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"No, no, I'm just going to paint your face."

"Oh, okay." He said, disappointed. "So where do you want me?" She got up off the bed and walked toward where she had put her stand and extra canvases as well as the paint. She set it all up by the bed.

"Just lay there, be relaxed. I'd say go to sleep, but you don’t. So just lay there I guess."

"Alright."

"Try to be still." He didn't move, not an inch. She stared at his suddenly stone still body. "Actually could you take off your shirt?" His looked at her and smirked as he took off his shirt.

"So you do want me nude."

"No, just partially."

"Sure, sure." He threw his shirt at her as he laid back down. Natasha studied his muscled perfect skin. As she caught his shirt in her hands. She tore her eyes away from him and squirted some paint on to her pallet. "So tell me, do you like what you see?"

"Shh…" Natasha said with out answering him. "don’t talk. I need to concentrate."

"You haven't even started yet." She looked up at him over her canvas, smiling.

"I know, that’s why I need to concentrate. Having you in the room is distracting, let alone half naked." He smiled and laughed as she blushed at her own comment. She dipped her brush into the paint and started to paint. Hours he laid there and hours she painted, the silence peaceful as she worked.

"How ya doing?" Natasha looked up from the canvas at him, ready to scold him for moving to speak, however he hadn't moved, not even an inch.

"Did you just speak?" He didn't move, not an inch to show her any sign that he had or had not, however his voice rang clear in her head.

"Yep. How's it going?"

"How are you speaking… in my head?!"

"I've tasted your blood, I'm connected with you now. That's why I can speak with in your mind. I don’t know why it works that way, but once a humans blood is in a vampires body they can penetrate their mind and speak through their mind to the humans. However for some reason it only lasts around a year and then the blood is out of their system."

"So can you hear my thoughts?"

"Nope, just transmit mine to you… as well as images." A split second later an image of her in her black bra and underwear, while she was still wounded flashed into her mind. "You were so sexy with that on." Natasha slid her eyes closed as she tried to suppress her blush.

"You have to stop. I need to finish. I can't do that when you're distracting me."

"You find my voice distracting?"

"Yes."

"Distracting in a good way or bad?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well is my voice so annoying its distracting, or is it so seductive that it sends shivers down your spine that can't be ignored, and that’s why it's distracting?"

Natasha smiled.

"I need to concentrate."

"No, you're not getting off the hook with this one. I wanna know." She looked up at him, still stone still, not a hit of expression on his face as to what they were talking about.

"If I tell you, will you move?"

"Not unless you want me to."

"Alright, but you have to promise to stay stone still."

"Promise." Natasha walked from around all of her painting stuff and walked toward him, then leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"Just your voice sends shivers down my spine, yes. But it's so much more. Its the way you speak to me that differes in my reactions. When you just speak to me, my knees try their hardest not to become jello, but when you speak to me with that undercurrent of seduction running through it, I cant help but want to feel you… every where… inside me." Her voice was so soft and sultry that it took all of Matic's will power not to jump on her right then and kiss her as well as do a many other things he shouldn't do before their wedding night. "Now remember stay still."

"That’s not fair."

"You promised." She said walking back to her painting.

"You can't talk like that and have me just sit here for the rest of the night, dwelling on your words."

"Well you're gonna have to, because I'm not finished yet… now you have to get out of my head." She said quickly, taking up her pallet in her hand and tried to find where she should start. Two hours later she was done.

"Alright… think I'm done." Her nerves suddenly clenched at him seeing her painting. What if he didn't like it? What if she didn't do it right? She bit her bottom lip as she watched him get up from the bed.

"Well it's about time."

"I'm sorry, I just wanted it to be good." He smiled as he came and wrapped and arm around her shoulders while looking at the painting. He was silent. It killed her.

"So?" She could help but ask.

"Its good."

"And?"

"It doesn't look a thing like me."

"Yes it does!" He leaned in and kissed the top of her head.

"I like it." She looked up at him dully. "I do."

"You just said it doesn't look anything like you."

"Well… I-"

"Matic?" It was Kyle at the door.

"Kyle! Your just in time, come here." Kyle walked into the room confused.

"Yea?"

"Look at this painting." Kyle came around it to see it.

"Oh, its Matic. Wow, it’s a really good picture… I don’t like that he's shirtless though." Kyle gave Matic a disapproving look.

"Well she wanted me nude but I just wouldn't do it." Natasha smacked his arm.

"Ah! Ya right!" Matic just laughed.

"Well I don’t think it looks at all like me." Matic said looking at the painting.

"That’s because your ego is too high to think you could so easily be captured in paint." Kyle said smiling as he walked back to the door. "Any way, the two of you have visitors done stairs. They say that their Natasha's parents. Matic frowned. Natasha did too. Why were her parents here?

His head ran up along her neck, taking in her scent.

"Mmm." He groaned out. "My son has good taste…" He licked his lips like looking at a fine glass of wine to drink. Every muscle in her body was tense, pulled as far away from as possible. "So sweet… succulent. So you are going to be the future queen of my kingdom…"

"MATIC!" She screamed out as his hand on her jaw loosened. He gripped her mouth, and hissed.

"Shut up!" Her eyes were wide staring into his threatening ones. "No, you can't be the woman to lead my people, you're too scared." He looked at her disapprovingly. "No, already I won't give my approval… Well let's not ruin the fun." His hand was suddenly pulling up her shirt.

"Stop it!" She squealed, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. He wouldn't let her go. Her shirt was half way up, and he was struggling to get it around her boobs to get it off. She used the banister at her back and somehow got her feet up on his chest; she pushed and got him a foot away from her. She quickly used the distance and got up on the railing, her feet trying to find balance on the curve of the stone.

"Oh, now what are you going to do up there? Fly away?" If only, she thought. She panicked as she looked down to the ground. "Jump? Oh, love its too far down, you know that." Her eyes found the broken plate and really didn't want to end up just as broken. But as she grazed at the man, considering the alternative. She would rather be broken.

"You say I'm too week? I'm stronger than you can imagine." Her anger flared as she starred at the man before her. "Maybe not physically, but any comments you dish out discrediting me, wont bother me. I've lived my whole life under people like you, not anymore. You won't control me. And you certainly won't see my body, ever… Even if I have to jump to keep your eyes off of me, I'll do it. I'll do anything to protect my self and anyone I love."

"Really?" He looked at her skeptically.

"Yes." Determination shivered through her. "You take one more step toward me and I'll jump."

"You wouldn't." He started to move forward. She lifted her right foot and placed it out on the empty air.

"I will." He sighed then smirked.

"So what do we do now, precious?"

"You leave."

"Oh well that’s not any fun."

"Now!" She teetered on her one foot still keeping her on the balcony.

"Alright, alright. Perhaps later when there isn't any place for you to jump off of we'll speak again."

"Perhaps we will, when Matic is around." She said viciously. He laughed then turned back into the room. He paused and turned toward her again.

"I have to admit I was wrong about you… your way more stupid than any human I've ever met… stupid but brave at the same time. I admire that. Matic did pick well."

"Leave." She said still not trusting him at all. He just nodded and left, she didn't come down till she heard the door close behind him, and even then waited a few minuets before climbing down from the banister, her whole body shaking as she did so. Matic came into the room not even a second after.

"NATASHA!" He ran into the room and then quickly ran to her crumpled form, gripping the ledge of the railing with her shaking, fearful hands.

"Matic." Her body slunk into his as he picked her up off the floor.

"Are you alright? What happened?"

"I'm fine, nothing happened."

"Natasha… I'm so sorry. I just saw him leave. If he touched you… I'll kill him I swear…"

"No, Matic, he didn't. But he wanted to." He hugged her closer to him.

"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have-"

"Matic, it wasn't your fault. And I'm fine." She forced a smiled to reassure him. He took her head in his hands and kissed her gently, afraid almost that he would break her.

"I love you for lying to me. But your not okay, are you?" She couldn't help her tears.

"I'm just scarred. I'm fine, I am! I will be." He just held her close.

"I'll kill him." He whispered out, malice dripping from his words.

"Matic, look at me." He looked down at her, opening his angry eyes. Natasha tried not to gasp as she saw his black vampire eyes. "I'm fine. Nothing happened. Nothing will. I love you for worry and wanting to protect me, but I'm fine." He studied the truth in her words, but his eyes didn't turn back to the blue. "Matic." She pushed herself against him, trying to distract his mind from what could have happened. She stretched up to him, and brushed her lips against his, watching as his half closed eyes turned back to the brilliant blue as he deepened her kiss. She closed her eyes against it, thankful he wouldn't go and do something rash on her behalf. However even her mind turned from all aspects of fear as his body quickly moved against hers. The turned slightly in each others grasp. They both stumbled back into the room and then she parted from his lips, smiling. He looked down at her smiling at her as well.

"You are way too dangerous."

"What do you mean?"

"You control me way to easily."

"Really?" He nodded, holding her close. "Well would you be completely and absolutely angry with me if I told you I was tired?"

"Not at all… your only human." She smiled.

"About that."

"What?"

"Me, being human… When we get married…"

"God that sounds good!" He said leaning down to kiss her neck, she reluctantly pulled away.

"Matic, after were married, and on the wedding night." His smirk made her blush furiously.

"Yes." His voice was low and sultry.

"Well… I…" She didn't know how to voice her thoughts, they were so, awkward!

"Yes?"

"When we make love… you won't…" She bit her bottom lip.

"I won't what?" His voice was suddenly serious.

"I mean with your strength, and powers. I mean… you won't hurt me? Will you?"

"Natasha, are you a virgin?" She blushed beat red as she looked down, completely embaressed. He let out a breathy laugh. "Natasha. If we do… make love. You have to be turned." Her head snapped up.

"What?"

"Well when we get married… I want to be together forever, I cant let you die." She pulled away from him. The thought had never even entered her mind. She guessed it made sense, that to be with him she would have to be like him. But what would it turn her into? What would she be like after? What would their relationship be like after? After her humanity was dissolved would he still love her as much? But if she didn't change she could never be with him, she would never the pleasure of him, never have forever with him. But what would be forever if he no longer loved her. "Natasha?" She looked up at his blue concerned eyes. "We don’t have to rush into anything… we can wait… but I want you in my life."

"I am in your life."

"I meant forever. These days and years to me are just like seconds and minuets on a clock. They don’t last long. I want the love I have for you to last forever. I can't let you die, and the only way to truly prevent that is to change you."

"What will I become?" She whispered out, her fear all too evident in her eyes.

"My wife. With a spirit like yours nothing will change but the ring you'll be wearing." Natasha couldn't help suppress her smile, remembering Sarah's frantic words. "Speaking of which…" He pulled out a small velvet black box. "Natasha." He glided down to his knee. His head at the level of her stomach, looking up. He opened the box with his thumb. "Natasha I will always love you. Every inch of you. Every thought, every laugh, and every smile that you create, I will love you forever. Will you officially marry me?" Natasha's thoughts swam as she stared at the perfect beautiful diamond ring. He said she would change, she would still be Natasha, she would still love him, and he would still love her.

"Yes… forever, yes!" He slipped the ring into place, it fit perfectly.

"I love you." He stood, kissing her.

"I love you." Her hand folded into his as he held her.



CHAPTER 16



There had been no knock on the door, only the slight creak of it opening then her annoying voice.

"Up, Up, Up! We need to get your measurements today! Wake up darling!" Natasha groaned at Sarah's harsh voice breaking into her sleep she rolled over in the bed, looking for Matic's hard body to curl around. He wasn’t there. She frowned as she opened her eyes, looking around the empty to room to see him no where. "Up, up, up! Come on sleepy head! Cara get her out of bed, we have no time to loose. Cara had pushed back the comforter, the cold air wrapped around her skin. She groaned, reaching for the comforter that was out of reach.

"Come now Miss Natasha." The woman cooed as she pulled at Natasha's arm. She was brought to the middle of the room and urged on to the stool that was placed there. She stood on top of it, while yoning.

"Alright! Were going red! Let's get started!" The woman sounded like a cheerleader. Where was Matic? Why wasn't he here to save her? All four women quickly undressed her till she was once again in just her underwear. But she wasn't naked for long. Sarah pulled out a very ruff looking dress, it looked like a sack more than a dress really, but two of the woman quickly had it hanging from her shoulders. The fabric was soft, but it didn't matter how soft it was it still looked like a sack. How could Matic say this woman was a good seamstress? But then Sarah came at her with a mouth full of needles.

"Hold still." She said over them. She started first at the bottom, pinning the length into place. Then started up, pinning almost every where it seemed, a lot at the waist, pinning back till it was tight around her skin.

"Nancy! Find this girl a corset!" The woman said as she pinned quickly.

"What cup size?" Sarah didn't answer. "Natasha?"

"Oh, uh, C." Nancy just nodded and walked off. Moments later came back with a very lacy and very small corset. There was no way her body would go into that thing.

"Help her get it on girls. Sarah said as she suddenly pulled the fabric off of Natasha's body. Nancy held the corset against her body loosely. As care undid her bra and tossed it aside, the only covering being held up by Nancy. Both women worked quickly and soon she felt the corset tighten around her middle, almost painfully. "Not too tight now, can't have her falling over." Sarah said as she examined the fabric in her hands, doing adjustments.

"Done." Cara said quietly. Sarah looked up at her and smiled.

"Wonderful. Help get this back on. The two women carefully pulled the dress back on her, with the corset every thing in her middle had to be repined. "Hana, cut for a zipper. Three inches here at the waist. I want it a hidden zipper. Hana nodded as she quickly cut down her side. After the first half and hour Natasha was dieing to move. "Stay still!" Sarah said for maybe the hundredth time. An other half an hour passed, leaving her more restless then before.

"Please, may I sit! Just for a few seconds?"

"No! Stay still!" Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Don’t roll your eyes." Sarah snapped as she worked, not taking her eyes off the piece in the back to was working on. Another half an hour went by.

"I need to pee."

"No, you don’t."

"Yes I really do."

"Then hold it."

"I can't!" The woman huffed.

"Nancy, Hana." The woman motioned to take off the dress. As soon as if was off Natasha dashed for the bathroom and locked herself in. "I'm waiting Natasha!" Sarah yelled through the door. Natasha sat down on the toilet, resting. "I don’t hear tinkling!" Natasha got up and turned on the tap. "That's not tinkling." She rolled her eyes. "Don’t roll your eyes!" How did she know! Natasha walked to the toilet and pulled her panties down and went pee. When she was done, she continued to sit, not wanting to get up and go out of the room to stand for who knows how long. Eventually at Sarah's annoying voice she got up and washed her hands then walked to the door of the bathroom. "Natasha, hurry!"

"Just a few more minuets!"

"Minuets! What!? No! Get out here, we have no time to waist!" Natasha didn't listen as she pulled herself up on to the counter and sat. She leaned her head against the wall. "Natasha! Come out now!" She didn't listen, but jumped when she heard another voice coming into the room.

"What's going on?"

"Matic!" The door was open before she even knew that she had jumped off the counter to rush to him. She ran pasted Sarah and literally ran frantically to Matic.

"Hey?" He said smiling confused down at her. "What's going on?"

"Where were you?"

"I had a few business calls to deal with. I sent Sarah up to finish up your dress."

"And I would if she would let me! She moves every two seconds! I can hardly get any work done! Then she locked herself in the bathroom!" Sarah said over Natasha's shoulder to Matic.

"I need to go pee!"

"Peeing takes two seconds; you were in there for over five minuets."

"So I wanted a break!" Natasha clung to Matic, afraid this insistent woman would take her away from him.

"Well it doesn't matter now. Master Matic, you must leave!"

"What? Why?" He asked, his arm tightening around her waist.

"Because, she is indecent, and you can not be here."

"She is? I don’t think so! I think she looks perfectly decent. Perhaps too decent." Sarah scowled as Natasha blushed.

"Well she is, now you need to go. I'm almost finished, I promise, they you can kiss her with out interruption." Matic smiled as he looked down at Natasha.

"You okay?" She smiled and rolled her eyes.

"Yes."

"Don’t roll your eyes!" Natasha widened her eyes in frustration as she turned her head toward the woman.

"Ah!" Matic laughed and kissed her cheek as he departed.

"Stand!" Sarah pointed toward the stool and Natasha marched over and stood on the stool as Nancy and Hana pulled the dress over her. An hour later Sarah stepped back from her, looking over the pin filled fabric.

"Alright, I'm done. Take it off, carefully." Both Hana and Cara took it off gently. Natasha stepped off the stool and flopped on to her bed, letting her feet relax. "It should be done by tomorrow afternoon, we'll come by to see how it fits." Natasha didn't even nod as the five women gathered up their things and left the room. Natasha closed her eyes as she forced herself to stand and walk over to the closet. Matic came in as she slipped on a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt.

"Natasha?"

"I'm in here." She yelled out, pulling her messy hair into a pony tail. He stood at the doorway to the closet.

"Crap, I'm too late."

"Too late for what?" She asked turning to him, smiling.

"To see you decent again." She smiled.

"Well you'll have to come early tomorrow… she's coming back tomorrow afternoon." Natasha crinkled her nose and forehead in a mock pout. "Can you make her stay away?" Matic laughed.

"No, she needs to do her job. Believe me, when its done you'll be hugging her in thanks. You'll be surprised by her work." Natasha looked at him skeptically.

"You didn't see the sac she put on me… I couldn't believe she called it a dress."

"Well it will be when she's done with it."

"I don’t know Matic, unless she's a part time fairy godmother, and has some magic up her sleeves I might be presenting my self to the vampire society in a pretty red sack." Matic laughed and kissed the top of her head.

"Even if I thought that were any possibility, I'm sure you would look beautiful, even in a sack."

"You think I'm pretty?"

"No. I think you're beautiful." He smiled down at her as he wrapped his arms around her. She starred up at this perfect man. How could he think she was beautiful?

"What's beautiful about me?"

"Every thing… your eyes, your little nose, your lips, and the glorious neck. I love your thoughts and smiles, and how you look at me." She looked up at him and smiled. "Yes, that look." He leaned down and kissed her softly. She smiled against his lips as he pushed harder against her, wanting more. She pushed back, and the both of them stumbled to the bed, both falling onto it, intertwined. She pulled away from him breathless. She looked into his eyes then rolled over so he was on top of her. She brought her hands from around him body and rested them against his shoulders. The sparkle of the diamond caught her eye. She brought her hand closer, watching as the light perfectly glanced off the diamond. "Do you like it?" He asked. She looked up at his uncertain eyes.

"I love it. It's beautiful… did you pay a lot for it?"

"No… it was my mothers." She looked up at him shocked.

"Your mothers! Matic… I can't take this!" She started to pull off the ring, his hand settled over her's.

"Yes you can. She gave it to me for the woman that I would fall in love with. She would be proud to see you wear it."

"What happened to her?"

"She was killed." His features turned dark as he rolled off of her, laying next to her, his eyes down cast, remembering her death.

"How?"

"Tortured."

"Why would any one want to do something like that?" Matic just shook his head.

"I don’t know."

"Did you find out who did it?"

"No." Natasha stayed silent as she watched Matic pull into himself.

"I'm sorry."

"Me too… she was an amazing woman. She would have really liked you." He looked up and smiled a sad smile.

"How long ago did she die?"

"Four years now, feels just like yesterday."

"She would be proud of you."

"I know. I miss her."

"She was your mother, of course you miss her." She intertwined her hand with his, trying to ease his pain. She lifted his hand to her face and kissed his cold skin. He smiled at the touch of her lips on such a non intimate place, still sending tingles through his body.

"Do you miss your family?" Natasha paused, thinking about her family felt like it was a life time ago.

"I guess sometimes… I haven't really thought about them. I was more of the parent then the child. I was the one to take care of them… that could be one of the reasons why I fell in love with you so easily."

"What's that?"

"You took care of me… when I was hurt, you were there. You saved me." He smiled.

"I just found you."

"No, I mean, you didn’t just save me from my wound you saved me from my life. If that night hadn't happened, and that man hadn't stabbed me I would probably still be in that house with my father yelling at me to bring him a bole of ice cream. You saved me from a life of servitude and resentment."

"Resentment for what?"

"Well I knew deep down that the money I had been saving for college would be spent to pay the bills, and the more I would try to get out of the rut the more it would drag me down, and I would hate my parents for it. You saved me from all that." He rubbed the skin on the back of her hand with his thumb as she talked.

"So you don’t miss them? You wouldn't want to go back, even just a little?"

"Nope, because I know if I did, I would miss you. And that would tear me apart faster than being at home ever would… does that make sense?" He just nodded.

"So what college were you saving up for?"

"I don’t know. Just college… I wanted to take art." He smiled. "But that's gone. And it's okay, because I have you."

"You know it doesn't have to be gone. You can still go to any collage you want. You don’t have to be trapped here, just being with me. You have freedom. You may not be able to really go till after you marry me, but once the kingdom has settled into my rule you can go to school and take all the courses you want."

"Huh… maybe I will." She smiled, looking into his happy blue eyes.

"Good." He kissed her. "So what are we going to do for the rest of the night?" She thought for a moment.

"Well if I'm going to go study at collage I'm going to need to brush up on my painting skills."

"Alright, what do you have in mind?"

"You."

"What?"

"I want to paint you." She smiled at his slightly shocked expression.

"Alright…" He suddenly smirked. "Nude?" He asked smiling then full out laughing as a deep red blush spread over her face.

Vidiana, for your comment I am grateful. If at least one person like the story I shall continue.

COMMENTS

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Vidiana
16:58 Jun 13 2008

Oh good! As long as you keep writing I will keep reading :D

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I'm sorry but I'm starting to think that the story is getting monotonous. I'm gonna stop here....

COMMENTS

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Vidiana
21:20 Jun 10 2008

Awww :( I was quite enjoyinjg it!

If this were a book I wouldn't be able to put it down!

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Both Matic and Natasha screamed out when there was a knock on the door.

"WHAT!?"

"WHAT?!"

"I'm sorry master Matic, and Miss Natasha. I just have your dinner here. Master Kyle told me to bring it up to your room… I can leave, I didn't know you…. Were… I'm sorry." The young maid that had brought up their food blushed furiously as Matic got off of Natasha on the bed.

"It's okay, thank you." The woman brought in the food and set it down then nearly ran out of the room. "Matic?" He turned toward her, smiling.

"Yes?"

"Are we going to have this many interruptions when were married?" Matic smiled.

"I think this is mostly Kyle's doing, he's trying to protect your virtue. Good thing he is, or it would already be destroyed, I'm certain." Natasha blushed. "God your sexy when you do that!" He leaned toward her, kissing her. She kissed back then he pulled away from her, her stomach had grumbled. He smiled. "You should eat." He got up off the bed and took her hand leading over to the food. The smell of it was exquisite! It was some kind of stir-fry, with veggies and chicken in it. YUM! She grabbed her plate and walked to the balcony, leaned against the railing, digging in. He came out with her, and stood beside her, a protective arm wrapped around her lower back. "Is it good?"

"Delicious, who ever makes the food around here has gifted hands!" She said through a mouth full.

"I'm glad you like it. I'll give my regards to the cook." He smiled as she looked up to him and smiled then back down to her plate.

"Sarah is crazy!" She said quickly before shoving another bite into her mouth.

"Why's that?"

"She just is! Talks nonstop and forever! I think I got maybe two words out while she was here!" He laughed.

"Yes, that is Sarah, but don’t judge her too much till you see the dresses she makes, they are absolutely stunning. And not just because they were made well, but were made for the person wearing them. She's very good in her craft."

"Well I don’t care how good she is… she said my hips were too wide… too big."

"Well she's wrong, they are just perfect!"

"Thank you, I thought that too!" She pouted a little then smile up at him, watching at his blue eyes studied her.

"Are you really okay with all this?"

"All this implying?"

"My being a vampire, and you marrying me."

"I am absolutely and irrevocably in love with you. It wouldn't matter if you were a monster! I would still marry you!" She smiled but he just frowned all the more.

"But I am a monster."

"Not to me you aren't."

"But Natasha I-"

"Stop. I love you. All of you. Every smirk, every whisper, and every inch of vampire in you. I trust you with my heart, all of it. Now trust yourself." She set down the dish of food on the railing as she spoke and moved closer to him. Her arms wrapping around his shoulders.

"I love you so much." He whispered before his lips delved onto hers. He pushed her back then turned a bit and moved back to rest on the railing. She felt the dish move as her back was pressed against the railing.

"OH!" She broke from his lips to try and catch it, but it was already gone, she looked down just in time to see it smash on the stone floor below.

"Opps." He said watching with her.

"You know you have to be careful, her kisses are destructive."

"Really?" He smiled as he kissed her again. "That one too?"

"No," Kiss. "No, not" kiss. "That one." Kiss. "Or this one." Kiss. Matic reached around her back and lifted her up onto the railing, holding her tight against him as she kissed down at him. Tilted her head back, away from his kisses, but he continued to kiss her, down her neck to her chest then back up. She looked down at him as he stopped his wonderful ministrations. He smiled ear to ear.

"Kyle should be barging in… in five, four… three… two…"

"Matic!" Natasha lowered her head as she laughed with him.

"Shh… maybe if you don’t answer he won't come take you away."

"He could never take me away from you." He kissed her again as Kyle pounded on the door inside their room.

"MATIC! I'm coming in! If you guys are… doing stuff you should stop!" He warned before he slowly opened the door.

"Dam.it, he's coming inside." Matic whispered at her.

"Matic? Natasha?"

"Shh, maybe he won't come out on the balcony."

"There you are." Kyle said, smiling at see all the cloths still on both Matic and Natasha.

"Never mind." Natasha said as Matic turned around, his back to Natasha. She wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Hello Kyle."

"Hi, sorry to disturb you."

"I highly doubt that." Matic said while smiling.

"Well, Matic I need you to come sign some papers for the coronation."

"Is my father here?" His frown cracked through his voice.

"No, he just sent them over." Matic nodded then turned around in Natasha's arms.

"I'm sorry." She smiled as he kissed up at her.

"It's okay. I understand." She slid down from the balcony at her held her firmly, keeping her decent on the right side the balcony. .

"I'll be right back." She nodded as he kissed her good bye, and left her standing on the balcony. She stood a little dazed as he left, his kisses always made her breathless. She turned around and leaned against the balcony, looking out to the mountains. She sighed at she tried to clear her head of the fog of Matic. She breathed in the fresh air as she smiled.

"Hello Natasha." She jumped as she turned around, shocked. A man stood at the entrance way to the balcony, his hair was the same color as Matic, but his eyes were dark, and deep. "I'm going to be you're father in law. I'm Matic's father. I'm here to see you." Natasha's heart jumped at his words.

"MATIC!" She screamed out, pressing her back against the railing.

"He won't hear you, love… You're all mine."

"MATIC!" His hand suddenly covered her's as he sped toward her.

"Don't worry, love. I'm sure he won't mind."

Both of them grunted in frustration when someone knocked on the door of the room.

"Matic?" He sighed, it was Kyle.

"Yes?" He turned from Natasha, after sqeezing her hand affectionately.

"Business call. As well as the seamstress… the word has gotten around and the she's out here and almost begging to come and fit Natasha for her dress."

"Alright, alright, let her in… and I'll be right there." He took Natasha's hand and led her inside the room. "I will be right back, mean while you're going to need a dress for the coronation. Sarah is great with dresses, she can make you any thing you want. He kissed her cheek softly before walking out of the room. Sarah quickly walked in as the door closed behind her.

"Hello Natasha! So what color!" The woman was beyond happy, she was thrilled.

"Well what color is-"

"I was thinking blue. Maybe red." She cut Natasha off quickly. "We'll see which goes well with your skin tone. But that can come later. First the style! I was thinking a little French, maybe a little bunch here at the waist, but if it doesn't suit we can easily take it out. And also I think a square neck line would look beautiful on you! Or perhaps off the shoulders. Or both! Ah! Alright, both you've convinced me! Then it will flow out, simple and elegant, but still showing off your wonderful curves, perhaps a two tone underlay to bring out more color. Oh beautiful! Just beautiful!" The woman rambled on as she circled around and around Natasha's body, she couldn't understand how the woman wasn't getting dizzy. "Just wonder full! Now tell me what you think about feathers?" Natasha was overwhelmed, thankfully the woman didn't need any answers from Natasha. "No, no I agree, feathers will just draw away from your beautiful face. Feathers are for the ugly and you certainly are not ugly! Not with that bus.t. My goodness! Master picked wonderfully!" The woman was talking about her boob.s! AH! Natasha wanted to run back to the balcony and wait for Matic to come rescue her again. However before she could even take a step toward the balcony the door opened again and four other woman came in, all beaming faces. "OH! Isn't see beautiful! Just Beautiful!" The four others carried baskets of fabric and sewing materials. "Now, undress darling! Don’t worry, no need for modesty here! Were all women! Cara, lock the door love!" One of the girls set down her basket and went and locked the door. Natasha was horrified! "Cant have any men come sneaking a peak, especially that fiancé of yours! No, off with the cloths! Off, off, off!" The woman reminded her of a chicken, she never shut up! When Natasha didn't move to take any thing off the woman started tugging at her pants, pulling them down! Natasha squeeked, pulling her PJ pants back up. "Come now deary, we have to get those baggy cloths off you to see what we have to work with! Off, off, off!" The four other women approached her and before she had any choice in the matter all she had on was underwear and a bra. She shivered at the cold breaze that flew through the room. "Notes Hana!" Instantly the girl named Hana had a note pad in her hand. "Great shoulders, neck and Bust. Torso is long, too bad for the scar. Hips a little too wide." Natasha looked down at her self frowning. "But perfect for child birth!" The woman tapped her arm reassuringly, trying to soften her insult. "Good legs, need waxing. Wonderful caves. Need high heels. Alright! Nancy, blue!" The woman named Nancy jumped forward with her basket full of blue cloth. Sarah pulled it out and draped it over the front of Natasha's body, just below her head. "Blue is perfect to bring out her hair." The woman with the note pad wrote furiously, trying to keep up with the woman's mouth. "Jessica! The fourth girl stepped forward as Sarah let the blue fall to the floor and reached into Jessica's basket and pulled out the fabric. A deep red piece was draped over her where the blue fabric had just been. "Hum… the red brings out her eyes and the glow in her face. Go with red, defiantly red. Master Matic loves red right? Red, yes! Red! The color of love, perfect! Now the secondary color. Red and black? No, no, she's to pure for that, plus its been done! Um… red and white. White, pure, elegant, virgin, perfect! Red and white! Wonderful! Alright, now the hair, I'm thinking flowers. Lily's, but not too big, and her hair half up. Nancy you think you could handle that? Good. And- OH MY GOSH! NO!" Natasha jumped as the woman grabbed her hand. "SHE NEEDS A RING! A RING! THERE'S NO RING!" the woman was in hysterics. "NO RING! NO RING! SHE – NO RING!" The woman gaped at her hand, as if she were missing two fingers and growing another thumb. Nancy gripped Sarah's shoulder.

"I'm sure master Matic is getting it taken care of." She said calmly. The woman looked from Natasha's hand to her face then back again.

"Well I can't understand how you would have even said yes with out a ring! My goodness. Proposing with out a ring! Its just not proper! I hope he hasn't deflowered you yet either! With the way he's going my goodness! No ring! The woman dropped Natasha's hand like it was a dirty rag while Natasha blushed at her previous comment. The woman tossed her head back. "Where was I?"

"I believe you had just finished hair."

"Wonderful! Well once she gets a ring on her finger she's going to need a manicure, and throw in a pedicure as well. Makeup! We'll go natural, pure. Very little makeup. But emphasize on the lips, the red will bring out her eyes enough, we want him to be needing to kiss her all night long! Perfume! Yes, perfume! Do you have scent he likes?" The woman actually paused waiting for Natasha to answer.

"Uh, no?"

"No perfume! Natural, he likes the taste of her skin! Apply glimmer and shimmer! Jewelry! Oh, I think I want sparkly! Yes, sparkly will do just fine! Cara, find something dazzling! A necklace and bracelets, she doesn't have her ears pierced. Oh and perhaps an anklet just to draw attention to her wonderful legs! They need to be waxed. She woman's frown suddenly transformed into a wide smile as she finally looked up to Natasha's face. "All done! Measurements will be tomorrow." The woman smiled quieted pleased with herself, as if concering as great feat. She then turned swiftly and exited out of the room. Her four assistants followed her quickly, after picking up all their supplies. Natasha was left in her underwear, slightly chilled and completely confused. Matic entered as soon as they had left and stopped short of coming into to the room. A smile instantly plastered across his face at seeing her. She ran for the closet, but before she could even get to the door way he stood in it, blocking her way.

"Matic! I'm half nake.d!"

"Oh I know! Its really such a shame. Here, let me help you." He moved toward her and she jumped away from him.

"Matic!" She screamed as he sped behind her and grabbed her around her waist holding her close to him, the coldness of his skin seeping through his cloths in to her. He nuzzled her neck. She smiled as he swayed her back and forth while kissing her neck passionately. "Matic… I have to get dressed."

"No, no, you really don’t." He held her tighter, as his hand caressed her flat stomach.

"Matic!" Natasha tried to hold back her snicker, but couldn't as it quickly turned into an out right laugh, he was tickling her while trying to seduce her.

"Am I tickling you?"

"No!"

"Yes, I think I am!" He said suddenly mischievous as to what other parts of her were ticklish.

"No! Matic! Stop! Don’t!" He didn't listen to her as he attacked her stomach and the both of them fell back onto the bed, Natasha giggling and laughing. He quickly found her ribs which were also ticklish and the bottom of her feet. He especially loved the squeal that screeched out of her when he discovered it. She was kicking her legs to try and get them away from his talented hands. She wasn't watching where she was kicking and suddenly she felt like she had kicked stone! "AH!" She whimpered the sudden pain replacing any ticklish feelings.

"Natasha! Are you alright?"

"Yea, I'm fine. What did I hit, the bed post?"

"No, my jaw."

"Your-! I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" She instantly was on her knees in front of him, her hands on his face. "I didn't mean to-" He was laughing.

"Natasha, I'm fine! I'm more worried about your foot! Kicking me can be like kicking a wall. Are you okay?" Natasha smiled as she looked down at her foot and flexed.

"No damage done!" He smiled with her. She turned back to him, her hand was still on his stone jaw, cool and smooth. She leaned forward and kissed it, following his jaw line up to his lips. "I'm sorry." He kissed her back.

"Nothing to forgive." She kissed him then hopped off the bed and dashed for the closet.

"You know despite your obvious objections, cloths are required on my body!" She yelled from the closet as she slipped on a shirt and started to pull a pair of pants on.

"Not after were married!" She walked out of the closet, still doing up her pants. It was really sex.y, but not as sex.y as her in underwear.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I'm not just going to want to kiss you. However enjoyable that is…" He walked toward her. "I'm going to want so much more, I already do want so much more." He kissed her lips, and opened her mouth with his tung. His tung glided over hers, relishing in the taste of her. She moaned against him as he felt her lean in. He moved away from her mouth, watching as she gasped for a breath. She slid her closed eyes open and smiled at him. "Is that okay?"

"That is more than okay." She leaned up and kissed him eagerly, wanting more of him. He kissed back just as urgently. "That's perfect." She smiled against his lips as he kissed her.

Hey ppl...so I just posted my last 3 hours of work...I probably won't be able to post for awhile but here you are...let me know if it is liked and I'll keep posting! Thanks!

The tears that flowed down her soft cheeks crushed his heart. He was across the room in a flash, standing before her, wanting to reach out and take the pain away, but he didn't touch her.

"Natasha." She stepped away from him, her head down. He followed her retreating step, then another and another till her back was pressed against the wall.

"Just let me go." He shook his head.

"I can't. I need you." She sobbed then wrapped her arms suddenly around his neck, her lips instantly met his. He was taken back, but with the feel of her trembling wanting lips beneath his he kissed her back readily.

Natasha didn't know what got over her. She had to be free from this man, yet all she wanted and needed to do was kiss him, to feel him pressed into her. He had captured her heart and her mind was barely holding on. She pulled away, coming up for breath.

"Matic." He pulled her back to his lips, groaning against her. "Matic…" She pulled away again, her thoughts trying to grasp her sanity. Her hands went to his around her waist, pulling him away. He suddenly weakened his strong hold from around her, realizing she was pushing him away. "I'm sorry. I can't."

"You can't or you wont?" His voice was soft but the viciousness dripped from his words.

"I want to go home."

"Why? Why the HELL DO YOU WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT SH.IT HOLE!"

"They're my family."

"THEY SOLD YOU! NATASHA! THEY. DON’T. WANT. YOU!" She bit her lip to keep back her sob. Tears rolled down her face as his hands gripped her shoulders. "But I do, God I do! Please stay. Please Natasha, stay with me." He rested his forehead against her's, looking into her eyes.

"If I said no, would you let me go?" He watched a her head slid down even more. He paused, then kissed the top of her forehead. She was in agony here, she hated him, she hated this place. She wanted to leave and he was keeping her in her real hell. That’s why she wanted to go back to her destructive family, because even there was better than here, with him.

"If that's really what you want." Her head snapped up, her face inches away from his, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"You'd let me go?" He looked away from her and nodded. "Matic." He reluctantly looked back at her. "Yes." She whispered out as he frowned.

"What?"

"I will marry you." She said, her eyes unblinkingly starring into his.

"But I thought…"

"You let go. You trusted me to be free. To make my own choice. And I choose you." He stared at her unbelieving and confused.

"Natasha, you know what your saying?"

"I'm saying yes. Yes! YES!" Her face broke into a smile as she screamed out to him. She threw her arms out and started to fall back, liberated in her happiness. Matic quickly reached out and caught her, bring her back to him.

"You'll be my wife?" He whispered out, pulling her tighter in his grasp.

"Yes." She whispered back, smiling.

"You'll love me?"

"I already do." She kissed him, pushing herself against him, all hesitance gone from her actions, as her mouth was suddenly a gasping need to be filled by him, and he did it all too willingly. He lifted her off the ground, and swung the two of them around, their lips never breaking their happy connection



CHAPTER 13

The next day Natasha woke to Matic's strong form wrapped around her. She smiled as she tried to not to move and wake him.

"Morning."

"Ah!" She jumped at his voice breaking the silence. "I'm sorry, did I wake you?" He laughed at her comment.

"I don’t sleep. You didn't do anything wrong."

"You don’t sleep? Then what do you do while I am?"

"Mostly rest, just let my mind wonder."

"Huh." She turned in his arms, facing him, she rested her hand gently on his cold bear chest. His hand brushed her hair back from her face and cradled her soft face in his hand. "Was yesterday real?"

"Yes… any regrets?" She smiled at she looked up at him.

"Only that I didn't get to kiss you more after you left your study."

"Oh! Well I'm so sorry! How can I make it up to you?" He bowed his head down close to her, his lips grazing her silky neck.

"Well I'll have to think on it." She barely got her words out as his kisses trailed slowly down her neck. Her breathing faltered with each inch he kissed lower. And she almost screamed when she heard a knock at the door.

Matic growned as he growled out.

"What!"

"Matic! There's some one down stairs you need to see now!" It was Kyle, the urgency in his voice was unmistakable.

"Alright." He looked at Natasha and smiled as he kissed her lips eagerly before parting with her. He quickly grabbed his shirt and walked to the door, walking out with one last look back at Natasha laying breathless on the bed, staring back at him. "I'll be back soon." She nodded as he walked out the door and closed it behind him. Natasha groaned as she got up, that was the best night's sleep she had had in a very long time. His scent still lingered on her skin as she walked from the bed to her closet. She pulled off the tee-shirt she had been wearing for PJ's. She smiled as she remembered the night before today. It was late, and she had long ago given up on him coming to her before sleep took her, so she allowed her mind to clear before it filled with dreams of him. However her first dream, was a little too real for her mind to handle at first. He had snuck silently into her room and slipped under the covers, toward her warmth. She thought she was dreaming him, and it wasn't till his hand riding up her shirt that she realized that she wasn't dreaming. She had twisted away from him, shocked. He had just chuckled and pulled her back to him, his lips capturing hers again. She didn't know how long he kissed her. But when he stopped she growled out at him, pulling him to her, not getting enough of him. He had smiled and looked down at her.

"You need sleep."

"I need you." He smiled and kissed her quickly, then broke it off and tried to get up from the bed. "No, don’t go… I'll sleep I promise. I just want you with me." She smiled at his look. "Sleep! Just sleeping!" He smiled then curled around her till she fell asleep.

"GET OUT YOU BASTARD!"

"OH COME ON MATIC! YOU CANT HIDE HER FOREVER!" The voices drifted to her. The anger and worry in Matic's voice put panic through her heart. She wasn't safe. She quickly grabbed a shirt and slipped it on, then rushed to the door, but someone was already there. Madic, his body blocking the way of someone else.

"GET OUT!"

"Matic, Matic, Matic… You may be next in line for the thrown, but you can't command me in my own home."

"This isn't your home! You abandoned me and my mother long before you ever called this place anything… Now get out. I don’t want you to see her now."

"Why? You afraid she'll be so indecent I wont accept her as my son's fiancé? Come Matic, she cant be all that bad." Natasha ran from the door and went to the balcony. There was a ledge running along the side of the building, just enough for her to step out on to. She looked down, it was too far down, if she fell she could really hurt herself. She looked back into the room, the door started to open. She didn't have a choice. She stepped out on to the ledge, her back to the wall, she inched away from the balcony, till she came to the corner a little ways away and turned it, carefully, her body pushed against the hidden wall, she couldn't be seen by any one in the room now. She just hopped vampires didn't have supper hearing, because her heart was hammering in her chest.

"Well Matic, where is she?"

"I-… Matic's unsure voice reached her ears. Had she been wrong in climbing out on to the ledge, had Matic wanted her to meet this man? "She's gone. For now! I told you, you'll meet her like every one else at the coronation ball."

"Hum… to bad. I oh so wanted to see her indecent." She could hear the smirk through this man's words, it sickened her. "Well, sorry for my intrusion. As you can imagine I'm just eager to meet the woman that captured my son's heart."

"Your not forgiven. Now get out!" She heard the mans footsteps drifted away, but Natasha didn't dare move, not till she heard Matic's voice.

"Natasha! Where are you?!" Panic was laced through his voice.

"I'm here!" She started to inch back around the corner. Matic quickly came out on to the balcony, and saw her.

"Jesus! Natasha!" He instantly jumped up onto the railing and then down on to the ledge and walked swiftly toward her, as if he wasn't three stories up. He reached her swiftly, her hands were sweaty with fear against the brick building. "Natasha… do you trust me?" She looked at him with panicked eyes as she slowly nodded. "Fall forward."

"What!"

"Fall forward, I cant get my arms around you to carry you back, and your shaking too much to walk back your self, I need you to fall forward to catch you."

"No! NO! WAY!" Her eyes were focused on the ground so far below.

"Natasha, look at me." She tore her eyes away from the ground to look at his blue eyes. "Trust me." She nodded the closed her eyes and she let herself fall forward. Before she could even get a scream out she was in his arms, secure and safe. He walked smoothly back to the balcony and jumped up on to the railing then down to the stone, sturdy balcony. "Are you alright?" He asked, still holding her fragile body.

"I'm okay." Matic let out a sigh of relief as he let her down to her feet slowly.

"Don’t ever do that again. You could have gotten your self killed!"

"Who was that man?"

"He was my father."

"Your father! I thought you were yelling at each other… that’s why I went out on to the balcony. I remembered what you told me about other blood thirsty vampires, and how they would kill me just for being your wife… so I… I tried to hide." She was overwhelmed. Matic hugged her close to him.

"You did good. I'm sorry, and I'm glad you did hide, its just where you chose to hide scared me… if you had fallen…"

"But I didn't… I'm safe." He smiled. "Why was your father here?"

"He wanted to see you." The way he spoke Natasha knew there was something more to that statement.

"Matic? Why was he here?" She asked again, wanting the full truth.

"My father has the right to see you, before I marry you."

"What do you mean see me?"

"I mean see all of you." She was confused.

"I don’t understand." Matic looked at her, anger and worry flashed through his eyes.

"To see your body, to make sure your perfect for his first born son."

"Oh!"

"Don’t, worry. He wont get the chance."

"Like he almost got the chance today?!"

"Its an ancient ritual, I didn't know that he would bring to the forefront now in this century. He wont get the chance, I promise you. I wont let it happen." He rubbed her back as he held her. She wrapped her arms around him. "Do you trust me to protect you?" Natasha smiled as she pulled away from him and looked up at him.

"I just jumped off a building to trust you. I think if I can trust you with my life trusting you with my virtue and modesty won't be a problem." He smiled.

"You are so beautiful." She blushed.

"Even when I blush?"

"Especially when you blush, it just makes you plain sexy… irresistibly sexy." He whispered into her ear as he kissed down her neck.

"So there are vampires."

"Yes."

"And you are one of them."

"Yes."

"So what are there like unicorns and fairies running around out there too that no one knows about?" He smiled.

"I honestly don’t know."

"Okay, well what about lycans? Like… uh wearwolves."

"They don't exist."

"Really?"

"What?"

"Well I just always thought a lycan was more conceivable then a vampire. Wearwolves are supposed to be your opposite, supposed to counter you. Like how birds have their mice and cats have their birds. Why aren't there lycans."

"You make no sense to me… there are no lycans because they were the artistic creation of the human mind to make them feel slightly more safe."

"Safe?"

"Yes, instead of knowing that vampire were out there unchallenged they needed to feel safe, to have a powerful beast that could take down the vampires."

"I see… so no such thing as lycans?"

"Nope. No lycans."

"Huh."

"Only other twisted vampires, blood thirsty and wanting power."

"Are you?"

"What?"

"Blood thirsty and wanting power?"

"Well the blood thirst is in my nature. Like its in your nature to breath. We just do it. The power… not so much. My mother raised me to see life in every day, not life in what power I held over others."

"So you don’t care about being on the thrown." Natasha smiled inwardly, hoping she had found her escape rout to all of this. If he didn't want to be king in the first place she didn't have to marry him, she didn't have to stay here.

"On the contrary, I do, but not to have power. To protect it." Natasha frowned.

"I don’t understand."

"If I don’t become king, and take my rightful place… my half brothers will kill each other to get their hands on it, and once one of them does, it really doesn't matter which one, they will destroy the kingdom with their greed. And I cant let that happen." Natasha watched as painful responsibility weighed down on his shoulders.

"I'm sorry."

"Well I just hope they will accept me with or with out a wife by my side."

"Why is that so important."

"If I don’t have a wife, or a bride they wont let me take the thrown, because with out a wife I wont have any children to take the thrown after me."

"Oh, and what about your brothers, do they need a wife to become king as well?"

"No, it’s a stupid rule about the first son. I don’t fully understand it my self, so its hard to explain to some one else, especially a human." Natasha nodded.

"So why don’t you go out and swoon a girl into marrying you? Why me?" Natasha lowered her head, afraid her words would bring some obvious observation to his thoughts and he really would go out and do as she told, find some slut to marry him. She felt him close to her. He crouched down, so he looked up at her from sitting on the bed.

"Why do you think I have you here?"

"So you're trying to swoon me?" He smiled.

"I'd say more seduce." She blushed.

"I was hurt… almost dead, how did you know I would pull through, and be here for you to seduce?" His eyes just sparkled as he stared up at her, not answering. "What are you looking at?" She said her heart beat doubled, as fear and anticipation ran through her. Anticipation for what she didn't know. He moved slowly closer to her.

"You." She felt his gentle breath lift across her lips he was so close. She parted her lips, trying to breath. She slid her eyes closed as she saw him move even closer. "Am I doing a good job?" Her eyes fluttered open, to see his bright blue spheres of life before her.

"Of what?" She whispered.

"Of seducing you."

"Not so good." She subconsciously leaned forward, his lips brushed hers before he slightly pulled back.

"Why's that?"

"Because you're not kissing me yet." She smiled as he pushed down on her lips, and forced her back till she fell back on the bed, him crawling on top of her. His kiss was like a piece of heaven spreading through her body, leaving a tingling over her skin. She could be happy with him, she knew she could. But she also knew deep down that sure she could be happy, but not in love, never love with the man that wouldn't let her be free. She pulled away from him, leaving his kisses. She couldn't do this, she couldn't lead him on and then be angry with him later for keeping her in this place. She wanted to go home, to be herself again, to have dreams of going to collage and becoming an art teacher… or something. She couldn't have any of those things if she stayed with him.

Matic didn't say anything as he got up off of her. It was still to early, she didn't trust him, and he accepted that, understood it. But as much understanding racing through his head pain and rejection raced through his heart till he became suddenly bitter with it.

"Fine." He said sharply and got up off the bed, walking swiftly to the door and slamming it. Natasha got up off the bed, wanting more than anything to chase after him, but she didn't. She walked to the balcony and looked down, his form suddenly appeared below her. He stomped through the large garden, he twisted around halfway through and punched a tree. It ruptured the trunk of the tree in two, both sides forced away from each other at a tilt. He just kept walking, his anger not at all satisfied with his demolishing of the tree.



CAHPTER 11

Matic was so angry with himself and getting angry at her. He new it wasn't her fault, he was moving too fast. He got it, and he shouldn't be mad at her, not in the least bit. But his lust was burning through him and it took every bit of self control not to go back up there and force her back on the bed, just to feel her lips molding with his again. She didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve him, or any of this. She wanted to go back home. It was his fault she couldn't, he should have known better than to bring her back with him, he should have taken her to a hospital, or something! Anything would have been better then the fate he had signed her onto. That night, with her limp in his arms as he raced back home, he couldn't think of anything but her life. And he couldn't think of anyone to trust more with something so precious but Kyle. So he brought her home, and yes, saved her life. But at what cost? To be kept here for all of her life? Yes. He wanted her. Even if she could've have gone home, even if there was no threat of danger, he wouldn't have let her go. Especially not after tasting her kisses. Soft, sweet, precious, and lingering. He swore he could still feel her beneath him, her soft body had molded with his for that brief minuet before she pulled away, and in that one moment he was complete. She completed him, the question was did he complete her? His stomach tightened at the very thought of not being her love, not being the one that made her smile or laugh, or redden those beautiful cheeks in a blush. He needed to be that man, he didn't know what he would do if he wasn't. If she found favor in another's eyes… no he knew what he would do. He would kill the man. He shivered off the useless jealousy at some unknown being.

Matic shook his head, clearing his thoughts as he had tried to do over that last week and a half. Every time he was alone his thoughts went to her, hell, even when he wasn't alone his thoughts were on her. She was so distracting, even from a thousand miles away. He couldn't help but wonder if she was alright. Every night he had called Kyle, urging him to go check on her secretly, just to see if she was alright, and asleep. His dreams during the day were always littered with her. Her in danger, he in his arms, her in another's arms. Every dream different, yet all of her. When he finally did come back, Kyle spoke with him, urging him to tell her the truth, all of the truth. Kyle convinced Matic it was the only way to make her stay here, with out forcing her. But when he came into the room, the first thought was that she had left! Ran away. And he was so convinced she had even when he heard the shower going in the bathroom. He had walked in, and fought all of his strength not to pull back the curtain and feast his eyes on her. He instead only spoke her name. Even as she yelled at him, her voice rippled through his body like the warm shower she took. He retreated from the bathroom, not wanting to make her mad. When she came out in only a towel… he wanted more than anything to kiss her breathless right then. He could look away from her slightly wet body, watching her walk back into the bathroom to get changed, after grabbing cloths. It was then he had seen the painting. It was truly amazing and well done, the words at how beautiful and moving it really was wouldn't come so he said the only thing that would come. 'nice.' And it was, but it was so much more, to him especially. His mother had painted, he kept a painting she had done in his room to remind him of her ever flowing grace. He missed her so much some days. He cursed him self once again that he still hadn't found her murderer. He would avenge his mother someday, when the truth came out his furry would have no limits. Images of her decimated body ran through his mind as he tried to shake the anger off. There was nothing he could do for her now.

"Matic?" There was a knock on his study door. He jumped to his feet as it opened to reveal her. "Hi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you."

"No! Come in Natasha! You're always welcome." She smiled a shy smile and walked into the large study slowly, her eyes taking in all of the books.

"Well I just came to say that I was sorry about yesterday. I didn't- I mean… I. Well I'm just sorry." She stumbled over he words as she wrapped her arms around her middle. He wasn't sorry, not in the least, at least not for the kiss. His anger after ward was something for appolagizing.

"I am sorry too, I didn't mean to get mad. I was just…"

"I understand, I should have… Yea." She said while looking down to her feet. How he wanted to cross the room and wrap her in his grasp. She couldn't feel ashamed for their kiss, for their passion, not for that.

"No…"

"No?" She looked up.

"Don’t be sorry. I'm not, not for kissing you." His eyes perced her's with their honesty. She didn't know what to say. "Natasha… I know I moved too fast, and I understand why you pulled away, its okay. But I would do it again in a second just to feel you again." She looked up at him then away, her words stuck. She wanted to stay with him, wanted to be happy with him. Wanted to fall in love. But she couldn't till he let her go.

"I… want to go home." Her words tore through him.

"No."

Three days had passed and Matic still hadn't come back to her. She had tried to forget him, to force herself to be relieved. But every day, her thoughts were troubled as to where he was, if he was alright, and when he would come back. She hadn't seen Kyle either, he didn't come any more to check on her, or change her bandage. No, now the maid did all that. Every morning she would bring Natasha breakfast and then change her bandage, not saying a word. Natasha had tried questioning her about where Matic had gone to but all she did was shake her head and shrug. After the first two days Natasha forced her self to get up, and walk. She pushed her self, but no so much to cause any damage. Just enough to work her muscles and tire her out.



After the week had passed by Natasha could walk easily and with little pain, bending down was a little painful, but not impossible. However what was impossible was staying in this room another day! She was board out of her mind and needed something to do, any thing to do! There was a balcony in her room that looked over a glorious view of mountains and valley with forest. However that only kept her occupied for half a day at the most, she needed something to do. So she had used two of the towels from the bath room and cleaned her whole room, shinning the stone floor and polishing the wood furniture. She was in the bathroom when the maid came in with her supper.

"Wah!" She said, walking into the room that was perfectly shined and cleaned.

"Hi!" Natasha popped her head out of the bathroom. I got board to I did a little cleaning."

"A little!" This was the first the woman had spoken in the whole week of serving her.

"Well like I said I was board."

"If you need something to do, you can walk around the manor."

"I know, I just don’t want to get in any ones way… what I wouldn't give for canvas and paint."

"You paint?"

"Yes, or at least I used to. It kept me occupied."

"I could get some supplies for you, if you wish."

"I would! Thank you!" The woman smiled as she put down the platter of food.

"Roast beef, potatoes and vegetables." She said then swiftly excited the room. The smell of the food quickly filled the room, and Natasha was drawn to it. She took the plate from the table and walked out on to the balcony, watching at the sun slowly lowered into a sunset. She watched till the moon glowed brightly from above. She sighed and walked back into her bedroom, and went to sleep.



The next morning she woke to the maid, slightly nudging her.

"Miss, its morning." She opened her eyes to see the smiling elderly woman. "Here's your breakfast. And I brought you some paints."

"Paints!" She was instantly awake and out of bed. She rushed over to the desk to look at the array of the brand new paint set. "Wow. These are top quality oils! Where did you get these?"

"I just requested them from Master Kyle, he supplied them for you."

"Well please, tell him my thanks. These must have cost a lot of money." The maid snickered.

"You should not worry of the Master's money, he had no problem supplying anything you may need." Natasha looked beside the desk and found a large canvas as well as a stand for painting.

"Oh wow!"

"Well I'll be back around lunch." Natasha didn't even hear her as she placed the canvas and stand out on the balcony. She pushed the desk out there too then brought a chair and placed it in front of the canvas, yet still able to look out over the scenery. She forgot about her breakfast as she painted, as well as lunch when it came. She was so transfixed with getting the shadows of the mountains and trees into the paint. Brush stroke after brush stroke. Till finally supper came and her stomachs hunger over powered her willingness to keep going.

"How is it going?" The maid asked.

"Good, its not done, but its coming."

"How long will it take you to finish?"

"Perhaps two maybe three days."

"Master will be back by then, I'm sure he would love to see it."

"Master, as in Matic?"

"Yes, Master Matic."

"Where has he been?"

"I do not know, I only know when he comes back." Natasha just nodded.

"Thank you." The maid departed and Natasha was left with her swarming thoughts. Why was she so concerned about Matic, why wasn't she plotting her escape? She tried to blame it on the fact that she had no idea where she was, but deep down she knew it was more than that. She want to solve the mystery of her own heart and its longings. And why Matic had bought her. For the rest of the night she pushed her thoughts away and painted, as the light got darker she had to stop. So she washed up her paint brush and pallet then went to bed.



The next two days she was eager to see Matic again, wandering when he was going to walk through her door. She painted carefully however, wanting her work to be perfect, for his perfect eyes to see. By the end of the second day she was finished, she added her twirled signature to the corner and stood back, she had done an okay job, not the best. But she guessed that after a few years of not practicing her talents would have to be built back up again. But for now she was satisfied with her work. She smiled as she walked into the bathroom and started to clean the paintbrush, then her hands. She looked up into the mirror at her self. She looked healthy now, normal and herself. Except for the paint in her hair. She looked past her through the mirror to the bathtub and shower. She had only showered twice, and those were quick because the maid wanted to dress her wound after she was done. Natasha lifted up her shirt and pulled it from her body. She looked at the bandage and slowly undid it. The skin was still tender and itchy but for the most part it was almost healed. She let her hands graze across her sensitive flesh. She walked to the shower and turned the water to hot. She let the water glide of her hand, as she adjusted the nozzle to get the right temperature. She stripped herself of the skirt she had been wearing as well as her underwear and bra then jumped into the shower and closed the shower curtains. She didn't hear the door open to her room, or the door to the bathroom.

"Natasha?" She screamed at his sudden deep voice from across the curtain. Instantly her hands flew to protect her self even though her hadn't moved the curtain aside.

"Get out!" She instantly regretted the harshness of her voice.

"Sorry." He said quietly and she heard the door to the bathroom close. She turned the water off and peaked around the curtain to see that he really had left the little room. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around herself then looked down at the cloths she had worn, they were dirty and she cringed at putting them back on. She walked to the door and with a hand on the knot of the towel she opened the door.

"Hi." She said softly. Matic turned from looking out to the balcony, where her painting was.

"Hi! I'm sorry about-"

"Don’t worry about it, you just scared me." As she stared at him, butterflies

rushed not just to her stomach but every where in her body.

"You look better."

"Yes, I am." The silence was awkward. "Where were you?"

"I had to leave on business."

"Oh."

"You missed me?" She tried to suppress her blush.

"I'm going to get changed." She said quickly and turned from him to walk into her closet, and pulled the some of the cloths the maid had given her from the hooks. She swiftly walked back into the bathroom, feeling his eyes on her all the way till she closed the door.

"Did you do this painting?" He asked through the door.

"Yes, I was board, Kyle sent some supplies up to me after I requested them."

"It's nice." Hurt squeezed in her gut. Just nice, only nice.

"Thanks." She forced out. It didn't matter what he thought of her painting. She pulled on her shirt and walked out of the bathroom. He was still studying it. She walked toward him and stood beside him. "I'm out of practice, I haven't painted in over two years." She defended.

"May I have it?" His question surprised her as he looked over at her shocked face.

"You want it?"

"Of course, its beautiful. You did a really good job of capturing the wildness of the mountains."

"Thank you." She couldn't help but smile.

"So may I?"

"Sure!" She said, beaming. He smiled then turned to her.

"Now that you're better we need to talk."



CHAPTER 9

"Talk about what?"

"Why you’re here. Why I need you to be here." He paused, waiting for any kind of emotion to pass over her features, there was nothing.

"So?"

"So…" He stopped and tried to breath. "You’re here because…"

"Because?" Natasha had never seen him like this, so hesitant, so afraid of the words coming out of his own mouth.

"I need you to be my wife."

"WHAT?!" He was mad!

"I'm a vampire."

"WHAT!?!!" No, he was insane!

"Look, I don’t know how to explain the importance of this. But you just need to trust me."

"Trust you! TRUST YOU!?"

"Yes." Natasha laughed.

"You know before I just thought that you were messed up, but now, no now I know your really insane!" She started to turn away from him.

"Natasha." He gripped her shoulders. "Please." She looked up into his bright blue, desperate eyes.

"Explain." She said softly.

"I am the son from two vampire kingdoms. I am the man that is to inherit half of the vampiric kingdom. However with out a wife, I get nothing. In fact there's a chance I will get less, I'll be outcast, even killed."

"What about Kyle?"

"He is my half brother, he owns the other half… but my situation is complicated, I have competition. If I don’t have a wife by the end of next month I'm done for."

"And I'm supposed to be your wife? Just to give up my life and help you."

"I saved your life. I paid your parents a good deal of money to keep them at bay and let you come with me. Apparently it was what they had always wanted."

"For me to marry rich, yes, that’s what they always wanted. To cash in on my marriage."

"Well if you do agree, you will be very rich."

"I don't care about the money." She was silent as she stared at the floor.

"Natasha, I'm not going to make you marry me. It's just an offer."

"And if I don’t?"

"Natasha…" His hand moved to her head, urging her to look up at him. "If you don’t then you don’t, I wont hurt you for your choice."

"So I can leave?"

"No, you belong here now. Whether you do marry me or not, you stay."

"Why? Why cant I go?"

"Because they have seen you now. They believe you are my wife."

"They? Who are they?"

"My fathers family. They are the ones gunning for the thrown. My mother raised me away from my father. However, because I am my fathers son, his first son, I am entitled to his thrown. And if Kyle dies my mothers as well."

"So your mother had Kyle before you."

"Yes. She raised both of us… Natasha if you leave this place they will kill just for even the thought of you being my wife… do you understand?" She nodded. "Alright, you don’t have to answer now, but ya."

"So you’re a vampire."

"Yes."

"What makes you think that?"

"Because I feed on animals and humans to keep me alive."

"So you don’t eat food."

"Not your kind."

"Can you eat it."

"If I have to."

"Can you prove to me that you’re a vampire?"

"Yes." Natasha waited. "But I don’t want to scare you."

"I wont get scared…" He looked at her skeptically. "Scouts honor!" She laughed, mocking him.

"Alright… you asked for it." He closed his eyes and brought forth his blood lust, minimal as it was because he had just fed. He opened his eyes and looked at her.

"Holy SH.IT!" She took three steps back before her back hit the wall.

"I told you."

"You- you really. How?"

"I was born this way. Only certain vampire women can reproduce. Its very rare but it happens."

"So you… are you going to suck on me?" Matic laughed.

"No, however enjoyable that would be." Natasha shivered.

"Are you going to kill me?" Her voice shook.

"No." His voice turned serious and the black from his eyes dissolved till all there was was blue.

"Okay… I'm going to sit." She had thought it was all a joke, it was all just ramblings from his insanity. He really was a vampire.

"What is it?" Kyle asked, once out side the door. Matic closed it, so Natasha wouldn't hear what was spoken.

"I'm going away for a little while, maybe a week, maybe two. I have a job I need to finish."

"Matic! You cant dump her on me!"

"I'm not! The servants will take care of her, but I just need you to keep an eye out for her, okay?"

"Alright, I can do that, but you cant pick up a pet and then leave. She needs to learn obedience and only her master can teach her that."

"Its not like that, I don’t think she'll be a problem. And if she is you can call me and I'll come home.

"Alright, how soon are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow."

"Are you going to tell her?"

"No, she doesn't need to know."

"She'll notice that your gone…" Kyle smirked. "You'll have her wrapped around your finger in no time."

"Its not like that."

"Sure. Well I'll be in the library if you need me."

"Alright." Kyle walked away as Matic opened the door to her room again. "Hey."

"Hi." She smiled at him, the comforter was back up around her half naked body. "I'm gonna need some cloths." He laughed.

"Well I don’t know about that, I really like what your wearing now."

"Matic!" Her blush was so attractive and sexy.

"Well its true!"

"I don't care if its true, you don’t need to speak to me like that."

"I can speak to you how ever I want." She was silent for a moment as she glared at his perfect handsome face.

"I need cloths."

"Alright, alright. Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow… thank you."

"Your welcome." He said as he sat down on the bed then laid beside her.

"So what was that about?" She asked, motioning toward the door.

"Just business."

"Every thing okay?" She asked looking at him.

"Yep, every things fine." He turned on his side to face her, his hand holding his head up.

"Okay." She looked up at the ceiling again. "You have a cat on your ceiling."

"What?"

"Or I guess it could be a boat…" She tilted her head as she stared at the dots. He looked to where she was looking, the stucko.

"Where?"

"There." She pointed.

"I don’t see it."

"Well come closer." He shifted closer to her. "See right there." She pointed.

"There's its tale, and body, then ears… see it?" Matic looked to where she pointed and she was right, there was a cat in the ceiling!

"Huh." She smiled at she turned to head to look at him, and was shocked to see how close he was to her. He looked from the ceiling down to her. "How did you see it?"

"Well I just…saw it." She said, still looking into his bright blue eyes. She couldn't look away, transfixed by them. He smiled at he stared back at her. Images of his lips on her flooded her mind suddenly and she couldn't help the blush creeping back into her cheeks. She forced herself to look away, she needed to look away before she got carried away. She was nothing to this man, only a piece of property to have, to use. But for what? "What do you want with me?" He didn't answer. She looked up to where he had been and found him gone, his body suddenly on the other side of the bed.

"I have to go. You should rest. A maid will bring you food in a little while. I'll see you later." He said quickly as he stood from the bed and walked swiftly too the door and closed it behind him.

Natasha couldn't rest, she couldn't sleep. Her thoughts jumbled and rushed. Why did he want her? Why did he pay for her? And why was she always so compliant when he fixed her with his gaze? It was like he was already controlling her, making her okay with being sold to him. But then her thoughts kept jumping back to his body, his smile, the way he took care of her, the way he looked at her sometimes. She tried to force her self to be reasonable, it didn't matter how he looked at her, or how incredibly sexy he was, he had bought her, and in his mind she was his. Perhaps maybe one day she could be, but not with him thinking that he already deserved her, he already owned her. No, she would give herself away to who ever she chose, they didn't get to pick her and force her. No. She would prove to him that she wasn't his, that she was her own, that she belonged to no one. Not now and not ever.

Natasha woke slowly, he eyes refusing to open. Some one was yelling outside the door.

"YOU ARE NOT TO COME INTO THIS ROOM! NO ONE IS! UNDERSTAND!"

"Yes sir, yes master, I-I'm s-s-s- orry…" Someone whimpered back.

"Get out of my sight!"

"Yes sir, sorry sir." She saw through her groggy eyes and girl pass by the opening of the door, her head bowed down. A moment later that door way filled with him. He didn't realize she had woken. He walked toward the bed, and sat down on it, his back at first toward her, then he turned around. She had closed her week eyes when he had approached the bed, she didn't want him to know she was awake. She tried to stay as still as possible, tried to keep her breathing the same. But when she felt his hand caress her face she couldn't help but jerk. For one she didn't expect his touch, and for another because he was ice cold! Freezing!

"Natasha? Are you awake?" There was no use trying to fake it now. She slowly moved her head to her side and forced her eyes open as wide as they would go.

"Hi." She whispered in her still sleepy state. He smiled.

"Hi… how are you feeling?"

"Mmm… stiff." She said, lightly flexing and un-flexing each muscle. He nodded.

"Yea, you will for some time I think. But you're healing... Actually for a human you are a very fast healer." Natasha looked up at him and frowned.

"For a human?" She asked confused as to what he meant. What was he an alien? She tried to suppress her inward laughter.

"Yes. You are… very human." The way he spoke sent a shiver down her spine, the look in his blue eyes mixed with lust and something she couldn't identifiy, but it scarred her.

"What-" He cut her off.

"No, more questions, okay. I don't want a redo of what happened two nights ago."

"Two nights!" The memory hit her then. Like a shock. The man before her suddenly turned from savor to captor within a few seconds. She looked up at him again with new eyes. She did have the strength to fight him, to scream so she did the only thing she could, she looked away.

"Look, what I said before, and all the things that were said don't matter, what matters is that you rest and heal, then we'll talk about every thing else, alright?" She moved her head away from him. No, it wasn't alright! Sure, she was hurt and week but she wasn't stupid! He had bought her! Paid money for her to be his! Why would some one do that? Why would some one want to? For HER? She was no one! She did have good grades through school, she didn't have very many friends, she wasn't even that pretty. In school she was like wall paper, always there but no one noticed her. Why notice now? She had been very comfortable being wall paper, she had gotten used to it, loved the ability to be invisible to people. But under his eyes, she was all too visible. She involuntarily jerked when she felt his hand touch her face again.

"Natasha… I-" He sighed, closed his eyes then let his smooth hand drop from her face. "I truly am sorry your hurt, but I'm not sorry that you're mine…" He spoke softly then got up off the bed. "You should rest. I'll go." She wanted to scream at him, not for buying her, but for him to stay. She didn't want to rest, she was sick of this bed, sick of being it!

"No, don't." The man turned back at the doorway, a frown firmly plastered across his brow.

"You need to rest."

"I'm not tired." He paused in the door way, fighting if he should leave or stay. "What's your name?" She whispered out. She was afraid anything more than a whisper would send the pain rushing back.

"Matic."

"Matic… please, stay. I don't want to be alone." He turned toward her and knew he would stay, the sound of his name off her lips almost possessed him to do as she asked. She grabbed the door handle and closed it swiftly. Then walked cautiously over to the bed.

"Who are you?" She asked as he sat stiffly on the bed.

"What do you mean?"

"Who are you? Where did you come from? What do you do?"

"I'm an architect, I go any where around the world to build my buildings. It’s the thing I guess you could say calms me. When I'm drawing out a blue print, or figuring out where stairs are to be and how the windows will capture the light inside the building. It all just calms me. I don’t know how to explain it." Natasha smiled.

"I understand. It takes you away from the world, from the obligations you have to sustain, and for one moment your free to do exactly as you want, when you want." Matic looked at her, this human, she knew exactly how he felt, how he used his job as an escape.

"And who are you?" Matic laid down on the bed, resting his head against the pillows next to her. Her sweet scent wafted over him, he drank it in.

"Well I'm no one." Her soft, broken voice tore through his momentary satisfaction in just her scent.

"You are some one Natasha."

"Not any more. You bought me, remember?" Her words, however soft cut into him like a sharp blade.

"Yes, I did." She didn't speak and he didn't either, both lying in each others tense presence. The silence relieved another need suddenly rearing to life.

"I need to go the bathroom."

"No."

"Yes! Like right now!" She face him again, and asked the horrifiy question, she never wanted to ask of any one, let alone this perfect man beside her, but there was no choice. "Can you help me?" He didn't speak as he got up from his side of the bed and walked around.

"We have to be careful, you can't rip those stitches again." He pulled off the comforter, the cold air suddenly whipped around her body, making her need to pee even greater. He took her legs in his arm and pushed his other arm around her back. She tried not to scream as he lifted her off the bed. "You okay?"

"Just hurry." She gritted out, and he glided to the bathroom, so gently yet swiftly, she hadn't even felt one foot step. He slid the open door further and then ever so gently settled her feet down on the smooth stone floor. She wavered for a moment then rested her hand against a wall. "Thank you."

"You need more help?"

"NO! no. I'll be fine from here."

"You're sure?" She looked at his concerned face, watching as he looked at her reaction to his words. "Right, okay, just yell if you-"

"Yes, I know, go." She smiled as he turned from her and left the maculate bathroom. She settled her self down on the toilet gently, it hurt, and the pain pulled even sharper as she tried to pull her underwear down, but all the pain was worth the very satisfying relief. After she was done she crouched down, trying to grab the underwear, a little panic passing through her as her hand grasped only air for the first and second swipe, thankfully the saying as it goes is mostly always right, third times a charm. And a relief. She slowly pulled the back on, trying to ignore the pain that was burning through her middle. She opened her eyes and looked at the large mirror across from her, she barely recognized herself, she was so pale, looked so week and thin. She tore her eyes away from her reflection to look around the bathroom, she didn't want to go back to the bed, this change, however small and painful was a welcoming sight to her board mind. The bathroom was beautiful, a huge tub was to her left and then two sinks as well, black and red towels hung from hooks and curled neatly on the counter top, which was stone. She wished she could walk to the sink and let the water rush over her hands, but even the thought at this point sent sharp shards of pain running through her.

"Matic!" She yelled out, he was in the room immediately. He saw her leaning against the wall, worry then relief flashed through him.

"You're okay."

"I'm fine for now, but I need to lay back down." She said the words, hating them, but knew it was all too true. She hated being week, unable to walk or do anything on her own. She was embarrassed that this man had to carry her to the bathroom, embarrassed that he had offered more help after that. She had to keep a least a little dignity. He bent swiftly and picked her up like a cloud, so gently she hardly even felt the stone leave her feet. His hard body pressed against her, and it wasn't painful, it was amazing. Even though he was very cold, the feel of him against her sent feelings she didn't know she had through her, mixing with the ever present pain. A blush started to burn up through her cheeks and she fought ferociously to keep it back, and failing disastrously. He laid her back on the bed, and she looked up at his concerned blue eyes starring down at her. She deffinatly couldn't help the blush burning redder through her face.

"Are you okay?" She nodded, afraid to trust her voice. "Your face is red."

"I think that's for another reason." Both Natasha and Matic looked to the doorway, and man stood there, same dark brown hair at Matic's was in a mess around yet another perfect face. Beautiful like Matic's, yet very different, his face was older, showed wisdom and knowledge through his eyes. Eyes that weren't at all like Matics, brown, deep and dark.

"Kyle!" Matic said as he stood fully, and stepping away from Natasha.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I just need to check the wound." Matic nodded as Kyle entered the room and came around to her side of the bed. "You've been up!" Kyle looked from Natasha to Matic.

"Yes, I needed to go to the bathroom." He just nodded as he started to pull away the bandage.

"You're healing nicely. You know for a human you heal quite fast."

"So I've been told… for a human." She looked from Matic to Kyle, why would both men say, for a human, were they not human as well?

"Well as long as you don't push your self too hard I think you should be up and about in the next week." Natasha just nodded, trying to hide her longing to walk and run again, to be herself. "But don’t push yourself, you need time to heal."

"Kyle, I need to speak with you."

"Sure…" He turned back to Natasha. "You, rest." He said firmly while smiling then walked out of the room with Matic.

On The Terrace



"Dam.it!" Matic cursed out as he quickly worked on her fragile, beautiful body. He should have known better, should have waited till she was fully healed before telling her. And he hadn't even had a chance to tell her what he truly was… Why couldn't he think around her?

That night when she had been stabbed Matic had been miles away from that spot, not even anywhere close to it, but her sent, and blood. He had come back to his manor to try and escape the intoxicating smell, but even here he couldn't get away from it, it was like she was calling out to him. And when he couldn’t stand it anymore, he went out after the scent. When he saw her, he knew he shouldn't have come, he should have stayed away. Before he had known what he was doing, his fingers, dipped in her blood were in his mouth. He hadn't been able to help himself. And when he tasted it, the slick warmth of it seemed to travel through his whole body, making him ache for more. However when he heard her heart beat, faint, delicate, something inside of him switched, he couldn't kill her. Even after tasting her sweet life, he knew with out a bout that he could not kill this amazing creature. He had slipped down, close to her, and looked into her drooping eyes, even on the cusp of death, even with her eyes half closed life and strength glowed out. He had to have her. So he did, he took her back to his manor and stripped the bloodied cloths from her and bandaged her up, all the while fighting the over whelming urge to take just a little more or her sweet nectar.

Now he fought that same battle. She was bleeding badly again, her stitches ripped, leaving the wound gapping open again. Matic threw off the comforter and quickly pressed a hand across the wound.

"Kyle! KYLE!" Matic screamed out, looking back and forth from her face down to her gapping stomach.

"Shit! What did you do?!" Kyle came into the room and quickly ran to the girl on the bed.

"I didn't! She woke and got angry, she sat up and… Kyle, please do something!" Kyle looked at the girl then too him, Matic knew that his eyes had long ago changed to black, with the smell of her blood he couldn't help it.

"You need to go, I can handle her, but you can't be around her when she's like this. I can't fend you off and stitch her back up again at the same time." Kyle looked at the wound again. "I'm going to need my kit." He didn't have to ask twice. Matic sped through the room to the hall and down to Kyle's room, then back, relishing in the feel of using his inhuman speed. Matic pushed the kit toward Kyle and stepped away. Watching as Kyle worked fast to stop the bleeding. Once again he was thankful for his brother, one too many times Kyle had saved Matic's life with his craft of healing. "You know this would be a lot easier if you would just change her."

"NO! No, I can't do that." For one he didn't know if he would be able to stop himself from feeding on her, and second he didn't want to take her humanity away from her without her permission. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She'll be fine, but you can't let her get riled up like that, she needs rest more than anything. What did you do to her?" He asked while pushing the needle through her skin, and pulling it back into place.

"I told her the truth, that her parents sold her to me."

"You told her that?! This early! What were you thinking?!"

"I wasn't…" Matic whispered out, his eyes transfixed on her face. He had to be careful of what he said around her, and more so and what he did. She was so beautiful, so fragile, and pure, he knew if she even gave a hint of wanting his lust would demolish her purity all too willingly. Matic shook his head. How could he even think of sex when she was in this disposition? She was hurt and all he could think about was her under him. He forced his eyes away from her face to her wound. Kyle looked up.

"She's going to be okay… you need to let her rest… and from the looks of it, so do you."

"I'll be fine."

"I have no doubt in that, but I'm not so sure about her life if your strength is dwindled and your blood lust over comes you… Get some rest." Kyle finished wrapping her bandage. "If you want I'll watch over her." Kyle smiled as Matic nodded and walked out of the room, watching her till the very last moment where he had to leave the sight of her behind.

COMMENTS

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Vidiana
22:02 Jun 06 2008

I look forward to the rest of the chapters, wonderfully written! I was spell bound :D

Thanks for a great read!

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"NO!" She held the covers closer to her body. He smirked, then full out laughed. "WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT!?"

"You! You're modesty is worth nothing to me now, I've already seen every inch of you." Natasha looked at him horrified, her grip on the comforter tightened.

"YOU! HOW-! I-!" Natasha hated it when she got angry, she could never get out what she wanted to say, ever, it was like she wanted to say too much and her brain couldn't keep up. It was really frustrating! Especially when the person she would get mad at would start laughing, as the man was doing now. She felt foolish, and angry that she felt foolish when she shouldn’t.

"I'm sorry." She looked up at him, he was trying to suppress his laughter. She just glared at him then looked down, letting her blond hair fall in front of her face. No, she couldn't get angry and scream and yell properly, but she was a great pouter. "What's your name?" She glanced up at him through her wall of hair, looking for any mockery on his face. There was none.

"Natasha."

"Do you remember what happened?" She frowned as her brow furrowed, trying to think.

"I had gone to the gas station to get milk and ice cream… and then…" She drifted off, the memories coming back in snippets and flashes. "There was a man… he…" She closed her eyes. GIVE ME YOUR PURSE! His voice drifted through the fog. "He wanted money… then…" She tried to bring it forward, tried to get through the fog of her mind, but nothing would come, all she remembered was the man holding her purse. Natasha looked up at the man before her now, and shook her head, showing she didn't remember.

"You were stabbed. I found you on the side walk around three P.M. You were barely alive." She looked down again, trying to remember if what he said was true. Nothing came. He stood in silence, waiting for her to filter through her memories. She looked up at him.

"I guess… thank you?" Natasha, watched as he looked away from her. "What is it?" She asked him as he turned his back to her.

"Where is your family?"

"My mother and father are probably at home, wondering where I am."

"Do you think they love you?" Natasha paused, what a weird question to ask. Why would some one ask that? And where was this leading to?"

"I would hope so." He stayed silent, his back to her. She wanted him to turn around, to look at her, to tell her again that she was safe, that every thing would be okay. "Why are you asking me this?"

"Do you love them?" He asked, not answering her question.

"Some days." She answered truthfully.

"Why only some days?"

"Well I guess because of the obligations I have to them, they count on me… and I guess its just that some days its hard being the parent and not the child. Speaking of which I should really get home."

"You don't have to be the parent anymore, your obligations are taken care of."

"What?"

"They don’t need you any more. I've taken care of that. However, because I have saved your life, and because of the cost of taking care of your charge, you will stay with me."

"WHAT?!"

"You belong to me now." Natasha laughed.

The man turned around to face her, his face was stone, pale and void of emotion. She stopped laughing.

"No, you're insane! Ya, you saved my life, but that doesn't mean I belong to you now! NO! My parents are for me to take care of! You don’t know how they function! They need me!"

"Actually they were quite happy to be rid of you." His words stung with the sickening truth.

"But I-… NO! I have my own life, I make my own choices! You cant own me like some piece of furniture!"

"I can if your parents sign off to it, which they readily did, once I showed them my price."

"PRICE?! WHAT!? YOU BOUGHT ME?!" She screamed out, trying to ignore the pain that pulled sharper with each word.

"I told you, you belong to me." His voice was calm, quiet, and smooth against her frantic screeching.

"NO! NO! YOU'RE MAD! I HAVE A FUTURE! My parents… they cant give me away to you, they cant sell me! I'm a girl! I'm a human! There are laws against this! YOU'RE INSANE!" She felt the tears come as the pain pulled passed her tolerance. She wrapped an arm around her middle, trying to keep the pain away. "YOU-" She started to scream out, then gasped back as the sharp pain pulled even more. "AHH!"

"Natasha!" He took two steps toward her before she whipped her head up.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!" She contracted against the pain, only making it worse. She felt something warm and wet against her arm that was around her middle. She lifted it slightly to see blood. An other sharp pain, tore through her. And she realized that she was sitting up, through all the panic and fighting she must have sat up and now she was paying the consequences. She felt his hand on her shoulder, and his other arm wrapped around her back, she hadn't even seen him move toward her.

"Natasha, you have to lay back down! Your wound, its reopened."

"AH!" It hurt too much to move back into her laid down position. His hand on her shoulder pushed at her, his strength too much for her to over power, but each inch he forced her to lay back down was another inch of excruciating pain running through her body. It was too much, she couldn't handle it.

"Just hold on Natasha!" He said through her screams of agony.

She had blacked out before her head hit the soft pillow.

When she woke the second time, he wasn't there. She was disappointed at that, but not disappointed that most of the pain she had that last time she woke had diminished. She opened her eyes, taking in the slightly familiar room. She turned her head on the pillow and looked around the room. Every thing was beautiful about this place, the walls were white, but had crown molding of a dark red, and then all of the furniture around the room was black, with red high lights. She saw a door to her left, it was slightly open, showing a long hallway cascading away from the room. She moved her arms to her sides and started to lift her body into a sitting position, however as soon as she had moved the slight, almost unnoticeable dull ache in her body suddenly reared into a sharp breath taking stab.

"AH!" She whimpered as her arms buckled from the sudden pain. She tried to ease her body back down, gently but ended up flopping back into the soft sheets. She blinked back the tears that seemed to be connected with her pain tolerance. She breathed in, trying to calm the sharp pain. She placed a hand on her stomach were the pain had pulled sharper, she felt a bandage was wrapped around her. She lifted the covers off of her body and looked down, realizing only then that she was not in any of her own cloths. She wore only black underwear and a black bra, nothing else. Panic instantly shot through her. Where were her cloths? What had happened? Did he- NO! NO! She forced her thoughts away from even thinking that. But what had happened to her? Where was she? Why was she here? Where were her parents? Her heart raced faster and faster, her anxiety rising till she found that the air around her wouldn't come to her. She gasped, and heaved, hyperventilating. The pain drew sharper again, and all too quickly she was whimpering in pain and tears rolling down her face as she couldn't stop hyperventilating, the air just wouldn't come, not fast enough! Her panic rose even more, and she burst into full on screams and crying.

She didn't see him enter the room, did even feel his climb on the bed, he was just suddenly there.

"Shh… You're safe. You're safe. It's okay!" Her chest still heaved, trying to bring the oxygen into her lungs. "Look at me!" His voice was harsh and she instantly obeyed him. His eyes captured hers, and she found herself studying his face once again. "You're going to be okay. You need calm down, you're breathing too hard and it will tare the stitches."

"I-" Heave "Cant!" Heave.

"Think of something that calms you, focus on it." Natasha tried to think, tried to make sense of anything. Nothing would. "Look at me!" She looked up again, realizing she had looked away. "You're safe. Nothing can hurt you here." She watched his face, and forced herself to study it. Focused on how the shadows covered his face, the way his mouth parted when he spoke to her, the way his eyes gazed, worried, and focused into her's. How she wished she had a paint brush. She saw his eyes turn from worry to relief. She broke her gaze from him and realized she was breathing normally now, the breath came easy. She had thought of painting. Painting his face, his shadows, his eyes, and it had calmed her. She smiled at her defeat but then quickly looked up at him, frowning.

"Why am I in a bra and underwear?"

"Would you rather be naked?" His suddenly seductive smile spread across his face as Natasha tried to suppress her blush.

When she woke she felt warmth and softness encompassing her. She was laying on her back, the light threatening the darkness beneath her eye lids was normal, but something was different, there was a dull pain. She could hear her heart beat in her ears, the comforting beat almost lulling her back to sleep, but there was something more, something besides the pain, something that her senses were urging her slow, sleepy mind to pick up on. That’s when she felt him. He moved slightly, his arm gently snaking around her middle. Shooting pain drove up her spine and back down to her tows. She couldn't help whimper, as she tried to remember what had happened, and where she was. The arm suddenly jerked away from her, the sudden movement leaving her in more pain.

"Oh, sh.it!" His voice was unfamiliar, deep and oddly very smoothing, and seductive, even in a swear. Natasha tried to force her eyes open, the strength it took surprised her. Her eyes slid open a sliver and she instantly had to blink back the sting of the light. She felt the bed shift under her as he moved. A moment later the problem of light was gone, covered by the blinds. She slid her eyes open again, blurry images filling her eye sight. She couldn't understand any of the things she saw, rich colors surrounded her, deep red and back mixed perfectly, beautifully. But however beautiful it was it was still strange to her. She forced her eyes to focus as she blinked once then twice. The images slowly coming clear. A fireplace, but no fire, above it a landscape painting of the ocean, at either sun rise or sunset, the sun casting fiery colors across the water, the painting was done so well it almost looked like a photograph. She tore her eyes away from painting to see the man slowly moving toward her. He wore black silk pants, his chest was bear, and his hair lightly array. But as her eyes captured his face her breath was taken from her fragile body. He was angelic, perfect in every way. His jaw positioned perfectly, to draw attention to his luscious lips, and his lips just below his perfectly position nose. Then his eyes. Eyes that could, all on their own, capture and hold the perfect vibrancy the rest of his body held. "Are you alright?" His voice was just a whisper yet it held strength and passion that would have left Natasha speechless, if she hadn't been already. "If I cause you pain it was unintentional." He said coming out of his whisper, but still speaking softly. She didn't understand why he was defending himself against such and accidental act… in the same bed she was… she tried to force her mind to work, to bring back the missing pieces in her memory, to figure out who this man was, and why she was here. She drew breath into her suddenly burning lungs. She coughed a bit, but that bought another pain altogether, sharp pain that made her gasp out. She closed her eyes against the tears that had automatically come with the pain.

"Careful, you're still very week." She looked up at him, he was suddenly very close to her.

"Wher-" She tried to speak but her mouth and throat was so dry that she couldn't get out her multitude of questions. He swiftly picked up a glass of water with a straw in it, and held it by her mouth, his actions were kind, yet looked uncomfortable as he did them.

"You're in my home. You're safe." She gulped the water through the small straw as she looked up at his blue eyes. She quickly finished the glass of water and watched as he moved the glass to the side table. "No more questions for now, just rest." And as if just by his words she closed her eyes, and all too quickly fell back into her sleep.