Mariana
It was now two weeks since I had come to stay with Ion, and I was beginning to feel a little more at home. Or at least as home as I could feel while I was still being watched. Ion had just returned from Europe the day before because he had met with all the clan leaders. I had stayed back to enjoy my time with Bianca, but I felt like I had more eyes on me then than when Ion was at home. But it didn’t matter so much. I had been cleared for light exercise earlier that morning, and I had my daughter happily by my side. She was beginning to heal and find herself more at home than I was. Ion had even hired someone to help decorate her new room just the way she liked it. I may not have been thrilled to be there, but I was happy for Bianca. Her life would be different now.
As I bit into an orange, feeling peckish, I noticed a small stack of mail sitting on the bar and looked at it curiously. I wondered if I should sift through it.
“Yes, you have started getting mail here,” Ion commented, making me jump. I didn’t realize he was there, but he had come into the kitchen from the other side, making himself a Bloody Mary. The man did like to drink.
I stood up and went over to the stack, pulling out only one envelope which was for me. I could hardly read the handwriting of the return address, but I could tell by the postage it came from out of the country. I opened it with shaking hands, worried what I might find there. I certainly did not expect what I was reading. It felt like I was in some strange dream.
My dearest Mariana,
I first wanted to give my deepest condolences for the loss of your family and for the horrors you must have endured over the last eight years. I assure you, had I known where you were and who had been holding you captive, his end would have come painfully and swiftly.
We have never met, but I knew your father very well, and so did my father. We are all happy to hear that you have been rescued and are back with us. There is a lot of hope for the clans now that a Vasile is back with us. There has been much turmoil with you away.
I want to express my greatest gratitude to Ion Petran and the rest of the Petran clan for bringing you back to us alive, and it is with much passion and thought that I wish to ask you a very important question.
I would like to ask for your hand in marriage. If you accept, you will receive the ring in the photo I have provided inside of this envelope and come to live with me at my compound in Germany. It is a beautiful place that I believe both you and your daughter will love. I hope one day you could learn to love me as well.
Sincerely,
Phillipe Sala.
Just as the letter said, there was a photo of a ring, a quite expensive one, inside the envelope. I felt my jaw drop to the floor. Phillipe was the current reigning head of the Sala clan in Germany. He was a little over a decade older than me and known for his diplomacy as well as his red hair. I had heard about him many times from my family, though as he said, I had never met him. So, why in the world was he proposing to me?
Still dealing with the shock, I passed the letter on to Ion, watching as he read it. I was certain he would be furious, but he had very little reaction.
“I guess I should have warned you,” Ion said, placing the letter back down on the bar. “When I went to that meeting with the heads of the clans, they expressed that they feel my engagement to you should be voided. Your parents, namely your father, are dead, and so the contract is invalid. They think they all have the right to attempt to marry you and take the position as king of the mob for themselves.”
I shook my head, unsure what to think of it. There were two sides to this. It could be a chance for me to finally have some kind of freedom of choice and to ensure the Vasile name was upheld. On the other hand, I knew that for the most part, it would be more greedy men going for a power grab. The older then man was, the more likely that was all it would be. And then my life wouldn’t be much better than with Jonas, and I would let my father down. Ion had been chosen for a reason, but I didn’t want there to be an uproar because I was not even willing to consider one of these men. After all, I still didn’t know Ion.
“I think this is the first time I have seen you speechless,” Ion teased, making me scowl at him. He always had something smart-assy to say. It was one of the first things I had learned about Ion besides his cocky dominance.
“Well, I honestly don’t know what to do or say. I can’t let the clans get even more chaotic because I won’t even consider this. I’m not ready to just accept some proposal from a man I don’t know, but I should do something. What do you think?” I asked, knowing I would probably regret it.
Ion cracked up, laughing loudly. “Are you seriously asking for my opinion. You haven’t listened to a damn word I have said since I rescued you. I would love for you to do as I say, but I don’t see it happening any time soon,” he teased, making me cross my arms over my chest in annoyance. I wasn’t beyond slapping him, but I knew that I wouldn’t as soon as I saw Bianca come skipping into the room. There wasn’t going to be any violence in front of her anymore, not even harmless stuff.
“Look, go ahead and go out with some of them. That is fine. Keep the peace. You will not choose any of them over me, I can guarantee it.” Ion was being a cocky ass, and I was ready to call a clan leader up for a date immediately just to piss him off.
“If you need me, I will be in your office, setting up dates,” I said in a huff, leaving the room dramatically. The truth was, I kind of regretted agreeing to do it as I began going through the files on the clan leaders. Many of them were older men who I would want nothing to do with romantically. The younger ones I knew little about since I had been in isolation since the age of 16, and I had never paid too much attention since I was supposed to be with Ion. But I had to try. So, I decided to go with one of the youngest, the head of the clan in the northwest United Sates; Jan Constantin. From what I can remember, Jan had an older sister, she was almost two decades older than him, and she was killed when I was a child. The power of Clan Constantin would’ve been transferred over to her husband, but she did not have one, so at the young age of thirteen Jan held all of the power in Clan Constantin.
I picked up the phone and dialed nervously, not sure how to approach this. I was surprised when Jan himself answered the phone rather than some servant or one of his clan members. “Jan Constantin,” he said. I could hear a bit of cockiness in his voice just as he spoke his name. It wasn’t like Ion, though. It was cheesy, like the kind you got from a high school football player. Then again, he was only a few years older than Ion.
“This is Mariana Vasile,” I said.
“Mariana? Wow, it is great to hear from you. I had hoped we would see you at the last meeting, but Ion let us know you were still in recovery from being shot. I am so sorry for what has happened to you. How can I help you today?” he asked, sounding more like a car salesman than the head of a mob clan. But somehow, it made me smile. He was laid back. He seemed normal.
“I know that the clans have been questioning if Ion should still be engaged to me or if that is invalid since my parents are gone. I wanted to let you know that I have decided to consider dating some of the other clan leaders and then make an appropriate decision,” I said, trying to be diplomatic about it all.
“So, basically, you are asking me on a date?” he asked, making me crack up. I just couldn’t avoid the reaction anymore. He was a character.
“Yes, I guess I am,” I confessed, skipping the pretense.
“I wholeheartedly accept Mariana Vasile. I will fly out to New York in a few days,” he said before hanging up. I shook my head, unsure of what this would mean for me. I never had any inclination to date or do any of the normal things young women did. That was stripped from me, even more, when my innocence was stolen by Jonas. But now it was like getting a second chance, and even if Ion won in the end, at least I would feel like I had a say. I would feel like some part of this was my decision, not a decision that was made for me.
Coming off the high of the conversation with Jan, I thought to the letter I had received and knew that Phillipe also deserved to hear from me. He had sounded so courteous and kind in the letter, and I wanted to know if that was real or not. So, I picked up the phone once again, dialing out of the country. This time, I had to go through more than one secretary to reach Phillipe himself, but the mention of my name certainly got him on the line quick.
“Mariana, it is such a pleasure to hear from you,” he said in his thick accent. It went right along with what I had read in the letter. I could hear him reading it in my head. “Have you received my letter?” he asked kindly, wanting an answer.
“I did, and I thank you for it. I wanted to let you know that while I am not immediately accepting your proposal, I am taking into consideration the possibility of choosing another clan leader as my husband. I want to make sure whoever takes over is strong and right for my daughter and I, especially after what I have been through.” I said, hoping he wouldn’t be offended. He was obviously a powerful man, and I wasn’t looking to offend him.
“I can fully respect that Miss Vasile. I am so glad that you have thought to contact me and let me know what is on your mind. I would be happy to take you out on some wonderful dates. I have a private jet and can easily get to you or bring you to me. When would you like to see me?” I was caught off guard by the question. I didn’t expect to be given so much control by these men.
“As soon as you can get here.”
Mariana
Things had been tense since I had asked two of the other clan members out on dates. As Jan walked me to the door, I was curious as to what would be waiting for me when I got inside. Ion had been kind enough to watch Bianca while I was on the date, but I also thought there was a ploy there. He was trying to make himself look good.
Jan stood over me, his muscular arm practically trapping me below it against the door. I knew this was the last time I was going to see this guy in any romantic way. He was too much of a meat head, but at least the date had been amusing. I also wasn’t about to let on to Ion that the date had failed. He wasn’t winning that easily. I just couldn’t stand the idea of giving in when he was so damn cocky.
Jan was leaning in as if he might kiss me. I wondered if I should let it happen. I didn’t get the chance to decide as the door flew open, making me fall backwards. I had to be caught and put upright again by Ion, who I shot an annoyed glance at. He had to have been watching us through the peep hole. It was a little childish in my opinion.
“Thank you for bringing her home, Jan,” Ion said, trying to dismiss him quickly. I shook my head at Ion, and it made a smirk broaden across Jan’s face.
“No problem, Ion. I suppose I will will see the both of you soon,” Jan said, reaching out his hand to shake Ion’s. Ion did shake his hand, but I could tell the grip was a bit much by the way Jan’s face screwed up into a scowl. Finally, Ion slammed the door on him.
“You will not be seeing either of us soon,” Ion stated with confidence. I wanted so badly to refute him and make him angry, but he could probably tell Jan and I did not hit it off. I tried to go for silence, staring at Ion in some strange competition. He wasn’t buying it. “Don’t even try to tell me you have anything going with that man if you can call him that.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes at Ion. “Fine, but you will see Phillipe again. He is going to take me on a second date in a few days,” I bragged, trying to hit him where it hurt. A second date was probably a big deal to Ion. It meant there was something there. I had been surprised by it, but the way Phillipe was so polite and attentive, and the way he wined and dined me, was incredibly charming. He was a hard man to resist, regardless of his age. And he wasn’t so bad looking. He just didn’t have the hint of darkness Ion did. He didn’t make me feel pressured at all, and for someone who had been through what I had, it meant a lot.
“We will see about that,” Ion told me as if it were some kind of threat. I was ready to change the subject.
“How is Bianca?” I asked, anxious to know how they got along.
“Bianca is fine. She is upstairs, getting dressed for bed. She had dinner already, and we had a good time. Though, she missed you.” Any other time I would have melted at that statement, but I knew coming for Ion it was a complete manipulation.
“Thank you,” I said, trying to avoid eye contact or any more conversation. I could feel myself being sucked in little by little, and I hated it. I headed to Bianca’s room to check in on her, but I could feel his eyes on me the whole time, watching the movement of my body.
“I expect you in our bedroom when you’re done attending to Puff,” Ion said, I turned back to him, staring right into his dark eyes. He hadn’t made me share the bed with him since I came here, though I should have expected it sooner or later.
“I’m sorry, what?” I said, trying to see if he would say the same thing or give up on the matter.
“I told you, draga, you will be in our bed tonight.” I took one last glance at him and went into Bianca’s room, tending to her. She had requested two stories before she started to doze off and I happily complied. Her favorites have become the princess stories, where the knights in shining armor come to save their beloved. In a twisted way, maybe Ion is my knight. There’s one thing I know for sure, and that is that fairytales aren’t real.
I walked back into the bedroom – my bedroom, which I suppose was now our bedroom. “She asked for two stories, or three?” Ion asked me; I glanced over at him, he was taking off his dress shirt. I couldn’t help but stare at him, the way his glorious body was exposed.
“Two,” I told him, going to my drawers and grabbing a pajama set. I didn’t bother going out of the room to change out of my date attire. Ion had already seen my scars; I had nothing to hide from him. I slid my dress off until it pooled at my feet, slid on my silk shorts and pulled on a matching purple silk camisole. “Do you really think that the other clan heads are going to be happy to know that I’m sharing a bed with you when I’m dating some of them?” I asked, a tad annoyed at his sudden need to be sharing a bed with me.
“Does it look like I give a shit? I don’t. They need to understand that while they are out on dates with you, my draga, that I am the one warming your bed, the one who will tend to your needs, the one who truly takes care of you and Puff” I took a step towards the bed as he spoke, ‘tend to your needs’ caught me off guard. Nothing sexual has happened between Ion and me besides that brief kiss. I wouldn’t lie to myself; I wanted to kiss him again. I craved his lips on mine, his hands on my body. I feel like deep down the dating of the other clan members was a horse and pony show. I had no real interest in any of them. Phillipe was promising, but Ion was something else entirely. In a split second, I’d made up my mind, I’d go out on one more date with Philippe as I promised him, but I would not go out on another. Not when I wanted to be here, with Ion.
In truth, I didn’t know exactly what I felt for Ion. I just knew that it was so strong, what I felt for this cocky, arrogant man was nothing compared to the small like I had for Phillipe.
I walked to my side of the bed, where Ion had slid in and stared. “I sleep here,” I told him, waiting for his argument. Instead, I didn’t get any. He got out of the bed, standing in front of me. He slid his hands around me and flipped me over, slamming my back against the mattress. “What are you doing?” I asked, startled by his sudden movement.
“I’m kissing my wife goodnight.”
“I’m not your wife” I angrily pointed out.
His lips turned up into a smile as they pressed against mine, “Not yet, draga, but you will be” Ion’s lips were soft, his hands were rough around my body, his hand tangled in my hair and he pulled slightly. I thought the act would startle me; it only served to excite me. While his hands were rough exploring my body, his kiss was light and delicate. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders feeling him, his strength, his power. This is exactly what I mean; I don’t want to kiss Phillipe, or any other man as much as I want to kiss Ion. I opened wider, intruding my tongue in his mouth, meeting with his. He enhanced the intensity of our kiss; I could feel chills radiating all the way through my body.
Ion yanked me up into his lap; I could feel his hardening shaft against my silk shorts. I rolled my hips against him; I wanted him. I’d never wanted sex before; it was always given to me if I could even call it that. “Fuck me, Ion.”
He ripped his lips away from mine, staring me dead in the eyes. “Ana, I will not be fucking you tonight” I’d expected him to turn into a caveman and fuck me the way I wanted him to, to claim me in the last way he could, to go all alpha male and mark me as his. I didn’t expect him to deny me.
“Why not?” I ask him
“Why not? You haven’t ever had a good sexual experience. You were raped for years by that despicable animal. I’m not going to fuck you. When we’re together, my little draga, I will be making love to you, and that will not be tonight. God, I want you so badly, but now is not the time. I will take you when you are ready for me. We’ve been together for two weeks. We have an eternity, love” I was pissed. How dare he deny me what I ask of him. In a way, a small, miniscule way, I find it sweet that he denies me, that he believes he’s somehow protecting me. In a big way, I find it extremely irritating, and I want to slap him. He brushed his thumb against my cheek and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. “All in time, now, let’s get to sleep, yes?”
I didn’t respond, Ion just took control, positioning me, so I was up against him, his body pressed up against my back, his arms draped around me. For the first time in years, I can say that I feel safe. I’ll never know why my father chose Ion, but somehow, I’m starting to figure out why.
“Goodnight” he murmured into the back of my hair.
“Night.”
***
Phillipe came just a few days later. This time, instead of taking me on a jet, we stayed closer to home. He knew of a restaurant that was romantic and known for its huge dancefloor and VIP seating. I felt a buzz go through me at the idea of being on a fancy date with a man like that. Phillipe had a way of making a woman feel special, even if he couldn’t make me feel the way that Ion did. This date was the last one. I was going to tell him at the end of the date that I wouldn’t be seeing him any longer. He was a great man, just not the man I envisioned to be in my future. His eyes would stay on you the whole night, and he would brag about you to the wait staff. It was something totally different than anything I had experienced. I wondered what all these Sala clan members did with their spare time and money. They had to be some fun people to hang out with. Or maybe they were all snobs.
The restaurant was superb; the kind that only served the best bottles of wine and with golden chandeliers making a spotlight over the tables and dancefloor. It was a little crowded, but I could see why. It was probably a hot spot for rich couples, and I found myself wondering if it was a place Ion had ever thought of bringing me. I shouldn’t have been thinking about Ion on a date with another man, but I supposed it was difficult when we were still technically engaged and living in the same house, and the fact that I couldn’t stop thinking about Ion. That was the problem, he’s infected all of my thoughts, and now I’m sitting here on a date with Phillipe thinking about the way Ion kissed me just a few days before, and the way he would leave a small peck on my lips in passing.
Phillipe reached across the table and placed his hand on mine affectionately; it took me out of my daydreaming thoughts of Ion. Phillipe did things like that often even though we technically didn’t know each other. It felt like he actually meant the things he said and that he might like me. But if I was honest with myself, I liked the lifestyle more than I liked him. He was a bit much sometimes, spending so much money at the drop of a hat and quoting famous poems I didn’t recognize. The sad part was, none of it was fake. Or at least, I didn’t detect that it was.
“I am so happy you are here with me tonight,” he said. Phillipe could easily make any woman swoon and compare their time with him to a fairytale, but there was something missing that I just couldn’t place. Maybe something was wrong with me because of Jonas, and I was incapable of developing feelings for a good man. Ion isn’t a good man. I know that. I’m not naïve. Although, he may be good for me. I still don’t know him, I’m learning, but I know he keeps secrets. Ion isn’t a horrid man; he’s a product of the cloth he was cut from, as am I.
“Would you like to dance?” I asked him, our gazes meeting. I was trying to pass the time as quickly as possible. I just wanted to get back home. A jazz number was being played, and few other couples were making their way to the dancefloor after finishing their tapas. The light was the perfect low glow, and Phillipe nodded, leading me gracefully and flawlessly out onto the floor.
I was surprised as my body responded to the rhythm. I danced as a child, but with all my injuries and the fact that I had done nothing of the sort in over eight years, made me worry that I wouldn’t be able to do these things anymore. Yet, I was swaying with him to the music. It was a silent dance, but it was nice; the kind you might have with someone you had been with for a long time – the kind I should be having with Ion.
After the song was over, he excused himself to the men’s room, I supposed, or maybe to take a phone call from his clan. It could have been anything, but he left me on the dancefloor instead of at our table. I felt awkward just standing there until I felt a hand on mine, spinning me towards the person violently as a new song was played. It sounded like it could be for a tango, and I looked at the face of the man who had decided to be so bold and saw that it was none other than Ion, crashing my date.
“Shouldn’t you be with Bianca?” I asked in annoyance, trying not to let the music or his dancing skills get to me. I didn’t want him to know how my feelings were starting to grow; he’s already a cocky, arrogant asshole. He’d love that I’m starting to develop something for him.
“Bianca is with our cousin, and she is fine. They are painting each other’s nails or something. I thought if they hit it off, she could be the live-in nanny for us. Besides, aren’t you supposed to be on your date with Sala?” he asked with his eyebrow raised at me. Damn it; he was hot when he did that. What was wrong with me? I was supposed to experiencing freedom and dating, and I still found myself entrapped with Ion Petran. Damn him, and his use of his cousin as ours.
“I am on a date,” I retorted. “Until you stole me away,” I harrumphed back like a kid.
“I plan on doing that for the rest of your life,” he whispered as he put his lips ear my ear again. One trick pony or not, it was a turn on. “You would have been so bored to death, anyway. Aren’t you done with him?” Ion asked, daring me to tell him the truth. My heart was beating fast, and I could do one of two things. I could disappear with my betrothed and admit may attraction to him before Phillipe even saw us together, or I could walk away from Ion and get back to the table so I could enjoy the meal with Phillipe.
“I can’t lie,” I told Ion, coming to a conclusion as his hands stroked my hips and up my sides. The way he dominated me just enough without being harmful was something I realized I needed. I was no good given just any option in the world. “I am bored. Let’s get out of here.”
A triumphant smile came to Ion’s face, and he led me out the back-way lightning fast. He already had the car waiting for us as if he had known the whole time I would say yes. I looked over at him as the car sped away, I assumed to the house, and I shook my head at him. “You are a cocky bastard.”
Those were the last coherent words I got out as Ion’s green eyes met my chocolate ones just before he closed our short distance with a kiss. My body responded with something similar to what it had when he had touched me the day on the treadmill. Even if I didn’t love Ion, or even like him sometimes, my body was thinking something entirely different. A sort of frenzy began, and I wondered if this was what it felt like to have the freedom to choose to be with a man. I suddenly wanted to experience that freedom, and I didn’t want it to be in bed he was forcing me to sleep in, or in the house with my daughter. I wanted it to happen now, so I hoped the driver went slow.
I pressed my body up against Ion’s, trying to let him know what I wanted. In this department, I had no true experience, so I hoped I wasn’t making a complete fool of myself as I placed my hand on his thigh, caressing it, before moving up more and more. I wanted to have him anticipate it before I reached the spot, which was much closer than I had imagined. He was hard, his shaft sliding down his pant leg towards me in response to our continued kisses, tongues dancing in each other’s mouths. This is what dancing should feel like.
I let my hand stroke him through his pants, and he growled into my mouth before nipping at my bottom lip, pulling it into his mouth. It swelled with pleasure as I trailed my hand up his chest, feeling the muscle underneath. I began to unbutton his shirt, but he stopped me, tipping me over in the backseat so that he was looming over me. He had one hand under my head to support it, making sure I was looking right into his eyes. His other hand began to remove my clothes effortlessly, finding no trouble with zippers or buttons. Before I knew it, I was naked on the leather seat as Ion was kissing down my body, making goose bumps rise all over my skin. “I wanted to wait for you little minx, but you’re so tempting.”
I shivered as his lips landed at my navel, letting my head go so that his fingertips of his other hand could stroke my nipples. They instantly hardened, and I arched my back in response. No one had ever touched me like that, in a way I might enjoy. “You’re a smart woman, love. I bet you knew there was nothing more that I’d love to do then be inside you after your date, hmm?”
The moment his hand slipped farther down, finding that sweet spot on me, my mind was blown. I knew it was possible and that it existed, but I didn’t think any man would ever touch me where I would like to be touched. He had my full attention and control at that point. “Answer me, love.”
“Y-yes” I trembled, Ion sat up just enough to begin stripping himself. I tried to sit up on my elbows so I could watch, but he shoved me back down, his palm landing square on my chest. There was that dominance again. He was the male lion, the head of the pride. I didn’t know he was finished until I felt his shaft, his hard-on right up against my thigh now. I tried to judge the size based on what I had felt and wondered what I was in for. Did his manhood match his confidence? I certainly hope so.
Ion snaked his hands up my legs before spreading them apart. The head of his shaft was now sitting at my entrance. It was not because he was waiting for permission, but he was going for suspense. The minute he slid inside of me, pushing through my wet center as far as he could, my mouth rounded out in an O. My hand reached up to grab the “oh shit” bar, dangling from it as his slow, hard thrusts sent pleasurable shivers down my spine.
I didn’t know sex would ever be that good for me, but I felt my mind letting go, feeling free in the sensations as he rocked my body. I moaned, relaxing into him as he took control of me, his cock spreading me wider as his rhythm picked up. My hand lets go of the bar, and both my hands travelled down his bare back, feeling the ripple of the muscles with the effort of his movements. He would go slow and then fast and then slow again, holding me back from that moment I wanted to experience so badly. It was pure heaven, and I never wanted it to end.
The car was slowing down, and I knew this needed to happen fast. He wouldn’t dare leave me so worked up and unsatisfied, would he? Just as the car slowed, he rocked his hips hard against mine, finally letting it happen as my body shivered beneath his. He held onto me as I moaned, feeling like I had been transported to another planet, his own release happening at the same time.