“Excuse me?”
“Got a job order from the power company to wire this place.” He shook his head. “You must know somebody mighty important, that’s all I can say. We’ll get started as soon as I get more help. Won’t be done for a couple of weeks, big as this place is, and that’s pushin’ it. We’ll try to stay out of your way as much as possible. Like I said, it’ll take time, but we’ll get ya hooked up, never fear.”
Elena nodded. Then, feeling as though she was living in the twilight zone, she closed the door.
A short time later, men were swarming around the outside of the castle, like ants at a picnic.
The biggest surprise of the day came with the setting of the sun. There was no knock at the door this time. Elena was sitting on one of the new sofas, reading a book, when there was an odd ripple in the air and suddenly Drake, Katiya, and Andrei were standing in front of her.
“Drake.” She murmured his name, her gaze devouring him. She was certain she was dreaming until he swept her off the sofa and wrapped her in his arms.
“Elena! How I have missed you!” He held her close, crushing her body to his until she could scarcely breathe. But she didn’t care—he was here. He was real, and nothing else mattered.
“I missed you, too.” Tears fell unchecked down her cheeks as she hugged him close. He was here. “Oh, how I missed you!”
She didn’t know how long they stood like that, just looking at each other—a moment? A lifetime?—before she noticed that Andrei and Katiya were also embracing.
“Elena, beloved, let me look at you.” So saying, Drake put her on her feet and held her at arm’s length. “You are more beautiful than ever.”
“How long can you stay?” she asked, dreading the answer.
“As long as you wish.”
She glanced at Katiya. “I don’t understand.”
“I want to be your husband,” he said. “Always, if you will still have me.”
“But . . . how is that possible? And what about Katiya? She’s your wife now.”
“Rodin’s decree has no authority in the outside world. According to the laws of the land, you and I are still man and wife.”
“So, what is Katiya doing here?”
“We left the Fortress together. Rodin believes we are on a belated honeymoon.”
“And Andrei is here because . . . ?”
“He is here because Katiya is here,” Drake replied, as if that explained everything.
Elena continued to stare at him while her mind tried to process what he had told her. But none of it seemed to register save for one fact—he was still her husband, if she wanted him.
“Say something,” he demanded. “I do not like your silence.”
“Drake.” She caressed his cheek, ran her fingertips over his lips. “Read my mind.”
His gaze met hers, a moment only, and then he swept her into his arms again and carried her swiftly up the stairs.
A thought closed and locked the door and they were alone in the bedroom.
Drake set her on her feet ever so slowly and then he stood there, just looking at her. “Never again,” he vowed. “Never again will I be parted from you.”
Fresh tears welled in Elena’s eyes.
“You are my heart, my soul.” He drew her into his arms again. “There is no life for me without you.”
Pressing her face against his chest, Elena closed her eyes, her hands moving restlessly up and down his back. “Drake . . . ?”
“Yes, wife?”
“I can’t wait any longer.”
He murmured her name and the next thing she knew, they were in bed, lying naked in each other’s arms.
She smiled into his eyes. “And to think, I once refused to take you to my bed.”
He laughed softly. “Tonight, it will be even better than the first time.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
“You doubt me?” He rose over her, his eyes blazing red with his desire.
“Oh, no, my lord,” she exclaimed.
“See that you do not,” he warned with mock fierceness. “I am no puny mortal who grows weary after one encounter. Or two. Or three.”
“I remember,” she said, grinning. “Shall we try for four?”
“As you wish, my sweet wife. As you wish.”
Elena awoke with a smile, and a fervent hope that the night past hadn’t been a dream. But no, for Drake was there, asleep beside her. He loved her. He had vowed never to be parted from her again.
Last night had been so wonderful, she wished they could make love again, now. But he was resting and she really needed a shower.
She was about to get out of bed when his fingers curled around her wrist.
“Where are you going, wife?”
“Well, it’s morning, and I’m hungry—”
“As am I.”
“I don’t think we’re hungry for the same things,” Elena remarked dryly.
“No. Were you not just lusting after my body?”
“I wouldn’t say lusting, exactly,” she replied, choking back a laugh.
“Wishing for?”
“Perhaps. A little.”
“If you want me, woman, you had better take me now, before the sun climbs any higher in the sky.”
“Take you?” she asked with a grin.
“Every way you can,” he said, his grin matching hers as he pulled her under the covers. “As long as I can reciprocate.”
It was midafternoon when Elena slipped out of bed. Humming softly, she grabbed her robe and went downstairs.
To her amazement, most of the furniture that had cluttered the main room was gone. The old sofas and couches and tables had been replaced with the new ones. Only the scarred trestle table remained. Did it have some special significance for Drake, that he had kept it? And where was all the old furniture?
Going down to the kitchen, she could only stare in wonder. The old oven was gone and a shiny new one stood in its place. There was also a small refrigerator. The old sink with the pump had been replaced by a stainless steel basin and a new counter. An apartment-sized washer and dryer just barely fit at the end of the counter.
Elena shook her head. It was amazing. How had Drake accomplished it in such a short time?
The ringing of the bell at the front door drew her back upstairs.
“Morning, miss,” the electrician said cheerfully. “We’ll be needing to work inside today.”
“Of course.” Elena stepped back to allow the man and his crew into the castle.