Blade followed closely behind me. "Hey, are you sure you're okay?"

"I will be." I didn't want to keep lying and saying I was fine. I wasn't, but I would be soon enough. 

   "I'm sorry." Blade held an ice pack to my face. After all the times I nursed Nikki back to health, it was nice to have someone taking care of me. This wasn't even the first time he'd took care of me. I remembered our first kiss, him wrapping my bloody foot. There's no doubt that being a doctor was this man's calling. He's the most nurturing soul I've ever met. It breaks my heart that he was kicked out of med school for something that completely out of his control. I desperately wanted to get him back in, I would fight for him the way he's always fought for me. Since the moment I met him, Blade has been my rock. He's never left my side and I will never leave his. 

I looked at him like he was crazy. "Why are you sorry?" He'd been nothing but amazing to me, I can't fathom he could believe he's done anything wrong. Unless there's something he hasn't told me. After our long talk the other day though, I didn't think there was.

He looked into my eyes. "I should've never left you alone." He must have lost his mind if he thinks any of what happened was his fault. It was all on Landon. "He wouldn't have hurt you if I was there." 

  "I'm a grown woman, it's not like you ditched me. He attacked me at a public party with like a hundred people, I don't think he cared who was there anyways." I took the ice pack and held his hands in mine, something I was starting to enjoy more and more. "Don't you dare blame yourself."

 He seemed less upset when I grabbed his hands. "I'm just glad you're okay." He squeezed my hands. "I don't know what I would've done if something happened to you."

   "I'm okay." I watched his yellow eyes staring at me, full of concern. It made me feel wholesome. "I've never had anybody care about me the way you do." As I said it, I knew it was true. 

He smiled. "That's because I'm the one who's supposed to. It's my purpose."

He always knew what to say. "You have way too many talents for taking care of me to be your purpose."

He put the ice pack back on my face. "None that I'm as passionate about."

   He once again rendered me speechless. We sat in silence for what felt like a lifetime before either one of us spoke again.

"Does it feel better?" He asked me, looking at the huge red mark on my face.

"Much, thank you." I smiled at him. I had almost completely forgotten about it.

"You don't have to thank me." He laughed, removing the ice pack. "You must be exhausted."

"Not really." I moved away from him, looking off into the distance.

"But you told Nikki...." He started; his eyebrows raised.

   "I didn't want to answer a million questions. I love Nikayla, but she always asks so many questions." I let out a deep breath.

   "I see your point." He paused. "But you should probably try to get some sleep. After the day you've had, I'd say you've earned it." I didn't want go to bed, I was far too awake to sleep right now, but I did want to lay close to him. I need his warmth to calm the storm inside me. 

"Will you lay with me?" I asked, feeling vulnerable.

   He came up behind me. "It'd be my pleasure." We went back to my bedroom. I reached in my drawers and searched for a nightgown. I sighed as I realized I was behind on laundry and only had one left, my most scandalous one. I'd only wore it one time. It was basically a blood red lacey bralette and shorty shorts. I had no choice but to wear it. I guess laundry wasn't a priority when we were trying to escape a psych ward. I shiver as I remember Clementine's. 

I turned to Blade. "Be right back, I'm going to change." He nodded.  I went into the bathroom and threw on the lacey set. I looked in the mirror. I might as well have been naked. I looked around for a robe but found none.

"Hey Blade." I yelled through the door.

"Yes?" He answered immediately.

"Can you grab me a robe from out there?" I tried to sound casual.

"A robe?" He repeated.

"Yeah, anything to sort of me cover up." I said nervously.

   I heard shifting around. After a few minutes Blade stood on the other side of the door. "I don't see anything out here."

I sighed. "Okay, then I'm coming out." I reached for the doorknob. "Don't look." I said sternly.

"Okay." He agreed.

I counted to three before I opened the door and walked out slowly. I saw him facing the other direction and felt relieved, I didn't want him to see me so vulnerable. I also didn't want him to think I was trying to seduce him even though I wasn't sure that wasn't what I was doing. I tiptoed over to the bed.

"Wow." I turned to see Blade looking at me.

"You said you wouldn't look." I complained.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it." He started walking towards me. "You look...wow."

"What are you doing?" I asked as he stepped closer.

"Just admiring." He smirked. I saw a black robe lying on the floor behind him.

"You lied to me!" I glared at him.

   "I know, I didn't think you needed to cover up." He was standing inches from me. "But I can get it if you want."

I looked at his tan khaki shorts and dark gray button up shirt. "Is that what you usually wear to bed?"

  He laughed. His laugh got me every time. It was warm and sincere. It felt like an accomplishment to make him laugh. He almost never did. I was one of the few people who seemed to be able to make him genuinely laugh. "No."

"Then change funny guy." I crossed my arms.

   He looked taken aback, then answered. "If you say so." He went into the bathroom and came out with nothing put a pair of black Calvin Klien boxer briefs. I wiped my palms on my nightgown because they felt sweaty. He squinted at me. "Is this what you wanted?" I nodded.

   He stared at my nightgown. This time, I didn't try to cover myself up. I just stood there, watching him with anticipation. He crawled under the covers and laid down. "Coming to bed?"

"Yeah." I said, getting under the covers.

   "Goodnight Amaya." He leaned over and tenderly kissed the place where Landon had hit me. Then he kissed me on the lips. I kissed him back, wrapping my arms around his neck. He stopped for a second then kissed me again. He moved on top of me.

He stopped, lifting himself up. "Now that you know all the facts about me, do you want this?"

I stared up at him. "Everything I've learned about you has only made me want to be closer to you."

  He smiled. "You're amazing." He leaned down and kissed me. "I'll be right back." He disappeared into the bathroom. I was left on the bed, breathless. He walked out carrying candles. He sat them by the bed and drew the curtains.

"What are you doing?" I questioned him.

  "I want to make this special for you." He said, lighting the candles. He turned off the lamp on my dresser.

"You don't have to do any of that." I meant it. All I cared about was being close to him.

He sat on the edge of the bed next to me. "I do."

   I laid my head against him. "You've done more than enough." I sat on his lap backwards, facing him. He kissed me. "How many times have you done this?"

His eyes found their way to mine. "I haven't."

I titled my head, confused. "What do you mean."

"This is my first time." He said staring down at my outfit.

I was in complete shock. "You haven't?"

He laughed. "Nope. Is that a problem?"

"Not at all." I smiled at him. "Why haven't you?" I watched him, curiously.

"I was waiting for you." His face suddenly serious. "I didn't want to waste my time with someone else."

I put my arms around his neck, pulling him in and kissing him. "What was that for?" He smiles at me.

"For waiting." I trace his abs.

"It was well worth it." He says, staring at my little outfit.

"You haven't even gotten to the best part." I push him back onto the bed.

   "Oh really?" He says, his eyes shining. He pulls me down onto him, bringing my lips down to his. I run my hands through his hair. He lifts me into the air effortlessly and positions us on the center of the bed. I raise my arms as he lifts my shirt above my head and tosses it.