Play soundtrack when you see 'play soundtrack'.

A/N: You good, folks? Let's get into the update!

CHAPTER 44 - A NIGHT WITH YOU

"Why would you think that?" Dana attempted to brush off her unwelcome nervousness with a chuckle. "Why the heck would you even ask that?"

"I don't know," Pierre said whilst unfolding the paper once more as he got to his feet in front of her, still bare-chested with the shawl around his waist. He showed her the paper, "This?"

"What's this?" Dana took the paper with her unoccupied hand and stared at the writing.

Pierre observed Dana as she stared at the paper which had simply borne a sentence and a subscription.

He noticed how she had bitten her lip awkwardly, and spoke when he realized she hadn't been prepared to,

"What's going on between them?"

"What?" she looked at him, "Wait, you think they're together? Just because of this?"

Pierre frowned in affirmation, and Dana scoffed,

"You can't seriously jump into conclusions because of this," she fluttered the paper in her hand.

"This and other things. Tell me the truth. She's with him, isn't she?"

"She," Dana began confidently but found herself slithering back into hesitation. And that had been the final straw for Pierre.

In a sigh, he began to walk away from Dana in the direction of the door with his hands on his waist as he shook his head in disbelief.

He turned to face Dana, "Isn't it improper to date someone you're working for? And why didn't Lara tell me? When did this begin?"

"Look," Dana held up her hands in defense as she approached him, "If two people love each other, they shouldn't let anything get in their way. Jayden and Lara have had feelings for each other since the moment they met. They just needed to readjust their timing and um, their relationship priorities."

"So Lara has had feelings for Jayden since she met him? Wow."

Dana apologetically nodded. "I'm really sorry," she said, then handed him the white shirt, "I know you really liked her. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. She liked you too but..."

"I should go," Pierre mentioned, disappointment farting on his soft, but handsome features as he took the clothing from Dana and began wearing the shirt over his head, explaining, "I'm not really comfortable in other people's clothing but, I have no choice. I'll bring this over tomorrow."

"Don't bother. I'll send over your clothes tomorrow and collect this."

"You have my address," Pierre asked in a statement form.

"I might have overheard Brie one time," Dana shrugged with a grin. "Or wrote it down in case we needed to throw your sister out."

Pierre glanced at her with a lopsided grin which quickly escaped as he glanced around Lara's room one last time.

Dana brushed past him to the door saying, "Alright, follow my lead. Again. We gotta get you out of here before anyone sees you," she tilted her head to face him, "Emma knows so I'm pretty sure she's kept the coast clear. It's a good thing you parked outside the gate. Plus, the gardener won't say a word."

Pierre nodded and joined her at the door as she slowly opened it. However, Dana hadn't been aware of his closeness as she had unknowingly backed into the firmness of his chest when she had taken two steps back.

She immediately turned around only to nearly bump into him again, her quick realization saving her from it.

"Sorry-" they both said as Pierre held her upper arm, the contact freezing their gazes.

After an awkward pause, Dana let out a short, nervous chuckle as she emphasized, "Dios mio, your grip is so strong."

"Sorry," he let go of her arm, "You looked as though you were about to fall."

"Fall in love?" she raised a perfectly shaped black brow.

"No, I meant-"

"I know," she laughed and playfully punched his arm, "I'm just joking. Let's go."

Dana turned to the door again and pushed it open, missing out on the smile that slowly appeared on Pierre's lips.

(PLAY SOUNDTRACK)

"I hate you," Lara rolled her eyes at Jayden who had a wide grin on his face.

"Stop being lazy and get to the top. I'm almost there," Jayden instructed.

Lara bit back, "You're sick. If you think this is romantic, then," she scoffed, "You've got a long way to go, mister."

"I'm waiting," the silly grin failing to leave his handsomely chiseled face as he watched Lara struggle to maintain her balance. Her expressions were completely priceless.

"And here I thought," she exhaled, "that this bracelet would be a lucky charm. It's as unlucky as I am," Lara referred to the gold bracelet on her right wrist which he had attached to the letter he had left for her.

"My God, you're slow as hell," Jayden commented.

Lara retorted, "And you're a prick for thinking I would enjoy this," she raised her voice, "Who in his right mind would bring his girlfriend to a rock climbing centre for their first date? Only Jayden. Just you."

"Hurry to the top," he obliviously urged as he displayed his surprisingly eccentric Spiderman skills a few inches away from the top of the constructed rock.

He turned to watch his girlfriend strive to reach halfway due to the constant fear of slipping or falling even though she had a harness and a climbing rope fixed around her. A locking carabiner attached the belay device to her harness to catch her in case she fell.

"You brought me here just to brag about your climbing skills, didn't you?" she tore her eyes from her next step to the top where he had reached.

He turned to face her, his fitting black short-sleeved shirt unleashing the beauty of his well-toned arms which he now folded, shoulder against the rock, providing anchorage as he pushed his eyebrows together with a look she translated as, 'Is that so?'

"You can climb indoor rocks. Hooray," she said sarcastically and glanced below to see how much progress she had made which had been quite a lot considering her urgent protests in the beginning.

He chuckled and replied, "We'll find something you're good at, don't worry."

She made a move up and exhaled when it had been successful.

Jayden commented, "At this rate, I might as well purchase a sleeping bag for tonight."

"You're not helping," her last word was muffled by the suddenness of her next move. "You're not helping at all."

"The lakehouse is a million miles away. Get to the top so we can be on our way," Jayden said and smiled at her effort to move up, but she paused and threw him a cynical look,

"How about you come down so we can both be on our way?"

Jayden then let go of the rock pads and travelled down its length as the rope continued to extend to the ground by courtesy of the auto belay which safely landed him on his feet.

He informed while unclipping the locking carabiner from his belay loop, "You still have to make it to the top before we leave. Don't give up. Move it."

"Now he's a fitness coach," Lara sarcastically looked at him from the corner of her eye before focusing on her next step.

After almost half an hour, Lara was three feet away from the top, but her feet began to stiffen with fear of falling as her hands began to feel sweaty. She couldn't afford to move another step otherwise, she would slip.

"You can do it," Jayden looked up from his phone and motivated when he had noticed her hesitation.

"No, I can't. I'll fall. My hands are sweaty."

"Use the chalk."

"I've been using it," she told him as she dabbed her hand in the chalk bag around her waist, "I'm just scared."

"I've got you," he assured, putting his phone in the back pocket of his light brown pants, "You're almost there, let's go."

Lara hesitated, scanning the pads for her next move.

"Move your right hand to the green pad, your right leg to the blue," Jayden directed her.

He guided her through her remaining journey to the top which made it less frightening for her, but one little mistake she had made caused her to slip and immediately travel down the length of the rock in a scream.

The auto belay ceased her fall as she hung not so close to the ground, but close enough for Jayden to climb a few pads to her rescue, as the unexpected fall had temporarily traumatized her.

"I got you," he reassured as he carried a gaping Lara bridal style after ridding her of the climbing rope and gear.

"I'm never doing that again," her eyes remained widened as if she had just seen a ghost, and her arms snaked their way around his strong neck.

"Let's go," he chuckled.

***

The ride to the lakehouse was a smooth one. Lara drifted into deep thoughts as she recalled her personal promise to tell Jayden about his father's infidelity no later than tonight. She would let him know what she knew about his father before their thirty-day rule was up.

"Watch your step," Jayden cautioned Lara as they trudged over rocks that led to the main entrance of the gorgeous lakehouse Jayden's father had bought in Jayden's name.

Situated in the refined arms of abundant mother nature, it projected surreal beauty with its twin elongated windows, as transparent as a baby's eyes, stretched at either side of the timber entrance door.

Jayden unlocked the door and stepped into the semi-dark hall, taking a step aside for Lara to join him as he locked the door right after.

"Wait here," he instructed, walking further into the darkness. Lara watched as Jayden located the pearl white button a few feet away which he pressed, bright orange light gradually illuminating the entire hall to its brightest level, making visible several cream leather sofas, which formed a vast semi-circle around a long crystal glass table with metallic feet punching into the wooly carpeted ground.

A tall flowery vase took center stage on the delicate table, the yellow and white of the doubtfully fake daffodils artistically blending with the peachy hue the hall embodied.

"Wow," Lara voiced out after her travelling gaze returned to Jayden's. "It's beautiful."

"But that," she pointed at one of the two ornate octopus chandeliers that hung from the ceiling, "is just creepy."

"I agree," he gave it a look, "Come here," Jayden gestured with his hand stretched. Lara sprinted to join hers with his. It felt perfect.

However, she suggested, "Carry me. I'm tired of being on my feet."

"You are one lazy," he carried her bridal style, "young lady-"

"On your back," she corrected, "Not in your arms."

Jayden protested, his enthralling deep blue eyes dimming with disagreement, "But I love having you where I can see you. All of you."

"Please?" she pouted like a child trying to obtain a cotton candy from their difficult parent.

Jayden drew one of her hands from his neck to have a look at her palm. He held the other around his neck to have a look at it as well.

"What?" Lara curiously asked. What could he possibly be looking for?

He let her know, "Checking to see if you've got a knife."

He chuckled at her expressed confusion, "We don't want you stabbing me from behind."

"Tell me you're joking," Lara rolled her eyes but returned her gaze to his in search of an answer. "You don't really think I'm capable of doing that, do you? Both meanings. Literal and Metaphorical."

"I know you wouldn't," he assured. "Come on."

Lara hopped onto his muscular back after he had let her down, her dainty arms wrapped around his neck as her legs fastened at either side of his slender waist.

Jayden's hands found their way to her under thighs, giving Lara a sense of assurance and protection as he walked her down the hallway and showed her around the magnificently built house.

She possessively wrapped her arms around his neck, his crisp jasmine, sage and rosewood scent compelling her to entertain erotically vivid thoughts as she smoothly ran her fingers through his dark, tousled hair.

"You hungry?" Jayden murmured after she had slowly licked his nape.

"No, just channelling my inner cat self."

"The third bathroom," he pointed out after showing her numerous rooms, "Now, let's go to the master bedroom," he announced.

He then began to run, his sudden upgrade prompting Lara to burst into laughter and tighten her grip around his broad shoulders.

"Slow down, sir," she laughed. Her dark long wavy hair frantically bounced as he picked up on his speed and started sprinting. "You're being silly," she said.

"I thought you wanted it faster," he continued running, "You like it slow, huh?" he turned to face her.

"Yes, please," she smiled.

He chuckled sarcastically. "Well-noted. Lara likes it slow. Remember to go slow."

He slowed down for her, but definitely caught her next words loud and clear even though it had been a simple whisper,

"I'll tell you when I want it fast."

The fine hair on his neck rose as he side-eyed her, "Mmm?"

Lara wore an absolutely clueless face, "We are talking about this ride, aren't we?"

Jayden chuckled as he tightened his grip on her thighs, "Ride, for sure. Is it this ride, though?"

Lara hit the back of his head, giggling, "You're so silly."

"Woman, you promised not to hurt me from behind," he dramatically groaned as he approached a chestnut door at the end of the hallway, which apparently was the master bedroom.

"If my aim was to hurt you, you'd be down on your knees by now," she pinched his cheek. "I won't hurt you, ever."

He smiled subtly as he murmured, "I won't hurt you either."

"It's a promise," she smiled.

Jayden held the gold handle of the door he had just unlocked and pushed it open.

Thirty out of thirty days for their no-sexual-contact rule.

***

A/N: What's gonna happen behind that door? Find out on Friday!

A/N: Is it REALLY a promise, Lara? We'll find out very soon.

What's the colour of your hair, babies? Mine's as black as Regina's heart from Once Upon A Time. love you, take care.

Here's the song for the instrumentals above. Waste It On Me by Steve Aoki ft BTS.