I had started slowly waking up when I felt something brush my cheek. I felt a soft surface under me. It was a bed. Alexander's bed. I knew because the silky sheats smelled like him.

He touched one of my scratches on my cheek and I hissed in pain. His hand instantly went away.

"I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" The panic in his voice was evident. I sat up opening my eyes and looked at him.

He had cleaned up and there was no blood on him now. I on the other hand was still really dirty and bloody.

"How's your arm?" I asked.

"Don't worry about me"

"Then don't worry about me"

"You know I can't do that"

"Then don't ask me to do it"

If I could cross my arms I would do it now.

"It's not the same I-" he cut himself off and lowered his gaze.

"You what?"

"Nevermind" He murmured.

"Why do you always keep things from me? You need to tell me what's going on, no more secrets"

"I can't, you'll hate me"

"Don't you think I've seen enough already? You need to trust me just like I trusted you Alex because if I find out later, it will be worse" It wasn't easy seeing him struggle like this but I had to know.

"I can't lose you"

"If you don't tell me then I'll leave" I forced myself to say. It hurt to say it but I couldn't blindly trust someone. Not after my own family betrayed me.

His head instantly snapped back up.

"Don't day that-"

"I'm sorry but I can't trust a stranger"

"Is that what I am to you?"

Dang it, I don't want to hurt you like this Alex.

"I can't just blindly trust you Alex. I've been through too much for that"

"You won't understand" He shook his head.

"Don't you trust me?" I was getting angry now. I had trusted him with my past. "I can't believe I trusted you" I shook my head and stood up. My pride wouldn't let my legs collapse, I had to get out of this room.

But then he caught my wrist and I fell back on the bed in his arms.

"How can I not trust you-" He murmured his face too serious and too close to mine "-when I love you?"

I was beyond surprised, I had to take several seconds to understand what he had just said. My eyes were wide open and my jaw had dropped.

"I-" He shushed me and brushed my lips with his finger.

"Don't say anything. I know you don't love me. You don't know half about me yet so you can't love me, but I couldn't keep it in for longer" His lips were just a breath away from mine. "I love you" He whispered and gently kissed my lips.

The way he said those three words made me shiver. It was full of emotion, full of love and care and longing. He didn't just say it to get it out of the way. He said it because he meant it.

"Then tell me" I said breaking the kiss.

"Let's get you in the shower and treat your wounds and we'll see okay?"

That was the best I could get so I nodded and let him carrying me to the shower. He got inside and he let me down, my bare feet touching the cold marble floor as he slid the glass doors closed.

"I'll undress you now, okay?" He asked reaching out to me. I nodded shyly since I had no choice.

His fingers brushed against my chest as he unbuttoned my shirt. He slid the thin white fabric off my shoulders and then proceeded to take off my bra. He lowered the straps and then his hand snaked around my back to clip it off. Once it fell I covered them with my arms but hissed in pain when I squeezed some scratches accidentally.

"Don't be shy, I-I'm just here to help you shower"

"Alex please don't take off my panties" I heard him chuckle and felt totally embarrassed.

"Don't worry I won't see your princess parts. Yet" He added. I blushed deep red and lowered my gaze to the floor. "I'll take off my clothes so I don't get them wet okay?"

Oh. My. Gosh. He'll take off his clothes. Nono I'm not strong enough to resist his irresistible, unbelievably sexy, hard rock, muscular, tan-

"Okay?"

"Uh-yeah" I hummed. It was too late and he was already taking of his shirt slowly reveling his hard rock chest.

The color looks a bit like honey, if I lick it will it taste like-

"Are you okay?" He asked taking off his belt.

No I'm not okay, I'm hot. His tattoo has me dead.

"Yes, absolutely okay. Totally fine" I smiled.

That was until his pants were off.

"Ah-"

My dumbhead gasped.

Okay Ari, calm down girl. His thighs may look like sculpted rocks but you can't let that-

"Princess?" I knew I had messed up when I saw him smirk. "You like what you see?"

"N-no! I'm not looking at you, I'm looking at the floor!"

"You're adorable, look at you all red and embarrassed, I just want to squish your face and smother you with kisses" He cooed and pintched my cheeks.

"Get your filthy hands off of me mister!" I yelled and shooed his hands away.

"Come on, let me give you one little kiss, you're such an adorable little baby girl"

I rolled my eyes and let him cup my face and press his full lips on mine.

"I love you" He sang happily "I'm so happy I can say it now, I feel free"

"Okay, wash me now and leave the affection for later"

He rolled his eyes and took my strawberry shower gel to begin washing me. He turned on the shower and started rubbing the gel on my shoulders.

His hands just felt so good on my skin that I couldn't help but close my eyes and enjoy it. He's just so good.

"You like this, princess?" he rasped. Even his voice is-ugh!

"Yeah" I murmured keeping my eyes closed. His hands rubbed all over my upper body gently careful not to hurt me. He had to wash my legs now so he kneeled down.

I felt really uncomfortable since his face was just above my "princess parts", but he seemed to enjoy it. He leaned his forehead on my tummy and continued washing me.

I gasped in surprise when his lips touched my tummy.

"I just want to kiss all of you" He said so lowly that I almost didn't hear him. "It's hard holding back when I have the woman I love right in front of me. Almost naked."

"Alex you're almost done please"

"I know. It's hard for me baby, I'm sorry" he shook his head. I hesitantly dug my fingers into his hair he hummed and threw his head back.

Do I affect him that much?

"Don't do that now my baby please" He groaned. I pulled my hands back and asked him to stand up since he was done washing my body. He finished washing my hair too, which was more relaxing than ever, and then he let me wash the other parts of me he was drying himself and putting on his clothes.

Once I was done I wrapped myself up in a fluffy white towel and told him he could come in now.

He sat me on the counter and took out a medical box to clean and treat my wounds.

"Can you please tell me if your arm is okay?" Just because I was focused on his perfect body didn't mean I hadn't noticed how he had his arm bandaged.

"I'm fine" He smiled. "I don't care about my arm, all I care about is you"

"If you want me to be okay then you have to be okay too" I grinned, I knew this would get him.

"I promise I'm okay princess" He smiled and pecked my cheek. He started applying some cream on my bruises after he asked me to lower my towel so he could see my stomach and chest.

"Alex, will you tell me?" I asked titling my head and pouting. I hated pressuring him but I had to know. I had seen too much.

"Promise you won't hate me"

"Pinky promise" I grinned and held out my pinky. He intertwined his with mine and smiled.

"I don't know where to start actually" He said as he continued treating my wounds.

"What's your actual job?"

"Promise you won't freak out?" He peeked up at me.

"I promised now tell me" I whined pouting.

"I'm a mafia leader"

"Yeah right" I scoffed "And I'm a mermaid"

"Aria" He looked at me seriously. "I'm serious. Please don't hate me. I am a mafia leader"

That's kind hot-

"Does that mean you have k-kill-"

"Yes Aria. I have killed many many many people. I'm a monster. I'm a horrible person and I don't deserve an angel like you, but I'm selfish. I can't bare to lose you because you keep me calm. You bring life into me. Sometimes I wonder how I lived before you came into my life"

His eyes looked glassy, he was vulnerable and he was right. His happiness was hanging on a string.

"I've spent all my life in this dark lifeless game and then you came into my life and took all the pain away to restore it with love and happiness. Please don't take that away again. I didn't choose this life, I hated it, I was forced into it" His eyes pleaded me to stay and I was torn. "Please say something"

"I don't know how to feel about this Alex. M-my brother-"

"I am nothing close to your brother. I would never hurt my family or friends and I would never hurt someone with no purpose. Please don't be scared of me, I'll kill myself before I hurt you" he was dead serious I could see it in his eyes he was desperate to convince me.

"So when you came to rescue me, did you use your mafia ways?"

"Yes. I tracked you down and sent someone for them to take as prisoner. He told Sarah the plan and Sarah helped us by getting everyone's attention while we attacked from another side and surprised them. Of course she also stole the keys and helped you out of your cage" He explained.

I really need to thank Sarah. She's been the best friend.

"When Colton was threatening to shoot you, how did you know he was bluffing?" I asked raising an eyebrow. He smiled sadly as he bandaged my leg.

"I didn't"

My jaw dropped and my heart shattered at the sound of that. His smile looked so sad and he said it so simply like that. He had risked his life to save me.

I slapped him.

"You're stupid" My eyes were welling up at the thought that he could have been dead now and not here with me. I wouldn't be seeing his beautiful eyes, I would never hear the way he says 'I love you'.

And I would never get to say it back.

"Don't ever do that again" he nodded and continued. "Where's Colton?" I asked the thing that's been bugging me ever since I woke up.

Honestly? I wouldn't mind if he had killed him. I just wanted closure. I wanted to know.

"He's prisoner of mine right now, along with his friend Caleb. I didn't want to do anything to him without your consent. I mean I wanted to kill him like crazy but I couldn't do it"

He's perfect.

"Thank you" I said softly "And you can do whatever you want to him. I don't care anymore"