Under the vampire Lord's protection-Chapter 597: An ardent dance

Opting to push her talk with Ada to the next morning, Arabella made her way back to their room. Unlike the previous nights, Silas was nowhere near his carving desk, but the splashing and rustling of water traveling through the curtains gave her a clear idea as to his whereabouts.

By the time she joined him in the bathroom, his vest was already off his body. The belt around his middle was gone too, leaving nothing but the pants and thin, white blouse shirt on.

It had been a while since he’s shown his... Forms in front of her, but even in her state of mind, she could not take her eyes away. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Forgive me. I couldn’t wait and decided to take a bath at this hour tonight. Will you join me?"

Unfortunately, those words struck at the memory box that the young woman fought hard to keep sealed.

The one containing the cursed images of her time in a tub with Atticus’ arms around her naked body.

"You do not have to if not," his hands went for the buttons holding his shirt together.

She finally managed to take her eyes off him as he exposed more of his chest. It wasn’t anything new, but for some reason, a pang in her own chest told her it was unwise to look.

Arabella spun on her heels to avoid the sight entirely, but the reflective wall tiles wanted it otherwise, forcing her to squeeze her eyelids shut.

Gentle steps clacked against the marble flooring, growing closer until his warmth enveloped her whole.

"You did not answer me," something tugged at the back of her gown, "So, stop me if you wish to," his tone hadn’t changed at all since the beginning... So deep yet calm, wrapping a soft blanket around her ears that guaranteed safety without words.

She did not stop him and so, his hands kept on working with the ribbons and clasps holding her dress together.

He did it more so slowly than delicately. Null doubt to grant his wife the time to react should she have wished to, but Arabella said nothing and simply stared down at the floor.

It was her heart that sang many songs at once, rising and falling from throat to her heels.

Again, was it wise? Was it... Fair to him at all as her husband? Putting his hands on her body after the mud it had been dragged through.

As soon as the last piece of fabric covering her hit the floor, a warm hand wrapped around her fingers.

"Come," he practically whispered as though speaking any louder would shatter her.

She did not protest and let him guide her towards the tub all the while keeping her eyes down.

The water as well as the bubbles were just sweet on her skin. The perfect distraction from the fact that Silas had taken his pants off.

Her arms wrapped around her knees, curling her body into a near perfect ball the moment he dipped his feet behind her.

But the worst of it was when their nude bodies finally connected. Something happened. Something in her brain snapped, urging her to hurry up and leap out of the tub for everyone’s safety.

The vampire caught her mid jolt and brought her back against his chest, before wrapping his arms around her.

"It is me," he whispered in her ear, rocking her very gently from left to right, "It’s me, Silas. Your husband. No one else is here with us. You are completely safe,"

Her heart did not speak that language and kept on drumming her chest until air turned scarce.

Her muscles tugged against his hold in vain as her hands gripped the edges of the tub for support. The hyperventilation did not slow down until Silas spoke again.

"Please, breathe. It is just me, your husband," his arms kept on hugging her.

That was when the cursed reflection of her face on the tiles caught her attention. The sheer terror her contorted features fought so hard against.

Very gradually, her fingers started uncurling from around the edges of the tub, finally allowing her muscles to relax.

Deep breath after deeper inhale, Arabella no longer fought the direct connection her back made to his chest.

"Forgive me," she murmured, tears escaping her eyes, "It was a reaction I couldn’t control,"

"It’s alright," his chin rubbed against her hair, "Just breathe,"

All of the sudden, the reflection on those wall tiles was a tad more bearable. Mostly thanks to his presence in the picture.

His eyes were shut as he rocked both of their bodies from left to right in the water. His nose remained buried in her hair even when he spoke...

"Silas," she squeaked.

"Yes?" he mumbled.

"I am no longer the woman you said yes to on our wedding day... Do you... Do you still want me around?" so brittle was her voice. As if pulling every ounce of strength to put those words together, "I know you promised to be by my side no matter what but after last week, I would understand it if...," she trailed off, never finishing that sentence.

The way his eyes shot open caused her to freeze at once, but Silas uttered no words and instead wrapped a hand around her throat before making her look up at him.

He did not put much pressure. Not that he needed to anyways.

Arabella just let it happen and locked eyes with his. They were so sharp, boring into her soul, but he still said nothing.

The vampire brought his face down connecting their lips together. At first, he let them feel each other but then began moving, spreading them to gain access into her mouth which she did not fight.

He gave her the taste she had so missed... As his tongue wrapped around hers, pushing and pulling as if their lives depended on that ardent dance.

When he finally set her free again, his eyes were still sharp, "I never and I mean never want to hear such words from your mouth again," although calm, his tone still made her chest rumble, "I will take no one other than you by my side,"