I watch Vlad take a bite as I study his scruffy unshaven face. We’ve been locked up in his home for almost a week, having only left a few times when we needed to - when I went to see my sister, and when he had a meeting to clear his work schedule so he can stay with me while I settle into living with him. I think he might actually be taking this caveman act a little too far. Okay, that’s a lie. I’m still enjoying the lingering sensations that his facial hair left on my inner thighs this morning.

He smiles and swallows the food without really chewing it, making appreciative sounds. I narrow my eyes at him, and he smiles at me. I know he’s faking it. I pick up the plate of muffins and toss them into the trash before putting the plate into the sink.

I feel him come up behind me, and he slides his hands around my hips and turns me around. He lifts me, setting me on the counter then sliding between my legs. “I ate every bite,” he says, and I glance over at his empty plate.

“Well, I hope you don’t die because I kinda like having you around,” I say, half-pouting, half-teasing, and it makes him laugh. God, I’m the worst cook, and it’s driving me absolutely nuts. How am I supposed to feed a family if I can’t even cook?

“I’ll eat anything you make.” He tries to get me to not be upset, but it’s hard. I’ve been cooking all week and it seems to be one failure after another.

“I want you to actually like it, though.”

“I love it because you made it, I love it because I get to sit at the kitchen bar and watch you move around making me something to eat. I’ll love it more when you’re barefoot and round with our baby while doing it.”

I wrap my arms around his neck, the disappointment in my culinary skills fading fast.

“I love you,” I tell him before I pull him down to kiss me. His mouth meets mine, and I only kiss him for a moment before pulling away. “Oh my God, I can still taste that muffin and it’s terrible. How did you eat the whole thing?”

He shrugs like it was no big deal, and I can’t help but laugh. God, I love him. He would do anything to make me happy.

“I’m going to bring some wood in for the fire.” He pulls me off the counter and gives my ass a firm squeeze. “Why don’t you get your book and lie on the sofa and wait for me.”

“Mmky,” I say blissfully, knowing what’s coming. I may have only been staying with Vlad for a week, but we already have a routine. In the late afternoons, I lie on the sofa in front of the fire while he brings his laptop out to work. I switch from reading to taking little catnaps. During one nap I know I’ll wake up with his mouth between my legs.

It’s my favorite part of the day. Okay, maybe second, because the first is lying in bed with him at night. I had no idea life could be this sweet, and I’m soaking it up, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I haven’t heard from my mother since the wedding, and I know she knows something is up. She watched me all night at the wedding, and Vlad did not do his best at hiding that he wanted me, even though he thinks he did an okay job and held himself back. I’m not sure he knows what holding back really is.

I watch him leave, then I go to our bedroom to get my book. Making my way down the hall, I go straight for our room. Our bedroom is the only one on this floor. Five other bedroom are upstairs. It almost feels like this home was plucked right out of my dreams. Vlad had it built years ago, and it sits right outside the castle, not even a mile away. But there’s a small road that only we can use to get to Alena and Roman. I like that it’s easy to see my sister.

He told me he never thought about why he built a house so big with no plans of ever marrying or having children. But after our first night here, he told me he must have known deep down I was coming. He’d built it for me. I might have cried all over him. He was right. He would always give me what I want. He was doing it before he even knew what it was. What I love most about the house is that while it’s big, it also all feels cozy and intimate. It’s warm and feels like a home.

I grab my book off the nightstand and go to the living room, which connects to the kitchen. I debate having another stab at baking, but decide I really should order some cookbooks or something first. But I haven’t had much desire to leave the house. I want to keep the outside world away from us.

I’ve wonder if my mom has been trying to get a hold of me. I know I was supposed to meet with a potential husband a few days ago, but the day came and went and nothing happened.

Sitting on the sofa I’m surprised when I hear a knock at the front door. I glance towards the way Vlad went out and wonder what I should do. I have a strong feeling he wouldn’t like me answering the door. Plus, I’m only wearing his shirt.

“Tabitha, open the door right this minute.”

I feel a knot form in the pit of my stomach when I hear my mother’s voice. I clutch my book in my hands, desperate to do anything but face her. But I know I have to. I can’t keep living in fear that I’ll be taken from Vlad at any moment.

I drop the book down on the table and make my way over to the door. Opening it, I see my mother looking disheveled. She pushes past me into the house.

“Mother, you can’t just come into Vlad’s house. He hasn’t invited you,” I tell her, straightening my back. I really have no reason to fear her now. She can’t hurt Alena anymore, and deep down I know Vlad will never let me go. Even if that means we have to run away together. I would do that without a second thought. I won’t lose him. I know there are laws in place that would rip us apart.

“Oh, your own mother isn’t invited into your husband’s house?” Her gaze fixes on the ring Vlad put on my finger the night we arrived here. He said he saw it and knew it was made for me.

I look down at the beautiful ring. It’s a simple band studded with diamonds. It’s made for a woman who knows her hands will be busy, and I plan on running a house and taking care of our children. It’s perfect - the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.

“We aren’t married,” I tell her, adding a hard, “yet.”

“I saw the marriage paper. Signed by the king himself!” she snaps back. “How dare you go and break tradition!” She shakes her head. “You always did think you were better than everyone.” I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I wonder if she’s drunk. I mean, more drunk than normal.

“What the fuck are you doing in our home?” Vlad’s voice is so low and deadly it makes me jump. I didn’t hear him come in. He drops all the logs he was carrying and moves towards us, clearly on a mission.

“You were told you weren’t allowed within a hundred miles of here.” he continues clearing the distance between my mother and him quickly.

“One hundred miles? She doesn’t even live that far from here how could…” I trail off, putting together what he’s saying. My mother isn’t allowed here?

“You were given your orders and five days to clear out, but here you stand, tempting your fate, and I’m the wrong one to tempt it with.” He leans towards my mother, leveling her with a hard stare. “You know I wanted to do more than make you leave. The only reason I didn’t push is because my princess is sweet and soft at the core, and even if she doesn’t care for you, you’re still her mother. She wouldn’t like knowing I wanted you stripped of all your titles and left in the streets.”

I gasp at Vlad’s words. He looks over at me. That deadly look he had slips away. “I won’t let anyone think they can scare you. Or have you live in fear of someone. She sealed her fate the day she stopped acting like a mother and didn’t protect what was brought into this world to be mine.” My heart melts a little more for this man. I don’t know how he keeps doing that, but he does.

“Tabitha.” My mother says it as a plea, softer than I’ve ever heard her speak.

“Mother, just go before he changes his mind. Before I change my mind about it, too,” I tell her.

“Tabitha,” she tries again, and this time I can’t stop myself from yelling.

“Go! And forget Alena and I ever existed. Forget that you were ever a mother!” I shout, watching anger twist her face. I’m thankful for it. For the first time in my life I’m happy to see the anger on her face. It makes it all easier. “Not that you were ever one to begin with.”

Her mouth falls open a little, and I can tell she is about to say something, but a low growl fills the room and she returns her attention to Vlad. She hears the warning and nods. She turns and walks out the door, and I push it closed behind her, not taking my eyes from Vlad.

“Are we married?” I ask him. I see a sheepish look cross his face.

“Don’t be mad,” he says, putting his hands up like I might attack him.

He’s right, because as soon as I hear the words, I run at him, jumping into his arms. He catches me easily, and I take his mouth with mine in a deep, hard kiss.

When I pull back I notice I’m flat on my back of the sofa, with him looming over me.

“I might have made some demands to the king.”

“You’re such a caveman.”

“It was pissing me off, people saying you weren’t mine.” He growls again, making me laugh.

“What if I wanted a wedding?” I ask him, still smiling. I watch his eyes go soft for me like they always do when he gets me where he wants me.

“Do you want one? I’ll give you one if you do. You know I’ll give you anything you ask for.”

“No,” I tell him. I don’t have to think about it. One would think with how I like to dress up I’d be all too happy to have a wedding, but I don’t want one. All I want is to be locked away with Vlad. I don’t want to take the time for a wedding when I can spend my time right here beneath my caveman husband.