I stand up on my tiptoes and brush my lips just under Alexander's jaw, grazing his jaw bone with my lips. "Thank you for coming with us."

He looks down at me. "You'll make it up to me later for making me come watch a fucking cartoon."

A few people turn their heads at hearing him curse, mostly couples who are here with little kids. Alexander is completely oblivious to all of the stares he gets - and he gets a lot of attention. Well, we both did.

Probably because we were truly a sight. Alexander with his angry face, looking all badass with his tattoos, me standing beside him, all happy and bouncy because he actually came with us, and then Amelia who was floating in her own world most of the time.

Amelia was ecstatic when I brought the idea of going to the cinema to her. She couldn't wait. It was so cute to see such a big excitement in such a small child. She was a bit unsure when I told her that her brother will be going with us, but I reassured her everything will be fine.

I also had a talk with Alexander before we went. I just gave him some points on how to give his sister some of his attention. He was nervous. It was like going out with two kids today.

I shake my head with a small smile.

"Please, Alexander, no cuss words. There are kids here. You don't want your sister to cuss like a sailor at 4, either, do you?" I raise my eyebrows at him.

I'm having my hand wrapped in his big one. But because I'm greedy for his attention, I'm literally plastered to his side, touching him everywhere I get a chance to. It also sends out a message to the girls, and even women who could be Alexander's mothers, a message that he's taken. By me.

And now that I have him, I'm not giving him away. Especially when I get his cute side all for myself.

Alexander looks down at Amelia's curly head, but Amelia is longingly staring at the toys displayed in a machine standing by the wall. "No, I guess not. She's too sweet for that," I hear Alexander mumble. He looks at what she's looking at and he frowns.

An idea pops up in my head yet again. I move even closer to him. He seems he doesn't mind the affection I'm showing him. "You know ... you could go buy her a toy if she wants one."

Alexander snaps his head into my direction. He looks at me like he's seeing an alien for some seconds before his expression clears up. He looks a bit uncertain about himself. "I guess I could, huh?" he says in thought.

I shrug, internally grinning like a fool. I nudge his shoulder, wanting him to just do his thing. He casts one more look at me before he releases my hand and crouches down in front of Amelia. He says something to her, I don't hear what because people around are too loud and he says it too quietly, but I believe he asked her if she'd like to have a toy.

I watch how Amelia stares at him with her big green eyes in amazement and wonder before her face breaks out in a huge grin and she nods her head, her curls bouncing around her head. I see it makes Alexander puzzled and he looks up at me once again. I see he's nervous.

"Go," I mouth. "I'll wait here in line for the tickets."

He gives me a noble look, catching up on my plan, but he goes along with it. I watch them walk away and halfway to there, I see Amelia reaching up and grabbing Alexander's hand. I see him look down at her in surprise and she looks up at him with a grin.

I press my fingers to my lips, the tears welling up in my eyes as I see this. I watch them insert coins and Amelia bouncing up and down in expectation of what's going to come out. Alexander is looking at her like this is the first time he's seeing a child and he doesn't know what to do with her. But he's doing a great job.

When Amelia gets the toy, she runs towards me and Alexander is walking after her with his hands in his pockets, watching his sister run forward like she just won the lottery. "Look, Gabby! I got Olaf!"

I'm staring at the snowman from Frozen. How could I forget this cartoon when Amelia watched it three times when she was sick last week? "That's really nice." I grin down at her, my face mirroring her own happiness as I brush my fingers over the snowman she's holding.

I lift my gaze and see Alexander staring at her in amusement. "Do you need to use the bathroom before we go in, Amelia?"

Amelia scrunches her face when she thinks about it and then nods. "Okay," I say. "Will you stand here in line while we go to the bathroom?" I ask Alexander.

He shrugs and then nods. Like he even has a choice.

When Amelia and I come back, hand in hand, Alexander is waiting for us by the entrance with a grimace on his face. "What is it?" I ask.

He leans closer to me. "Do you even know how the cashier looked at me when I bought tickets for a cartoon? I had to repeat it two times. Two!" he says in frustration, going through his hair with his hands.

I swallow down the laughter that wants to escape my mouth. She must've looked at you because you're attractive as hell, Alexander. I don't comment on it, though, I just grab his hand and tell him, "Let's go inside."

•••

"I can't fucking believe you made me go watch this shit."

I can't stop chuckling. I do it quietly, though, so I don't disturb Alexander's rant which he's having since we came out from the cinema. We're on the rooftop at home now, and he's still going at it.

"Do you know what a humiliation this is? I'm going to have nightmares about it, fuck!"

"Jesus, Alexander," I say, full on laughing now because I can't hold it back. He just looks at me with a frown. "You're going to have a nightmare about a cartoon? What, is Princess going to run after you with a gun in her hand?"

Alexander's frown deepens and I laugh even harder. "I swear if you tell anyone about this, Gabrielle," he threatens with his low voice.

He tries to look all badass and scary. I get towards him on my all fours, climbing onto his lap, leaning my head close to his. "What? What are you going to do? Huh?" I trail my finger down the side of his face, feeling his soft skin under the pad of my finger.

Alexander groans, his dark eyes shining in the night. I smile at him. "Don't be so grumpy," I say, pecking his lips. Because I can. "Your sister enjoyed it."

Alexander seems to think about this. "Did you enjoy it, too?"

He knows I did - and it has everything to do with the fact that he chose to come with us. It was like going out on a date with him, especially when he was so tender and nice all the time. It was like a miracle happening.

"I did," I admit and put my head on his shoulder. Alexander strokes my hair, trailing his hand down my back. I shiver at his touch, still not quite used to it.

"Then that's good," Alexander whispers close to my ear, wrapping his arms around me. I close my eyes at the sensations it brings me to just be in his arms, all happy and content, without having to worry what tomorrow will bring.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. "Well, that's weird," I say as I take it out. My eyebrows furrow when I read the text.

Hi, babe, how about that date on Saturday? ;)

When Alexander sees my expression, he instantly gets suspicious. "What? What is it?" he wants to know.

I shake my head. "Probably just a wrong number."

Alexander extends his arm. "Let me see."

I place the phone into his hand. I don't have anything to hide, anyway. When he reads the text message, his eyes flick up to mine. "A date?" he says quietly, all the traces of good mood now disappearing from his face. "Anything to tell me?"

I roll my eyes. "Yeah. Someone probably has the wrong number." Then I remember something else. "I got a similar text message a few months ago." I take my phone back and look at the number. "I can't say for sure, but I think it was the same number."

Alexander suddenly lifts me up and places me down on the rooftop, taking my phone from my hands and standing up. He taps on the screen and puts my phone to his ear while keeping his eyes on my wide ones.

I know exactly when the person on the other side picks the phone up because Alexander looks away from me and his whole expression changes. "I should've known it was you, you fucker." I shiver at how cold his voice is. "I won't even ask where the fuck you got her number because, frankly, I don't give two shits, but if you ever try to come into contact with my girl again, I'm going to chop your hands off and make you eat them. Then I'll put that bullet I'm saving for you where I should've put it the last time - right between your eyes."

Uhm. A little bit extreme, Alexander? My eyes get wider with every word that comes out of his mouth, my heart beating faster and faster. Jesus, he really is a sight. Alexander disconnects the line and throws the phone back at me, turning around so I'm now staring at his wide back and broad shoulder.

He puts his hand through his hair. I'm contemplating if I should say something to him. He seems so angry ... but he's not angry at me. At least I hope so. I quietly stand up and go to him, wrapping my arms around his waist from behind and resting my face on his back. I feel him freeze at my touch, but I don't release him.

And after moments, I feel him put his hands on my mine. "Was it Ryder?" I quietly ask, not wanting to see him have another outburst.

Alexander is quiet for a few moments. "Yeah," he then quietly adds.

I nod against his back, not saying anything else.

"I really fucking hate that guy," Alexander says after some moments again.

I press my lips to his back. "I know. I hate him, too."

Alexander grunts something under his breath that I don't quite catch before he turns around and puts his hands on my head, staring down at me with an intense look. "You gotta tell me if he tries to reach you again, yeah?"

I nod, putting my hands over his. Alexander nods back before he leans down and kisses me - finally! I've been waiting for him to do that for ... well, since the last time he kissed me and that was not that long ago.

What can I say? I'm obsessed with feeling his lips move against mine. I'm obsessed with him. Period.

"Let's go in. You're gettin' cold," Alexander says. He doesn't know that I'm trembling because of him, not from the cold. It's all him.

As we go back inside to his room, he doesn't even need to ask me if I'm staying with him tonight, too. In the past week, I've been sleeping in his bed every night. I like it, he likes it, so we're doing it. Only sleeping, though. No funny business. I told him that and he respects it. Doesn't mean he's not trying to change my mind.

And he's got some good ways to do it, too ...

I bite my lip and go straight for his closet. I hear Alexander chuckle behind me. "If this will continue, I'll stay without any clothes."

Well ... when he puts it like that, that's not such a bad idea after all ... I shake my head and continue rummaging in his closet. "We can go shopping," I offer.

"Yeah, I'll pass. You still haven't returned the sweater you took a few days ago, by the way."

I shrug. "You're not getting it back." When I'm going through his clothes, I hit something cold and metal with my hand. I wouldn't give it a second thought but I catch a glimpse of it and I freeze.

I put the clothes away from it to reveal it. A gun. A real gun. I pick it up and take it out. "Alexander, why the hell is there a gun in your closet?"

When I turn around and Alexander sees me standing there with the weapon, he's up on his toes in a second. "Whoa, whoa, babe," he says with wide eyes. "Put that down."

I frown, looking at it. It's not as heavy as I thought a gun would be. "Is it full?" I wonder when I turn it around in my hand, getting the feel of it.

"No, Gabrielle!" Alexander raises his voice, making me jump up, and he comes even closer to me but stops when I look at him. Is he afraid I'm going to shoot him?

Alexander chuckles uncomfortably, his eyes on the gun all the time. "Gabrielle, baby, put it down, please."

I scowl at him. "I'm not going to shoot you." I wave the hand I'm holding the gun in around.

"Gabrielle, put it down! Now!" He's almost shouting now.

"Jesus, okay," I say and I put the gun down on the floor with a roll of my eyes.

Alexander exhales in relief.

"Where did you get the gun from?"

He comes to me and picks it up, carrying it with him as he goes to the other side of the room again. "You'd be surprised how easy you can get a gun nowadays." He shakes his head.

"You got it illegally?"

Alexander raises his eyebrow as if to say how else?

I nod with a lump in my throat. "Do your parents know?"

"Really?" he drags out, staring at me as if I'm dumb.

"I don't really feel safe sleeping with that thing in the same room," I point my hand at the gun.

"It's not like I'm going to shoot you," Alexander says with a what-the-fuck look on his face.

I grab some sweater out of his closet, not even looking which one is it, and grab the underwear I already brought here in his room, then walk towards the bathroom. "Yeah, I'm not really sure what you're gonna do when you get mad."

"What the fuck?" I step into the bathroom and see him walking towards me. "Gabrielle!" he says and I shut the door in his face, grinning from ear to ear. I really love frustrating him.