Alastor's POV

I woke up slowly, feeling well rested.

I always feel well rested when I sleep in her bed. I found last night when I slept back home in hell was not fun after having so many nights of good sleep in a row.

I forgot how nice the quiet was...

As my eyes opened, the morning light seeping in through her window made her room seem like it was glowing.

A soft hum left my throat and I looked down at the sleeping lady in my arms. She was curled up against me, one of her legs was hiked up and hooked around my pelvis.

A smile rested on my lips and I brushed my thumb over her cheek, admiring her features. Her cute freckles, and her little nose. Long, fluttery eyelashes. She reminds me of a fairy.

Those lips of hers...her bottom lip is just a bit fuller than her top, giving her a natural pout.

Looking at them reminded me of the kiss we shared last night. Just the thought of it made heat rise to my face.

Before the park, I'd never even kissed a woman before. What she did to me last night was a completely new terrain all together.

When I first felt her tongue against my bottom lip I almost pulled away in surprise. I was reluctant, to say the least.

I've never been one for the more sexual aspect of life. Something about what she did just felt purely intimate.

Oh, but when she let me taste her...it set off something in me that I didn't even know existed. It was sheer willpower that allowed me to extinguish the fire she started last night.

I could've easily taken her in that moment. So easily I could've taken it further and something tells me she wouldn't have stopped me.

However, that's exactly why I didn't do it.

The flame between us is definitely burning, and it's burning hot...but I don't want it to burn too strong, too fast.

I want her to know that there's more to what we have than sex, there's more to what we have than late night kisses.

Hell, I wouldn't even know about the sexual aspect. I'm not an idiot, I know how to do it, but I've never had the need to.

I've never felt this way towards any human being before...never have I felt the want that I felt last night.

This is all new to me.

In a way, it's new to her as well.

The only other relationship she's ever known was with someone that treated her as an object...who abused her...who drank through his troubles and blamed her...

I will not have her believing that's what she deserved, or that's as good as it gets.

And if...or when...the time comes...when she's ready and decides she wants to take our intimacy further...I'll erase the vile memories he left in her head of how sex should be.

I don't trust any of these other men in the world to do it for me...I don't trust any of them with her.

In all honesty...I'm not sure what it is that we have. What I am sure of is that I want to take everything he did to her...I want to take all of her bad memories and I want to replace them.

I want to show her what it was supposed to be like...

So maybe...when she does find someone, even if the thought makes my blood boil...she'll be able to distinguish whether or not they deserve her.

The woman swimming around my head stirred slightly, and I focused my eyes back onto her. Her nose scrunched cutely before her eyes opened.

She blinked a few times before her eyes lifted to meet mine.

Normally I'm met with a scowl in the morning. However, this morning the corners of her mouth turned up in a little smile.

"Good morning..." she croaked softly, her tired voice struggling to warm up.

I had to take a moment to acknowledge how adorable that was before I answered.

"Good morning, beautiful," I replied back to her. It was just my normal voice, seeing as it's just us there's no need to have my radio filter on.

I reveled the soft blushed that rose to her face because of my words. She pushed herself up slightly, and used her palm to rub her face.

Her hair was puffy and I smoothed it down slightly, just watching her sit up. She yawned and I found myself enraptured by the sight.

I'm still unfamiliar with these feelings in my chest...I recognize the feeling of trust, and the feeling of enjoyment. However, there are more, new feelings sprouting with each new day I spend with her.

I wonder if she's feeling them, too, or if I'm in this boat by myself.

She giggled softly, and then I felt her fingers run through my hair. My eyes closed and I sighed, leaning into her touch.

God, I love when she does that.

Her nails ran across my scalp and I almost let off a noise, but bit my tongue. Before the day in the park, I'd never experienced such a sensation before.

Now I can hardly get enough of it.

I took in a deep breath and when I let it out, a slight purr left my throat with it. With that, I pushed myself up as well, glancing down at my suit that I fell asleep in.

I tsk'd softly and snapped my fingers. My suit was replaced with a black T-shirt and pajama pants.

She glanced at my ensemble, then back to my eyes. Her little smile only widened and I snapped again, changing her out of her day clothing as well.

Now we're matching.

I smiled at her and she looked down at herself.

"Hey, we match," she said, and she sounded very excited about it. I chuckled and nodded.

"Indeed...how did you sleep, darling?" I asked her and sat against the headboard. She stayed sitting up, her legs crossed beneath her.

"Alright, I guess...I had another dream," she shrugged and my eyes widened slightly.

"You did? Well, that's interesting, you didn't wake me at all, so I'm assuming it wasn't too bad?" I said and she shook her head.

"Oh, no, it was bad," she said matter of factly and my eyebrows raised. She nodded her head slightly.

"Yea...it was not pretty...but, there was something in it I wanted to talk with you about," she said and then looked over at me.

At least she's not...completely disgusted by me after her dreams anymore?

"Alright, dear, go ahead," I replied, and she scooted closer to me slightly, taking up the blanket in her hands and laying it across her lap.

"Ok...you had a cousin...? Named Ros—"

My teeth grit and I nearly stabbed my claws through my palm, my voice forcing it's way out before I could stop it.

"Stop." I said, my voice hardening.

She froze and blinked, and immediately I felt a bit guilty. I lost the tension in my jaw and sighed.

"I apologize...she's not something I prefer to remember..." I mumbled, looking at my hands. The weight shifted in the bed and suddenly her hand entered my vision as well.

Her fingers wrapped around mine and I looked up, being met with soft eyes and a gentle smile.

"That's fine...don't be sorry..." she squeezed my fingers and I smiled softer. Just then a piece of paper fluttered down and into my lap.

Curiously I looked up where it had come from, and saw she had a cork board hung up, various things pinned to it.

I looked back at the paper, and picked it up between my claws.

She crawled over and sat right next to me, looking at the paper as well.

"That was the last thing my mom ever wrote to me," she said softly, and I glanced down at her, seeing a sad smile on her face.

"You can read it if you want," she said and my eyes met the page again.

Aria,

Happy birthday, Love Bug! You're 10 years old today! The years have really flown by, I remember when you were just a little baby and I could hold you in just one arm. Your daddy and I are so proud of you, and I love you so much. I couldn't have asked for a better daughter, and every day I thank God for blessing me with you. You surprise me every single day, my darling. Smart, beautiful, funny, why, you'll be beating the boys off with a stick!

Are you embarrassed enough yet, love bug? Don't worry, you only have to deal with me for the rest of your life! I hope your birthday is as wonderful as you hoped, baby.

Love,
Mom

After I finished reading it I gently handed it to her. She looked at it a moment, then stood up on her knees, tacking it back securely onto the board.

She smoothed it down, her eyes lingering on it a moment before she lowered back down next to me in the bed.

Guilt crawled up my back, then, at how I'd reacted when she asked me about Rosaline.

I sighed softly, then reached over and wrapped my arm around her, pulling her close to me. Her hand met my chest and she looked up at me curiously.

I smiled down at her, "I...suppose I can tell you about Rosaline, darling..."

Her eyes brightened and she smiled.

I guess it's time for another story.