“Is there any problem, Dear?  Why were you running?”

“Why? David, these dogs were chasing me. Are they yours?”

“Yes, mine. Only, they were not chasing you, they were protecting you.”

“From what?”

“Kept you back from doing something that risked your health.”

“My health?”

“Yes. You could have been attacked, injured or hurt if you are out without protection.”

“What? On your estate? Why?”

“I will tell you later, now, please, gimme your hand.”

“Why should I?" she asked with fear in her voice.

"Are you afraid of me?" asked Dave looking straight into her eyes.

"To tell the truth...yes!" she whispered.

"And why is that?"

"I… I saw things... strange things!" she stepped backward but stopped when another growl came from behind her back.

"I don't know what you mean."

"David! For God's sake! I saw your grave!!" she cried out with terror.

“You say, MY grave? Now, that would be interesting Honey. I am standing here, right in front of you. Are you okay? Feeling alright?”

“I don't know what to think, I saw your face on the relief…a duke called David.”

Viola wasn't reassured by his explanation - not at all. Her skin was covered with goose bumps from this echoing laugh.

"Yeah, you are probably right" she answered "But I think it's really time for me to go home. I'm really grateful for your hospitality and the party and... everything else, but now I want to go home. Can you call Mario to bring me back?" she asked with suspicious eyes.

“I'm afraid, not now, Dear. It is getting late and we have so much to confide to each other, with or without words. Here is the house…”

He couldn't finish the sentence cuz Viola with a sudden maneuver jumped into the sea head first and started to swim.

"Shit!" he whispered, his dogs barking at the swimming woman, but Dave didn't let them jump after her. She wasn't that kind of prey. He watched as she got further in the water and noticed that she looked over her shoulder time after time to check if he was still there.

The water was cold, she felt it and her lips started to tremble soon, but she was afraid to stop, although her wet clothes started to pull her downwards. She needed to reach the shore! This was the only thing which was dancing in front of her eyes.

Without any rush, The Duke of Aragon just called Damian and Vincenzo, his faithful men and asked them to make his small yacht ready, which wasn't difficult, as it was docked right there, just a hundred yards from the place he was standing now. He didn't need anyone on board, he was a gentleman, so he was a well trained captain, too.

Viola turned her head when she heard the motor of the yacht. Her heart seemed to stop from the sight of the approaching small boat. She started to swim faster, but her arms and legs were heavy and she gulped from the ice-cold water. Everything seemed to be blurry to her. Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to jump into the sea in the middle of February. But it was better to die here than going back to that freaky man!

The duke was still calm when he reached her and stopped the engine. He gave his hand to her. Viola shook her head and tried to swim more, but she was half-frozen and weak and swallowed a big amount of the salty water. She was coughing heavily, and when David reached her, get a grip of her hands, she let herself to be lifted aboard.

She hadn't got too much choice, although she hated herself not being brave enough to die in the water. But the will to live was stronger in her. Her teeth chattered as the cold air cooled her body,  her lips were deep blue and her head was dizzy. She felt Dave's cold hand on her forehead although she tried to pull away, but he touched her again and suddenly everything went black.

---

When she opened her eyes she saw a different room from hers, with different furniture. Clearly, it was a man's room. She was lying on a bed and heard the popping sounds of the burning logs on the fire. There was rich, thick, soft carpet on the floor and thick curtains in a rare purple shade. When she sat up on the bed she noticed four Dobermans lying around a sitting man, who was playing with them. He put something into his palm and they were trying to snatch it from him. With not much luck. He was strong and the wrestling was entertaining the guy, he was laughing happily. It was David.

She was still scared and pulled the heavy blanket upper on her. She noticed that she wore one of those long light and lacy nighties she had in her room. This David was different now as she watched him playing with the black dogs. She was now totally confused! Which was the real one? The monster she saw or this kind guy, who was playing with his beautiful dogs? In the next moment she jumped a little when one of the dogs noticed her sitting in the bed and gave out a little growl pulling the other's attention towards her too.

“Hush” David said softly and the dogs lay down at his feet, looking up at him admiringly with their hazel eyes, waiting for his next order. Clearly, he was the alpha male among them. Dave – as if Viola wasn't there – kept talking to them and they were listening to their master intently. “Viola is your mistress from now on my boys, understood? No growling only serving her, yeah?”

Viola still had hazy eyes from the deep sleep but she could have sworn that the clever animals nodded. She rubbed her eyes once more in disbelief, because this time her host wore blue jeans, black boots and a plain khaki T-shirt. Somehow, this didn't fit into his image. Viola was disturbed, not knowing what to think. She felt as if her head wanted to explode!

"David?" she asked unsure of the answer.

"Who else, my love?" he smiled and stood up to sit on the edge of his bed.

Viola crawled backwards, out of the way of his hands.

"I think it's really time to explain me what's going on here!" she whispered with anger in her voice. Her dizziness disappeared as her blood started to boil.

“Explain, what exactly?”

“Why do you hold me captive?”

“Me? How can you accuse me with this Viola? Yesterday it was late and you were acting strangely. Jumping into the freezing water! I already called Mario to come for you.”

“Called? On the phone?”

“Yes, of course, why?”

“Because, because, I don't know… It was as if it is, here in the island, it is not the same time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Like, oh forget it, I am a dizzy chick and feeling myself so out of order. I must be exhausted, melting down, whatever, I need a rest. Thank you for calling Mario, I go home.”

Dave just gave her a mischievous smile and stood up.

"If you need something, just call Damian's or Amelia's name, they'll help you. I leave you here to rest. Asher'll stay here and take care of you" he smacked with his long fingers, and one of the dogs came to him. The clever eyes were glued to his master and he brushed his elegant head to Dave’s thigh, who scratched the base of his ear.

“Don't be afraid of him, Viola, he already loves you. Asher, kiss her!” and the dog obediently licked her feet “Asher, say her: ‘I love you!’” and Asher barked it to her. "Do you love dogs My Dear?"

"Yes, I do, you are right, especially Dobermans. But I cannot trust them yet.”

"You can trust them, you will see, they would protect you even at the price of their lives. You are safe with them. Love them Viola, as well as you can, they are grateful for every morsel of love.”

"You speak as if I'd stay here, or something like that, but David, I'll go home at dawn" she answered looking straight into his green eyes. He just smiled and stroked Asher's long nose.

"Of course, dear, of course... But I hope this won't be our last goodbye. I'd like to see you again and be your host."

"And you want to fuck me again without my permission?" she asked what was buzzing in her head for a while.

"Oh, no My Dear. You shouldn't say that" he laughed a sultry one "You wanted it more than me. Confess it to yourself, baby! Later you will know how I know it. But there are lots of things that you still have to learn. Now, if you allow me…” and the man in the worn-out blue jeans and simple khaki T-shirt bowed himself and he stepped out the door. Viola was awestruck. She just couldn't believe what she saw. What is going on here?

She sighed and started to stroke Asher's short fur absentmindedly.

"You know everything, right?" she looked down at the dog, who put his head onto her naked thigh. She could swear that he understood what she asked. He carefully licked her skin once then closed his clever brown eyes.

"Yeah, you're right, maybe we should have a rest. Tomorrow will come soon and I must wake up early. Would you wake me up?" she asked with a smile and Asher barked a short one "Alright... then good night" she stroked him again and sank between the soft pillows.

She was awakened by a deep bark - Asher was barking. She opened her eyes, seeing the red sun just over the surface of the sea. It was dawn, she stepped onto the balcony, and breathed a deep one from the fresh morning air. She noticed a gondola at the peer, David kept his word, Mario was waiting for her.

She patted Asher's head and thanked him for waking her up, then hurried to collect her few things. Finally she'll go home. She wanted fresh air after the castle's secrets. She wanted to be at home in her own world, between her paintings and paints. She rushed down the stairs and saw David standing in the door's shadow.

"Good morning, Viola."

"David. You're awake?"

"Of course. I didn't want to miss our goodbye. It'd be rude of me."

Viola just nodded "Well, then thank you for everything and I'm sorry for the trouble I caused."

"It was nothing" he lifted her warm hand to his lips and kissed it. Viola felt how cold his fingers were, but she didn't say a word. "Can I visit you one day?"

For a moment she just looked into his hopeful eyes then nodded again "Yes, after a while."

"Fine" he gave her a boyish smile "Now go, don't let Mario wait."

"Alright. Goodbye David."

"Goodbye, my lady" he bowed and watched her as she hurried to the gondola.