Ace walked down the stairs early morning, with a terrible hangover. No more drinking for a while. Lesson learned.

Sighing, he headed in the kitchen shirtless with only a pair of sweatpants on. He barely remembers how he got home. His memories blurry but eventually it would come back. Maybe.

Drinking a bottle of water, he paused when he heard noises in the gym room. He walked towards there quietly only to freeze on the spot at the sight of Kaida in only a pair of black sports bra and shorts. Her abs and muscles on full display, droplets of sweat running down her smooth sculpted abs. Fuck..

His cock hardened instantly and he couldn't help but trail his eyes all over her tattooed muscular frame. Her arms were tattooed just like him. On her right arm, she had the tattoo of a red phoenix taking the full length of her arm looking as if it was on fire. On her left arm, she had the tattoo of a skull with a snake twirling around it, blood dripping from the skull's eyes, red roses and thorny vines trailing down her lower arm. On her back there was a well detailed red dragon. God have mercy. She was a true vixen. Fierce. Fiery. Alluring.

“Are you done staring?”Kaida asked making him look up into her eyes that held a hint of smugness. The arrogant brat.

“You have tattoos. They are gorgeous” Ace said leaning against the doorframe calmly even if he wanted nothing more than to claim her right there.

“So do you. It suits you” Kaida replied, her eyes trailing over his tattooed bare chest and arms.

He saw the flicker of desire in her eyes even if it was just for a brief instant. She was attracted to him as much as he was. Smirking, he stepped closer to her “see something you like?”He asked.

“Hardly. The tattoos are captivating. You, not so much”Kaida replied, emotionless.

“Don't lie to me, Leonessa"Ace said making her scowl.

“Don't give me nicknames” Kaida muttered resuming her training.

Ace knew she understood what he said. She was partly Japanese and Italian thanks to Ricardo being her adoptive father.

He might be irritated with the prospect of having a bodyguard but deep down he was intrigued by her. He wanted to know everything, her story, where her biological parents were, her life. There was no background about her except that she was Ricardo’s daughter. Her birthplace, being japan. And that in the underworld, she was known as The Red Dragon. The ruthless Assassin with 370 kills. Basic knowledge but nothing revealing personal stuff.

“Why? You are a lioness. You have a remarkable feminine power and strength in you. To me you are a lioness”Ace said staring at her poker face.

“Thought I reminded you of a phoenix?”Kaida asked with a raised eyebrow.

Confused, he asked “What do you mean by that?”

“You don't remember anything, do you? Last night you said quite a few admirable things such as me being like a fiery phoenix..”Kaida trailed off with a smirk.

Ace’s heart raced. Did he blurt out something stupid last night? “Well.. I'm sure you liked what I said. Phoenix seems fitting for your personality but you are My Leonessa nonetheless"Ace said enjoying the way her eyes hardened.

“I'm not yours in anyway. You know nothing about me Ace.” Kaida said, her tone defensive.

“Then let me get to know you” Ace said ignoring the part that she was not his. To him, it was now clear this girl was very much his match and he was adamant on getting inside her beautiful wicked mind. No matter what it took. They were stuck together either way. Might as well make it worthwhile.

Kaida’s eyes flickered with emotions briefly before disappearing “No need. I'm your bodyguard. Not your friend or loved one.”

“Never said you were those things. Can't a man just be interested in knowing the one who is supposed to have his back?”He countered with a calm gaze.

“Fine. What do you want to know about me?”Kaida relented placing the weights down.

“What's your favourite colour?”Ace asked. Yeah he could have asked something else but baby steps.. baby steps..

“Red. Next question” Kaida replied with a stoic expression.

“What's your hobby?”He asked, trying his best to not glance at her abs who were still glistening with sweat. She embodied strength and grace in such a captivating way. He was hooked.

“Torturing people” Kaida replied with a grin making his heart flutter. That was the first genuine grin he saw and it was wicked, mischievous.

“Other than that?”Ace asked, raising an eyebrow. This woman was not good for his health. She was like a wildfire - bright and mesmerizing but dangerous and destructive. He knew he couldn't get involved with her, he fucking knew that but don't we all crave what we can't have?

Kaida paused seeming to actually ponder about it. “I don't think I do have another hobby..”

Ace’s eyes flickered with surprise “Come on, have you never done anything during the past few years other than killing and torturing?”

“Everything seemed mundane..I was also more focused on my future and strengthening myself. There was no place nor time to relax and enjoy life” She shrugged, making his heart ache.

Had Ricardo never took her out to playgrounds? Amusement parks? To the Movies as a kid?Even himself, despite being born into a mafia family, had a beautiful and joyful childhood. What was this girl doing during her childhood that she didn't even have any hobby beside killing?

“Let's go to the Amusement park tonight” Ace said firmly, watching as Kaida’s eyes widened.

Leonessa : Lioness