"The rules are simple. You can go wherever you want—"

"Except the top floor."

"—except the top floor. I will count till hundred in English as well as in Italian. You guys have to hide in that time limit and then I'll come seeking for you, got it?"

I yawned, leaned back at the wall and felt my eyelids slowly drooping as I let myself fall into my peaceful and inviting sleep.

"Got it, Leo?"

"Got it."

"Got it, Amelia?"

Shh! Don't disturb Amelia. She is almost asleep.

"Amelia?"

Who the fuck is that? I said Do. Not. Disturb.

"I can't believe this." I heard someone mutter under his breath and the next thing I know, my face is dripping wet.

I gasped, mentally crying for my lost sleep and wiped my face with my hand.

"What. Is. Wrong with you?!" I shouted. "Can't you just let me sleep?"

"No." Adrian answered with a blank look. "Nobody is sleeping tonight till I say so."

I gritted my teeth. "Remind me why you broke into my room at one in the morning and dragged me out of my bed?"

"Because I wanted to." He grinned.

"You ass, what is your problem?"

"Well, my lovely Amy, you see this gorgeous piece of ass?" He turned around and encircled his butt with his hands. "This ass is now a thirty year old ass and the owner of this ass is now a thirty year old birthday boy and this thirty year old birthday boy wants to play with his juniors which happen to be you guys."

My eyes popped out of their sockets. "Damn. Thirty? Adrian, you are an old man."

His face fell. "Old? I am not old. I am thirty, flirty and thriving. God bless the makers of 13 going on 30."

"That doesn't mean that you'll drag me out of my sleep. I had a very long day and I hardly slept for three hours!"

He shrugged. "Not my fault. The more the merrier."

I yawned and rubbed my eyes. "Where the hell have you been? I haven't seen you for over a week. I really don't like it when people vanish into thin air. Especially you after what happened..."

He laughed it off. "I have been busy. I am sure you must have heard about my dear brother taking over, right?"

I froze. Oh shit, I forgot about his brother standing with us.

"Y-Yes. I did." I laughed nervously, avoiding the piercing look his brother is giving me. "Very nice. Very good. Why am I here again?"

"To play with me." He deadpanned.

I frowned. "Play what?"

"Hide and seek." Adrian squealed. "Isn't this exciting?"

"Very exciting." I said flatly. "The birthday boy wants to play hide and seek at one in the morning."

"I just love how understanding you are, Amy." He wiped his fake tears. "You're the best."

"Right. You expect me to roam alone in a four storey mansion?"

"Absolutely."

"A house full of not so dangerous men with guns?"

"You got it right, baby."

"And hide in any one of the rooms?"

"The ones which are unlocked and they are many. Don't worry, I made full preparations for my birthday fun. You and your friend will be safe."

My heart dropped. "Friend?"

"Have you forgotten that your ex-roommate is also here?" Three heads snapped in the direction of the woman who was rubbing her eyes like a baby in a corner. She felt our gaze on her and she smiled. "She happens to be my player of honour."

I pulled his collar harshly and dragged him to another corner of the hall.

"What is wrong with you, Adrian? Why did you brought her here?!" I whisper yelled and smacked his head.

"Ow! It's not my fault. I asked her if she wants to play and she said yes. That's it!" He whispered back. "Don't you dare try to sabotage my players."

My jaw dropped. "You asked her? When?"

"This morning." He answered.

"And she said yes?"

"Yes."

I know Rylie. She would never agree on something like this very easily yet she did. I'm pretty sure that there is something brewing in her mind and the fact that she agreed on playing this game at this hour doesn't make any sense.

I remembered the words she wrote; welcome him with open arms and make his life a living hell.

Rylie must have something in her mind.

"Okay."

"Okay."

We walked back to our little group and I stood beside Rylie.

"You okay with this, Rylie?" I whispered.

She showed me her thumb.

And that's all I need to know.

"The rules are simple. You can go wherever you want—"

"Except the top floor." I gulped when I heard his voice.

"—except the top floor. I will count till hundred in English as well as in Italian. You guys have to hide in that time limit and then I'll come seeking for you. The rooms which are locked are not in option, but there are many other rooms which are open and that also includes the outdoor areas. It's absolutely safe because nobody has the guts to mess with me and my brother except for you ladies and it's fun because this is my game. Got it?"

There was an eerie silence among us. Adrian waited for us to say something with excitement evident on his face but none of us did.

"Come on!" He whined. "It's the perfect day to celebrate the day where my madre left me in the hospital and ran away. Cut me some slack."

An absolute pin drop silence.

He sighed irritably. "Got it, Leo?"

"Got it."

"Got it, Amy?"

"Got it."

"Got it, signorina Rylie?"

Rylie fished out her thumb and grinned.

"You guys are very pathetic attention seekers." Adrian muttered. "Now scatter!"

In a blink of an eye, the Agostini son was gone and I released a breath I didn't know I was holding. Adrian went to a corner of the hall, closed his eyes, hid his face on the wall and started counting.

"One... Two... Three..."

Rylie and I climbed the stairs.

"Where do you think we should hide?" I whispered.

She pointed to me and motioned me to go away.

My face fell. "What? Are you sure?"

She nodded.

"Can you at least tell me where you will be hiding?" I asked and she gave me a incredulous look. "In case of something goes wrong and stuff." I added.

She took out her notepad and pen, wrote something and showed me.

My eyes went wide when I saw the name of the place she had written and it all clicked me.

The birthday boy was sure going to have a splashing birthday.

"You sure?"

'Positive. What about you?'

I grinned mischievously. "The only place Adrian will never come seeking for as far as I know about him."

Her eyes diluted in confusion. 'What?'

"His own bedroom."

****

Finding Adrian's bedroom is a very difficult task.

First, I don't know where his bedroom is.

Second, there were too many rooms unlocked as well as locked and I had to check each of them.

Third, I could hear him reaching one hundred in English and once he would start in Italian, I won't understand anything and I'll be a goner.

Four, even if I would find an unlocked room, I had to check for things which only Adrian has; Disney character pajamas, foundation and face pack. He is wearing SpongeBob pajamas tonight.

Five, if his bedroom is in the top floor, I'll be a goner.

Six, if he had locked his own bedroom, I'll be a goner.

Seven, it felt amazing to roam around the mansion so freely at this hour and I actually wanted to quit this game. If I did quit, I'll be a goner.

I gripped my hair in frustration when I tried to unlock another door and found it locked instead.

Does this idiot even have a room in this mansion? I have reached the third floor now and I still haven't found his room.

I can't hear him counting anymore.

My steps quickened as I spotted another door and twisted the doorknob. Ha. It's unlocked. I went in, checked the nightstand and found a few medicines, checked the bathroom and much to my relief, I saw a brand new box of face pack cream, checked the walk in closet and I jumped in happiness when I saw the familiar Little Mermaid pajamas in the first shelf along with Hello Kitty pajamas, some weird looking snowman with a carrot nose pajamas, Cinderella's glass slipper and pumpkin pajamas, Mickey mouse pajamas and lastly Snow White's apple pajamas.

This man has got some serious liking for Disney.

This room did checked the boxes as Adrian's room, but I didn't find any foundation. Maybe he finally gets some proper sleep and stopped using it? That could be a possibility.

The only thing left is now to close the door and go to sleep.

Very slowly, I peeked through the door to see whether Adrian was or not and when I didn't see him, I close the door with a soft click then pressed my head on it, sighing in relief.

"Little girl."

"Shit." I hissed softly.

"My name... is not Shit."

I looked over my shoulder. "Well, my name is not little girl either."

How did he get in here? Was he following me? Was he in this room the whole time and silently watched me checking things of this room?

"What are you doing here?" I hissed as I turned around and leaned by the door.

Leonardo Agostini was casually sitting on a chair beside the bed with his hands on his head.

"What are you doing here?" He tilted his head slightly.

"I am here to hide."

"I am here to hide too."

"Were you following me?"

"Were you following me?"

"Stop copying me!" I whisper yelled. My poor heart is going crazy here.

He shook his head. "I am not. I have been sitting here ever since my brother counted thirty."

"Then go somewhere else and sit there."

"No." He deadpanned. "This is my brother's room. I can come and go anytime I want. You should go somewhere else."

I stomped my foot. "I will not! It took me a lifetime to find his room and this is the perfect place to hide."

He scratched his chin. "I have come to a conclusion. Either you were following me or we both know Adrian well enough that he would never check his own room."

"Adrian would dig up grounds, but he will never check his room."

"So we thought of the same thing."

"What a coincidence, right?" I said sarcastically.

"Coincidence indeed."

"Hmm-Hmm."

"Hmm-Hmm."

God, this is so embarrassing! This actually shows how low we think of Adrian.

I kept admiring the interior and my bare feet when I heard the chair creak very slightly, indicating that he has gotten up.

"So..." I sang awkwardly. "I heard someone is taking over the big bad family and getting a big bad title."

"I am." He was looking out of the open window.

"That must be pretty cool, right?"

"It is."

"Are you happy?"

He looked over his shoulder and saw my nervous, fidgeting self then shook his head.

My face fell in an instant. "You are not happy?"

"No."

"Excited?"

"No."

"Nervous?"

"No."

I gulped hard. "Sad?"

"No."

I rubbed my arms and carefully took two steps towards him.

"Confused?"

He looked over his shoulder again and nodded very slowly.

"Do you mind if I ask why?" I asked.

"No." He answers after some time.

"Why?" I asked pathetically.

"I don't know..." He trailed off and sighed. He turned back and I saw confusion written all over his face. "Do you know?"

I gave him a stink eye. "Of course not. How would I know?"

"I don't know. All my life I have been preparing for this, I have been wanting this and when I am finally going to get this... nothing. That's it, nothing at all." He cringed at himself then shook it off quickly.

I shrugged. "Then maybe you want something else. As simple as that."

His lips pursued. "Why would I want something else? I am getting what I want."

I slapped my forehead. Things have definitely not changed between us. He is still the same shitty faced idiot I know. "Maybe you want one more thing apart from what you are getting or something like that. Man, I don't really know what I am talking about."

"Maybe I do." He smiled genuinely.

I plastered a huge smile on my face. "Since we are now done with the talking, I want you to get out." I pointed to the main door.

He raised his eyebrow. "You want me to get out?"

"Si." I replied.

"Really?" His eyes lit up in amusement. "I don't want to leave."

I gulped inaudibly when I saw him walking towards me. Oh dear, I don't like where this is going.

"You have to. Both of us can't stay here." I whispered.

"Why?" I shivered when he invaded my personal space, brushed his lips on my ear and whispered seductively, "Amy, are you afraid of something?"

I shook my head vigorously and pulled away. "Nope! Nothing at all! I just planned on sleeping soundly till Adrian gives up in seeking for me and eventually finds me in his bedroom... snoring."

All that slow whispering and seductive shit vanished and he laughed. "Seriously?"

"Oh yeah, I am dead serious. I am also considering to wear one of his pajamas, much to his annoyance so I want you to leave."

"I don't see why I should leave, Amelia. I am fine where I am."

I frowned. "You don't plan on watching me sleep, do you?"

"I did watch you last night, didn't I?"

My breath hitched. "L-Last night?"

"Or should I say morning?" He twirled a strand of my hair and stared deep into my eyes. "I had to tuck you to sleep and you were drooling."

My eyes widened. "I don't drool!"

"My shirt says otherwise." He whispered huskily. "You did not finish reading the book for me, Amy."

Oh dear...

"I-I didn't?" I gasped softly when he grabbed me by my waist and pulled me close to him, our torsos crushing and I could feel two pounding hearts.

"You didn't." He nibbled my ear and I bit my tongue to prevent myself from screaming then and there.

"I d-don't have my b-book." I whispered in the silent room.

His lips went from my ear to my neck as he places soft kisses on his trail, making me sigh. "You don't need it." His thumb traced my lips and I licked it at the same time. His eyes darkened in a very exciting shivering way, "After all, those lips will be doing all the work."

That has to be the dumbest yet most hottest thing I have ever heard.

"How?" I felt hot, excited and impatient.

"You don't remember?" He asked playfully. "That's so sad, Amy. Did you forget everything we did exactly twenty four hours ago?"

Like an obedient child, I nodded.

He clicked his tongue and drew imaginary circles on my cheek. "Bad manners, Amy. How about we jog up your memory by playing another game?"

He was teasing me and I was letting myself get teased by him, but I wanted it so badly and I had no courage to say so. My senses had turned into a mush.

"It's called Hide..." He placed a finger on my lips and slowly trailed it till he reached my forehead. He pushed aside the strands of my hair and I watched him giving a quick lick to his lower lip as he slightly bows his head.

The hairs on the back of my neck stood up and my eyes shut close tightly when I felt his moist lips on my forehead for a mere second before he pulled back and reached my ear again. "...and kiss."

We hadn't even begun and I was already panting hard. We were panting hard.

He was driving me insane. His simple touch on my forehead was driving me insane and my greedy self wanted more. So much more.

"Who's hiding?" I whispered, my eyes remaining shut, unable to face the outcomes of my actions.

His heavy breath fanned on neck. "We already are. The first part of the game is already done."

"And the second part?"

"Open your eyes, Amelia." It sounded like a purr and I couldn't help but open my eyes.

Just like last night, my eyes watered again. The gentleness and sincerity in his eyes did it so. And I wanted to do nothing but cry about it. This was too much for me to handle and I just wanted to get this over with.

"I am sorry." He murmured against my lips. "For everything I have done."

A lone tear fell on my face and I didn't bother to wipe it.

"Amelia..."

I sniffed. "You didn't tell me."

He frowned. "About what?"

"What about the second part?" I whispered hoarsely. "Who's kissing?"

He wiped away that tear and held my face in utmost care as if I was the most fragile thing in the world.

"We are."

Then he captured my lips with his.

My toes curled and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pushing him closer than ever. He was putting it all in a single kiss and it was making my heart go wild. I squealed in his mouth when I felt my feet off the ground for a moment then gasped when my back hit the cold surface of the wall. Pushing my arms above my head, he slipped his tongue in which made me moan so loudly that I actually feared that Adrian might actually come here and catch us, but I didn't care because I wanted to touch him, he wasn't letting me and I didn't like it at all.

I moaned and writhed under him as I tried to free my hands. My fingers were itching very badly and the need to touch him made me hiss in frustration. I needed to touch him or else I was surely going to scream and die. Our lips were in constant motion, chests were pressing each other in a deliciously painful way and my legs were touching the floor but I felt like I was floating in the air.

The only sounds heard in the room were my moans, his low groans and our ragged breaths. The tension between us was hot and heavy and I was ready to jump straight into it.

I shuddered violently, gasping for air when his lips left mine and he nuzzled my neck, peppering it with small kisses everywhere. His hands finally left mine and I took the earliest opportunity to run my fingers on his neck, back and through his locks as moans after moans escaped from my lips.

These sensations were so new, so foreign and they felt so amazing that I wanted him to carry on forever!

My eyes rolled back and I whimpered when he kissed a very sensitive spot on my neck while his hands kept caressing my waist, back and arms in a very slow and sensual manner. It was making me feel tingles everywhere in my body.

"This is bad." I tried to protest but it came out as breathy moan. "Very, very bad."

It feels so good...

"You hurt me." I gasped, gripping his hair tightly when I felt him suck that spot and moaned as he runs his tongue over it.

"I am sorry." My eyes brimmed up.

"You shot me..." I threw my head back, giving him more access to my neck as his hands ran over my bare thighs and I regretted wearing shorts in an instant. "...I could have died."

"I am sorry." He placed a wet kiss behind my ear and I squirmed.

"Y-You tricked me..." I was a sobbing mess yet I was moaning and gasping in this newly founded pleasure he was giving me. "I was already dead to my family. They gave up on me."

He bit my earlobe. "I am so, so sorry, Amelia." He sounded so genuine and I hated it. I hated him and I hated myself for liking to hate him.

My breath was coming out in short exhales as he continued torturing me with scorching kisses and touches and I was feeling amazingly hot and desirable in his arms.

I gripped the collar of his night shirt and pulled it harshly. Our noses touched, lips hardly an inch away from touching and heavy breaths mixing.

"Kiss me, Leo." I whispered softly and wet my lips against his. "Help me forget everything."

Sparks flew when our lips touched and moved together in a very slow, sweet motion. They tasted divine and it made my heart throb. I sucked in a sharp breath and wrapped my arms around his neck when I felt my feet off the ground again and soon realised that he had his grip firm on my back and he wasn't planning on letting me touch the ground.

The kiss had turned wild, needy, hot and mind blowing and we were so engrossed with it that we didn't hear the door creak open accompanied by wet squishing noise.

Quickly, my feet were on the ground and I was hidden by Leonardo's body.

Blushing deep red, I peeked over his shoulder and muffled a laugh when I saw Adrian's state. Poor guy was shivering and dripping. A small pool of water was forming on the floor.

"Real classic of you guys. Real classic." Adrian eyes us both dryly. "This is exactly what I wanted for my thirtieth birthday."

Leonardo coughed awkwardly. "Brother, what happened to you?"

He scoffed. "I slipped."

"And?" I bit my already swollen lip hard to control myself from laughing.

"I fell."

A frown etched on Leonardo's face. "In the pool?"

"Si."

"I do not underst—" He stopped mid sentence which made me frown instead so I followed his line of sight.

Behind Adrian, stood a very cruel smiling, eyebrow wiggling Rylie.

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