I gasped when I woke up, sweat sliding down my temples as heat swarmed me and covered my lungs, choking me.
I could never sleep well, could I?
I panted a little, trying to catch my breath as all my senses burned.
But someone tipped my chin up, and I was met with familiar blue eyes.
"You're alright," Will said calmly, brushing his thumb along my cheek. "It was just a dream."
I slowed my breathing then, feeling the searing heat lessen when the moment settled in further.
He removed his hand from my face and pulled the covers up higher. "Are you alright?"
I stared at him for a moment before I nodded, shuffling further into the bed. "Yes."
"You're lying," he stated.
I just lowered my lashes and closed my eyes. "Stop questioning me, Will."
"At once, my lady," he said gently. "I apologize."
I gazed up at him then, blinking. "That's it? You're not going to press further?"
He smiled then, lashes lowering. "The contract states that I do what you say."
"But you don't all the time," I noticed.
His smile tilted. "That's because you have to mean what you say. In this case, you didn't like being questioned because it made you uncomfortable, so you meant it when you told me to stop."
I blinked, but then my lashes lowered. "I see."
"Go back to sleep now," he said then. "And at nine o'clock, I'll make you breakfast."
I gazed up, slightly alarmed. "Make me breakfast?"
"Yes, I am, in fact, your personal assistant," he said then, eyes glowing slightly as if this excited him. "So I must care for you."
I blinked.
"And you're cooking could kill an army of men," he stated. "Let alone yourself."
I glared then. "Hey."
"Whoops," he said, smirking, "that one slipped out. My bad."
"Liar."
"Well..." he said then, "you do know I cannot let you die, so...."
"And there it is," I said sarcastically, rolling over so my back faced him.
"Did I upset my mistress?" he said, amused. "If so, I guess I have to apologize, don't I?"
"Save it," I said then, closing my eyes. "You're just saying that to irritate me."
"Oh, well... you know me so well, don't you?"
"Quiet," I said then.
He silenced now, clearly knowing I meant it.
"You said you'd cook me breakfast?" I whispered then.
"Yes," he said then, answering my question.
"Since you're my assistant, you're going to make anything I want?" I smiled evilly.
"I suppose so."
I closed my eyes, smirking. "Make me chocolate chip pancakes and French toast. As well as a plate of hash browns and freshly sizzled bacon."
"Yes, my lady."
"But I want them made by nine," I said then, "and you have to stay here with me until nine."
I felt him smile. "So ruthless, aren't you?"
"That's me."
"Is this how it's going to be?" he demanded.
"You have to do what I say," I responded then.
He chuckled low, sighing as he ran his finger along my back. "Challenge accepted."
"Don't touch me," I said then, shuffling forward.
I felt the darkness behind me swarm.
I then dared to look over, finding his eyes glowing a dark red in a sudden demonic amusement.
"Why are you glowing?" I demanded.
A bit of his teeth showed through his grin. "You didn't mean it."
My eyes widened.
He suddenly tackled me, and I screamed.
The covers were thrown off, and I struggled and fought him but he just rolled over me. "Hey."
"Can you get off me?" I said, annoyed.
"Ah... nah."
"You're annoying me," I stated, lashes lowering.
"I am aware."
"Get off me."
He just leaned forward, tapping my lips. "You have to mean it."
My cheeks burned slightly, and I just glared. "Do personal assistants do this a lot?"
"Yes," he said then.
I blinked, brows drawing together. "Really?"
He just chuckled. "No."
I rolled my eyes.
"You're very gullible, you know," he said then, making me shoot him a look. "I think you just hope our cuddles are validated, don't you?"
"Can you ever shut up?" I snapped.
"Impossible," he said then, closing his eyes sweetly, "I love to hear myself talk."
"I can see that," I said angrily. "Now get off me."
He stared at me for a moment before he sighed, rolling off me and lying on his back. "You're no fun."
"I apologize for my lack of excitement," I said then, rolling away again and holding myself. "It's not like I was attacked three hours ago by two people and had the skin of my arms shredded." My voice grew dark. "And was almost raped."
He was silent for a moment, but he lightly caught my shoulder and pulled me backward.
I gazed over at him then. "What?"
His eyes were dark, searching me. "Does this... happen often, mistress...? And be honest."
I closed my eyes tightly. "Yes. I don't really want to talk about it."
"Have they hurt you before?" he asked me.
I gave him an annoyed look.
But his gaze was not weakening in the slightest, he wanted an answer now.
I could've told him to back off, but...
"If I show you, will you shut up?" I said then.
He nodded.
I just lifted my shirt, exposing a large, thick scar slashed into my side. Right above where his mark burned into me.
His eyes flashed red for a second, but he just brushed his thumb along it.
I closed my eyes tightly, trying to resist shivering.
"About a year..." he said quietly, "a year ago."
I gazed over at him then.
He could tell by how it felt?
"Are there any more?" he said then.
I stared at him for a moment, but my lashes lowered.
I turned over and closed my eyes tightly. "Look at my back."
He listened and carefully lifted my shirt.
I pulled my knees to my chest and held onto them tightly.
The moment my shirt tightened in his hand, I knew he saw them.
"This is a lot," he said, voice dark, "a lot of scars. From whippings?"
I shook my head. "No... they're burn scars."
He ran his finger on one, making me shiver. "Two years." But he ran his other finger on another, voice darkening. "One year." And then a third, and I felt his darkness swarm behind me again. "Six months."
I held onto myself, breaths shaking slightly.
"You were held captive," he stated then, tone darkening, "for quite some time, it looks."
"I don't know how you do that," I said then, tone darkening. "It scares me a little."
He brushed his hand along my back, and I closed my eyes tightly. "I'm smarter than I look, Angel."
Angel...? That means he's happy with me?
I shoved down the excitement swarming inside.
"How long?" he said then.
"Three years," I said gently.
His darkness swarmed higher. "By who?"
"Mafia," I told him. "Untouchable. The police tried but the case went cold."
"Why?"
"They wanted to hurt me," I explained, "because apparently they are pissed at my father, and I guess I was the ultimate release of their anger outbursts."
He kept rubbing his hand on my bare back... and I couldn't tell if it was an attempt to soothe me or if he was still feeling the scars and their... dates, I guess.
"How soon was your parents' death?" he whispered.
"Three years."
"And your sister's?"
"Three years..." I said again. "My parents died a few weeks after she did."
"At the same time?" he said then, voice dark.
"No..." I said quietly, "my father died of an overdose due to grief... my mother died as result of that. I guess I wasn't that important to them."
His hand suddenly slid over my bare side and to my stomach, and my breath caught when he pulled my back against him. "You're important to me."
I ignored the fact that he was stroking my stomach, and I also tried hard not to retort with the "you just want my blood" thing, because I just... didn't want to say it.
"It's been boiling," he said gently, clearly stroking my stomach in hopes to soothe me but it was doing something else entirely, "all this time?"
"Yes."
"The police haven't helped?"
"The case went cold before the mafia one."
"I see." He wrapped his other arm around me after sliding it under my side. "The police are of no help, anyway."
I would originally tell him to back off and give me space, but... I didn't want to.
He was making me feel better in his own... weird, demonic way.
"How long have you wanted to find the killer?" he asked me, lightly flicking his finger as the covers rose from the ground.
"A while."
"From the beginning?" he asked as the covers drifted onto us.
I nodded.
"But it worsened," he continued, "after your parents' death?"
I nodded again.
"And it grew more... after the mafia hurt you? Those three years, boiling, burning you?"
I nodded again.
"So you sought after me."
"I just want the pain to stop," I said honestly this time. "And I don't care if I die doing it. If I find the killer, those fucking menaces can find another bitch to target."
"You're that desperate?" he asked me.
I lowered my head and nodded.
He just sighed and curled behind me, clearly trying to soothe me now. "They won't hurt you again, Angel. I won't let them."
"I know."
"You shall only fear me," he continued, "I am the only one who can cause your death, and I will not allow it to hurt." He ran his finger along the vein on my neck. "You willingly gave me your life, anyway."
"Do you usually have to take it unwillingly?" I said.
"Shhh," he cooed, "that's a secret."
I giggled despite the dark subject.
I felt him smile against me, and I didn't feel as baffled when he pressed a kiss to my shoulder blade.
"They will pay for what they've done," he promised me. "No one hurts my mistress. No one."
He locked his hands around my stomach and kept himself against me. "I will protect what's mine. So, my Angel, please... understand that you can sleep peacefully now."
I was quiet for a moment, and I shifted. "Will...? I had a question."
"Hmm?"
"Can't... can't the contract be broken? What if you don't want my blood anymore?"
He suddenly chuckled darkly.
I just gazed over at him, confused.
A wide smile spread across his face. "Honey... your blood is the sweetest, delicious, tastiest thing imaginable. If someone offered me a million dollars, I would rather stay with you."
"Why...?" I said quietly.
"Wanna know a secret?" he smiled a little. "I think it's because you have a little angel in you."
I blinked. "A... angel in me...?"
"Yes," he nodded, gazing up, "because your great, great, great grandmother was an angel. An archangel... and... all vampires know this, but human blood is so much tastier than animal blood. Pigs, cats, dogs... their blood is so bland and never hits the spot. Human blood, on the other hand, is the most gorgeous, delicious thing imaginable... but... angel blood is on a whole other level. Angel blood is incredibly sweet, human blood is a tad savory... and you... you are both. A define meal, indeed."
"Is that why you almost passed out when I asked for the contract?" I asked him.
He just smirked. "Definitely. I've been craving it... so delicious. So, so, delicious."
"Doesn't the scent of it make all your senses go crazy?" I said then. "Your awfully close to my neck."
"Daem biology 101," he said, smirking, "we do not have cravings of blood and impulses to those cravings, we have complete control over our hunger."
"Sounds familiar," I mumbled. "So why did you sign with me? Why not just kill me?"
"Well... I was thinking about it," he hummed, "but then I was thinking... such entertainment for me. I'm bored out of my mind in that office building. And you? You reek of danger. There's danger around you everywhere. I thought maybe I'd be entertained for a while."
"Great," I said sarcastically.
"But also because you were my friend in high school," he continued, running his finger along my belly button. "And I like you. I want you to get something out of it, too. And... killing's my sport, so, why the hell not, hmm?"
I lowered my lashes. "You like me?"
"Indeed. You are interesting, spicy but sweet. I love it."
A small smile played on my lips at his words.
He chuckled. "Make sure god doesn't see that smile or he'll get maaaaaad."
"I don't care," I said then. "He had it out for me from the beginning."
Will just held me tighter. "He has it out for everybody."
I just played with his fingers as he continued to stroke my stomach.
"You should go back to sleep," he said then, breath dusting my neck. "You need a couple more hours."
"Will you stay?" I asked him.
"You told me to stay," he responded. "And you meant it."
I then smiled and then let my lashes flutter shut. "Okay... well... good night."
"Good night, Angel."
We were silent for another moment.
"Will?" I said.
"Yes?" His breath still dusted my neck.
"Soothe me," I said.
He just smiled against me, fingers starting to stroke around my belly button in circles. "Is this favorable?"
I nodded. "Yes."
"Good, now go to sleep."
I was silent for a long moment. "Tell me something."
He sighed in annoyance. "What do you want me to say?"
"Tell me that I'm safe," I said.
I felt his stance weaken a little, but he didn't move away from me... in fact, his hold tightened. "Are you afraid? Is that why you want me to assure you?"
"I will not confirm nor deny that comment," I replied.
He didn't seem pleased at my answer, but clearly understood that I was. "Suki... you are mine, do you understand?"
I nodded.
"I don't like it when others touch what's mine. I do not allow others to take what's mine. I do not allow others to steal what is mine."
I felt his hand spread along my stomach.
"This crescent scar marks you as mine," he said then, brushing his thumb along it. "Therefore... I will protect you, Suki. I will save you. No one will take you from me. You are safe... you are safe forever, do you understand? I will allow no more pain... your arms are already torn enough. Your mind is already in shambles.
"I will put you back together, I will soothe you, hold you... whatever it takes... because you are mine. I will save you. You will forever be safe... and even when it comes to the end, I will be kind, I swear on it. You are safe, my Angel."
A large swift of ease flushed through me, and I relaxed into the bed, feeling the exhaustion bleed back into me.
"Is that what you wanted to hear?" he said then.
"Yes."
"Good," he said then, running his finger along the mark again, "because I meant every word of it."
I was silent, just kept drifting.
"Now be a good girl and go to sleep, okay?" he said then.
"Okay..." my voice was quiet as I drifted further away.
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