Betrayed By The Hero, Loved By The Lord-Chapter 19: Teasing (2)

Selene didn’t know what to say at first. His responses when they spoke about love weren’t what she had in mind. She started questioning if Xavier had feelings for her but knew it couldn’t be that.

Selene became suspicious. "That did nothing to me if you were testing me. You do not want to be bothered by love."

"I didn’t know you had the talent to get in someone’s head to tell me what I am thinking. It will come in handy," said Xavier, having a few people in mind to use it on.

"I do not have that talent. Why would you want to be bothered by something as trivial as love? How are you a man who would want to fall in love when you were so close to being put in a long slumber?" Selene asked, having a hard time believing he wanted love.

"Isn’t love unpredictable? I cannot control if I suddenly feel it one day. Shouldn’t I come to love my wife or do you want me to hate you?" Xavier asked.

"Our union is not as simple as others. I hope at the very least we get along forever but I don’t see any love between us soon. I need a break from having feelings for someone. It is quite disappointing when it doesn’t go as you wanted it," Selene said, unable to forget the hurt so soon. "But I am open to falling in love again."

"Again? I was told you didn’t know how to give your heart to anyone. It seems like he had it and didn’t know," Xavier noticed. He was glad Gabriel didn’t know or Selene might have never ended up in the estate.

"He left for the war and I thought to tell him when he returned. It didn’t go as planned. I do not want to speak about him. Tell me about yourself, Lord Blackthorn," Selene said, changing the conversation.

"I prefer that the woman who will share a bed with me call me by my name," Xavier said, waiting for when she would drop the title.

"I’m sorry," Selene apologised. "Maybe when we are officially married I will find it easier. I always refer to you as Lord Blackthorn."

"So, have you talked about me in the past?" Xavier noticed.

"You are quite popular around the kingdom. You were once a hero of the kingdom so your name is known by many and then your last name is woven deep in vampire history. I would be lying if I said I never spoke of you. I thought of you with the invites for the banquet," Selene said, still surprised he attended.

Selene realised something good came out of the banquet she turned to dislike. "If you did not show up there that night it is unlikely I would be standing here with you now. I do not know exactly what made you attend since you dislike Gabriel but I am grateful for it."

"I said I came to see an old friend who forgot about me."

Selene smiled. "Right. We were friends."

Selene stopped before the bedroom door. She thought there were going to be more days or even weeks before she shared the bedroom with Xavier but it was best to get used to it now.

Xavier opened the door for Selene to enter first and then closed it after he entered. "You will need to find a room for your maid close by. Three people sharing a room is a bit too much."

"I am aware. She didn’t have the chance to find her room. I have a bit of trouble letting her out of my sight. She is all that I have left," said Selene.

"Don’t you have me now? Why am I excluded from what you have?" Xavier asked, feigning hurt.

"Oh. I meant from before our arrangement. I have known Agnes and Elsie for a long time but now I have you as well. I didn’t mean to exclude you," Selene said, worried she offended him but then Xavier smiled. "Must you do that?"

"What? See you panic whilst trying to find the right answer to please me? I must," Xavier said as he went to lay on the bed.

Nothing about the look of the room had changed but Selene’s presence was noticeable. There was a smell of flowers that wasn’t there before when the room belonged to only him.

Selene noticed Xavier looking around the room. "Agnes fitted my things in the space you had in the wardrobe. Everything else is in the trunk so I do not take over the room."

"It is fine to make half of the room yours. Why do you assume I would be angry to see you claiming your rightful spot in this room?" Xavier asked.

"You seem to be a man who enjoys his space. I did not want to take that from you. I will try my best to be respectful of how you were before as a loner. Do you not enjoy anyone’s company? Do you not have guests to make the estate come alive? It is quiet," Selene said, understanding why he would be bored.

"I have visits from my family. I don’t enjoy hosting gatherings in my home to be bothered by fools trying to make use of my title or wealth. If you want noise, should we have some little ones running around?" Xavier asked, moving to lie on his side to get a better look at Selene.

"I- well," Selene didn’t have the answer right away.

"You do not enjoy the company of pets?" Xavier asked to bring her some ease.

Selene frowned, puzzled by the mention of pets. "Pets? Animals?"

"A few of them might make the estate noisy to your liking. I am not fond of them but if it would be a good gift for my future wife then you can have as many as you want. If you keep getting flustered so easily then I will always be tempted to tease you. You won’t survive sharing a room with me at this rate," Xavier said, looking forward to the days ahead.

"You knew what you did. It shouldn’t be surprising that my first thought was about children. You are lord of a large estate and one of the Blackthorns. I have already considered you will need an heir to continue your lineage but I didn’t think it would come up soon. I am happy to hear you meant pets," Selene said, relieved that pressure wasn’t on her now.

"I almost had myself locked in a coffin to enjoy a long sleep. Children are not on my mind and I would never think you who doesn’t love me would be excited to have my children. Do not let anyone pressure you when it is not any of my concern," Xavier said since he knew it would come. "How long will you just stand there?"

"I am not tired and I am your guest right now. Since I am not yet your wife to help with the estate and will be treated as a guest, I should find another room to use until we are married. Your future wife would like that," Selene said, using his words against him.

Xavier smiled. She was quick on her feet to get out of something she was nervous about. "Then I don’t have a choice but to wait until you are divorced to enjoy your company here. You may still slowly turn it to your liking. I advise you to use the time well to prepare yourself, Selene. I will thoroughly enjoy our marriage."