by Folsom, Tina
“Stop struggling, it’s no use. We’re going home.”
But the direction he took wasn’t where her house lay. “You’re lying. Home is the other way.”
“My home,” he corrected and slid his lips against her cheek. A shiver ran down her body, and she didn’t know whether it was caused by fear or was merely her body’s usual reaction to his touch.
Isabella gave up her struggle against him, knowing it was useless. He was bigger and infinitely stronger than her. It was better to preserve her strength so she could attempt an escape later.
Now some things made sense. Dante had been concerned that she would find out that Raphael was a vampire. And his nightly absences? Clearly he’d been out to attack people and feed on their blood. And she would be next now, now that she’d uncovered his secret and he wouldn’t have to hide it from her anymore. Would it hurt? How long would it take until he’d drained her? Would he toss her lifeless body into one of the canals?
Isabella shuddered at the ugly thoughts. She’d married a stranger to save her reputation, and now she would lose her life because of it. Was this the punishment she would receive for the days and nights of unadulterated pleasures she’d indulged in with Raphael? Would she have to pay for her sins in this world and not the next?
Just remembering the things she’d allowed him to do to her made her shiver. All the forbidden pleasures he’d unleashed, the way he’d rutted on her—and she’d loved every debauched second of it, had even asked for more, dared him to go further. She’d allowed him to use her body like only a whore would, yet it had given her more pleasure than she’d ever known existed.
“We’re here.” Raphael pushed a door open and carried her inside. The light was dim, only a few wall sconces illuminating the hallway, but she recognized it nevertheless. They were back at his home, his den, his lair. Whatever a vampire called it. She was at his mercy now.
Chapter Eighteen
Raphael released Isabella and closed the door to his bedchamber behind them. She instantly moved away from him, and he couldn’t really blame her. She was frightened after what she’d witnessed. He shrugged off his coat and tossed it on a chair.
“Sit down, my love, make yourself comfortable.”
She straightened her spine and glared at him. “I’d rather stand.”
“I think it’s only fair to tell you that any attempt at trying to run away from me will be a waste of your time. I’m faster, I’m stronger, and I’m motivated.”
He opened a drawer and pulled out a clean handkerchief, wiping the remaining blood off his face. “I’m sorry you had to see this. But you shouldn’t have followed me.”
When he took a step toward her, she took several back. “Don’t come any closer,” she warned, her voice shaky. He could hear her frantic heartbeat.
“It’s very hard to make love from a distance like this.”
Her eyes widened. “I won’t let you touch me.”
“You will, and you will do it willingly.”
“Never. I won’t let a monster like you touch me.”
“Isabella, please think for a moment. I know you’re in shock, but try to remember the last few days. Was there ever a time when I hurt you?”
He felt her hesitation and knew she couldn’t answer his question in the affirmative. But her lips remained sealed. Instead, she lifted her chin in defiance.
“Are you afraid of me?”
There was an almost unperceivable nod of her head.
Raphael swallowed. The last thing he wanted was a wife who was afraid of him. He had to convince her that she had nothing to fear from him. The only way to achieve this was to make himself vulnerable to her. It was a risk he had to take. If he didn’t, he would lose her for good.
“Fine, Isabella, you win.” He opened the buttons of his shirt.
“What are you doing?” There was panic in her voice again.
“I’m undressing.” He tossed his shirt to the floor, then stepped out of his boots.
“I told you I won’t let you touch me.”
His trousers dropped to the ground, and he stood naked in front of her. “I won’t touch you, but you’ll touch me.”
She shook her head, pulling back further.
Raphael walked to the bed and opened the drawer of his nightstand. He lifted his gun out and placed it on top of it. When he pulled out the leather restraints and turned back to her, she shrieked.
“Oh God!”
“Isabella. Those are not for you. They are for me. Inside the leather, there’s a thin lining of silver, a metal no vampire can break. I want you to tie me to the bed. I will be at your mercy, and you can assure yourself that I’m no danger to you.” He glanced back at the nightstand, and he noticed her follow his look. “The gun is loaded with silver bullets. They’ll kill a vampire. If you think I’m a danger to you, use it.”
Isabella shook her head. “It’s a trick. As soon as I come close to you, you’ll attack me.”
“No.” He went to the bed and laid down. “I will tie my ankles to the bed first, then you’ll do my hands. I trust you. Now I want you to trust me.”
Raphael knew he was crazy proposing this, but he had to make her trust him. If she killed him, it really didn’t matter, because a life without Isabella made no sense anymore. If she couldn’t accept him like this, then it was better if she ended his life now and didn’t let him suffer the loss of her love.
Continuously watching her, he tied first one ankle, then the second one to the foot of the bed, keeping enough length so he could still bend his legs. Then he held out his hand with the remaining two ties. “Take them. Bind them tightly.”
There was hesitation in her steps as she approached. He saw her glance at the nightstand with the gun, then back at him.
“Tie me up, Isabella.” He placed the leather straps onto the bed next to him and held his arms up against the headboard with the loops which had been fashioned as restraints.
Another few steps and she stood next to the bed. He nodded as she reached for a strap. He could see her perspire, a thin lining of moisture building on her brow. He inhaled her scent and felt himself harden. Instinctively he dropped his eyes to his cock. Hard and thick, it rose.
When he looked back at Isabella, he caught her staring at his erect shaft. Then she reached for his wrist and tied the first leather strap around it. She secured it tightly against the restraining hook despite her shaking hands. Not letting him out of her sight, she stepped around the bed and did the same with his other wrist.
“Thank you,” he whispered. He tested the restraints. They held. He’d never been so vulnerable in his life. But Isabella had saved his life once, and he hoped she’d find it in her heart to not take away the life she’d given him.
***
Raphael had allowed himself to be tied up, but would he truly not be able to break the restraints? What if he was lying to her? Isabella stepped around the bed, keeping close watch on him. When she reached the nightstand, she looked at the gun. From the corner of her eye she could see him watch her, but he didn’t move, made no attempt to free himself from the leather straps. But it wasn’t proof enough that he was truly tied up.
Isabella gripped the gun and turned to him, pointing it at his chest.
There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes, only to be replaced by disappointment. He lowered his lids. His voice was flat when he spoke. “I gambled and I lost. I had hoped your love would be strong enough, but I was wrong.” He looked at her. “I love you, Isabella. The last five days were the happiest of my entire life. I’m sorry that you don’t feel the same for me. Aim for my heart and make it quick.”
Then he closed his eyes and inhaled.
“Why did you allow yourself to be tied up by me?”
“It doesn’t matter anymore.”
“It does to me.”
His eyes remained closed. “You’ve made your decision, my angel.”
But she needed an answer. “Open your eyes. Look at me. Tell me why!” Isab
ella swallowed back a sob.
When his eyes flew open, he pinned her with a surprised look. “You want to know why? I let you tie me because I need you to understand that I’m prepared to do anything for your love. I need you to trust that I would never harm you. And the only way I can do that is to show you that you hold all the power. Now that I’ve satisfied your curiosity, please end my misery, because a life without your love is worse than a merciful death.”
She recognized it then: Raphael loved her, more than anybody had ever loved her. She could feel it deep in her heart. How could she kill a man like that? How could she allow this love to slip through her fingers? Did it matter that it was the love of a vampire? Yet—
“Do you kill the humans you feed of?” She voiced the fear she carried in her heart. Was he a bloodthirsty murderer?
“No, my love. I don’t kill unless my own life is threatened. I only feed from them.”
Isabella exhaled the breath she’d been holding. He wasn’t a killer. She allowed her eyes to wander over his naked body, sprawled out in front of her: vulnerable, yet aroused. His tied hands didn’t look like those of a monster. They were the hands that had caressed her, given her pleasure beyond belief.
Dropping her gaze lower, she feasted her eyes on his cock. Hard and heavy it curved upwards and lay against his flat belly. With it, he’d driven her to ecstasy every single day since she’d met him. Could she really kill somebody that perfect, simply because of what he was?
Isabella dropped her arm and tossed the gun to the foot of the bed where it landed in the soft sheets. When she crawled onto the bed, his eyes widened. “Isabella?” There was hope in his voice.
She closed in on him, then straddled him without another thought, before meeting his lips with hers. His startled moan was drowned out by her own.
“My angel.”
“Kiss me, my husband,” she whispered against his parted lips. She felt no fangs when he took her mouth in a fierce kiss, only soft lips and a hungry tongue that devoured her. She licked against him with firm strokes just the way she knew he liked it.
Raphael broke the kiss and stared at her with those dark passion filled eyes. “Take off your coat and shirt, and let me see your beautiful tits.”
She divested herself of the pesky garments within seconds, only keeping her breeches, reveling in the hungry look in his eyes. When she was bare, he licked his lips. “Now feed them to me.” He looked up to meet her eyes. “I won’t bite. Not unless you want me to.” There was a hesitation in his voice, as if he was unsure if he’d said the right thing.
“Would I want you to?” she asked, curiosity overwhelming her.
“Maybe one day. But believe me when I tell you that even if you never let me taste your sweet blood, I’ll always be your faithful husband. Never doubt that.”
She didn’t. The sincerity didn’t only shine through his words, but also radiated from his eyes. It was the moment when she realized that he would never be able to lie to her again, because she would always know by looking into his eyes whether he was sincere. The thought warmed her heart.
“Now let me suck those tits before I burn up with desire for you.” He gave her a crooked smile, and Isabella lowered her breasts to dangle above his face. He strained to lift himself closer to her, but the leather straps on his wrists didn’t allow for much movement.
“You want my tits?” she teased him. “How much do you want them?”
He pushed his hips upwards, pressing his hard length against her sex. Liquid heat traveled to her pussy as it clenched in response. “That much.”
“Oh,” she answered him, trying her most coquettish voice. “That’s indeed quite impressive, Signore.” She lowered herself another inch. Instantly his tongue snaked out and lapped at one nipple. “Signore, do you think that’s proper?”
“Very proper, Signora,” he joined in her game. “Now if Signora would just lower herself a little bit more, I could show her how proper this is.”
“Signora can do better than that.” She cupped one breast and led the nipple to his mouth.
Raphael sighed contently and sucked it into his mouth, his eyes never leaving her face, showing her how much he appreciated her gesture. Greedily, he sucked, turning the little nub into a hard peak, transforming her insides into mush. She pulled up, not being able to take any more.
“The other one,” he begged. Unable to resist him, she led her other breast to his mouth. This time, he sucked on it harder as if he was intent on never letting it out of his mouth again.
She panted heavily. “Signore, this cannot possibly be proper.”
Raphael let her nipple pop out of his mouth and ran his tongue between her breasts, licking her as if he was devouring a sumptuous dessert. “Proper would be if Signora lets me fuck her tits.”
Not knowing what he meant, interest rose in her nevertheless. “And how would such a feat be accomplished?”
He gave a rakish smile. “Slide down on me until your tits meet with me cock. Then take me between them and press them together with your hands.”
A delicious shiver danced along her skin at his description. “Why, Signore, this sounds positively debauched.”
“Yes,” he rasped. “So, do it, my beautiful Signora. Capture my cock between your wonderful flesh and make me come.”
Isabella’s entire body vibrated as she slid down his muscled torso, dragging her sensitive nipples against his skin. Every word Raphael said made her hotter and hotter. All her fear was gone. Left was the passion and love she felt for him. And the knowledge that he would fulfill all her fantasies.
The crevice between her breasts was wet from when he’d licked her. Now she knew he’d done it deliberately so his cock would slide smoothly into place. When she pressed her hands against the outsides of her breasts, he let out an uncontrolled moan.
“Oh, fuck!”
Isabella shifted, making his cock slide toward her throat, then back down again. It felt good to feel his hard, hot length pulsate between her ample flesh. “Yes, Signore, is that proper enough for you?”
“More than proper.” His hips flexed, and he started pumping up and down. “Yes, my angel, this is all very proper.” His voice became more and more slurred and unrecognizable with every thrust of his cock.
When she felt him stiffen and his cock jerk, she knew he was right at the edge. Isabella released him from the prison of her breasts and took him into her mouth with one smooth slide. It was clear he hadn’t expected it.
“Oh, God, Isabella! Fuck!” Raphael cried out and shot his hot seed into her mouth as his body spasmed and rocked against her. She swallowed some of the salty liquid, but his spurts came so hard and fast, she couldn’t keep up. She lifted her head and released him.
Her hand steadied his cock, pumping him, the escaping juices lubricating her actions as his climax ebbed. She looked at his face. His eyes had rolled back, his lips were parted, beads of sweat ran down his forehead and neck. She’d never seen a more erotic sight than that of her very satisfied husband.
Her hand released his cock and trailed to his balls, making him jerk. “Isabella, are you trying to kill me?” he whispered breathlessly. Then he opened his eyes and smiled.
“I love touching you.”
“And you can touch me all you want,” he assured her.
“You don’t mind that I’m not a proper wife? That I act like a whore with you?”
“You’re my wife. You can act any which way you want with me. Nothing is taboo between us.”
“Nothing? Do you mean whatever I want you to do to me—even if it is debauched—you will do it?”
He groaned. “Yes, my angel. And anything you want to do to me, I want you to do it.”
Isabella licked her lips and fondled his balls with her moist hand. “Do you remember what you did to me in the study?”
Something flashed in his eyes. “You mean when I took you from behind?”
“Yes.” She let her fingers trail lower behind his balls.
“Did you like it when I finger-fucked your sweet ass?” He breathed faster now.
“Yes.” She slid a finger further back toward the crevice of his buttocks. A moment later, Raphael pulled his knees up as much as his leather constraints allowed, setting his feet flat onto the bed.
“You want to do the same to me?” he guessed.
Isabella nodded, not being able to voice her wish.
“Slide your finger back.”
“You don’t mind?” she asked, surprised that he gave into her request without protest.
His eyes were dark with lust when he looked at her. “Finger-fuck me, my angel, and make me surrender to you.”
She slid her finger, still slick with his cum, further back and found the puckered hole. She rimmed it, timidly at first, but then with more determination. When she placed her fingertip at the entrance, she felt him push against her.
“Yes,” he encouraged her. “Let me feel you inside me.”
She eased her finger in, slipping past the tight ring. The seed on her finger eased her entry and made her glide inside without difficulty. “Is this … good?” she asked, unsure of herself.
“It’s so much better.”
“Better?” Isabella asked and pulled her finger back slightly. He squeezed his muscles together, trying to hold her in.
“Don’t stop.”
She slid back in, but she hadn’t forgotten what he’d said. “Has somebody else done this to you before?” She’d hoped that she’d be the only one to touch him like this.
His gaze collided with hers. “No. I’ve never allowed anybody this intimacy before. You’re the first. The only one. But I’ve used toys before.”
“Toys?” What did children’s toys have to do with this?
“Metal implements, rounded and curved, to stimulate myself with. But I find that I much prefer your fingers inside me than any toy I could dream up.”
“Fingers?”
“Yes, my love, slide a second finger into me.” He paused and smiled. “Take the ache away,” he repeated her words from a few days earlier.
Raphael moaned when she complied. And she couldn’t help but find what she did to him exciting. He was at her mercy, a vampire wild with desire, yet chained by straps he couldn’t break. She’d never felt the kind of power she felt now: the power a woman had over a man. The power he gave her.