Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
I watched the girls in horror. Knowing that once you were in the manor, you could never escape it’s hold. My heart leapt into my throat. I hurried toward the manor, leaving Dorian to stare into the forest like a woman made of stone.
My ears strained as I listened for the girls when I stepped into the main hall. Nothing. Not a peep or single sound.
Dorian shuddered as she entered the home after me. Her shoulders rolled back with her head high. An omen if I ever saw one. The number three whispered from her mouth before she stretched her hand back for me to take. Before I could reach for her, my father suddenly appeared in the doorway. His smile faltered as he looked upon our faces.
“Vespera, you look like you’ve seen a ghost,” He said, a foreign concern ribbed his tone. His posture softened, his arms twitched by his side. As if reaching to hold me close but not strong enough to, I bit back a laugh at his words. If only he knew the truth.
“That’s how she always looks,” Dorian sneered before pushing past him and to the kitchens. No doubt about to bake a tart to take her frustrations out on the dough. I wished I still had a vice. Mine now lingered as ash on the wind.
“Are you alright?” Father stepped before me. Still not touching me. Fearful as if I were to break before him. I nodded once.
“Yes. Just tired is all.”
His shoulders slumped. A pent up breath quietly exhaled from his lips.
“Where did you go?” The words burst from me before I could think. Father raked a hand through his dark hair.
“I’ve been here all along.”
“Not now. When you abandoned me.”
“I didn’t abandon-”
“You did. But I have moved past it.” I cut him off with a raised palm. I was becoming more and more like Grandmother by the day. Something I wasn’t even slightly upset at.
Father heaved a sigh before pushing the library doors open. I followed him silently, sitting in my usual seat on the couch whilst Father took the armchair. My nails towed with a loose thread in my skirt as I waited for his excuse.
“I was trying to find a cure.” He admitted after what felt like a decade of heavy silence. An icy chill ran through the room. My eyes darted over the room. Wondering who was joining us.
“A cure? I need the actual truth, not the lie you spin to anyone who doesn’t care to ask,” I said. My expression was cool as he looked upon me with utter sadness in his expression. Pure devastation in his eyes.
“I travelled the world for you. To find information on the curse. To find anything,” He said. I met his gaze. His soft eyes pleading. He swallowed before continuing. “I went through England and Ireland. I went to Venice, Rome, France and even as far as Egypt. No one had ever heard of such a curse. I know some were born without the coloured sight but you are different.”
“The curse can be broken when I find love. You of all people should know this.”
“But you shouldn’t have to find love to get your colour back. You should be able to live your life and fall in love not for the end of a curse but because it is truly the most beautiful thing in the world.”
“Just like your love for my mother?” I said, not wanting to believe his words. Something was off. He shouldn’t have to plead for his daughter to forgive him. A frigid breeze hit my shoulder but I didn’t dare look behind me. Knowing mother was there before she even made contact.
“I loved you mother with every fibre of my being.” He straightened.
“Yet you left the one thing she created with you. The one thing you once called your greatest blessing.”
“I left for you,” He said, still pleading. I stood quickly. Anger ran through me like a raging hot river.
“You left because you couldn’t stand the sight of me. Even seeing me now and how much I mirror her is disgusting to you.”
“Vespera… I…” He faltered for words. His posture dampened, the light receding from his eyes but I didn’t care.
“I needed you and you left me,” I said, keeping my voice as neutral as I could whilst in front of him. “Whilst I understand why you ran, forgiveness isn’t in my strong suit.”
“Trust me. I will earn it back.” He reached for my hands. I allowed him one touch. Maybe there was a truth to his words. Maybe he did leave to find a cure but right now was not the time for research notes. I was not in the mood for anything but lounging on the couch and wallowing in my thoughts. Slowly, I pulled my hands back. Noticing the warm tender smile on Father’s lips.
“I will leave you alone. But please, join me for dinner?”
I nodded. Not knowing how else to respond. He slipped out of the room quietly. I slumped back on the sofa. The anger was still hot in my veins. Why am I always the one who is abandoned? Everyone has always left me.
“I thought he would never leave.” A deep velvety voice crooned from behind me. The scent of cedar sent a new type of heat through my body.
“I thought you would never come.” I grinned up at him. Maaier reflected the grin before leaning against the rows of books lining the walls. A smirk slashing across his handsome face. I sauntered over to him. A wave of confidence coursing through me. He was all I needed to aid my frustrations. To free some of this anger.
Maaier’s gaze darkened as I stalked closer. His hands twitching by his sides.
“This is a bad idea, little bloom.”
“And all the other times weren’t?'' I cocked my head. Loosening the ties on my dress. A deep primal sound caught in Maaier’s throat.
“Now that you know the truth, it will be harder for me to retain control.”
“What if I don’t need you to?” I smirked. My grin was almost feral as I reached him. My hands snaked around his throat as I yanked him down to me. Our lips met harshly. Both fighting for dominance. Moans and groans echoed in the air. A rush of air filled the room. The sound of the lock on the library slid into place. I pulled back breathlessly.
“You can do that?”
“Darling, I can do anything. Now, follow my lead,” He purred before pulling me back to him. Our bodies met with heat pouring through us. Hands roaming over each other form as our tongues danced with the other. A sigh escaped me only to be swallowed by him. Just as he did my existence. I was his.
I pushed him harder against the books, demanding more. Deepening the kiss. Maaier growled before hoisting me up by the waist. In an instant, my back was slammed against the shelves. Pain radiated from the impact but I paid it no mind.
“Learn to obey your god.”
“And who might they be?” I purred.
“Me.” He snarled before hiking up my skirts with his free hand.
He was inside me in an instant. His length filled me perfectly. I moaned when he thrust. Keeping my voice as soft as I could.
“No one can hear you.” He managed through his lips peppering my neck. His thrust was slow and deliberate, teasing me to no end.
“You wicked man.” I cursed.
He chuckled darkly against my skin. Thrusting so hard into me, I swear the universe flashed before my eyes. My body hit the books behind me. A scream caught in my throat.
“Can’t have anyone else hearing how you fall apart for me, can we, my soul?”
The pleasure built higher and higher as his cock impaled me over and over. Hitting the right spot. A hand found my chest, the other still holding me in place by the waist. His expert hands kneaded my soft breast. Fingers tugging at the bud. I groaned louder. He bent down slowly. Thrusting deeper as if that were somehow possible. With a flick of his tongue on my nipple I was gone. The stars burst behind my eyes. My voice broke with the scream. Heat roiled through me. Bringing me life before allowing me to return to earth. To the beautiful man still between my legs.
“Fuck, I love you, Vespera. Tell me you are mine.”
God be damned, if this was his way of getting me to choose him, he would win a million times over.
“I’m yours.” A whisper was all I could manage as pressure began to build in the small of my spine once more.
“You are what?” He whispered into my ear, his hand closed over my throat.
“I. Am. Yours.” I said louder.
“Again.” He ordered with a thrust. Books fell from the shelves. Landing with a crash on the floor.
“I am yours.” Thrust. “I am yours.” thrust. Each repetition sent me hurling toward the cosmos once more.
“You are mine. Until the day you give yourself to me and beyond. You, Vespera Florian, are mine .” He growled before finally releasing with one last thrust. The stars burst from me again. Blinding light over taking my senses as I cried out once more. His name was like a song to the wind.
Maaier softened against me, removing himself from my core. He slumped down, his forehead resting on mine as our breaths mingled. Closing my eyes, I breathed him in. the scent of cedar and saffron like heaven to my senses.
“I love when no one can hear you scream for me.”
“How do you do it?” I opened my eyes to find him staring back at me. Dark and deep eyes like a starless sky shining back at me
“Well you don’t exactly want anyone spotting you when you're escorting a soul from a body.” His lips twitched with a smile. I couldn't help but smile back.
He stepped back slowly, putting himself back into his trousers. My eyes caught on the ground as I fixed my skirt. The feeling of his seed running down my leg was slightly uncomfortable. The books lay scattered on the ground in a mess.
I breathed his name. My eyes growing wide. Amongst the red lay a new shade. A deep colour I was yet to see.
I swept it off the floor. My fingers danced over the leather as I admired the peculiar shade.
“What colour is this?” I bubbled, turning back to Maaier and holding out the book.
“Your favourite colour. Green.” He smiled.
“Green,” I repeated, the word foreign on my tongue. “My favourite?” I lifted my brow. Looking back at the dark green book in my hand.
“You always wear either green or black. That and you do have an affinity for plants.” My heart warmed at his notice. He noticed the shades I wore more than even I had realised.
“You can keep the colour if you wish.” He leant forward and kissed my brow. Hands catching in my hair. Rubbing the strands between his thumbs.
“Is that why you kept my eyes covered? So I would not see colour?”
“No. I did it because when I touched you, I lost control. I couldn’t let you know the truth until you were ready. Every touch caused my grip to slip more and more.” He smiled softly, almost bashful
“What will our next session get me?” I dared to ask. Maaier threw his head back in a deep laugh. The sound like pure paradise.
“The next time will bring you an eternal life of colour if that be what you wish, little bloom.”
My heart swelled in my chest. My choice was made. But I couldn’t leave yet. Not with everything unsolved.
Hope flooded through me, replacing the anger that once bubbled.