"No," Nikolai says as Natalia goes to ask about that. "It's her story and I'll only allow the memories back if she wishes.

"Now, do you have any further questions about this? Are you still willing to be my mate?" Nikolai has waited a long time to find his mate and so hopes that she will say yes.

"No, I don't have any more questions and yes I'll still be your mate." Nikolai can't believe this woman that he's chosen. Not angry about him killing her family and willing to share him with Samantha. Well she'd been doing that before, but he'd always made sure that she was sleeping when he was with Samantha.

Natalia knew what he did with Samantha, because Samantha and her together couldn't afford this apartment. She just chose to ignore it.

Nikolai starts kissing her neck. Natalia closes her eyes. It feels better than anything she's ever felt before. That is until he kisses her lips. When he bites her lower lip and slips his tongue in she's overcome with feelings and doesn't even notice taking her clothes off.

The sun is just coming up when they finish. "Take the day off. If they have a problem quit. If you wish to continue working after the wedding I'll find you a job in one of my companies," Nikolai tells her.

"Where are you going, Nikolai?" Natalia says tired and sore, but never more satisfied with life than she was in that moment.

"I have to go see my father. I'll meet you for lunch at our favorite place if I can get away, say one? I hope at that time you and Samantha can tell me that you both found everything for the wedding."

"I'm sure that we will. Will Samantha be coming on our dates from now on?" This idea doesn't make Natalia happy.

Nikolai smirks, "No, there is a bit of jealousy in you after all. She'll be there today because of the wedding shopping. Get dressed and meet us in the living room, I need to talk to you both before I leave." Nikolai kisses the drowsy woman and leaves to wake Samantha.

Samantha gets up rather quickly. She does nothing more than throw on a robe and follows Nikolai out to the living room.

"Thank you ladies. Okay, this shouldn't be a problem because once the mark is set your first desire is to fulfill mine. But don't disobey me, I don't wish to punish either of you, although it's less likely to be punished when it's a mate. It hurts and I don't wish to do it. Whipping is ugly and painful, I've seen vampires have a hard time surviving it. I don't wish to see or rather be the one to give it to either of you.

"Second, you will be taking the day off to do wedding shopping. Afterwards I hope to meet with you. Natalia, you'll be my fiancee and Samantha you'll be my mistress or girlfriend if people ask."

Samantha looks at him in shock, "You can't be serious. Natalia, are you okay with that?" She may be lovers with Nikolai but that doesn't mean that she wants Natalia hurt.

"I'm fine with that. If it were someone else probably not, but you've done a great deal for me. I find that I don't mind sharing Nikolai with you."

"Samantha, I'll let that slide this time, but please don't do that again." Nikolai warns in a low menacing voice. One that Samantha hasn't heard before.

"Yes, master." Samantha bows her head.

"I will allow you two your life as much as it is possible. Just remember that my wishes come first. I'll try to not take advantage of that. Samantha I'm sure that you noticed a difference?"

"Yes, master." Samantha would never had considered calling any man master before. Natalia is staring at her in horror.

"You both can call me Nikolai just as before."

Natalia looks at Nikolai with narrowed eyes. He catches the look and warns her before she speaks, "Natalia, think really carefully before you say anything. As my mate you have far more leeway than my pet, but I will punish you if you give me disrespect. Is that understood?"

Almost against her will Natalia finds herself saying, "Yes, Nikolai."

Nikolai sighs, "This won't be easy for any of us until we get used to the new norm. I haven't had any pets for almost a century. You two were brought up in an age and country where you are considered equal.  This is a concept fairly new and it will be hard for me to not be angry when you show your independence. I will try though.

"Call in to work and then both of you get some rest. Hopefully I'll see you for lunch." Nikolai says then kisses Samantha and then Natalia before leaving. He finds it interesting that Natalia doesn't give off the slightest hint of jealousy when he kisses Samantha.

"Nikolai?" Natalia says uncertainly.

"Yes?" Nikolai says looking at her as he's about to open the door.

"I love you."

Nikolai smiles brilliantly, "I love you too, Natalia, love."

Nikolai makes it to his father's estate before much later. He passes Dmitri and Makarov waiting in the hall. He controls his anger, but it's a near thing. They damn near ruined everything. 

The two vampires cower as he goes by, feeling his anger. "I hope Ivan lets me do your punishment." He feels a strong need to lash out and they would be perfect. Vampires being fast at healing he can deal out a lot of angry punishment.

This statement makes the two vampires cringe away from him even more.

Nikolai knocks on the study door.

"Come in," Ivan says from inside. If vampires didn't have enhanced hearing he wouldn't have heard his father.

Nikolai confidently opens the door and enters the study. He hopes that now won't be the time or place for a confrontation between the two. He's close. He should be gaining another ability soon. If the trend continues he has a good idea what that new ability will be. It will be enough for him to finally be stronger than his father.

He loves his father, but things are happening that will make it necessary for him to take over soon.

But right now, his father would likely win whatever challenge was given to him. He just hopes that his father will not require to much from him for the defiance he showed last night.

"Well, Nikolai, you made good time. Now, about last night." Ivan says after gesturing for Nikolai to take a seat.

"Before you get started, father, you should know that one of those girls is my mate and the other is my mistress."

Ivan sits forward from his relaxed stance in the chair. "Your mate? You finally found your mate?"

"Yes." Nikolai says defiantly.

"Well then, that changes things..."