Chapter 6
1417 Words
TAYLOR
The first morning at the castle felt like a surreal dream. I awoke to the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the grand windows of our shared suite. The room was exquisitely decorated, with opulent furnishings that spoke of a time long past. As I stretched and rubbed the sleep from my eyes, the events of the previous day came rushing back, reminding me that this was no dream. I glanced towards the adjacent door that separated our chambers. Beyond it, I knew Vladimir was beginning to stir as well. This was our new reality, sharing this lavish but somehow confining space.
I could feel the tension in the air as I thought about the day ahead. Last night, I asked for a separate bedroom within the same suite, and Vladimir agreed. We both had our own space now, but we still had to use the same bathroom.
I felt nervous about how awkward it would be to get ready in such space. The room was really nice. It was much fancier than my old apartment.
I took a deep breath and decided to just face it. I couldn't let the awkwardness control me. I came back to this castle for a reason, to figure things out and maybe find some answers.
I knocked on the door that connected our rooms to let Vladimir know I was going to use the bathroom. He opened it, and we exchanged a silent nod. The bathroom was big, with a bathtub, a shower, and a big mirror. It was all about luxury.
Even though it was so nice, there was a heavy silence as we both got ready. I couldn't help but look at Vladimir in the mirror while I brushed my teeth. He was really focused on making himself look good.
Though we are sharing the same bathroom, I was not expecting him to use it while I was in there. I wanted to ask him to let me have the bathroom all for myself even for a little while, but I don't know if I have the courage to do so. Besides, this is his place after all.
The fact that we were so close was always there, like a quiet buzz in the air. I could feel him behind me while I bent over the sink, and my heart was beating fast, partly from being nervous and partly from something else I didn't want to admit.
When I turned on the water to wash my face, I saw Vladimir looking at me in the mirror. His eyes were blue and intense, and they made me shiver. I quickly looked away, trying to focus on splashing water on my face to calm down.
The day had barely started, and already, I found myself in an uncomfortably intimate situation. Vladimir and I, forced by circumstance, were sharing the same bathroom. The awkwardness was palpable, an unspoken tension simmering between us.
I stood at the sink, trying to focus on brushing my teeth, the minty freshness of toothpaste doing little to alleviate the tension in the room. In the large mirror above the sink, I could see Vladimir behind me, his reflection a constant reminder of our proximity.
Vladimir, ever the master of breaking silences, decided to address the elephant in the room. "You know, Taylor," he began, his voice deceptively casual, "this situation makes me think of what could have been if we were just a normal couple."
I nearly choked on my toothpaste, not expecting him those words coming from him. Our marriage had been nothing but a sham. I wouldn't even try calling ourselves married couples since we did nothing that a normal couple do.
I continued brushing my teeth, refusing to meet his gaze in the mirror. "But we're not," I replied tersely, trying to keep my voice steady, "and we both know why."
Vladimir pushed himself off the bathroom doorframe and took a step closer to me. "Ah, but it isn't too late for me to make it up to you, right?" he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
I finally turned off the tap and turned to face him, my irritation bubbling to the surface. "On the contrary, Your Highness...no, it's already too late for that," I muttered under my breath.
His lips curled into a knowing smile. "But, my dear, sometimes life has a way of bringing people back together, whether they like it or not."
I turned back to the sink, gripping the edges tightly as I tried to steady my emotions. Vladimir's presence, his nearness, was unsettling. Memories of our shared past flooded my mind, and I forced them away, unwilling to let them consume me.
Vladimir continued to watch me in the mirror, his gaze unwavering. "You're avoiding looking at me, Taylor," he remarked, his voice a gentle chide.
I spat out the toothpaste and rinsed my mouth before turning to face him, my frustration evident. "I have no reason to look at you, Your Highness."
He took a step closer, narrowing the gap between us. "Is that so?" he asked softly, his voice a mere whisper. "Because it seems to me like you're trying very hard not to acknowledge the fact that we're in the same room."
I felt my heart quicken at his proximity, a magnetic pull that had always been there, no matter how much we tried to deny it. "I'm simply trying to maintain some semblance of boundaries," I replied, my voice trembling slightly.
Vladimir's gaze dropped to my lips, and desire flickered in his eyes. "Boundaries, Taylor?" he mused. "But we're married," he insisted with a glint of wicked smile on his face.
My breath hitched, and the painful memories of my past flooded my mind. I tried to push them away and focus on the present.
"We're not," I firmly replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "Our marriage ended the moment I signed those divorce papers."
Vladimir reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair away from my face. The touch sent shivers down my spine, and I struggled to maintain my composure. "It didn't....because as your King, I declared those papers null and void," he murmured.
My heart raced as Vladimir's fingers grazed my cheek, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I fought to keep my emotions in check. "Null and void?" I stammered, my voice trembling. "But those papers were legally binding, Vladimir. How can you just declare them null and void?"
"I adore hearing you say my name the way you used to."
Before I could respond, he closed the remaining distance between us, his lips meeting mine in a searing kiss. It was a collision of desire and longing, a testament to the powerful attraction that had always simmered beneath the surface.
I responded to the kiss with equal fervour, my hands finding their way to his chest as I pulled him closer. The bathroom seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us lost in the intensity of our feelings.
But just as quickly as it had begun, Vladimir pulled away, his breath ragged as he looked into my eyes. "We should stop," he said, his voice strained. Vladimir took a step back, breaking the spell between us. "I think it's best if we try to maintain some distance," he said, his voice tinged with regret.
We stood there, inches apart, our desire and restraint waging a silent battle. The tension in the bathroom was palpable, a reminder of the push and pull of our feelings.
I looked at Vladimir, and my eyes couldn't hide a trace of disappointment. To be honest, I felt irritated by how he behaved after our intense kiss. A part of me wanted to let out my frustration, to just yell at him, but I decided on a different approach. I responded calmly, almost casually, trying to appear indifferent, and said, "You're right. As we should. This kiss doesn't change anything. Most importantly, this should never happen again." I feigned as if the kiss hadn't affected me at all, concealing the emotional storm raging inside me.
Even though I hadn't finished getting ready, I hurriedly collected all my belongings and exited the bathroom. I made my way back to my room, which was right next to his. Remaining in such close proximity to him feels unbearable. I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here.
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- Writer
