When Serena awoke, it was dark outside, and she sat up in bed, feeling slightly disoriented and confused. She remembered that it had been dark when she had given Ivar her blood so she couldn't understand why it was still dark. She thought that she had been asleep much longer than that but perhaps she was mistaken. Looking across at Ivar's side of the bed, she saw that it was empty and she was just beginning to wonder where he was when the door opened and he walked in.
He looked completely normal, not the slightest trace that anything had befallen him just a short while ago. His eyes lit up when he saw her and he hastened to the bedside and sat down beside her.
"You're awake", he gently touched her cheek, "Did you rest well?"
"I did but how long have I been asleep?"
"Since yesterday"
She gasped in shock, realizing that she had been asleep for over twenty-four hours. How could she have slept so long, she thought, and what had he been doing while she was asleep.
"You overexerted yourself so I thought to let you rest. Do you not feel better? Or do you still need more rest?", he asked with concern.
"No, no, I am fully rested. I assure you", she replied with a firm shake of her head.
"You can rest some more if you wish. I do not mind, you are quite ravishing when you're asleep. More so when you're awake", he smirked a little when he spoke.
She blushed and tried to look away but he captured her chin between his fingers and forced her to look at him.
"It pleases me to look at you. Do you not find me pleasing to look at?", he was teasing her and making her blush even more.
He arched one brow, waiting for her answer.
"Yes", she swallowed loudly, trying not to look at him.
His lips curved slightly upward, as he stroked her chin and jawline, while his eyes lingered on her lips. She could hear her breaths, sounding impossibly loud in the quiet room, as she stared, mesmerized, into his eyes. He was only touching her face but already, her entire body was responding to him. She was no longer in control of her own body when he was close to her like this, she became a molten mess of nerves and sensations. He must know the effect that he had on her, she thought, else why would he do it so often.
Ivar watched her quietly, he could tell that she was thinking hard about something, and the emotions that flitted across her face told him that it was something to do with him. As long as it was him occupying her thoughts, he didn't mind, he found it quite delightful in fact. He could sense her body responding to him and he continued stroking her face with feather light touches, building the tension.
"I think I should like to take a bath", she said, clearing her throat, which seemed to have dried up.
"Splendid idea!", he exclaimed, getting to his feet and extending his hand to her.
Serena gulped, placing her hand in his, as she shakily got to her feet and allowed him to lead her to the bathroom.
Inside the bathroom, he checked the temperature of the water, before turning back to help her undress. She hesitated, glancing at the bathtub and back at him.
"The water is exactly the right temperature for a bath", he declared innocently.
"Yes.....but together???", she faltered.
"Well you can go first", he offered.
Serena stepped into the bathtub, sighing contentedly, as she sank down into the water. She jolted with shock seeing Ivar strip down and enter the bathtub, completely naked.
"You were supposed to wait", she splashed the water around her, as if this would somehow deter him.
"I was cold"
"I thought vampires didn't feel cold"
"We don't", he moved toward her, pulling her into his embrace.
She leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder, as he pulled her legs around his waist. A small sigh escaped her lips and she slipped her arms around him, wanting to be as close to him as possible.
"This is much better than bathing alone", he breathed into her hair.
"Hmmm....", her face was nestled into the crook of his neck and her eyes were closed.
His hands moved across her back, massaging her muscles, before moving down to her waist and gripping her hips. He slid her back just a little, before guiding her forward onto his erection, as she moaned and rocked against him. He let her move and set the pace, enjoying that she was the one in charge,
She was still a little groggy from having slept for so long and she moved slowly, enjoying the sensation of the warm water caressing her skin while Ivar throbbed inside her. He was holding her hips, as he kissed her neck and shoulders, tasting the sweet scented bath oils clinging to her skin. Her gentle, rocking was more erotic than he had expected and he felt himself soaring to his release.
She felt him tighten his grip on her hips, as she pushed herself down deeper onto his swollen member, feeling her orgasm rising from between her legs. Seconds later, she came hard on his shaft, while he exploded inside her, filling her with his seed.
Serena collapsed against him, feeling drained and weak, and wrapping herself around him, she fell asleep.
******************************
The next time she woke, he was waiting for her, lying in bed beside her and watching her sleep. She looked at him for a long while, not saying anything, until finally she reached across and touched his face, slowly tracing his jawline. Her fingers danced lightly across his face, moving to his cheek and nose, and finally his lips. He held her hand and kissed her fingers lightly, before taking one in his mouth and sucking on it.
A wave of pleasurable sensations washed over her and she shivered, her eyes locked on his. He released her finger, smirking, as he took another one in his mouth. Again she was rocked with tantalizing pleasure and she sighed and closed her eyes, allowing the feelings to envelope her.
He released her finger with a small pop, interrupting her blissful reverie.
"As much as I would love to have you again, you need proper nourishment", he said, reluctantly leaving the bed to go in search of food.
He returned a short while later with a tray of food and proceeded to feed her, even though she insisted that she was able to feed herself. He made sure that she ate everything on the tray and she was surprised that she did. She had not realized how hungry she was until he had started to feed her. Feeling sated, she leaned back against the headboard and exhaled, resting her hands on her full stomach.
"Thank you, that was delicious", she smiled.
"You must eat well now. I don't want you missing any more meals", his face was serious and she wondered why he would mention it.
"You have lost a little weight and it doesn't suit you. I only wish you to be healthy and strong for your coronation", he explained.
She nodded in agreement and felt a pleasant warmth inside at his obvious concern for her. She wished for something more than concern but she was content for now. Maybe in time, he would allow himself to love her, despite her being human. She could only hope.
Ivar could sense her inner turmoil and he tried again to read her thoughts, but still he was met with the wall of silence. But he knew now why that was, her display of magic the previous night, had confirmed what he had suspected for some time. She wasn't human, even if she didn't know it yet, and it was clear that she didn't.
He would have to tell her about her mother and aunt eventually, but she was still recovering, and he didn't want to stress her any more than necessary. Especially now. There would be time enough for that, for now he had something more important to concern himself with.
Earlier when they lay together, he had thought that he caught a fleeting glimpse of her feelings and he was almost certain that he had felt the warmth of love. He wanted desperately for her to love him, he needed it, for her to love him as much as he loved her.
"Ivar", her voice was stronger now, "Is everything alright?"
"Of course, my Queen, everything is perfectly fine", he reached for her hand, holding it in his.
"You seem worried"
"I am only concerned for your well-being"
"I am quite alright, I do not wish to worry you unnecessarily", she replied softly.
"It is not unnecessary and as your husband, it is only right for me to worry"
Serena couldn't help but smile at his words, and leaning forward, she shyly pressed her lips against his. She felt his lips part, and this gave her the confidence to slip her tongue into his mouth, tentatively probing. He responded to her, giving her encouragement, but allowing her to take the lead. She gently pulled him toward her as she lay back down, and he followed her without hesitation.