Chapter 111

I turned the name over in my mind over and over again as we rode back to the estate.

“Should we go out tonight?”

I pouted at him. “You need rest! Stop trying to get out of going to be!”

He chuckled. “I’m not. I’ll take a nap before we go. I promise.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Promise?”

He held up a hand. “As someone who is also named after their mother. I promise.”

I nodded hesitantly. “Fine. But… where are we going?”

He smirked and kissed my temple. “You’re going to have to wait to find that out, princess.”

“But Candido!”

He faked a yawn and turned. “Sorry, Hedwig Jr. My mate has ganged up on me with my aunt, so I have to rest or I’ll never get anything done.”

I pouted at him as he laughed and walked away.

“You’re so mean to me!”

He leaned on the banister and grinned. “You have no idea how mean I can be… but I think you like it that way.”

My face heated. He wiggled his eyebrows before heading up stairs and disappearing down the hallway. I headed up to my room and huffed as I realized that everything that I had moved to the condo had been moved back.

I was going to complain about that a lot, even though I was happy about it. I sat at my table with my laptop. It was kind of weird not to feel like I had to hide even inside my room, but I opened the Moon Shadow mainframe to get an idea of what was going on so far.

There hadn’t been a lot of movement, but all the data that had been gathered since the attacks had been entered and analyzed. No one could figure out the attack pattern quite yet, but everyone was sure that another attack was coming soon.

Five operatives had been confirmed dead and I worried my lip.

Moon Shadow wasn’t a large operation. I wasn’t sure how large it actually was, but five people felt like a significant blow.

I looked through the list and was grateful that it wasn’t any one that I had met personally. Checked on the analysis of the vampire blood, tried to read more of the Moon Goddess book, but eventually gave up, deciding to get ready for my date with Candido instead. I couldn’t focus on it with the thought that we’d be out on the town together again like I’d always been dreaming.

I didn’t know how often or how long I would have to enjoy simply dating him, flirting with him with the war coming. I was still hoping to nudge him into giving me a little more than kissing, if not a lot more, but if the other dress hadn’t worked, I wasn’t sure what would to nudge him more towards giving me more.

I definitely didn’t want to have another freak out like I had before.

I sank into the tub and lounged in it for a long time. I wanted to smell nice and feel nice. Maybe he’d want to touch me more if I did. The thought excited me.

My phone chimed while I was in the bathtub. I reached for the phone hoping it was from Candido.

Wear the blue dress. I pouted. I expected a bit more from him.

That’s all you’re going to say?

He didn’t reply and I pouted. I considered taking longer to get ready, but I got out of the tub to see what this dress looked like. I hoped he wasn’t putting me in something innocent looking. My heart fluttered as I saw the new box of shoes in my closet. I never thought much about how often he did this, but I loved it when he picked out my clothes. It made me feel so taken care of and cherished like he was dressing me up to appreciate the way I looked.

It made me feel owned in the best way.

I opened the box and couldn’t wait to see the dress. They were platform heels that would make me at least a few inches taller.

I turned on the light and scanned the closet for something new. There were several new hanging bags, but only one of them had a tag that said the dress inside was blue. I considered opening the other ones, but I didn’t.

I wanted it to be a surprise.

The blue dress was cocktail length and off-the-shoulder with a deep plunge in the front. There was even new underwear to go with it, a lacy set of lingerie but no bra. My heart started racing. Would he be thinking about me being mostly naked beneath this dress all night?

I hoped so.

I got dressed quickly, curled my hair, and headed downstairs. I gave a thought to wearing some of my mother’s jewelry, but Candido hadn’t told me where he’d stored it all. The more I thought about it, the more unprepared I felt to face that.

I headed downstairs and found him standing in the foyer with a different fur coat draped over his arm. This one was a brilliant, almost sparkling white.

He looked up at me. His eyes flashed as he skimmed his gaze over me. I shivered as I approached him.

He held the coat out for me. “You’re beautiful.”

I stepped into the coat and let him button it up for me. I followed him out of the house and into the SUV. The restaurant was nice, but I couldn’t focus on much more than the knowledge that he hadn’t taken his gaze off me all night. I could almost feel him devouring me with his eyes.

Sometimes, I got little flickers of feeling from him. I could tell he liked the dress, but there was a sense of regret there too.

“What’s wrong?” I asked as he paid the check, and we got ready to go.

He said nothing until we got back into the SUV.

“I shouldn’t have bought this dress,” he growled, dragging me into his lap.

I gasped, my heart hammered as he pushed the hem up my thighs and pulled me up against him. I felt how hard he was pressing against me as he thrust his tongue into my mouth. I gasped.

“They’re—”

He took a handful of my hair and dragged me back down to kiss him. I heard the partition go up behind me. My face burned with embarrassment, but as he slid his hand up my thigh, tracing circles on my inner thigh, I moaned and all my thoughts floated away.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him back. He turned us and lay me across the back seats as the SUV seemed to drive for hours back to the Estate. I was so hot. My blood felt like it was boiling everywhere he touched me. I trembled and quaked, pushing my hips against his as an ache built that I couldn’t even begin to explain.

He pulled back as the SUV slowed to the stop.

He pulled me up and fixed my dress before we climbed out of the car and he walked me back to my room with little more than a sweet kiss to my lips.

I was back in the SUV with Candido grinding against me, rocking his hips, and pressing the hard line of his erection against the thin lace of my panties. I wrapped my legs around his waist. He pulled back just enough to fit his hand between us.

“You’re so wet.”

My eyes flew open. My cheeks were hot and I got out of bed. I grabbed a robe and left my room and marched to Candido’s room, knocking loudly.

He answered, face flushed and looking miserable. I reached for him and he put his hand out, keeping me back.

“No, princess,” Candido said.

I pouted. “You did this.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Did you think dream sharing was just a one-time thing?”

He sighed and took my hand. “I want you close to me, but you have to behave.”

I bit my lip, following him into the bedroom. I expected him to pull me close, but he pulled the sheet up and tucked me in it before climbing beside me.

“This isn’t what I wanted.”

“This is as good as it’s going to get,” he said and pressed my head to his chest. “Go to sleep, princess.”

I pouted. “You’re… really not going to touch me?”

He blew out a harsh breath. “I’m really not.”

I didn’t know whether to be more upset or happy that he cared so much for me. I felt a little restless but the more I breathed in his scent, the easier it was to fall asleep.

I was woken up by the sound of thundering boots and someone banging on the door. Candido jumped up in bed and went to the door.

“Your Majesty, there’s been an attack on the capital!”