Caroline's POV:

This bed was warm. Both it and the arms around me were incredibly inviting, and the body I was pressed up against and holding to took that all even further.

I could feel the complete peace that was rather foreign in the way it reacted to him. To the strong yet gentle arms.

One I was resting my head on, whereas the other draped over the curve of my waist.

My eyes lifted and head turned up to look at him; at the tranquility written all over his sleeping features as well.

A small smile pulled onto my face, recalling the events of the previous night.

That was fun... all of it was.

I was glad that I didn't push him away at first, but now I had to get out of here before the thought of just staying in this bed with him became any more tempting.

I came here with plans, and I'd already strayed from them a little too much by letting a man take me to bed.

My day in the city needed to start soon if I was to accomplish everything I wanted to, and I needed extra time to account for the fact that I didn't know my way around very well.

After the night we had, I knew it'd be best to get out as soon as possible. Being in his hands like that had apparently softened up my instincts, and I needed to get them back together before they yearn for that again.

I couldn't do that. Not right now.

Not knowing what I'd be going home to tonight...

Luckily for me, I knew my way around stealth, even amongst vampires. It's how I got here in the first place after all.

Move upwards while they inhale, and downwards when they exhale.

With enough of that and a handful of patience, I'd wriggled my way from his form, and thanked the fact that I fell asleep on the side of the bed that wasn't pressed against a wall.

I lifted myself with a silent sigh, stretching out the muscles in my arms and legs while I started to formulate a plan.

I didn't want the only clothes I brought to smell of sex.

It was good sex- great sex, but not good enough for me to be willing to parade around town and return home with the smell of it all over me.

This room was a bedroom and only a bedroom. No bathroom to be seen in here.

I think I remember catching sight of a washroom on my way in here. Just down the hall.

If I speed there it shouldn't be an issue... Not an ideal plan, but I was going to have to work with what I had.

I carefully gathered my things, found my jacket on the other side of the room as opposed to everything else, and flipped through some of his clothes to find my bra.

Keeping my clothes held in such a way to keep the lingering smell of was... Interesting to say the least.

I felt myself pause, what was supposed to be a quick glance turned more into a stare at the still deeply sleeping man.

My muscles refused to budge for a few moments, forcing me to dwell on what was in front of me.

It felt strange just... leaving him without a word.

I felt like he deserved something given how much I appreciated all he'd done.

But I couldn't be here when he woke up. I just couldn't.

My eyes drifted and fell onto the nightstand, and an idea grew from there.

I carefully opened it, spotting a pad of paper and a fountain pen amongst a few other miscellaneous items.

I pulled out those two and knelt down beside the nightstand to write him something to wake up to, as well as a proper goodbye.

Setting it into a spot that would ensure that he spotted it, I gathered myself, placed one last kiss on his cheek, and disappeared into the early morning.

___ __ _ __ ___

-Daniel-

How the hell did she leave without me noticing?

It was the first thought that registered to me as soon as my eyes opened. After having tightened my arms and not finding that beautiful woman beside me.

A quick look and an even quicker sniff concluded that she was no longer here, and hadn't been for a little over an hour.

It was still early... it was barely even seven o'clock yet.

She was gone... Damn.

I could feel that sharp pinch of sadness in my chest at the realization.

Usually, I was the one to slip away while the other slept... but she had been full of surprises, so it was my own fault for not seeing this coming.

My deeply rooted want to just be able to hold her for a few moments after I woke up while I gathered my wits and will to leave just never got its chance.

I huffed out a sigh while pushing myself up with the intent to get dressed and get out of here.

I had to meet Ezekial this morning anyway. If things went according to plan, he probably slept in my bed.

My feet landed on the ground and pushed me up while my eyes scanned the room for my clothes.

...The clothes that were folded and neatly stacked on the foot of the bed. Definitely not where I last left them.

I was about to move, but something else caught my eye when I turned to rub my eyes to make sure I was seeing this right.

'To Levi' The folded sheet of paper set neatly on the nightstand read. In perfect, stylized cursive.

It smelled of her, and that before the words themselves had me reaching for it, and trying to ignore the excitement the sight of it caused me.

I was careful as I unfolded it like one wrong move would shred it to pieces.

Dear Levi,

I apologize for making you wake up alone, but I couldn't risk staying another moment, and I'd already strayed from my original plans already. That being said, it wasn't without its benefits. I didn't want to leave without ensuring you knew of the fun I had with you, and to thank you for accompanying me throughout, and inadvertently providing me a place to spend it.

Thank you for forever giving me a memory to look back on and smile when things get tough. If I ever get the chance to pull myself away from things long enough to do this again, I'll make sure it happens on a Thursday to heighten my chances of bumping into you again.

Until a hopeful next time, keep safe,

Caroline.

Hopeful next time...

I loved the sound of that, but at the same time just got pestered with so many more questions about where this woman came from... What kind of home she has to go back to that doesn't allow her an occasional night out?

These thoughts needed to be stopped as soon as possible. No matter how much I wanted to dwell on it, I shouldn't.

It was just one night. Maybe a few more in the future, but nothing more.

I folded the paper back how it was, and stuck it in my pocket the moment I had my pants back on, and made my own quick escape with a tip left for the ones who had to clean that room.

The flight back to my balcony was a quick one, taking off from behind this building with a speeding head start.

My wings were already crumbling away into those ribbons of shadow as I let myself back into the comfort of my room.

Sure enough, Zeke was fast asleep on my bed.

He typically takes the couch, but he'd made a habit of choosing my bed during nights when he bets that I won't be back until morning.

Well, at least he had some faith in me.

I placed her note on my nightstand first and foremost, figuring that I might as well shower now while I could... Rub out my contacts and heal the remnants of what she'd left behind all over me.

It was a routine now for my one-night stands, I shouldn't have any internal debate against it.

My shower was very quick. I think a part of me just wanted to crawl back into my bed to get another hour or two of sleep.

The three hours I got just didn't feel like enough after all of that.

Zeke was up to greet me after I was dried and dressed, already having breakfast laid out on my table that he must have gone and fetched from Daisy.

His brows rose as I stepped out, a wide smile showing through the way he was biting over his lower lip.

"I'm gonna be honest with you, I thought she was going to rip you in half the second you approached her."

I blew out a laugh, oddly not feeling the amount of pride I should have been.

"She caught us both by surprise with that," I admitted, figuring that sleep could now wait for a bit and walking over to join him, "When did you end up leaving?"

"About three hours in after I figured I'd lost you for the night and was wasted enough to just head back and crash. Watching you flail your way around her was interesting enough."

"Flail?" I snapped, pulling a hearty laugh from him.

"Maybe not outwardly, but I've seen all of your attempts and that one had you on your toes the most."

I relaxed the tension from his words, realizing that he was right.

Grabbing a piece of toast from the platter in front of us I elaborated.

"I dunno man she was just... something else," I still for the life of me couldn't explain it. It was just a gut feeling or an instinctive thing... something.

It was kind of hard to stop and try to figure it out when she was dancing in front of me, or had her hand in my hair and devoured me like her last meal.

A small chill ran down me at the memory alone.

I took a bite of my toast before continuing.

"She was just so beautiful and elegant and mysterious. She had this weird sort of grip on me all night without even touching me and I think I got lost in it at some point. She was funny and would tease the shit out of me, and I couldn't even find it in me to care as a prince because it was coming from her and it's not like I didn't deserve it."

I forced myself to stop, realizing just how much I'd been rambling about it all... and that wasn't even all of it.

He blinked at me in masked surprise for a moment, then it shifted to a wry type of knowing smile before asking his next question.

"I'm assuming you took her to bed?"

"She took me to bed and holy shit... that was something else." I didn't want to elaborate any further. Some things would just remain between me and her.

Zeke understood. I'm sure he did the same.

"Oh yeah, And none of that affected your pullout?" He chaffed.

"Oh please, you and I both know that I-" I paused, feeling myself freeze.

Wait...

My brows furrowed while I played through my memory.

Zeke's posture straightened the second he noticed, eyes widening in immediate concern.

"Daniel..." His voice was firm and vaguely questioning like he was begging me to tell him I was just joking.

"No wait shut up I must have..."

I didn't. I got so lost in her, so lost in the heat of the moment and the build of the night that it completely slipped my mind.

Something I was so vigilant of got slipped from me so easily...

"Daniel!" more of a yell this time, sinking it deeper in my own mind I'd just messed up.

If she for whatever reason keeps my kid, our kid instead of making her body ignore it- If she births Vanderwood's next heir I'm screwed!

I couldn't let that be my legacy... that would ruin so much of what my family had built!

I didn't know what her family plans were, we didn't get into it. Why would we have? She sounded like she was busy, busy enough to not want a bring a kid into all of that, but I couldn't be sure.

Why would she even want one with a simple hook-up?

As many excuses as I could come up with, none of them sated the panic all over me, and the hard twist in my gut.

What if..?

I quickly stood from the feeling of it all.

"How did you-"

"She had a strong hold on me, alright?!" Was the only excuse I could spout from his understandably frustrated sentence.

Even he understood the risk I'd just taken.

"What, physically? You're the prince!"

"Sexually, Dammit! Emotionally er-," I couldn't find the words, my brain was scrambling, "Everything-ly!"

The air filled with my newly rushed breaths, my palm pressing firm against my forehead while my feet began to pace.

I couldn't sit around and wait. I couldn't risk that. I couldn't even sleep now knowing that the possibility was out there.

How did I fuck this up so badly?

"I need to go find her," I whispered more to myself for solidification, but Zeke chimed in anyway.

"Yeah, you think?"

I had her scent. I knew it by heart at this point.

She couldn't have gotten far. She didn't tell me much about her plans today, but now I could only hope.

"Shit," I barked one last time before sliding shoes on and running back through the door I'd just come through.

I winced this time as the wings ripped from my back, feeling the split since I'd already asked for them once today.

I took to the air in a dive, ready to search every inch of this territory for crucial closure, and the knowledge that I didn't just cause this territory's first royal fuck up in a very, very long time.