58: 58 Pecuilar Husband (AVOT)

58 Pecuilar Husband (AVOT)

0In the early hours of the day, Daisy found herself nestled on the couch in the library, a notebook cradled in her hands. Seeking solace in a practice her mother often adopted during trying times, she decided to jot down her thoughts. And unsurprisingly, her thoughts circled around Rhain.

With a determined hand, she divided the page into two columns. On one side, she would list everything she liked about him, and on the other, she'd pen down the things she didn't.

Starting with the positive, she poised her pen over the page. He was kind... 

Her pen stilled, a wave of doubt washing over her. Could she truly classify him as 'kind' when he had chased her around the house, lied to her?

Inhaling deeply, she pressed on. Striking out the word 'kind', she chose to record his actions rather than tying vague adjectives to his character.

He had married her despite the lack of a dowry and a sullied reputation. He had treated her mother with nothing but respect, even purchasing a house for her. He had orchestrated their entire marriage and afterward, ensured her comfort by providing a room just for her. 

There had been no forced or painful consummation. No demands in that aspect. He had even agreed to her conditions to waiting. And when they had made love, he had been gentle, considerate, and loving.

He had rescued her from Philip's clutches, a fact he never boasted about. Upon her request, he had kept Philip away from her sister. He had whisked her away on a night of exhilarating adventure, lending her his coat, enclosing her in his warm embrace, kissing her. Despite all the warning signs she felt, she had relished the thrill, the dangerous edge of their escapades.

She reveled in the way he made her nervous, how he pushed her beyond her comfort zone. His teasing had a way of rousing her, keeping her on edge, stirring her curiosity.

On edge.

Literally.

She paused, her hand frozen above the paper. How could she forget how he had chased her, instilling fear in her? He had lied to her!

Slamming the book shut, Daisy huffed in frustration. What was she trying to accomplish with this list? She was married, and there was no reversing that. She had to make it work, and that was where her focus should be.

His words echoed in her mind, 'Perhaps in your head, you are trying to find excuses for me. There are none.' The hurt lacing his voice had burrowed into her memory, making it hard to forget.

Was she making excuses for him?

Maybe. It was hard to reconcile the two contrasting aspects of his character.

Having decided to put the notebook aside, she returned to the room. Rhain was still asleep. Did he not have work to attend to? Should she rouse him?

She loomed over his still form. Oddly still. His skin was so pale, she almost had to touch him. He was cold, too. Now that she thought of it, he was warm sometimes, like when he made love to her or kissed her. A few other times too. The room was still warm, so why was he now cold?

Leaving Rhain in his room, Daisy retreated to her own, deciding to indulge in a quick bath before dressing for the day. Initially opting for comfortable attire, she had a sudden change of heart. She was a wife now, she mused with a bit of mischief and defiance, and she wanted to present herself well for her husband. 

Disrobing, she selected a dress that subtly accentuated the curves of her body and the swell of her breasts. 

"It's all in the details," Lila would say, gesturing to her neck, shoulders, and chest. "Men look here."

Taking her advice, Daisy adjusted her dress to an off-shoulder style, successfully amplifying her allure. Pausing at her reflection in the mirror, the realization hit her. Her husband was a vampire, and she was willingly baring her neck to him. Well, he could chase her no more! 

Yet, her mind began to wander. What if he still wanted to bite her? 

Her heart pounded in her chest, her skin tingling with a strange thrill. No, she mentally rebuked herself, she couldn't afford weakness. She had to maintain control.

Deciding to adorn herself further, she styled her hair to fall in lush waves and spritzed herself with a tantalizing perfume. She wanted to test Rhain's restraint. 

Let's see how long you can lie, Rhain! 

You are lying to yourself too, Daisy, a voice in her head retorted. She ignored it. It wasn't really a lie; she was just choosing not to succumb to strange…desires. 

You are inviting those desires, the voice countered, causing her heart to skip a beat. Was she crossing a line? Was she inciting a dangerous game she couldn't handle? But, she didn't want her efforts to go to waste. She needed to see his reaction.

After a moment's hesitation, she decided to proceed with her plan. Leaving the room, her nervousness amplified with each step she took. No, this was a bad idea. 

Just as she was about to retreat to the safety of her room and change, she heard rustling in the library. Her heart seized. He was awake. Her first instinct was to hurry back to her room before he saw her when she remembered - her notebook was still in the library.

He wouldn't see it, would he? 

Ugh. She turned to retrieve it and as she arrived at the entrance, her heart sank. He was there, standing by the couch with her notebook in his hands. He was just opening it where she had put the pin. 

"No!" In a panic, she sprinted towards him, lifting her dress to increase her speed. He looked up at her approach, eyebrows raised in surprise. Just as she lunged to seize the notebook, she grasped nothing but air.

His speed was uncanny, barely a step taken and he was out of her reach. Frustrated, she spun to try again, but once more he evaded her, easily sidestepping her grab.

"Rhain!" She shot him a glare, annoyance coloring her voice.

"What naughty secrets are hidden within these pages?" He teased, amusement twinkling in his eyes.

"There are no naughty secrets! Give it back to me!"

"I think…" He lifted the notebook out of her reach, a smirk playing on his lips. "I spotted something intriguing."

"Rhain!" She tried to snatch the book from him once more, but he swiftly danced out of her reach again, her ire increasing with every failed attempt.

"Alright. Alright," he finally conceded, amusement still apparent in his voice. Closing the book, he held it out to her.

As she was about to take it, he moved his hand away, then again, and then again, before putting his arms behind his back, hiding the book. 

"Rhain! Have you no respect for privacy?" she demanded, frustration underlining her words.

"None," he replied nonchalantly, an impish grin playing on his lips. "My curiosity overrules such concerns. Especially when you are so...flustered."

"Of course," she retorted through gritted teeth. "You make me so...."

"Angry," he provided, finishing her sentence.

"Is that another one of your perverse pleasures?" she shot back.

He contemplated her for a moment, his head cocked slightly to one side. "That depends on my mood. Right now, your reddened cheeks are… tempting."

Her frustration halted at his words. Was he trying to ruffle her even more?

"Give me the book!" she demanded, holding out her hand.

"And what are you willing to do to get it?" he queried, clearly enjoying little game he was going to play by himself! 

"Nothing! You'll hand it over!"

"Ah… then perhaps I should indulge my curiosity," he mused, holding the book aloft once more. "I think I saw something about a… kiss."

"No! Fine," she conceded, hastily interrupting his next words.

As quickly as he had brought it forth, the book was once again behind his back. "Speaking of a kiss, I think that's a fair trade."

Her ire grew stronger.

His eyebrow quirked, awaiting her response. "Alright, keep your hands behind your back."

With a nonchalant shrug, he complied.

Daisy bridged the gap between them and landed a quick peck on his lips. "Now, give it to me!"

He grimaced. "That kiss tells me you don't want your book back. How about one that makes me drop the book?"

This time, she laughed in disbelief. "You are devious."

He gave her a content smile. "Is that a no? Shall I delve into the secrets of your notebook?"

In response, she closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling herself flush against him before pressing her lips to his. She kissed him angrily until she felt the taste of him. 

He always tasted fresh, like wine and olives. As she committed herself to the kiss, she felt herself dissolve into the heady sensation, her heart pounding an erratic rhythm against her chest. She'd never kissed another man, but she was convinced that no one else could kiss quite like Rhain, especially as he began to reciprocate her passion

The way he took her mouth, moved his lips, stroked with his tongue had her fisting one hand in his hair and the other grasping his shoulder. She now yearned for his arms to come around her, to draw her against the hard planes of his body.

She pulled away from him abruptly, gasping for air before she could start moaning against him. Her fingers eased on his hair, and she went down on her feet again. Rhain opened his eyes, his golden gaze finding her, his breath still on her face, hot, tingling, inviting. She almost wanted to lean in and kiss him again. 

"Now, that is a kiss," he murmured, and the way his voice seemed to have changed, getting deeper, richer as it brought something from deep within his chest made her insides respond. He leaned in, his lips burning against the side of her mouth. Heat coiled within her. 

Good Heavens! She stepped back, feeling lightheaded.

"The book," she demanded, her voice wavering despite her best efforts to remain composed.

He handed it over to her without further trouble. Once the book was safely in her grasp, she shot him a glare. "You are insufferable."

"Would you prefer it if I were more mundane?" Rhain replied, his eyes roaming over her. 

He sauntered over to the few steps leading up to the fenced-off section of the library. From the vantage point on the terrace, he looked down at her, leaning against the rim as if to afford himself a better view. Daisy felt a sudden awareness of her own vulnerability; from his vantage point, her chest was probably even more visible. "You can't be suggesting you dressed this way for any resident ghosts, assuming they exist?"

"I dressed for myself," she retorted.

"Do you appreciate the way you look then?" He queried.

"Of course, I do."

"Ah, but not as much as I do." His words, coupled with the intensity of his gaze, sent her pulse racing.

"You can't be certain of that."

"Believe me, Daisy. I have already thought of a dozen ways to show my appreciation." His words seemed loaded with implications that she didn't care to decipher.

Choosing to ignore his comment, Daisy shifted the topic. "What are you doing in the library?"

Rhain straightened up, leisurely striding along the perch. "I was considering selecting a book to read, but..." He paused, turning towards her. "I realized I'd read them all."

"Really? Everything here?"

"Yes."

Looking around at the grandeur of the library, it dawned on her. Rhain was 462 years old. It was a staggering thought.

"You must have forgotten some of them by now," she commented.

"I possess a good memory."

Is it that good?

With that, Daisy went over to a bookshelf behind her and picked out a random book, holding it up for him to see. "Alright, then. What's this one about?"

"It's a traveler's journal, documenting his attempt to set a new record for circumnavigating the globe."

She quickly scanned the book's blurb - he was correct. Choosing another, she questioned him again, "And this?"

"That's an instruction manual outlining the history and evolution of the first muskets."

Once more, his recollection was spot-on. Intrigued, she selected another. "That is a collection of poems, mostly centered around the themes of life and death," he preempted her query.

Impressed, she admitted, "You must have a wealth of knowledge."

"I do," he agreed simply.

"You could always reread something. Or…" she added, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "you could read me your favorite book." She wondered if he'd entertain her request.

"Tonight then," he replied. "By the fireplace, naked under the covers, as the rain pours outside." Her heart fluttered. This was a reiteration of an inappropriate proposition he'd made before they were married.

Oh, he knew how to bait her, but she would resist...

Before she could form a response, Rhain started walking along the terrace, descending the stairs. "Have you had breakfast?"

"I'm not hungry."

He regarded her for a moment. "Very well then. I need you to come with me as I run some errands. Wear some gloves." He told her. "I will be waiting outside."

Not certain of their destination but grateful for the reprieve from the house, Daisy retreated to her room to select a pair of silken gloves that matched her dress. She was confused over his unusual request for her to wear gloves. As she adjusted her hair, she blushed at her reflection in the mirror, realizing what view she had offered Rhain. He must find her desperate. Easily swayed. 

Deciding to maintain a semblance of decorum, she pulled up her dress to modestly cover more of her shoulders. She then ventured outside, where Rhain awaited by a carriage near the gate. He extended a hand, assisting her with grace as she climbed into the vehicle, before settling himself on the seat across from her.

This morning, Rhain wore his hair loose, a shining mane that caught the morning light. As the carriage began to move, his gaze rested on her. 

"The journey will take a while," he noted, his hand casually resting on the empty seat beside him. "In the meantime, would you like me to enlighten you on some of the ways I could show my appreciation?"

What… in the carriage?

Rhain chuckled at her reaction. "Are your thoughts straying towards indecency?"

She felt her cheeks warm with a blush.

"I had something else in mind, but…" his voice dropped to a seductive murmur. "If you prefer, I could be indecent. The confined space of a carriage can heighten the thrill."

"Our views on excitement do not align," she retorted.

"Pity," he drawled, peeling back the curtain to survey the passing landscape. He removed his gloves, revealing his strong, well-formed hands.

She turned away, her thoughts whirling. This was not how it was supposed to be! She should be the one provoking him, unsettling his serene, all-knowing demeanor.

But he is 462 years old, Daisy! His understanding of the world, honed over centuries, would surely dwarf hers.

She stole a glance at him, absorbed in the world beyond the window. What thoughts occupied his mind now?

"How long will this journey be?" she asked.

"Quite some time," he replied without averting his gaze. "Do let me know if you change your mind."

His persistence was intriguing, yet puzzling. He could just assert his rights as a husband. He didn't, and it was one of the things she liked about him. 

She considered joining him on his side of the carriage, but the thought sparked a rush of heat through her at the potential implications of his words.

Rhain, meanwhile, watched the world roll by outside, his senses keenly attuned to Daisy. He detected a faint whiff of her arousal in the air and felt the fluttering rhythm of her heart as it slowed and then quickened.

Ah, his Daisy, always curious, tempting him with that dress, still not knowing he enjoyed the hunt in all aspects. The waiting for the hunger to build, then the hunting, and finally feasting when the hunger became unbearable. He liked the feeling of being on the edge. Perhaps he should let her experience it too. 

You should let her go, Rhain. 

He almost sighed at the thought. It wasn't safe for her to be in this town. The right thing would be to make her and her mother pack her things and send her away while he took care of this. 

He became paralyzed in contemplation. This was the second instance... the second time he had prioritized her safety above the urgent mission to awaken his brother. On the first occasion, he had found himself already gearing up for battle, rummaging through weapons. 

"Many times our mind has already made a decision. The rest of it is only a reflection of that decision." The words of one of his favorite authors came to mind. 

Was this the decision he had already made, and he was merely attempting to sway his own judgment? No, it wasn't even a proper attempt. He was skirting the edges of the thought, fearing to plunge into its depths. If he couldn't even conceptualize it, let alone voice it... how was he supposed to execute it?

As a sharp pain settled in his chest, almost making him nauseous, made worse by the realization that he was now on his way to Tiberius to ask him to keep Daisy's mother safe for a while. Tiberius had a much safer place, and he was older. 

His stomach knotted, and his mind instinctively pushed the pain away. 

"Rhain?" Daisy's voice pulled him away from his thoughts. She had said something that he missed. Her eyebrows furrowed. "You seem lost in thought." 

Daisy thought he looked paler, and his eyes looked… pained. 

"Ah… yes." His head turned to the window. "We have arrived," he said without even removing the curtain. 

The carriage drew to a halt, and Rhain gracefully descended, extending his hand to assist her. 

As Daisy emerged and her gaze swept ahead, her eyes widened. A massive cathedral loomed ominously before them, its formidable structure punctuated by large windows of ebony, ruby, and sapphire hues. Its lofty spires seemed to claw at the sky, desperate to pierce the veil of heaven. The atmosphere around it was frigid, and the daylight inexplicably dimmed, as if the sun itself shrank from touching its forsaken surface.

"What is this place?" She inquired, awe and apprehension straining her voice.

"This is the secret sanctuary of vampires. Umbra Aeternum," he responded.

She turned towards him, confusion knitting her brows. "Secret sanctuary?"

His eyes flickered red momentarily, and a metallic tang permeated the air. Blood! Then, the faint strains of music reached her ears.

"You will see my other side, Daisy. My true nature," he declared solemnly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Do you wish to?"

Her heartbeat quickened. He was about to reveal something dark, wasn't he? Something unsettling. Yet, she found herself driven by a morbid curiosity. "Yes," she affirmed, her voice steadier than she felt.

He extended his hand, and she delicately placed hers within his firm grip. His thumb traced a gentle circle on the back of her hand, a soothing gesture that somehow managed to still her racing heart. Then he led her towards the daunting structure.

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