*Thank you all for reading. This turned out to be a very long chapter that I have split into two. The second half will be up in a couple of days.
A hug thank you to MaximusTheMad for editing this chapter for me!*
*****
"I want you to be happy with me Drago," Abrielle's voice caressed his ears and he clutched the bars ignoring the pain in his hands.
"Let me out. You're fucking crazy."
"I know you believe that now but it will change. She has a spell on you but I'm going to find a way to break it."
"No."
Drago sat up in bed. His body was drenched in a cold sweat and a leaden weight dropped in his stomach. His eyes searched the room frantically but it took a moment before they became accustomed to the dim light.
Ealasaid stirred beside him. She turned her head towards him and he stared into her peaceful, sleeping face. She lay on her front; her arms wrapped around the pillow and her knee hitched up to her chest. She had kicked the covers off while she slept but they were still draped over her ass. Laying back down on his side he reached out and trailed his fingers over the dip in her spine.
A mark on the inside of his elbow caught his eye and he frowned. It looked like his other scars but a darker red. He touched it gently, it was hot and seemed to pulse gently beneath his fingers.
His stomach rolled. Nausea welled in his throat and his skin broke out in goose bumps. Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, he punched in a text to Anton. As he waited impatiently for the response he felt Ealasaid shift beside him.
Her breath turned panicked and a soft moan escaped her lips. Outside the sky darkened, throwing the room into shadow and he felt a chill in the air. He dropped his phone and lay back down beside her. Holding her round the waist, he pulled her close and tucked her hair behind her ear.
"Wake up ma petite."
Her hands pushed at his chest. She was still asleep but now he could make out her words.
"Please don't."
Shaking her gently he tried to wake her, "Come on, wake up."
"Don't," her voice was a whimper and it broke his heart to hear the pain there. "Please don't hurt me."
Drago held her closer and tapped her cheek gently.
"It's just a dream baby. Come back."
Finally, her eyes fluttered open and she glanced around the room. She was shivering but when her eyes found his she relaxed instantly.
"I've missed waking up with you."
A slow smile curved her lips and she touched his cheek. The cold lifted from the room and the sun shone through the curtains. She didn't seem to notice and stroked his beard.
"I like this."
"You do?" he smirked, all his worry disappearing at the smile on her beautiful face.
The thought of the mark on his arm vanished.
"Does it make me look rakish?"
"All you need is an earring and a parrot. You'd make a pretty hot pirate."
"An earring?" He smiled wider. "Always wanted one but my parents would have never allowed it. It gives," Ealasaid cut him off.
"The wrong impression to investors. I thought it might." She tugged on his ear lobe. "But you know what I think?"
He pulled her closer, crushing her body against his. He was still scared that she would slip away; that having her back was some kind of desperate dream.
"What's that?"
"I think you should stop giving a fuck what they think about you. Your father built these businesses but he left them to you. Take them and make them yours, that's what he wanted."
"So, you think the best way to do that is to pierce my ear?"
She nodded in simple agreement.
"I could do it for you. I know how."
Drago rolled over and nudged her knees apart. Settling himself between her legs he kissed her.
"Maybe later."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't stop the giggle that fell from her lips. The sun shone brighter and he wondered how much power this young girl held within herself. He pulled her leg up and around his waist allowing him to fit closer against her body. The sheet separated them and he growled in frustration.
Tugging it down he exposed her soft breasts and leant to kiss a tender, pink nipple. She sighed and sank back into the bed. His beard tickled her and she felt shivers chasing themselves across her skin. His large hands wandered down her body; he could feel the scars marring her and anger flashed through him.
Looking up into her stormy eyes he pushed the feeling down.
"You were always so soft, I thought about your skin everyday." His eyes drank her in. "I missed your freckles."
"My freckles?"
His face was distracted as he counted each mark. His finger moving from one to the next and she watched him intently.
"I always liked them. You have such beautiful skin."
He looked up her body. "Let's go away."
She snorted daintily. "What?"
"I mean it; we both deserve some time away. Where have you always wanted to go?"
"Drago come on."
"I'm being serious. Somewhere you've always wanted to go. Name it."
She laughed again, almost in disbelief.
"Fine. I've always wanted to go to the Bahamas."
"The Bahamas?"
She nodded. "It's somewhere I always thought I would go when I made it big here."
"As a dancer?"
She nodded. "People told me I was good."
"Let's go."
"To the Bahamas?" she sounded sceptical.
"Why not?"
"I do have some money saved." Her eyes were closed as she spoke and a smile curved her lips. "And nothing better to spend it on. It would be nice to lay on the beach."
She reached down and stroked his hair.
"I love the sun, I'm a summer baby."
"This could be a late birthday present."
"I spent my birthday in that place. I was really looking forward to my party."