Two by Day, Three by Night Read online

  “Would this be considered a paid debt for what I owe you? For drugging you?”

  “It will be a start.”

  “You will allow me to conduct the day as I desire? With no arguing?” Marcas asked, taking her hand and turning it to graze the inside of her wrist with his lips and teeth.

  “I will be putty in your hands.” Courtney smiled, hoping he would catch her suggestion.

  “We will see. Go freshen up and meet me downstairs for breakfast.”

  Courtney watched him leave the room and slowly sat back down on the bed, leaning back to gaze through the gossamer fabric draped over the poles. She ached for his touch, to be held tightly in his long arms, to listen to his deep, warm voice whisper Romanian love phrases in her ear. What has happened with me? Did he slip me a love potion or is it just the spell cast by the countryside?

  Follow love and it will flee thee; flee love and it will follow thee. Sebastian’s words reverberated in Courtney’s thoughts. What if there was no following or fleeing? Would love then be found? Courtney stood next to the large open window to look over the dense woods and the towering mountains; a single tear formed the corner of her eye.

  “Sebastian wants me to find my own truth,” she said aloud, leaning against the window frame. “The truth is I want love. I don’t want to die alone. Even if it’s just one person at my side, I would be satisfied. But it terrifies me. I don’t want to be hurt again.” A breeze caressed her face, reminding her of Marcas’ gentle caress. She lifted her hand to her cheek and closed her eyes.

  Sebastian raised his hand in greeting as Courtney joined them downstairs in the dining area. She had dressed in a loose blouse and jeans, her hair still damp and pulled back into a tight braid. She kissed the old man’s cheek and plopped down next to him. “Sorry it took so long. The hot water felt heavenly and then I got lost trying to find this room.”

  “It will take you a while to make your way around the manor. Young Marcas used to have many hiding places that he used to avoid his lessons,” Sebastian snitched as Marcas entered the room, carrying a fistful of cut orchids in multiple colors. He bowed as he handed them to the young woman.

  “Welcome to my home and my hearth, Courtney Wells. May you forever be blessed with health, wealth, and happiness while under the shelter of my roof.”

  “Why, thank you. And these are beautiful. Can I help with breakfast?”

  “No, you are a guest. Solphia? Serve us, please?” Marcas called. An old woman dressed in a brightly colored skirt and embroidered apron appeared shortly, her near-toothless grin comical as she fussed over Marcas and poured his tea.

  “My boy, he is home now! My little Marcas,” the stocky Hungarian exclaimed in broken English, covering Marcas’ face with kisses and pinching his cheeks. Courtney held back laughter as the handsome baron sat quietly, tolerating the old lady’s attentions.

  “Courtney, this is Solphia. She was my governess and now she thinks she’s my mother,” Marcas sighed, wincing as another pinch to his cheek was given.

  “You are treasure? You come break curse!” Solphia exclaimed, her callused hands grabbing Courtney’s face as she heartily kissed both cheeks. Marcas said something sharply and Solphia pulled away with a hurt expression.

  “You hurt her feelings. What did you say to her? And what was she talking about?”

  “She likes to gossip and share the folktales of the country. She knows I do not permit it.”

  “Stories are harmless, you grouchy old bear. Be nice. She missed her little Marcas,” Courtney teased, sipping her tea.

  He pointed a finger at her. “Do not start with me, Courtney. You know how I treat sass.”

  “I’m not a’scared of you, you big bully. Now you get your butt in that kitchen and thank that woman for breakfast.”

  “She is my staff. It is her job.” Marcas scowled, ignoring Sebastian’s chuckle.

  “You owe her an apology for being so gruff. I’m not going to allow you to kiss me again if you don’t do this.”

  “I take what I want, you do not give. No, I will not.”

  “And why not? Are you so prideful that you can’t apologize when you screw up?”

  “My angel,” Sebastian reached for her hand, “it is not pride that prevents him from giving into your request. It is the fear of Solphia’s large wooden spoon held ready to teach him manners. She was not as permissive with his behavior as I.”

  “Chicken shit. I bet if I had been the rude one you would have jumped all over my case.”

  “Very well.” Marcas stood, tossing his napkin on the table and turning to walk into the kitchen. Sebastian winked as they heard voices raise slightly and a loud crack, followed by a scuffling as Marcas barged through the doorway. He rubbed the side of his thigh absently as he rejoined the other two at the table.

  “Hurt?” Courtney asked, snickering.

  “You’ll see for yourself later when I find cause to use the spoon on you,” Marcas announced, scowling as he picked at his breakfast.

  “Lighten up, boy. You pout like you did as a child. And do not glower at me or I will ask The Almighty to freeze your face in that way.”

  Courtney began laughing loudly at the interaction, blushing when a snort escaped her lips. Sebastian raised an eyebrow as Marcas suddenly joined her hilarity. The harder she laughed, the more she snorted and the more she snorted, the harder Marcas chortled. Sebastian glanced over at Solphia who stood in the doorway, witnessing the couple’s joy. She looked hopefully at the old man, who nodded. Tracing the shape of a cross over her heart, the old woman looked up and lifted thanks to the heavens.

  The remainder of the day was spent exploring the house and pushing Sebastian around the grounds while Marcas went to his office in town. Solphia patted her as though she were a puppy, offering her myriads of pastries and pinching her hips as she tsked.

  “Eat more!” Solphia ordered, pointing to the platter. When Courtney shook her head, the old woman appeared with a large, heavy wooden stirring spoon in her hand. She pointed to the platter again. Swallowing, Courtney picked up a pasty and began to nibble. She had no doubt the old nanny would treat her in the same manner as Marcas. In its own strange way, Solphia’s behavior gave her a sense of belonging and total acceptance in the baron’s household.

  Marcas came home right after sunset and stormed into the house, startling Courtney and Sebastian as they watched television.

  “Are you okay?” Courtney asked, walking over to him. “You look angry.”

  “I have no patience for stupidity. I need release. Come with me.”

  “Whoa… don’t think you can just make demands on me because you suddenly feel like it.” Courtney poked him in the stomach. Marcas grabbed her hand and flipped her around, pressing her back to him as he held her snugly.

  “Remember what you said to me? That you could adapt to my ways? Let us see. Solphia!” he yelled. The woman ran in, her eyes wide as she saw the grip he had on Courtney. They exchanged a few words and Solphia lowered her face, nodding. Sebastian grabbed the woman’s hand and said something to her in a reassuring tone. With that, Marcas dragged Courtney behind him towards the back of the house and to the secluded entrance to the cellar.

  Chapter Seven

  Oddly enough, Courtney felt no fear with this sudden change of behavior. Inherently, she knew he would not harm her, nor had she done anything to incur his wrath. He pulled the heavy door open, the loud creaking sound echoing in the darkness below.

  “I need light, Marcas,” Courtney said gently as he began down the stairs. Wordlessly, he reached up to flip a switch and the wall shone with small, luminous lights that cast a warm yellow glow against the walls and up to the ceiling. She followed him down the creaking wood stairs, crossing her arms to the cold as her eyes adjusted to the dim light.

  “Sit,” he ordered, pointing to the familiar divan and striding to the wide-mouthed hearth. Courtney slowly sat as the man lit the gas fed fire. He stacked wood in the flames and waited until the logs caught a
nd the sound of crackling filled the room.

  “What happened today to make you so upset? Come talk to me,” Courtney asked, patting the seat.

  “No talk right now. Stand.”

  “I’ll stand after you sit down and spend a couple of minutes with me. Don’t be so stubborn. You need to rrrrrelax,” she rolled the ‘R’ over her tongue.

  “My assistant is an idiot. He is arranging tour of Castle Bran instead of the countryside. The world will never see us as romantic when we sell ourselves as horrors.” He paced the floor restlessly, muttering unintelligible words under his breath. “That was where the vampire legend was birthed and I wish nothing to do with it. We are not a land filled with monsters and death,” he explained, seeing the confusion written across her face.

  “Well, I’m convinced that your country is romantic and very beautiful. And the only monster I have met is your bad mood.” Courtney grinned, standing and approaching him. She gently took his hand and kissed the back of it before leading him back to the divan and pulling him to sit next to her. She curled her feet underneath her and placed her hand on his cheek. “Marcas, can I do anything to help? Your homecoming should be joyous, not bitter.”

  “You offer yourself to me?”

  “I… yes. I am offering myself. You are right, I can’t deny the desire I feel for you. I am just… afraid.”

  “I shall not harm you.”

  “No, I am afraid of my heart being hurt, not my body. I can’t allow that to happen. Ever. I don’t want to feel anything for you beyond the physical.”

  “One day, I will have your heart, my Courtney. I have patience to wait. Until that time, we both will have much pleasure.” He began to cover her slender neck with kisses. “Will you accept my way?”

  “Yes. I am… curious. You promise that you won’t harm me?” Courtney shivered as he reached to unbutton her blouse, pulling her to her feet.

  “I promise. Such softness…” he murmured into her bare shoulder as he peeled away the shirt and tossed it onto the floor. He nuzzled his nose between her breasts and he reached behind to unsnap her bra, stepping back to admire the fabulous globes and erect, pink nipples. “Your body is calling for me, yes?”

  “Yes… I… I’m not usually like this,” Courtney whispered, closing her eyes as he gently pinched her nipples between his fingers.

  “Be free in your desire, little one.”

  Courtney whimpered as his teeth nipped her hardened buds, both aroused, and confused, by the sensation he brought her. She felt herself arching into his mouth, her juices already soaking her uncomfortably.

  “You trust me?” he asked.

  “No… yes… I don’t know.”

  Marcas chuckled, reaching above them and pulling down a fur-lined manacle. Courtney’s eyes burst wide open when he snapped it in place. “What are you doing!?” She fought back panic. She had not noticed the various devices strategically placed about the room.

  “Shhh, no harm will come to you, precious,” he cooed, his hands sliding up her free arm and snapping the second manacle easily over her wrist. “This is comfortable?”

  “Marcas…I’m scared.”

  “You need only say release me, and I shall do so,” Marcas promised, confusing himself. This part of him usually would not offer such gentle concern, or give comfort to his partner. He felt a dizziness overcome him for a moment and closed his eyes.

  “Are you alright? Don’t you dare faint on me!”

  “No, no… I am fine. Sebastian and Solphia know you are here. You have nothing to fear, my love. Just be silent and allow me to explore you.”

  Courtney shivered as his palms stroked slowly up from her tiny waist to the sides of her breasts and then to the delicate inside of her upper arms. He stopped at the manacles, checking to be certain she was safely restrained. She never felt more vulnerable and exposed as she did at that moment when her entire upper body was displayed so boldly for his view. Marcas walked around her, his fingers trailing over her skin. He paused behind her and gently slipped a black blindfold over her eyes.

  “I wish you to enjoy without distraction,” he announced, reaching in front of her and tweaking her nipples sharply before sinking his teeth into the base of her neck. Courtney groaned as delightful chills of pleasure struck her. Arms still around her, fondling her breasts, Marcas paid the other side of her neck equal attention, feeling her slump beneath his hands.

  “You like this? Good. Many more places,” Marcas chuckled, running his hands down her back and then grazing her sides with his teeth. Courtney squirmed, the manacles holding her up and Marcas’ hands preventing her from twisting. She started to giggle as he nipped a ticklish spot.

  “Ahh, a weak point… is there one on this side?” he asked, resuming his pattern and hearing her burst into high laughter.

  “Stop that!” Courtney begged, unable to escape his teasing. Marcas complied, coming to the front of her and pausing to gather her face in his large hands. He kissed her firmly, once again running his hands down her body and pausing at the top of her jeans.

  “What is your deepest fantasy?” he asked as he slowly unzipped her and lowered the pants to the floor to her ankles. His lips grazed her hips as his hands stroked the outside of her thighs. “Tell me and it will be granted.”

  “I can’t! Oh my God, Marcas!” Courtney yelped as he nipped her hip playfully. Her eye caught the collection of leather straps hanging on the wall and she felt her heart still with excitement. Her fantasy? To have it all – both pleasure and pain.

  He strolled behind her and caressed her bottom through her silky panties. “You must obey me,” he whispered over her shoulder, “or you shall suffer the consequences. Tell me your fantasies, Courtney.”

  “I really can’t…OW!” Courtney yelped as his hard, flat palm briskly smacked her left bottom cheek. When she didn’t comply, he repeated the gesture to the right side and then slowly lowered the thin garments to the floor.

  “I think a lesson in obedience is necessary. But first, I wish to make you accessible,” he said, his voice a deep, rumbling that blended with the sound of the popping fire.

  Courtney could not see what he was doing, her imagination running wild as she listened blindly to the rustlings of his movements and the thumping of her own heart. She bit her lip as she felt his hands upon her left leg, lifting it out of the rumpled material of her discarded clothing. She felt a soft, wide cuff being secured snugly, and his finger checking her carefully for circulation. After he did the same to the other side, Marcas ordered her to spread her legs.

  “Marcas, I don’t like this… OW!”

  “Obey, Courtney. You have enough room to be comfortable.”

  Holding back tears, she slowly opened her stance, realizing that she had enough slack in her wrists to keep from being stretched unpleasantly. A snapping sound was heard and Courtney whimpered, realizing she was restrained in a spread eagle position.

  “This is a spreader bar. Interesting device, yes? Leaves you wide open for me to know you. Are you ready to tell me your fantasies? Is this one? To be spread wide and completely powerless?”

  When Courtney didn’t answer, Marcas tsked and went behind her, clutching the flesh of her bottom tightly before pulling his arm away and landing a sharp, resounding slap to the center of her backside. He repeated the motion, this time a little lower so that the impact of his hand would be felt at the back of her swollen lips. Courtney groaned.

  Marcas reached for a suede flogger and gently ran the long tails over the length of her body, both front and back. Courtney felt her nipples tingle as the leather caressed them and she strained towards the implement.

  “Ask me, Courtney. Ask me to teach you obedience.”

  “Marcas, this is all new to me.”

  “Cease fighting and obey. The flogger can be a tool of pleasure or a weapon of pain. Which would you have? And do not lie.”

  “I don’t know,” came the honest admission.

  “Let us start with pleasure then,
since you have answered my question,” Marcas said, running the flogger down her back and over her thighs. He gathered the tails in his left hand and then aimed for her pale bottom, lightly slapping the flogger using a backhand motion. Courtney sighed in relief; the sensation was soft, soothing and very sensual. Marcas drew back again, licking the backs of her thighs with the tails. A couple of the tips kissed between her legs and touched her dripping mound.

  Courtney moaned in ecstasy as Marcas began to cover the back of her body with soft lashes. It brought her to a place of calmness, its thuddy soft tails massaging her bare flesh and leaving nothing untouched. He ran the flogger across her shoulders and under her chin, allowing her to smell the musky scent of the leather and a hint of her own aroma.

  Drawing the long, suede tails across her breasts, Marcas trembled with excitement. Courtney’s body responded to the feel of the leather as though she was designed for just such treatment. She was glorious to behold, her curvy, petite lines in such contrast to the large, masculine restraints and ceiling chains. He flicked a breast with the flogger and she arched towards him.

  “You want more, little Courtney?”

  “Yes. More. Please,” She forced out, twisting to make contact with the teasing tips of the device as it expertly fondled her flesh. She gasped as the tails wrapped around her hip, biting the upper portion of her bottom, leaving light pink stripes behind. His strokes increased in intensity, watching her carefully as she received each one. She leaned into her restraints, desperately trying to get closer as she also attempted to avoid the thrashing implement. It kissed her, it bit her… stroked and caressed, stung and throbbed. She threw her head back and released an animalistic moan of surrender.

  Marcas dropped to his knees and held her hips before him, pulling her close to his mouth as he cupped her bottom in his palms. His lips brushed against the tender skin right below her tummy and then breathed upon the aching, wanting portion of her core.

  “I shall drink of you now,” he said, once again surprising himself with his gentleness and self-control. Courtney merely nodded, breathlessly awaiting the ultimate kiss of passion. She squealed as his tongue skimmed lightly over her engorged clit, flicking lightly before delving deeper into her need. Unable to move, her arms bound above her head and legs spread and secured, Courtney could only experience the tantalizing demonstration of Marcas’ true power. His tongue and lips suckling upon her with fervent delight sent her spiraling in joyous stupor as she felt her body perched on the edge of a cliff, preparing to dive.