I wake up in his bed again this morning and among the first things that I see when I open my eyes are my suitcases by the closet door.

I lay there for a minute, dumbly staring at the suitcases before I look at the clock on the bedside table. It's still early and I know that he's in the gym by the sound of it.

A few minutes later, the sound of the machine stops, followed by the sound of his approaching footsteps in the hallway. I'm still lying in bed when he opens the bedroom door.

He's only in his gym shorts with a towel slung over his shoulders. His sculptured body is damp with sweat and his hair is ruffled, sticking to his face and at the nape of his neck.

He looks like he just steps out of a sports magazine spread or something while I'm not so sure if I'm looking all that great. He has no right to look that good after a morning workout.

"Good morning, sexy," he says, leaning down to drop a lingering kiss on my bare shoulder then on my forehead. He sounds like he's in a very good mood.

His scent fills my nose and I sigh. Even his sweat smells good.

He straightens up and I clear my throat to get my morning voice to work. "Sacha, why are my suitcases here?"

"Because now you live here," he says in a matter-of-fact tone before stepping back to toss the towel into the hamper.

"No, Sacha..." I struggle to sit up, then make a grab at the sheet that tries to slip down my body as he watches me with amusement. "I brought them to the other room yesterday, Sacha. Why are they here in your room now?"

"Because I want you here," he says with the voice and attitude of a man used to getting what he wants.

I frown and say, "But I want my own room."

"Why? You slept in my bed just fine last night...and the night before."

"Yeah, but maybe some nights I'd rather sleep on my own," I argue and he frowns.

The truth is, I never slept or spent a whole night with anyone before Sacha.

Somehow, sleeping in the arms of someone feels too intimate, more so than the act of sex itself. It's a vulnerable position. I never trusted or felt comfortable enough with anyone to do that.

You can have sex with anyone without any feelings involved and that's what I did. After all, they were merely tasks Astaroth set me to do. Not that Sacha isn't a task. But he doesn't feel like one. He's...more than that and that's dangerous.

Normally, I'd had enough and got bored with a man after an hour or two together. Some even before they opened their mouths. But I haven't feel bored with Sacha after two nights together. If anything, I can't get enough of him. In fact, the more time I spend with him, the more I'm addicted to him.

"But I want you in my bed every night," he says, watching me yanking the sheet off the bed to stand up. The corners of his lips curl up in amusement again as he watches me struggle to keep the sheet around my shoulders.

"We need to negotiate," I tell him. But the heated look in his eyes as he rakes them over me suggests that he's not paying attention to what I'm saying.

"I've seen your body underneath that sheet, why bother trying to hide it from me?" he asks advancing toward me. Yep, he's clearly not listening to me.

"Nope! Stop right there, mister." I raise a hand with the palm up to him while another hand is gripping the cloth from slipping off. "We really need to talk." Mercifully, he stops, but the surly expression on his face tells me that he's not happy about it. "Let's make a negotiation."

"Negotiation?" He raises an eyebrow as if to say, "Oh, this is going to be good." His lips slowly quirk up a bit. "Okay, let's hear it," he says.

"I'll move into your room willingly, provided that I get to go out..." He's starting to shake his head when I quickly add, "With the guards that you've appointed, of course.

"I promise I won't try to escape again," I continue. "Besides, I've never been in Seattle and I don't know anyone here. Where would I go?"

He lifts an eyebrow pointedly and I let out a huff. Okay, he's got me there. I'd go wherever I want if I decided to escape. Distance or not knowing anyone wouldn't stop me.

"You're unbelievably resourceful, no one should ever underestimate you," he says. There's grudging respect in his voice. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you planned all this."

I didn't but I'd use every arsenal that I have to get what I want. "I'd die of boredom if I had to stay inside all day again," I moan.

But that doesn't seem to sway him. "You lost the privilege when you took off in Manhattan," he says. "And you know I'm doing this for your own safety, right?"

"Yes, but why do you care?" I ask him warily. It can't be just for my safety. It can't be just for my body either because he could get any woman he wants. Besides, no matter how beautiful I am, he'll get tired of me soon.

When anyone did anything nice for me, there's always a catch. Everybody's using me as much as I'm using them.

"Because I care and because you're mine, Danica," he replies, stepping toward me slowly.

I shake my head. "Nobody ever did anything without expecting something in return."

There's a flash of emotion on his face. Something that closely resembles sadness or regret...I don't know. It was there very briefly then it's gone. "Isn't it enough when I say that I feel very protective of you? I'm not expecting anything in return, Danica. Even if you decided not to sleep with me again, I'd still do this. I have this need to keep you safe."

I watch him carefully. He looks sincere...but it can't be that simple.

In the end, I just shrug. "I know I messed up in New York, but I swear, I won't cause any more trouble." Maybe. "I'll stay in your room without any protest and in return, I get to go out with the protection of your guards, of course."

I step up closer to him and lay my hand on his chest, allowing the sheet to fall off my shoulders. "Please?"

He groans as though he's struggling to say no to me. But in the end, he says, "Promise me you won't leave me...leave my protection again."

"I promise," I tell him even though my head is telling me that I'm going to be in a lot of pain when this is over.

"Okay," he says. "Now, let's get rid of this sheet." His long elegant fingers slip underneath the edge of the cloth to pull it all the way off me. Then his mouth closes over the pulsing vein on my neck while his hands glide down to grip my thighs. "Let's get into the shower," he murmurs against my skin as he lifts me up.

I wrap my arms and my legs around him, already burning for him. "Yes," I whisper before his lips crush mine.

*****

Molly shows up an hour after Sacha goes off to work. My lips are raw, my body is still a little sore and my skin is still tingling from his touch. Yet, I'm already missing him.

"Good morning, Miss Danica!"Molly says chirpily. Trailing behind the round, merry woman are the two big guards, carrying several full grocery bags each.

She puts her purse and her light jacket away before turning toward the men and says, "You can leave them on the counter, gentlemen. Thank you."

"I made coffee," I announce. "You two can stay and have some. Here, let me get the mugs." I open the cabinet door.

"No, we're good," one of the guards immediately replies while his friend takes a few hasty steps toward the door. "Thank you, Miss," he adds, still trying to be polite before he retreats out the door just like his friend did.

Molly stares after them with a slight frown on her face. Then she shakes her head, looking genuinely puzzled. "They looked spooked. I've never seen two big men acting like that over an offer of a nice cup of coffee."

I guess the two guards have heard about the spiked coffee that I served my bodyguards in New York. "People are weird." I shake my head along with Molly. "Some people are suspicious of everything. Where is the faith in humanity?"

"Maybe in their line of work, they have to be suspicious," suggests Molly.

"Maybe." I take two mugs down from the cabinet. "Would you like a mug, Molly?"

"Oh, thank you so much, dear," she accepts gratefully as she works on putting away the groceries. "You're such a sweetheart."

I know, right? "What are you planning to make for lunch?" I ask her while pouring the coffee into two big mugs.

"I'm making Moussaka. It's one of Mr. Sacha's favorites."

"Will you teach me how to make it?" I ask her. "Maybe I can surprise him at the office with it." Suddenly I'm feeling excited. I get to see him...I mean, I get to check out his office. Maybe he keeps the Grimoires there.

"Of course, dear. I think that's a splendid idea," says Molly. "He'll be delighted."

*****

I'm wearing a Ted Baker dress, the most grown-up dress that I own, in my opinion. It has a white, off-shoulder, form-fitting top with pale pink, A-line printed skirt that ends just above the knees. I found a white silk tie, so I knot it into a bow at my throat. On my feet, I have a pair of nude-colored Jimmy Choo high heels.

I let my hair bounce with loose curls at the end. A couple of strokes of mascara and a swipe of a bright red Dolce&Gabbana lipstick, and I'm ready.

His office here is bigger and busier than the one in Manhattan and I'm attracting attention from the people on the main floor as I stroll in with the two bodyguards.

I'm being taken straight to the elevator that glides silently up. In my hand, I have a reusable cloth bag contained lunch that Molly has neatly packed into several containers.

For some reason, the closer I get to his office, the faster my heart is beating. I have butterflies in my stomach and my skin warms up in anticipation.

"Come in," I hear him say when one of the guards raps on his door.

The first thing that I see when the door is opened is Jade. A pair of red Louboutin heels swinging while she sits at the edge of his desk, throwing her head back, laughing at something that he said.

*******************************************

Hello, dear readers!

My next update is going to be on Friday evening (est). If you want to read three chapters ahead, go to:

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Much love,

Nicole♥