Queen Of Hearts

Germany

Katherine

Once we returned to the rental house, we packed and headed to the train station. We boarded, walked to the first-class car, and found our seats. After settling in, an attendant checked on us.

I sat across from Julian and studied him.

"What?"

"We still need to talk about your need for control."

"Katherine, you're asking me to alter who I am."

I leaned forward with my legs crossed and rested my hand on my fist. "No, I'm asking you not to control me."

Julian gazed at me, shifted in his seat, and rubbed his lips with his fingertip before leaning forward. "I don't want to control you except when I fuck you."

My breath caught in my throat as my heart pounded in my chest. The wetness between my legs dampened my panties.

Someone cleared their throat as Julian, and I sat back in our seats. "Is there anything I can get you?"

"We would like a bottle of Chardonnay and two glasses, please," Julian said.

The woman nodded and walked away, leaving Julian and me alone. I shifted in my seat to avoid the dampness in my panties. The attendant return snapped me out of my lust-induced haze and brought me back to reality. After setting the bottle of Chardonnay and wine glasses down, she checked on other passengers.

Julian removed the cork and filled each glass halfway, then handed one to me. I took it and sipped it, letting the dryness of the wine flow down my throat. Julian swirled his drink around before taking a sip.

"Do you think Massimo will contact you again?" I asked.

"Doubtful." Julian lifted the wine glass to his lips and gulped the remaining contents.

We spent the rest of the train ride in silence.

*******
Julian

After our stay in Italy, my mind swirled with questions about my father. I didn't have any memories of him or what he looked like. I only discovered my childhood home upon my mother's death.

I stared out the train window as the scenery rushed by, and my mind drifted. I glanced at Katherine to find her asleep. Relinquishing most of my control with her proved difficult. I spent years trying to escape Henry and Addison's control.

I pulled my phone from my pocket and typed Matteo Benetoli into the search engine. Different links appeared on the screen as I skimmed past them until one caught my attention.

After clicking on it, an article popped up about a foundation. I settled back into my seat and read through the entire article regarding a charitable foundation my father had created.

I searched the foundation name and discovered it helps domestic violence victims. At the end of the page was contact information. I noted the information to contact when we returned home from our honeymoon.

I had been so engrossed in searching for my father that I hadn't realized we had arrived in Germany. The train pulled into a train station and stopped. I rose from my seat to wake Katherine from her slumber.

*******
Katherine

Someone gently shook me as my eyelids fluttered open. I looked at Julian hovering over me.

"Come on, my love. We have arrived in Germany," Julian said.

I sat up, rubbed my eyes, yawned, and stretched. "I must have fallen asleep."