I wake up to the good feel of my pillow beneath me. It's a bit hard compared to when I last slept on it. But it's still comfortable enough. And warm.

Since when is my pillow this warm? And it moves. Up and down. In perfect rhythm.

Images from yesterday bolt into my head. I remember vaguely falling into a dark pit.

Now my pillow... Oh, this isn't my pillow, it's someone's body. And it's most definitely masculine.

I sit upright in an instant. I have a man in bed! Oh no, did Jaime go through with his evil plan?

I cover my mouth as I try not to scream. I push myself furthest from him, effectively falling off the bed with a thud.

Ouch!

I hear shuffling above me and I immediately push myself into a corner.

"Stay away from me!" I shout.

"Hey, hey, hey. It's okay, Erica. It's just me." Is that Joe?

I look up and indeed it's Joe. But I remember the last person I saw was Jaime.

I try to feel for any kind of discomfort in my lower region, but I feel none. So that means....

"It's okay, Erica. You're safe now."

I would have glared at him for talking to me like a two year old had I not been in a difficult situation a few hours prior.

"Joe," I croak out as I stand up. "Joe!" I run back onto the bed and into his arms.

"It's okay, baby," he soothes, wrapping his arms tightly around me.

"He tried to rape me, Joe." Hot tears fall down my cheeks. "He drugged me and then tried to use me."

"He didn't, sweetheart. I didn't let him do it."

My heart can't help but flutter at the names he's calling me. Though I can't get ahead of myself. He could be saying all this to comfort me.

"You...how did you know?" I ask as soon as I calm down.

He cups his hand on my cheek before caressing it with his thumb. I can't help but lean into his feathery touch.

"I didn't know, but I felt it. I felt that you were in trouble. So I came to find you."

"So what happened?"

"I beat him to a pulp, that's what. I still can't imagine that asshole tried to do that."

"So...how come you are in my bed?"

"Because," he flashes me his megawatt smile, showing off his dimples, "someone wouldn't let me leave."

Heat creeps up my cheeks. He chuckles a bit at that.

"How so? I don't remember doing anything."

"Of course you don't. But I remember very well. You were calling out my name; Joe? Joe..." He mimics my 'voice'

I smack his arm playfully, "I did not! And I don't sound like that."

He laughs until it dies down and looks at me with a smile still evident on his face. I start feeling a tad bit uncomfortable under his gaze.

"What?" I ask in almost a whisper.

"You're beautiful," he starts shaking his head without looking away.

He looks like he wants to say something else but doesn't. His tongue darts out and passes over his lips absentmindedly.

If I say I'm not distracted right now, I would most definitely be lying. I don't think about what I do next as I lean forward, touching my lips to his.

I'm a bit taken aback at my action, but so is he. I feel him stiffen against me for a fraction of a second before returning the kiss.

He wraps his arms around me, exploring my back as mine get tangled in his silky hair.

I push him down onto the bed, my hands finding his hard muscular chest.

I feel one of his hands slide down to the small of my back, then to my hip and soon, he's cupping my butt, pulling me down closer to him.

The kiss becomes deeper, more passionate and heated.

He bites my lower lip lightly, causing my whole body to tremble terribly. His tongue touches my lower lip and I grant him access.

Our tongues dance together as we get lost in our little bubble.

He groans at the back of his throat as I start grinding against him, feeling his erection. That was quick.

I try to unbutton his shirt but I'm rudely interrupted by the phone ringing on my nightstand.

Oh fuck!

What's gotten into me. I immediately get up, coming back from whatever galaxy I had been on earlier.

I don't wait for Joe to say anything as I scurry into my bathroom, closing the door behind me.

What's he going to think of me, now? The desperate girl he saved and now wants to screw him.

Where did I even get the courage to do that? I'm one hell of a coward and just now, I jumped the guy I may or may not be in love with who may or may not feel the same towards me!

I hear a soft knock on the door and soon, a voice follows, "Erica..."

"Leave, Joe," I say, having my back against the door.

"Let's...."

"Please, Joe! Leave alone for a second." I add, more to myself, "I need to think."

"Okay! I'll be downstairs if you need me." I hear the door open and close.

I let out a shaky breath I didn't know I was holding. Things are taking a major turn and I can't cope up.

My feelings are all over the place. Whatever I did back there, I'm going to blame it on the drugs. They must still be in my blood.

I splash water onto my face and dry it with a towel. I have to get out there. And if anything arises, it's all on the drugs.

I get downstairs to the dining room where the rest are enjoying breakfast.

As soon as I'm noticed, the conversation dies down but not before I hear a 'Jaime' somewhere.

I take my seat and pull some Bacon towards me and pour myself a cup of coffee. Everyone is silently looking at me, even Joe whom I avoid making eye contact with.

I settle myself down and ask, "so, what happened to that son of a bitch?"

"Language, Erica," Blake says while chuckling along with the rest.

"It's bad news," Star starts, "he ran away."

I blink. That nitwit got away with it. Damn him.

"We also found out he isn't what he said he was." Blake informs. "He's real name is Dimitri Kanorakov, a Russian national. Also ex-convict for sexual assault and delinquency and second degree murder." My mouth drops. "He managed to break out of prison three years back and has been on the run since then. And the house next door wasn't his nor any of his relatives. It belongs to the King family down in the south."

Wow, what a record!

I've been going out with a criminal who would have used me and killed me thereafter had Joe not interrupted.

I feel like a fool.

••••••••••