Chapter 11
“Do you know where Antonio is?” Astra asked of Eldora, trying to hide her excitement as she thought about her latest idea for the villagers. Clutching her notebook against her chest, she held her breath as she waited for the recalcitrant housekeeper-slash-cook to answer.
Slowly, Eldora turned, her eyes…looked strange this morning. The older woman slowly let her gaze dropped to Astra’s stomach. For the first time, Astra hadn’t bothered to hide her baby bulge. At just under five months along, the bump wasn’t very large, but it was obvious. That confirmed Astra’s suspicion that the housekeeper had been eavesdropping yesterday.
However, the housekeeper simply moved over to the refrigerator and plucked a glass of milk out. Obviously, the woman had been prepared because the glass was already filled and chilled. She set it down on the rough, wooden island and moved back to the oven.
“He’s in the dungeon,” Eldora finally replied, staring down into the simmering pot.
Astra stepped closer, eyeing the glass of milk dubiously. She didn’t want to offend the woman, but her mind flitted back to the dead shrub and the odd rainbow sheen of the lemonade she’d been served last week.
Instead of drinking the milk, she lifted the glass up and offered Eldora a smile. “Thank you for this. I should be drinking milk more often.” She started to turn around, but hesitated. “Eldora, why didn’t you want to retire like the other servants after Ricardo was sent off to prison? They all are enjoying a cushy retirement with the pension accounts that Antonio set up for everyone. But you…I understand that you didn’t want to retire, but you also seem…as if maybe you regret that decision?”
Eldora’s startled, open-mouthed gaze swung back to Astra and she simply stared for a long moment. “I wanted to retire!” she hissed, absently stirring the pot as she spoke. “I wasn’t offered retirement!”
Astra’s confusion must have been apparent because Eldora’s angry eyes reflected Astra’s bewilderment. “But…Antonio was told that you didn’t want to retire. That you wanted to keep working at the castle. Was…was that information incorrect?”
Eldora’s mouth snapped shut and she looked helplessly around, as if she suddenly didn’t recognize the kitchen she’d spent the past sixty years working in. “I…I…” she stopped stirring and dropped onto one of the rough stools. “That bastard!” she hissed, her shoulders curling as she clasped her hands together. With her head bowed, she started to cry.
Astra set the glass of milk down and moved closer, not sure what to do. The woman had been so awful to her and Macie since their arrival. But Astra couldn’t ignore her obvious pain. She knelt beside the stool, reaching for Eldora’s hands. “What’s wrong, Eldora?” she whispered.
The woman looked up, seeming much older than her years. Her wrinkled features were swollen and tear stained, her eyes pleading for understanding. “It’s the Marquesso,” she whispered. “He’s…evil!”
Astra wanted to hug the woman, but kept her hands to herself. “I know. But…?”
“He must have told someone that I didn’t want to retire. He must have...,” she shuddered. “I don’t know.” She lifted weary eyes to Astra. “Be careful! That man…he’s….” She stopped, pressing her lips together. “Just be careful,” Eldora finally finished, then stood up and went to the stove, stirring the pot again.
Astra stood there for a moment, but Eldora kept her back to the room, stirring slowly as if her life depended on it.
Astra left the kitchen, carrying the glass of milk and her notebook with her. She stopped in the downstairs bathroom and poured the milk down the drain, unwilling to trust that it was drinkable. It might be perfectly safe, but Astra’s hand fluttered protectively over her belly as she thought about Eldora’s warning. She wasn’t going to take chances!
Instead, Astra walked along the castle hallway until she found the door at the back of the castle that she’d been told led to the dungeon. It was in a dark, dreary place that wasn’t furnished. In fact, this area of the castle desperately needed maintenance work. The wall sconces worked, but they were old and decrepit and the lights flickered ominously.
The stairs leading to the dungeon, were worn smooth, angling downward slightly. Obviously, these stairs had been used a great deal. She walked carefully, keeping a hand on the wall to make sure she didn’t fall.
When she reached the bottom, she peered around. The lights were dimmer down here. Plus, there was an aura of…sadness? Desperation? It was almost as if she could “feel” the souls that had been imprisoned here.
Or was she merely fantasizing about those sensations because it was cold and damp and everything in eyeshot was a stark reminder of the brutal, merciless activities that had taken place within these walls. The lights were wrought iron and flickered like the ones at the top of the stairs. But there was an additional layer of sadness. The walls seemed too damp, almost as if they were weeping. In reality, the walls were probably wet because of ground water seeping through the mortar, but her imagination took her to places that weren’t happy.
Still, she could tell Antonio was down here. Why, she had no clue, but she pressed her notebook closer, needing the reassurance of life and happiness.
Walking carefully along the stone hallway, she saw a light flickering further down the long, bleak hallway. She kept her hand against the wall as she made her way towards the light.
There he was. Antonio stood outside of what was obviously a dungeon cell. The iron bars were reminiscent of past centuries. The bars weren’t smooth like in the movies. They were rough, as if a blacksmith had hand forged them with a hammer.
Astra froze, watching Antonio. His shoulders were stiff and tight as he gazed into the cell. There was a bleakness to his eyes that she’d never seen before. With a small cry, Astra dropped her notebook and hurried forward.
He saw her a split second before she wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him tightly. “You are not that person!” she told him with a fervent tone. “You’ll never be locked up in this place ever again!”
Antonio felt the softness of Astra’s breasts press against his arm as well as the firmness of her pregnant belly. That was odd, he thought. He’d always imagined that a pregnant belly would feel soft, maybe a bit squishy.
No, that wasn’t right. He supposed that he’d never really thought about the sensation of a woman’s pregnant belly. To be honest, his thoughts about women’s anatomy were more focused on the softness of her breasts and the warmth of her core when he entered her. Pregnancy had never entered his mind because he’d never thought to bring a child into this cruel, miserable world.
It took him a moment to process the fact that Astra was hugging him. The sensation felt good. No, good wasn’t an adequate description for what he was feeling. She was warm and soft and gave him the sensation that the world wasn’t as miserable as he’d always believed it to be.
Still, it took him several moments before he remembered to lift his arms and hug her back. When he did so, it felt even more amazing. Subconsciously, Antonio had longed to hold Astra in his arms again. The last five months without her had been hell. He hadn’t even realized how much he’d missed her until she’d returned to his life.
Remembering the pain of being without her, he started to pull away. But her arms tightened around him and he gave up.
“Why are you here?” he asked, lowering his head to breathe in her sweet, feminine scent.
“Because you need me,” she whispered against his chest. He felt her lips brush against his shirt and he longed to feel those lips against his bare skin.
He started to pull away, but again, she tightened her arms. “If you don’t let me go, Astra, I’m going to make love to you right here.”
In response, she kissed his chest again. That was all it took. He pulled back, stared into her eyes. He saw the welcome there and groaned.
“Not here,” he hissed and pulled back, lacing his fingers through hers and tugging her down the hallway. Never here, he swore silently. There were too many bad memories in this place. Miserable memories.
Antonio didn’t want anything to tarnish the feelings he had for Astra. She might leave him again, but he couldn’t think about the future right now. He wasn’t going to dwell on the future pain of losing her again. He’d had only one night with her. If she was offering him more, then he was going to take it. He was going to savor every moment.
Upstairs in his room, he closed the door, then looked down at her again. “Leave now if you don’t want this,” he urged. “Because if you don’t leave, then I’m not letting you out of this room until we’re both satisfied.”
He’d given her fair warning. Her soft, sweet smile lit up her eyes. Her next move shocked the hell out of him. She stepped closer and lifted up onto her toes, reaching up to bring his head down to hers. And then she kissed him.
For a stunned moment, he allowed her the control. It took him that long to realize what was happening. Astra…in his arms. And she was kissing him!
Kissing Astra was like devouring honey. He couldn’t get enough of her. His mouth moved back and forth, taking another sip, and then another. Astra’s kisses and smiles pushed away the vicious memories of his youth and gave him hope that there was a future brighter than what the present predicted.
When she pressed herself more firmly against him and he could feel the pressure of her breasts and the lush ripeness of her pregnancy against him, his head spun with desire. This was Astra. How many nights had he dreamed about having her back in his arms? How long had he craved her touch? It seemed like he’d wanted her all his life even though he’d only met her five months ago.
Stripping off their clothes, he pulled her back into his arms, feeling every inch of her warm, soft skin against his body. He started to lead her to the bed, but he thought about her pregnancy and, instead, lifted her into his arms. Settling her down in his bed, Antonio pulled back and looked at her. He really looked at her this time. Ever since she’d arrived at the castle, he’d kept himself from admiring and appreciating every soft, perfect curve of her luscious body. But now, he’d look his fill because Antonio wasn’t sure he’d ever see her like this again. She was warm and welcoming and he was a selfish bastard because he was going to take everything she offered.
His hands smoothed over her body, pausing at her rounded stomach as he explored. “Do you feel our baby kicking yet?” he asked.
She kissed his neck, sucking on the soft skin. “Not yet,” she whispered back. “Hopefully, I will feel her soon.”
He grinned as he moved further down her body. “So, you think it’s a girl?” He’d love to have a daughter. One that looked exactly like Astra.
“I don’t care,” she said, then gasped when his mouth captured her nipple. She pulled away slightly, then explained, “They are extra sensitive right now.”
He grinned, delighted by the idea of her nipples being more sensitive than they’d been the last time he’d made love to her.
He captured the other one, laving it with his tongue while his hand cupped the first one. She writhed against him, her legs tangling with his. He wanted her open to him, so he pressed her legs wider, needing to see all of her.
When she obeyed, Antonio thought he’d just died and gone to heaven.
“Touch me, please?” she whispered.
“With pleasure,” he murmured, then moved over her, sliding his fingers over her thighs and hips, stopping when his hand covered her stomach. “Does it…?”
“Later,” she whispered, turning towards him. “I’ll answer all of your questions later,” she promised. “Right now, I need this,” and she rolled so that she was on top.
Antonio sighed with pleasure and gazed up at her. In this position, he had more freedom with his hands. Cupping her breasts, he teased them until she was gasping for air while her hips shifted against his shaft, making him nearly lose his mind.
She lowered her head, kissing him as those delicate fingers of hers grabbed his shaft, stroking him in long, slow movements. He nearly lost it, but then she shifted her hips and…her tight, magnificent body enveloped his shaft. Closing his eyes, he lost himself in the moment, gripping her hips as she trembled against him.
“Querida Cielo!” he gasped as she shifted against him. She was so tight and so hot that it nearly undid him. But this was Astra and he wasn’t going to lose control. Not until he gave her so much pleasure, she was drunk with it.
Sitting up, he wrapped his arms around her, shifting her body, and that nub, against his stomach. Kissing her, he stroked her breasts, tweaking her nipples until she was breathless. Only then did he lay back down and let her take control while his thumb rubbed against that nub, helping her find her release.
It was one of the most erotic moments he’d ever had, watching Astra stroke him with her inner muscles. He watched her throw her head back, her eyes drifting closed as she shifted, rocking against him and finding her pleasure. When he felt her muscles tighten around his shaft, he couldn’t hold back any longer and followed her into bliss. Especially when her cries of release started. He shifted over, careful to be gentle and protect her belly, but then he began to thrust faster, feeling the echoes of her own orgasm bringing him to his own pleasure.
Very gently, he pulled away and cradled her in his arms as their breathing returned to normal. Feeling her like this was good. No, it was amazing, he thought. He’d missed this their first time. Both of them had been too worn out for anything other than sleep that first night. But now, he had all day and all night to make memories.
Astra felt Antonio press against her back, pulling her closer. His soft breath teased her ear and she smiled, but she couldn’t help wondering what would happen next.
When his hand smoothed over her stomach, she covered it with her own.
“What does it feel like?” he asked, his voice low and sexy against her ear.
She smiled, relieved that he was curious. “It’s weird.”
He laughed and she relaxed. “Tell me,” he encouraged.
She shifted, looking over her shoulder at him. “It’s difficult to describe. The first few months I was pretty sick, but I didn’t know then that it was because I was pregnant. I just thought that it was because I was working too hard.” She stared at him. “I truly didn’t know, Antonio. I would have told you sooner if I’d–”
“I know,” he interrupted and kissed her bare shoulder. “And how do you feel now?”
She bit her lip and thought about it for a moment. “I don’t really feel anything now. The exhaustion is gone…well, its abating.” She grinned. “I’ve heard that the next few months are the best part of being pregnant.”
He pushed up onto his elbow, looking down at her. “Will you stay with me in Madrid during the pregnancy?”
She considered for a moment, then shook her head. “What will happen after I give birth?”
“I want to marry you, Astra,” he told her firmly. “But I won’t make the mistake of demanding it like I did yesterday.” His mouth twisted into a wry smile. “I found out pretty quickly that you don’t react well to commands.”
She shifted, rolling over so they were face to face. “I don’t, but…you’re very concerned about the baby being illegitimate, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I saw what my brother had to endure. I don’t want our child to go through anything like that. It was…beyond horrifying, Astra.”
She nodded, biting her lip. “If we marry, then what about after the pregnancy?”
He stared at her for so long, she wasn’t sure what he might say next. Finally, he said, “We stay married. We raise our child in Madrid. You continue to work or stay home as you choose. I can guarantee that you will be cared for. Neither you nor our child will ever want for anything, Astra. I sold all of my father’s businesses, but,” he shrugged, “I have a knack for investing. I’m part owner in several very profitable businesses. Plus, I’m very good about finding excellent stocks. I will set aside an amount for you personally, plus another amount for our child.”
She stopped him by touching his mouth. “Why Madrid?” she asked when really what she wanted to know was, what about love?
“I’m going to sell the castle,” he told her.
She shifted up onto her elbow. “You said that before, but I don’t understand why you would want to sell such a beautiful place. Can you help me to understand?”
Antonio looked around, then sighed as he flopped onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. “This place housed a monster, Astra. I lived here, but every moment was beyond miserable. Everyone in the village thought it was such a privilege to live here in a castle, but…the truth is, every day here with my father was a nightmare. I never knew what punishment he would mete out next.” He turned, looking into her eyes. “It wasn’t until I was sent off to boarding school in England that I found a bit of relief. After that, when I had to come home, I was taller and larger than my father. That was the only thing that kept him from bothering me during school breaks.”
“He was really that bad?” she asked, touching him as if she could somehow reach the tormented, little boy she could see in his eyes.
“He really was,” Antonio admitted in an emotionless voice.
Astra snuggled up against him, resting her cheek on his chest. The steady thud of his heart soothed her and she wished that there was some way that she could help.