Bonds of Blood [Lords of the Expanse] (Siren Publishing Classic) (7 page)

“It is my honor, my lady,” Aleina said in a gentle tone, folding her hands demurely in her lap. “The Colonel has mentioned that you would require clothing more suitable to your station and your new living circumstances. The clothier he has arranged to come in is one of the best, and I am sure that you will be very impressed with his selections. As the clothier will not be arriving until later in the morning, I thought that, once you have had your morning meal, we could perhaps start on some of the laws of your new home world and from there anything else you wish to know until the clothier arrives.”

“Thank you, Aleina that would be wonderful. I would like to know first and foremost what will be expected of me in this position.” Xandra looked to Andries briefly in question, “What meal?” she asked in a low tone.

Leaning his hands on the back of the chair, Andries leaned over so his lips were near her ear. “She is referring to what you call breakfast, Xandra,” he murmured softly. “She will be coming by once you have had your morning repast so that you are not disturbed until then.” Turning his head slightly would put his lips to her ear or, if he lifted his head…Doing just that, he breathed in the scent of her ear and held back a low growl of pleasure at the light and fragrant scent.

“Oh. That would be wonderful, Aleina, thank you.” The pink of her cheeks had nothing to do with anything other than having her new husband so close to her.

“I will ensure that you are adequately prepared, my lady,” Aleina said, smoothing out her skirt before she stood. “I will bid you a good evening,” she told them both with a small curtsy before she turned to head down the stairs and was soon out the door with her escort.

She watched the retreating woman and then suddenly felt very nervous. “I’m sorry for not wanting to remain on the lower level. I’m not comfortable there at all, Andries.” Mostly because it reminded her of her father’s rooms. “Do you have to go back to the chancellors, Andries?”
Or will you stay with me, get to know me, and allow me to get to know you?

Moving around the chair, Andries waited until the door shut behind Aleina before he sat on the end of the table closest to Xandra. “No, I won’t be seeing them again soon,” he told her honestly, unless of course one of them was behind the attempt on her life. “Why do you not like the lower level?” he asked her, watching as her gaze dulled slightly, making him all the more certain he wanted an answer and had a feeling…“Why were you so afraid to return to your father, Xandra?” At her look, he lifted a brow slightly “When we first met, you were prepared to go back to him and his household, but you looked ill at the mere thought.”

“Because I was. I would have gone back because you don’t deserve what has been forced on you.” She breathed in and out as she said, “I don’t like the rooms downstairs because they remind me of my father’s rooms. He is a brutal man, Andries. Never underestimate him.” She licked her lips and clenched her hands tightly. “He killed my mother in those rooms. To prove a point to me, he killed her.” She shrugged as if her words were nonchalant when they were anything but. “You ask me why I am afraid of him.” She looked at him, dead in the eye. “Because he would kill me in the blink of an eye and never be punished for it. I’ve had that point beaten into me time and time again. When you send me home, I will become the whore of the hall.” Because that was exactly what her father told her. “Whore to my own father.” She swallowed hard and fought back the pain and rage. “So please be kind. Kill me instead of sending me back.”

“I’m not sending you back, Xandra,” he said softly, watching her, something inside clenching tight at her words and the pain he heard in them. “You are my wife and, though many might have other views, for me it is for life. I won’t let you go even should you later beg it of me. You had your chance and stayed despite my offer. If your father ever wishes to get near you, he will have to get through me. You are never to be alone with that man. If I’m not available, you do not go near him. He no longer has any say on your behavior or conduct. Do you understand me?” he asked, his tone measured to ensure she heard the sincerity but at the same time that he didn’t frighten her.

“Yes.” She reached out and touched the hands that were clenching in his lap and said, “He will make you think that he is the kindest and simplest man alive. He has a charisma and charm that is undeniable.” Her thumb stroked over his skin as she continued. “I don’t want to be around him. I never want to see him again, Andries, and I know that makes me a coward, but I can’t. I simply can’t ever be around him again.”

“To avoid something that may cause harm is not cowardice, Xandra. It is good sense,” he pointed out and, giving into temptation, again, he took her hand in his, ever careful of her fragility in comparison to him. “I know the evil that can be found in any man, Xandra”—
better than many would presume—
“so you needn’t explain his manner of lying to the world to me.” Watching her for a moment, he sat back a little and forced himself to relax. “You have questions. Ask them if you wish, and I will answer those I can.”

“Does my touching bother you, Andries?” she asked as she tucked her hands back to her sides. “I know that I am not one of your people, one of the women of your race, but I would like to learn. However, I feel as if I am doing something I shouldn’t each time I reach to touch you. Do you wish me to stop?” It would be something she would have to work at with him because she found herself needing to touch him, often.

“It…disturbs me, Xandra,” he said, deciding that there could only be honesty between them. “I have not known touch that is kind but for a few days when I was first born. Since then, I have been training for my position as a warrior of my people. It is not bad for you to touch me.” He scrambled for words to explain it. “Women of our world do not touch unless it is family or their husband. They are taught that they are not to do so in a public setting unless they are told they may by the eldest male in their lives. You may touch me whenever you like unless we are in front of the men of my command, and then I ask that you show some restraint unless it is a situation that allows it or if I ask it of you.”

“Which is why the men at the dinner looked as if I had all but shot you.” She closed her eyes as the reality of the situation occurred to her. She had lived all her life afraid of touch, afraid to have anyone touch her, and then with him she felt the immediate need to touch, to feel his hand on her, and he didn’t want that. Their society frowned on it. “I will ensure that I make the effort to do as you have asked,” she said finally as she looked at him. “What will my role be? Will I simply be your wife, or will I have duties as well?”

“As my wife”—that sounded odd coming from his mouth—“you will have duties. But for the time being you will be eased into them instead of having them thrust upon you. You will be in charge of the household and, with the country home, the tenants and their daily problems and any issues that might arise. As well, you will be responsible for any gatherings we might host, which with my rank will be a few,” he said softly. “In time, if you choose, you may also take over the task of seeing to our monies and all that they go toward, the various charities, the running of our country home, and this place as well. Those are but a few of the immediate tasks for you to consider,” he said, watching her.

“All right.” There was a lot for her to learn, but she was willing and it seemed she would have the time. “Do you have questions for me, Andries?” She had no idea what to expect on this, their wedding night. It seemed as if her touch bothered him, so she wasn’t sure what would happen between them, intimately.

“Not at this time,” he said as he frowned slightly. “You look as though you have a question but you’re hesitant to ask it,” he commented. “You can ask anything of me, Xandra, but I do not have the ability to read your mind.” He added the last in the hope of putting her at ease. “So if you have a question, you need to voice it,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows to his knees.

“What happens next?” she asked quietly. “You don’t like my touch, yet we are married. What happens now, Andries? Am I to become a wife in name alone?” It wouldn’t be unheard of, and she didn’t know why she was pushing it, but she felt cold and alone, hurt, and didn’t know why. “I’m sorry.” She had overstepped herself and she knew it from the look on his face. “Will you show me where I am to sleep please?”

“It’s not that I don’t like your touch, Xandra.” He had to correct that misconception now or she’d forever believe that. “I was not touched often, and when I was, it was violent and painful. To have a gentle hand touching me is strange. It is going to take a time for me to become accustomed to it,” he said, reaching out to touch her hand gently. “As to your question about being wife in name only, that would be your decision, Xandra. I will not push you into anything that you are not ready for,” he told her. Taking her hand in his, he tugged gently. “I will show you to the bedroom.” Standing, he led her down the hall to the master suite. Pushing open the frosted glass doors, he waved her into the large, very masculine room. “I know these spaces are not exactly friendly, so if you wish to alter anything, feel free,” he murmured from where he stood at her back.

She could practically feel him in the room, feel his very essence, and smiled. “I like it. I would like to possibly add a vanity for myself, but I very much like it.” She moved to the massive bed and touched the sheets. “This is very soft. What kind of material is it?” They had something where she was from called silk, but this was even softer. “Will these be our rooms”—she turned to look—“or mine alone?” The question was there, he just had to pick up on it.

“My people call it
fretha
. It comes from a plant that is processed, and the fibers are then turned into threads that then become—” He waved his hand to the bedding. “The choice is yours, Xandra, as in everything,” he told her softly. “You have rights in this marriage and as such any choices of this nature are in your hands.”

“I like it a great deal.” Xandra looked at him and shrugged. “I would like to be your wife, Andries. I would prefer not to sleep alone, to be able to feel like I matter at least to someone.” It could be, however, he needed time to adjust to her, as she would him. “There are many things about your people that I would prefer to learn from you, not a teacher, an assistant.” As nice as the assistant was.

“You only have to ask, my lady. I am ever your humble servant,” he said as he moved closer to her until he was close enough that he could feel the heat of her flesh through his clothing. Gently he cupped her cheeks and, lowering his head, lightly kissed her, need driving him hard enough that he had to take care or hurt her. She was so fragile in comparison to the non-Vampires of his world who, through several millennia of evolution, had strengthened enough that they were not easily harmed by his kind.

The touch of his lips to hers had her swaying closer to him. Hands on his chest, she kissed him back even as her fingers clenched in his shirt. The kiss seemed to burn into her very soul. It was so much different from the one given to her when they married. This one was of not only gentle care, barely leashed passion, but of hunger as well.

Licking her lips when he pulled back, she smiled and reached out, touching his cheek even as he cupped hers. “Tell me what it felt like, tasted like, when you licked my blood to seal our marriage.” She wanted to know everything about his people, her people.

“Sweet with a touch of spice,” he said, trying not to lean into her touch too much. While much of the sensual, provocative, and generally needy nature of his people had been trained and beaten from him, a soft touch was something he really had never overcome, so he’d avoided it at all costs. “I was actually concerned that it would scare or shock you when I did it. The non-Vampires of our world do not all accept it as standard practice for a joining or, as you call it, a marriage. It will allow me to find you anywhere at any time,” he said softly.

“You will think me…strange…when I admit this to you.” She stepped closer to him, the heat of his body against hers and making her feel warm all over. “I rather liked it. To know that I could have something that you would need, to have something you could use to live on.” She pulled back. “I know that sounds strange, but just the idea that you could need me for something so basic, it makes me feel even closer to you.” A sudden thought occurred as she asked, “How do you get the blood you need? I saw you eating food, but what I do know of your people is that you do need blood to survive, right?”

Nodding, he ran a hand to curl around the back of her neck. “We have blood depositories that bag the blood of the non-Vampires for those of us that require it. We used to drink directly from them and, in some cases, still do, but for the most part we get the blood delivered and just have to open the bag.” Rubbing his thumb slowly over her pulse, he found it amazing, yet again, that she seemed to covet his attention and closeness. It was a novel experience and one he worried might become necessary to him.

“Does it hurt?” she asked with wide pale eyes. “When you bite someone, does it hurt you, does it hurt them?” Her fingers reached up and she brushed them to his lips where the incisors made slight bumps. “It didn’t hurt when you made that small mark on my thumb. It felt really very nice.”

“It doesn’t hurt me. I only notice my teeth when they slide out by a bit of pressure on the ones to either side,” he told her. “The one I’m biting doesn’t tend to notice as our bodies put out a mild scent that hits the receptors inside your brain to induce great pleasure. It’s mildly euphoric or so I understand,” he said, his eyes noting something he hadn’t seen before. “The bite I’m told, feels like a mild pinch, but with the scent easing the pain, it can be orgasmic in nature,” he murmured, brushing her hair back. Seeing her ear, he froze. “Who harmed you in this manner, Xandra?” he asked in a low, dangerous tone. He was offended on her behalf at the injury and, oddly enough, was ready to kill whoever had done it with his bare hands.