Part 11 (1/2)

To Tatiana's horror, Marcello shut the door, staying in the room with her. When he turned, his eyes glittered with silver and she could tell that the vampire had a specific purpose in staying.

”Tu sei bellissima, Tatiana,” he murmured, looking her boldly over. A slow smile came to his brooding features. ”Remove your robe.”

Tatiana gripped it tighter, backing away. Her round eyes narrowed as she furiously shook her head in denial.

”Need I remind you that you are mine? You have given your word to obey me.” He frowned. She could feel his anger. ”Now, remove your robe.”

”Turn around,” Tatiana whispered, fearful, not sure she wanted to see his reaction to her naked body.

Marcello began to laugh. ”Bella mia, I have seen you--all of you. I have tasted you, felt you. I have been inside you. What do you think to hide from me now?”

”You lie,” she stated, mortified.

”You don't remember?”

Tatiana got the impression that he was hurt, perhaps even amazed. Then, shaking her head, she knew better. This lifeless, emotionless creature before her didn't have a heart to hurt. He only thrived off of fear and pain. He was a demon.

”You don't remember inviting me to conquer your silken depths? You don't remember how you begged for me? How hot and wet you were for me?” Marcello asked. His words were low, almost a whisper, but she heard them perfectly. ”Do you not remember how you begged for me to drink of your blood?”

”You lie,” she repeated, incapable of saying anything else.

”Bella,” he scolded, not looking offended. ”I am wounded.”

”You don't have the feelings to be wounded.”

Her defiance made him laugh. Marcello looked to the fire in contemplation. When he seemed to arrive at a decision, he turned back to her.

”Perhaps, too much was blocked from you about our time together,” Marcello mused. His jaw lowered. ”Perchance, it's time I gave you the memory of it back.”

Tatiana pressed her lips together, trying not to cry. She shook her head. ”No, I want nothing from you except my freedom.

Please, my lord, let me go home. Let Cesare and I go. You don't need us.”

”You are home, Tatiana. The sooner you realize it, the better it will be for you,” Marcello said. His dark look screamed at her, though his rough voice was deadly in its calm. ”You are mine now.”

”Why ... why do you want me? What did I ever do to you?”

Marcello thought about that for a long moment. He didn't want to tell her. How did a vampire with a condemned soul suddenly say that she made him feel for the first time in nearly a century? The very idea perplexed even him.

”This is the last time I will tell you,bella mia ,” Marcello warned. ”Undress and come here.”

Tatiana could see that she'd defied him one time too many. Averting her gaze, she looked at the floor. She pulled the loop at her waist. The silk whispered as she pulled it free from her shoulders. It pooled around her on the floor.

”Come,” Marcello whispered, holding his hand out to her. He didn't hide the fact that his eyes looked at her, taking in every nuance of her form. He saw her large b.r.e.a.s.t.s that would overflow in his palms, smother his face when he buried himself in them. They fit well with the curves of her hips. Though, he did suddenly regret not feeding her earlier. Her body had become too slender.

Tatiana took a step forward. His gaze caught hers as she moved. She saw his eyes churning with hints of green fire and knew that he tried to read and control her. She could feel him entering her mind, swirling his presence in her blood as if to claim every piece of her body for his own. She fought his control. He might own her body, but she wouldn't give him her mind.

Marcello frowned as she kicked him out of her thoughts. He held it still. Her hand didn't lift to take his. She glanced at his fingers then to his face, refusing. Slowly, he smiled. Tatiana grew scared. Marcello's hand went to his waist and he removed his waistcoat, one slow b.u.t.ton at a time.

”I don't want to be your lover,” she said, frightened. ”Please, don't do this, my lord. If you ever had pity ... if you ever had a soul, don't do this.”

”You will come to me,bella mia , rest a.s.sured of that. And it will not be by force.”