Addict (Hunter #2)(19)

He rested against me, letting softness replace the quick and hard f*cking he’d given me. I needed this. I needed long, luxurious moments when he stroked me and our intimacy seemed to be the only thing of importance in the world. Time stretched out as I let his satisfaction sink into my soul. Every time we made love, I believed a little more that I was worthy of his affection.

After a long moment, he kissed me softly and moved his weight to the side.

“Come with me, bella. I’ve drawn a bath for us. I wanted to spend time with you before the rush of visitors come calling on our door.” He stood and gracefully discarded the rest of his clothes. I watched him, loving every inch of skin he exposed. I sighed as he cradled me to his chest and carried me into the master bathroom. I always felt delicate and feminine when he carried me around.

This was where I’d wanted to be all day. I sank back against my lover in the hot water, his arms wrapping around me. He kissed my hair lovingly. I’d wanted to be skin to skin with him. I craved it like an addict. Marcus had told me that one day I wouldn’t need this. He’d explained that in a few years, I would be the one who likely walked away, but I couldn’t see it happening.

“I ordered dinner for you. Tomorrow, I’ll prepare it myself, but tonight I wanted the time with you. I needed to be with you. Tell me about your day, cara mia,” Marcus demanded softly.

I glanced around the magnificent bathroom. It was a gorgeous monstrosity of marble and mirrors. The tub we were in was built for two and jetted. The water swirled around us. Despite Marcus’s wealth, our home in Venice was quite sedate and European. It’s gorgeous and tasteful, but trust me, no one does decadence like a faery prince. I could practically swim in that tub. I didn’t know what a steam shower was, but it seemed like fun.

Marcus reached over to grab something from the tray he’d placed at the head of the tub. He passed me a glass of white wine and I sipped it. This part of our day was more about him than me, but I was getting used to fine wine.

He sighed. “Such a good year. That Pinot Grigio is like heaven. I’m going to have fun raiding Devinshea’s cellar. Now tell me, did the king treat you kindly?”

I frowned. “No. The king was an *.”

Marcus chuckled as he nuzzled my neck. It was always like that. He was obsessed with my neck. He liked to feed from my neck or sometimes from the vein that ran through my thigh right next to my *. Usually though, he preferred the neck. He liked to feed and then kiss me senseless, so I could still taste the faintest hint of blood on his tongue. It was a sweet feeling to know my body fed and sustained his. “You think many people are *s, Kelsey. What did he do to you today?”

Oh, so many things. This was my time to complain, and Donovan had made it super easy for me to do so. “He put me in chains and threatened to chuck me in a cell. Let’s see. I’m an animal who can’t control myself. I ruined his relationship with my uncle. I’m pretty sure he blamed me for the situation in the Middle East, economic recession, and Miley Cyrus.”

Marcus went dangerously still behind me, and that was when I realized I’d made a huge mistake. His hands cupped my shoulders, and I knew if I turned, his face would be a polite mask. He rarely showed his anger. I knew to be afraid if he got ruthlessly still.

“What did the king do, cara?”

“He was testing me.” I shrugged negligently to try to defuse the situation. His irritation brushed at my consciousness, so I knew it was super bad. He wasn’t able to contain his anger. “It was no big deal. He wanted to see if I could handle myself emotionally, and I did. You didn’t even feel it.”

“Which only proves you are good at shielding your emotions, Kelsey. You’re still at a delicate stage. He could have ruined three months of work in a single, oafish instant.”

I smiled and rubbed my back against his chest. “Well, you should tell him that.”

“Believe me, I will.” He sighed and settled back down.

I would totally let Marcus handle the king. Donovan regarded my mentor as a father figure. He regarded me as a lethal moron, so Marcus was my go-to guy when dealing with that particular vampire.

“I met your friend Hugo.” I said it almost shyly because if he hadn’t liked that first part, then he was really going to be pissed at the next part. I thought about not mentioning it to him, but he was going to find out.

“Hugo is here?” He sounded pleased at the prospect. “Excellent. I will arrange to spend some time with him. Did he mention why he was here? I understood he wanted to stay in London.”

This was the bad part. I winced as I spoke. “Uhm, I’m sure it’s a mistake and we can get it all cleared up, but he thinks he’s supposed to be my new trainer.”

And just like that my tub time was over. Marcus was out in a shot. I pouted and stared at him from the warmth of the tub while he dried his perfectly cut body with short, angry strokes of the fluffy white towel.

“If it helps, Donovan thinks you’re still in Italy.”

Marcus nearly growled. “It does not help, bella, that the king believes I would allow you to leave me behind. Not only did I allow you to leave me behind, but apparently I allowed you to take a lover while you lived under my roof. This may be Daniel’s way. Daniel may allow his wife to sleep with whomever she would like and bring them home to their bed, but that is not the way it will be between us.”