AN: Hello, beautiful people! Hope all is good with my readers!

Above, the lovely AprilFitts and Njoying_Being_A_Girl made me each a cover. Let's give them a round of applause for the awesomeness they created. They are not only super wattpad friends, but writers as well, make sure to check out their novels. :)

And finally, the moment we have all waited for. That *cough* scene *cough*. For my innocent minded readers this chapter is for you. For those who wish to be corrupted, the next chapter is all yours, i.e. ~Chapter 22~ (Mature): this one is private, so you'll have to follow me, add the book again in your library, in order to read it. You can unfollow me afterwards. :p

Fearsome Hamster

EDIT: The private version will be available on my profile in a different book. I have made this change for the Wattys as they do not allow private chapters. ;( Chances tend to zero that HCR will qualify, but it's worth a shot. 

Margo exhaled a stuttering breath of air as she entered the chambers Zachary had arranged for both of them in his manour. She slowly closed the door behind her, taking a moment to look across the space she would soon call her own.

Our own. She rapidly corrected herself, the weigth of the ruby ring on her finger yet unfamiliar.

The suite was veiled in a gentle darkness, only the flickering flame of the scented candles casting light over the room lazily. Yet, despite the shadows dancing over the tapestry walls, Margo could still observe the detail put into the lavish decorations. From the heavy velvety curtains, the cedar wood vanity, the elegant paintings, to the very crystal chandelier hanging above her head, nothing had been done with half measure. So typical of him.

The silence dominating around the chamber was broken by her hesitant steps on the creeking floor. Margo headed to the obscenely immense bed eclipsing everything around it - it was entirely too big, its dimensions exceeding anything she had ever slept in. But, Zachary was a huge man after all, towering over anyone in his company and making her feel like a kitten next to a lion. An image of the dangerous exotic feline lovingly rubbing its long mane on a small mewing cat popped in her mind. She could feel a blush beginninng to stain her cheeks. He must need a lot of space to stretch those long limbs of his.

Nevertheless, she highly doubted he had only sleep on his mind when he had chosen this bed for their shared chambers.

She blinked, her stomach making sommersaults. Where did that thought come from? Nana's embarrasing long talks had finally taken their toll on her apparently.

She reached out to touch the silky coverlet, marveling at the decadent material. It felt sublime. Bare skin rubbing against equally bare skin would create exquisite friction against it. Or so her secret stash of scandalous books had claimed. Her fingertips retracted from the bed, again surprised by her train of thoughts.

A set of strong arms encircled her waist then, pulling her flush against a steady body. Margo jumped.

"Are the chambers to your liking, Ms Frost?" A warm head was resting on her left shoulder, his hot breath tickling her neck. No sound had announced Zachary's arrival, until his gruff voice sliced the silence in the suite. How long had he been watching her?

She turned in his embrace, facing the amethyst gaze of her husband.

"It's lovely."

Margo traced his jaw, noting with delight how he unconsciously leaned into her touch. Her digits continued their lazy journey on his face, smoothing out any wrinkles. Zachary had been oddly tame after the wedding ceremony, behaving like an examplary gentleman in front of her relatives and even allowing Mr. Frodo and a couple of distant cousins of hers to invite her for a waltz during the reception party. Admittedly, he had then danced with her the entire evening, not letting her out of his sight afterwards. But, still, Margo was proud of the tight restraint he had shown over his possessive nature. He was making progress, though a small part of the needy beast she had first seen him as that night in the cemetery would inevitably always be part of him. Tying the knot had calmed him to a certain extent, slightly assuaging all those wild instincts brewing inside of him.

In this aspect, she could understand him somewhat. Seeing some of her acquintances fawn over Zachary and try to catch his attention had been irritating, boiling nauseous nerves in her soul, which resembled too much like jealousy. She had chosen not to examine the emotion and had been relieved to witness his aloof behaviour towards other women. For the more daring coquettes, he would blatantly, sometimes ridiculously, display his wedding ring like a proud peacock of his feathers.

For better or for worse, she was the only woman on the receiving end of his intense attention.

Her wandering hands were now caressing the contour of his full lips. Margo gasped when a scorching wetness enveloped her index free. Transfixed, she gulped as she watched Zachary gentle suck the digit into his mouth all while holding her gaze captive.

Margo feared the blush on her cheeks had become permanent.

The moment she averted her eyes away, Zachary groaned in protest, holdind her tighter to his torso.

"Do not be afraid, please," he rasped.

Afraid? No, she was not afraid. There had indeed been a time when she was wary of this unpredictable powerful creature before her, but those days were long behind her now. He could never hurt her. She bravely met his burning gaze.

"I am not afraid, Zachary," she breathed out while inching to close the distance between them. Standing on her tiptoes, she angled her head and closed her eyes. Her lips soon met his soft closed mouth in a chaste kiss. She hoped she was doing this right – it was the first time she was the one to initiate the act.

Still keeping her eyelids closed, she felt Zachary exhale a shuddering surprised breath. His shock was soon to wear off however. In a moment, his own lips soon picked up their pace and invited hers in a wet dance of tongues, meanwhile lifting her body with a simple movement of his forearm across her waist. She hugged him tighter, a small voice in the back of her mind telling her she was wrinkling his impeccable vest clutching him so close, but not giving a damn about it.

She whimpered in pleasure when his mouth descended on the nape of her neck and started suckling gently on a special spot on her collarbone which made her toes curl unexpectedly.

"You are so sweet, Margo. So sweet. So mine," he groaned between kisses and nips on her skin. His each passionately whispered word on her wet skin made her flesh goosebump and her heart beat faster in her ribcage. She scrunched the soft dark locks on his head and reluctantly made him let go of the tender skin he has been delicately licking.

He teasingly bit her skin in retaliation.

Somehow, while kissing her, he had managed to undress her, leaving her only in her thin chemise and silk robe. It was time to level the odds. Too long had she wondered what his fine tailored suits covered so snugly.

With a movement she hoped to be seductive, Margo slid the vest of his shoulders, silently thanking Zachary for not laughing at her first failed attempt of untying the bow tie around his neck. He was standing unnaturally still in front oh her, watching her with those hypnotic indigo eyes.

His dress shirt was the only garment left covering his torso now. She could hear her heart thumping rapidly in her ears as she took her time to unbutton his pearl buttons. Ivory pale skin was peeking more and more as she advanced in her pursuit. She kept her fingers strictly on the soft material, not yet touching his skin.

The last button was finally undone. She paused. Was she being too forward? Margo darted her eyes up nervously, trying to discern Zachary's stormy expression. Perhaps, she was doing all this wrong. Maybe, it was not –

Her musings were abruptly cut short when Zachary tore the opened shirt off of him, discarding it carelessly in one corner of the chamber. She finally noticed how heavily he was breathing. His fingers twitched at his sides. And his chest – Oh Heavens, his chest, that wide expanse of bulging muscles – was rising and falling unsteadily.

Margo gulped. Her hand was already reaching to him. She timidly traced a line between his pectorals, noting with feminine awareness how well contoured the flesh was. It was all hard muscles, not a single scar in sight. She wondered if maybe that was due to his vampiric nature.

Led by reckless desire, Margo pressed her lips to where his heart should be. His might not function as hers, but instinct assured this man's dark obsession with her stemmed from a place of true emotion. Zachary hissed above her; the soft skin under her mouth tensed. She kissed his heart again.

In the next heartbeat, a strong arm yanked her on the edge of the bed. The loss of momentum made her dizzy, making her look up with confusion at Zachary. The difference in their heights was now staggering. With her seated and him looming before her, her very human senses awakened. A predator was in the room.

Gone was his gentlemanly facade.

During her exploration of him, his fangs had long extended and his eyes – those wild passionate eyes – were pining her into place, daring her, pleading her to make another move.

She stilled, but a part of her itched to provoke him a bit more. Have the vampire fulfil the sinful pleasures so transparent in his gaze. Make his promises come true. Make her his. Margo unconsciously licked her lips.

What am I thinking? She dropped her eyes to the bedding. Her fingers were gripping it nervously.

However, he would not have this. Zachary gripped her jaw firmly. "Keep your eyes on me, mate." He took one step forward, one knee pushing insistently between her legs. With her jaw still clasped in his intense caress, she had no where else to go, trapped between the edge of the bed and his powerful body.

Faster than lightening, her robe was ripped to shreds from her shoulders. Goosebumps erupted violently. She gasped and risked a glance at his other hand. Claws had grown, but his wandering fingers never hurt her. They were now possessively tracing the strings holding up the last layer of material.

Only her chemise remained between her and his naked torso. His knee rubbed between her thighs, igniting unknown sensations.

Still standing, enshrouded in the flickering light of the candles, with only his ethereal orbs flashing dangerously, her husband resembled a demon; one of those malevolent spirits that appeared in the darkest hour of the night, slipped into young virgins's beds, twisted their thoughts with sweet poisson and seduced them to irrevocably damn their soul.

The hand holding her jaw captive loosened its hold, only to push her to lay down on the sheets, him still holding a dominant position above her. She shivered. Her vulnerability was apparent now more than ever.

"Do not be afraid," he rasped, his voice bordering on feral. Kneeling at her feet, he took hold of one of her hands tightly clutching the coverlet. He rubbed it softly on his cheek, calming both her and himself probably. It worked. Laying a butterfly kiss on the palm, he let her hand go.

His eyes were no longer so crazed as before. However, his next words put her on edge again.

"Keep your eyes on me," he growled before his head dipped down low.

.............................

Any coherent thought had evaded her mind while his insistent mouth had been upon her. The illicit experience had been earth shattering. Nothing her Nana said could have prepared her for this. With her toes curled in pleasure, she was dimly aware of other parts of her body still tingling pleasantly as well.

Zachary laid a final kiss on her right thigh, a satisfied yet still hungry gleam on his face. He licked his lips. His fangs were still out – the very fangs that had–

Dear Heavens. Margo briefly crossed a forearm on her eyes, the blush blooming furiously over her skin, all the way up to her chest. Even the tips of her ears were red. She would have thought after that, some of her shyness would disappear.

"Your beautiful eyes. Open them."

She immediately uncovered them. The eye-contact had brought a whole new level of intimacy between them. She should not be surprised the greedy beast wanted everything of her. Only moments ago, he had demonstrated how deliciously cruel he could be, should he be denied of this connection.

Margo tangled her fingers in his ebony locks and tugged him up her body. She could not lie. A part of her wanted everything of him as well. With his amethyst orbs locked on her face, she inhaled deeply when their bodies finally moulded against each other.

It was a perfect fit. Zachary closed his eyes in contentment, groaning. Was that purring she heard? The sentiment was exquisite indeed. Just feeling his naked flesh against hers instilled a sense of unmatched peace in her soul. Almost like it was meant to be.

They laid a few moments in utter silence, just enjoying each other. He would have probably been satisfied just to stay like this for the entire night judging by the sounds he was making. Purring indeed.

It was her who broke the spell when she began shifting impatiently under him. She might not have experience in this aspect, but the wedding night was far from over. Her scandalous books told her that much. Her mouth latched onto his.

Her skin suddenly prickled uncomfortably. Despite his comforting touch, something changed in the atmosphere of the room.

In the back of her mind, drops of dread coalesced like lead in her veins. No, it could not be... This gut-wretching sensation was familiar. She had felt this before.

She decided to ignore it for now and continued to kiss him. The wet caress of Zachary's lips assuaged some of her escalating panic. It was only a temporary relief however. Soon, she was transported back into a familiar land of terror, despite her struggles to remain anchored in reality.

Blood.

There was blood everywhere.

And this time she was the one soaked from head to toe in it. She raised her hands and her fingers were indeed dripping with the deathly crimson liquid. Her right palm was clutching a silver thin dagger. The blade too was covered in blood.

Risking a glance at her surroundings, a scream tore from her throat. There were bodies everywhere in the ghastly chapel. Bodies of people she knew, people who had been very much alive and dancing merrily at her wedding just mere hours before. She clutched her scalp and dropped to her knees when she spotted a familiar form laying brokenly on the ground.

She tremblingly caressed the curly dark lock, staring disbelievingly at the the blue eyes once so full of innocent wonder and life.

"Thomas, my sweet, wake up, you have to wake up," she repeated desperately, as if the spoken mantra could miraculously bring him back. This could not be possible, she refused. Her little brother...She pulled him in her laps, sobs wrecking her body.

"You can still avoid this. You know what you have to do," a malevolent familiar voice whispered.

Snapped back into reality, Margo now found herself tightly wrapped in Zachary's arms. He was currently rocking her back and forth on his lap, whispering sweet non-sense in her ears and rubbing her back gently with his overgrown claws. Though he tried to appear calm, he sounded close to hysteria himself. His massive body was cocooned protectively around hers in a desperate attempt to ward off the troubles haunting her.

Too bad they were all in her mind. And even worse, she could not even remember what had terrified her so. The episodes were forgotten the moment she woke up from them. Only a lingering sense of nausea in her system and an encompassing grief in her heart cemented what she had felt.

Margo sniffled and laid her head on Zachary's shoulder. "Forgive me," she croaked tiredly.

The grip on her tightened. A stuttering breath blew across her tear-stained face. "Do not," Zachary whispered. "The fool was I, I should have been more patient. I am indeed the monster you thought I am. I scared you," she felt him shake his head. "I scared my own mate," he whispered so slowly as if meant for his ears alone.

He believes..."Zachary, no, please look at me." She forced him to look up. It was hard to do this when his eyes kept flitting down in shame. "I am not afraid of you. I wanted our wedding night to be wonderful and it partly was," she smiled, her chin wobbling a little. "If you want to blame someone, blame me."

"Truly, I did not scare you with my passion?" His indigo eyes flared with hope.

"Of course not." He sighed in relief. "Then what had happened, my little one?" He caressed her tousled hair. "I...," she paused, searching her mind in vain for answers. "I wish I knew, Zachary."

Self-hatred spread inside her. What was wrong with her? This night was not only special for her, but for him as well. The amount of effort he had put into each detail of the wedding was glaringly obvious. And she had ruined it for him.

She had also been a selfish lover. A hand timidly reached across his still naked body and tried to inch down his torso. Long clawed digits abruptly stopped her descent while his other arm around her waist tightened imperceptibly. "What are you doing?" he sounded upset.

Mortification had never been worse to handle. Was she really that bad? "You made me feel...it was very...I want to–"

A furious growl ended her increasingly embarrassing sputtering. "After I have held you whimpering in distraught in my arms you think my mind, let alone my body would stray to such thoughts?" Zachary brought his face closer to hers. "Your pleasure is mine. Do not wound me by thinking so little of me."

"Apologies," she muttered. The ever-constant warm sensation in her heart bloomed ever more hearing his heated words. In hindsight, her suggestion had been a terrible idea she realised. She hugged him, failing to express in words what her heart whispered.

Although Zachary seemed taken aback by her touch, he swiftly reciprocated the embrace, settling her more tightly on his lap. Margo laid her head on his shoulder and sighed in content. Maybe later, when she finally recognised both their lack of clothing, she would fluster and blush like a tomato. But for now, she could not find it in herself to notice.

Laying like this with him felt so natural. She yawned sleepily.

"Your heart is finally beginning to beat normally," he said to himself absently while he rubbed her back. "The day has been exhausting for you, I should have listened to Lazarus and gone for a less festive ceremony. This must have caused you great stress, I need to be more careful with my little mate. That must have been the cause of your distress," he choked out the last word. You mortals are such fragile creatures," he tightened his grasp on her. "And perhaps I also need to try to tame my desire from now on. I was too desperate for a taste of you," he kissed her forehead tenderly. "I never want to see you scared ever again."

The husky lull of his voice was soothing. Margo was close to dozing off in his arms.

"I shall go fetch you a new robe and bring you a glass of warm milk – I have noticed you enjoy this nighttime routine of yours." The loss of his arms arms around her made her mumble unhappily. She had finally found her spot and now he took it away. A pout unconsciously graced her lips.

"Zachary–"

"I shall be back very quickly, my love. The benefits of being a creature of the night," he kissed her forehead again and threw her form a lingering look before he sped off out of their chambers.

The sound of the door closing jerked her out of her reverie. Realising her state of undress, she yelped and fished the still-intact robe from the floor, tying it quickly around her waist. As if he had not already seen it, Margo.

Running her fingers through her surprisingly resilient up-do, she unknotted the braids and pulled out the ivory comb holding her hair. She stared at the elegant accessory. It gleamed beautifully, the light of the candles reflecting in its notably sharp edges. Something about it rang warning bells in her head.

As yet another yawn escaped her mouth, she dismissed the comb, putting it on the vanity near the bed. She pulled the velvety covers and with a sigh of relief jumped underneath the comforter. Aching bones put to warm rest after long day – it was truly indescribable sensation.

Sleepily, Margo gazed at the door and willed Zachary to return soon. It was just the promise of her beloved dear milk of course. Nothing to do with the indigo-eyed devil. Her eyelids felt heavy. Though she fought to stay awake and wait for him, sleep soon claimed her underneath its wing.

Sleep and with it the burden of unspeakable dreams.