Page 70 of Your Coffin or Mine
I whirl around and gasp when I stumble, but Vlad’s arms circle around me securely.
“Woman, can you not get into trouble for at least a few hours?” he growls in my ear.
“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to get so close and?—”
“That’s my fault. I wanted to see the moat and Aubrey was kind enough to show me the way,” George says behind us.
Vlad turns to my new friend, and I step away, tucking my arm through George’s protectively. He’s only a couple inches taller, and when he hugs me back, I just grin, knowing I’ve made a lifelong friend.
Vlad eyes him suspiciously before looking at me. “Indeed. Let’s get back to the castle and find something less... deadly to take pictures of. If you come visit the kitchens, the chef has made hot cocoa.”
George grins. “Oh, yes. I could use a cappuccino. And Fifi will need to eat lunch.”
I smile when Vlad’s jaw ticks, but he only nods. “This way. I’ll show you one of the secret entrances.”
“You never mentioned secret entrances!” I shout.
A small smirk pulls across his mouth, making me want to nibble on his soft bottom lip. “I’ve lived here all my life, and this place still finds ways to surprise me. Come, George, let me show you some of my home.”
He claps George lightly on the back and George’s eyes light up. “Vlad, honey, I would never turn down such an invitation. This place is simply magical. When was it built? I am loving the stonework.”
Vlad’s brow scrunches in thought before he gives George the history of the castle. His words fall away as I watch him talk with his hands, pointing at different parts of the roof. I can find zero fucks within myself to learn about roofs at the moment, but this man... he could recite the urban dictionary and it would sound like poetry to the female population, and I am no exception.
He throws his head back with laughter when George says something amusing—bless him. The man can charm anyone, even someone as rigid as Vlad. He still has his moments, but I can tell he is letting loose. Maybe I did help remove his stick a little.
I pout, since George whispered something I couldn’t hear. “What are you two laughing at?”
“Nothing, dear.” He waves his hand up and down. “Men stuff. Just reminding Vlad here how to properly woo a woman.”
I arch a brow at Vlad, whose look of humor grows. “Is that right?”
He mimes zipping his lips, silently saying he won’t let me in on their secret.
George claps his hands. “Let’s go get some of that cocoa and you can tell me more about this amazing idea of yours, Aubrey. Vlad, babycakes, you better be paying attention. I think your girl may be onto something here.”
Vlad looks down at George, clearly perplexed by the man’s liberal use of terms of endearment. “I beg your pardon?”
“Exactly. You can act all gruff, but we both know you’re a softie, Vladdy. Now c’mon and make the little lady happy. It’ll help your rating, which I looked at, by the way, and you don’t even have one.”
I nod enthusiastically and turn a pleading face to Vlad. “What we’re trying to say is: no one knows this place is here. No one has a castle like this, and it would help me to tell people about it. There is so much content here.”
“Not to mention it would put that little shithead in his place,” George mutters.
I glare at him.Keep your mouth shut.
“Shithead?” Vlad frowns. “You mean the pathetic weasel over the phone?” He leans into me, his lips grazing my ear. “The one who hung up before he could hear what it sounds like when another man makes you come?” he purrs.
My entire body is covered in shivers, eyes wide at the thought of George hearing. My elbow meets his stomach, and a harshoomphleaves his lips just before he keels over with a choked moan. “Yes, him, but don’t worry about it,” I rush out.
It’s not his place to fight my battles for me. I shouldn’t need him or anyone to help me with Chad. I made one stupid mistake years ago. Scratch that, I made multiple stupid mistakes and I have no one to blame but myself.
George clears his throat behind his fist, looking all sheepish.As he should.
“I’ll just head on to the kitchen so you both can chat.” George throws me a wink, and I’m beginning to realize he’smeddlesome.Sigh.But I can tell he has the best intentions. “Won’t be long till my little sleeping beauty wakes up. We can look at the secret entrance another time, eh, Vlad?”
Vlad places his arm across his stomach and bows.What is he from? The sixteen hundreds?I snort a laugh.Who bows these days?
“My apologies. Perhaps I could give you a grand tour at a later date as my treat?”
