing.
My cheeks heat with that last one since I can still taste Ciprian in my mouth. But that part I remember every moment of since it just happened in the shower.
He walks out behind me, his expression one of satisfaction as he takes in the mirror before us. “You’re beautiful, regina mea.” He places a kiss against my throat, his eyes holding mine in the reflection. “Thank you for being mine.”
I smile. “Is this the part where we talk about how I never had a choice?”
He frowns. “Viviana—”
I turn in his arms and press my palm to his cheek. “I’ve been obsessed with you for years, Ciprian. You captured my heart in that illustration, and it’s been yours ever since. This… this is where I’m meant to be. Choice or no.”
Because I don’t mean that he took me against my will, just that fate entangled me in a web I could never leave.
“You’ll always have a choice with me,” he replies, cupping my cheek as well. “That’s why you have a safe word, yes?”
My lips curl again. “I’m pretty sure I’m never going to use it.”
“That’s good,” he replies. “Because I don’t think our Strigoi will like hearing their queen talk about vampires.”
I nod sagely. “Yes, I can see why they might be jealous.”
His eyes narrow. “There is nothing to be jealous about. Strigoi can fly. We also have tails.” He wraps his around my calf and slides it upward between my thighs. “We are quite superior, regina mea.”
“I would ask for a demonstration of that superiority, but you just gave me one.”
“Perhaps you need another?” he offers. “I’m more than happy to…” He trails off, his pointed ears seeming to twitch as he slowly looks at the bathroom door. “We have visitors.”
My brow furrows. “Visitors?”
He nods, not looking pleased. “Come.” He grabs a towel and pulls me into the walk-in closet off the bathroom.
Goose bumps pebble all over my sensitive skin as he dries me with the soft cotton, his movements gentle yet thorough.
When he selects a dark red dress for me to wear, I stare at it. “Who does this belong to?”
“You.” He starts assembling a suit—which has a similar shirt to match the gown.
“But the Strigoi didn’t know my size or anything about me until last week.”
“Not true,” he murmurs. “They knew a great deal about you. But the clothes arrived yesterday. I put them away while you slept.”
I blink at him, then scan over the long row of items taking up an entire wall. “All of these came in yesterday?”
“Yes.” He glances at me. “What troubles you, pet?”
“I… I just assumed…” I trail off, studying him and then the items again. As well as a dresser in the middle.
Without asking, I go and open a drawer to find lingerie tucked inside.
Lingerie that reminds me of my time in Negru Castle.
It’s the same French brand.
“Are these from my old room?” I ask him.
“Yes. You never had a chance to wear them, so I brought them here.”
“And they weren’t from an old mistress,” I say, more to myself than to him. Because I know he never really had one of those.
However, he responds with, “I bought them for your visit, as I fully expected to make you walk around in my castle in nothing but gowns or silky panties. But my plans were derailed. So we’ll just… make it a rule for here instead.”
“A rule?” I echo, facing him again, my eyebrow rising. “What kind of rule?”
“One where you are required to only wear items from that dresser when in our rooms. Or you can choose to be naked.” He smiles then as he adds, “You do like choices, right?”
“A somewhat joke from the usually serious Strigoi King?” I say, feigning shock. “Are you feeling all right?” I take a step forward and try to touch his forehead, but he grabs my wrist before I can complete the action and tugs me into a kiss.
Warmth reignites in my lower belly, my body instantly on fire for him as he parts my lips to dominate me with his tongue.
But just as quickly as it began, it stops, his hand in my hair yanking me back to stare up at him.
“I’m only this way with you,” he tells me.
“Remember that. It’s going to be important soon. ”
I arch a brow. “You’re telling me I’m the only one you can be funny around?”
“You’re the only one who will ever see me smile,” he corrects me, his teeth nipping my lower lip. “Now get dressed, mate. I want to see that red gown on you so I can fantasize about removing it later.”
“Seems like a waste,” I say as he releases me. “Just keep me naked.”
“If Marius wasn’t waiting in my sitting room, I would consider that.” His eyes roam over my breasts before returning to my face. “Stop stalling and put on the dress.”
“I’m not stalling, just talking.” I proceed to prove my point by donning the red silk fabric. It looks a bit formal with my wet hair, but I don’t really care. “Happy?” I ask after he turns to face me in his perfectly pressed suit.
“Am I happy that you chose not to wear anything underneath that sexy dress?” he returns. “Yes and no.”
I huff a laugh. “I seem to recall you being quite upset with me during our first dinner together—for wearing underwear.”
“I was disappointed, not upset. And that was only because I wanted you to wear the lingerie I’d purchased for you.” He cants his head. “I spent a great deal of time researching items specifically with you in mind. I very much want to see you model them for me.”
“Maybe I’ll do that after Marius leaves,” I suggest.
“Oh, I hope you do,” he replies, sauntering toward me and leaning in to give me a kiss. “But I suspect you’ll be busy.”
“Busy?” I echo, curious as to what kinky activity he has in mind.
He grabs my hand and leads me into the bathroom. “Yes.”
“Doing what?” I prod, wanting to know more.
“Talking, probably,” he replies.
My brow furrows. “What?” Does he mean like… dirty talk? I wonder, confused.
No. Absolutely not, he replies into my mind. I’m a possessive Strigoi, regina mea. The only one you will speak to in that manner is me. He pauses at the threshold between the bathroom and the bedroom.
“You are mine,” he adds out loud in a lethally quiet voice. “I do not share.”
I swallow. “I don’t share either.”
“Good.”
“Good,” I repeat.
His lips twitch again. “You’re the perfect queen.”
“I haven’t been crowned yet,” I remind him as we exit the bathroom.
“You’re my queen regardless of a crown,” he replies, his tone flatter than before.
And I realize why as we near the sitting room. Marius. Ciprian mentioned he was here, which means he’s putting on the stoic facade for his best friend.
Why don’t you let him see you smile? I wonder at my mate through our mental link.
Because he would tease me relentlessly for it, Ciprian replies into my head. I’ve often remarked that he smiles too much.
Why?
Because he fucking smiles too much, Ciprian mutters. Though, he doesn’t appear to be all that amused right now…
That last comment ironically comes through with a hint of amusement in Ciprian’s mental voice, making me curious about what he seems to know.
But before I can ask, Marius’s voice sounds from the seating area. “Thank fuck. Can you please present your mate and free me of this nonsense?”
“By ‘nonsense,’ you mean the loose ends you were supposed to take care of?” Ciprian replies at the same time a familiar voice begins to demand, “Who are…? Oh.”
“Yes, if you would allow others to speak rather than assuming you’re the center of all attention, you may learn some things,” Marius deadpans.
“Gaby?” I attempt to sprint around the corner, to see into the seating area, but Ciprian’s hand in mine yanks me back since his big body doesn’t move as fast.
“Vivi?” my best friend asks.
“There. Proof of life. Am I excused?” The irritation in Marius’s voice is very unlike the playful tones he used with me.
“No.” Ciprian’s word echoes through the room, preceding our entry into the seating area.
Gaby jumps up and runs for me.
I try to meet her halfway, but Ciprian doesn’t release my hand, causing me to embrace my best friend in an awkward one-arm hug.
“Thank God you’re okay,” Gaby breathes, ignoring the hulking Strigoi King beside us. “When that damn vampire came to use his voodoo on me, I suspected the worst.”
“Problems with your compulsion?” The silky quality of Ciprian’s question has Marius issuing a grunt from the other side of the room.
“Seems this one is somehow immune to my charms,” Marius mutters.
“Charms.” Gaby snorts and releases me to round on Marius. “You are a barbarian.”
“I’m not.”
“You are. You threw me over your shoulder and whisked me off to this realm without so much as an invitation or even a kiss. I expected wooing. Maybe the best fuck of my life. But this? This is not how the books go.”
“You and your prattling on about books,” Marius hisses, coming to his feet and advancing on Gaby.
My eyes widen, my instinct to get between them thwarted by my mate holding me back. Ciprian!
Shh, he hushes into my mind. I’m rather enjoying this. Please let it continue.
He’s going to hurt my friend, I snap back at him, trying to free my hand so I can reach Gaby.
Actually, I rather think she might hurt him, he murmurs, his grip easily holding me back.
“You could learn something from those stories,” she tells him, her finger colliding with his chest.