PRESENT

"We're here." Alexander announced with a grin as he halted the car.

"Here where?" Emma asked, suspicious, looking outside.

"Just follow me." He said, getting out of the vehicle.

Albeit unwilling and doubtful, Emma did as he said, following him into a fairly new building. Too confused to speak, she didn't say anything as they took an elevasazsAtor up until the seventh floor. Once they did, they walked down a short corridor, reaching a light brown door. Much to her surprise, Alexander had a key to the apartment, so he let himself in. "Come on," he encouraged her, "you need to see this."

"What's this place?" She asked, entering slowly.

From the entrance, she could see one door to her right, which he opened. "This is the bathroom." Alexander explained. "It's not too big, but I think comfortable enough for a woman." Eyeing the bathtub, he added: "I'm sure that one will come in handy," he winked at her, but Emma was too flabbergasted to even notice and argue.

Grabbing her hand, Alexander took a few steps inside the apartment, Emma on tow. "It's basically a loft, you know, so this whole room is split: kitchen on the right, living area on the left." Tugging at her hand that was still in his, he pulled her into the kitchen. Pointing at the shelf that contained a couple of small plants and empty frames, he commented: "those are just for show, but you can get rid of them, maybe fill the shelf with books, instead." He eyed her closely, as if to tell her he remembered books were one of her passions.

"What ..." Emma blinked her eyes, marveled. "What's this place?"

Ignoring her questions, Alexander tugged at her hand again, and had her follow him as he took a couple of steps to the left, stepping in the living area. "Sofa, TV, shelf etc ..." he randomly said as they crossed that side of the room, to reach the corner window where was a painting tripod with a canvas, and at its feet a willow basket full of art supplies. "But this," he said excitedly as he pointed at the full equipment, "I added this purposely."

"What ... I ... why?" Emma stammered, her head spinning too fast for her to understand what was he saying or doing.

"When I went to your apartment," Alexander said, leaving her hand so that she could walk up to the painting supplies, "I noticed something." He bit on his lips, trying to control his own eagerness. "It was pretty much a dumpster, no doubt," he chuckled when she turned to him, shooting him a glare. "It was, don't defend it."

"A man's trash is another man's treasure," Emma said philosophically, "never heard the saying?"

"Yeah, no," he scoffed, "it was a dumpster."

Putting down the art supplies she'd grabbed from the basket, Emma frowned. "Is this going where I think?" She inquired.

"Maybe." He shrugged.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Emma looked at him sternly. "Alexander, what did you do?"

Hands in his pockets, he played innocent, grinning as he admitted: "I may or may not have had a word with your landlord ..."

"Oh, no ..."

"He didn't like it, so ..."

"Oh, no ..."

"Yeah, you've been evicted." He shrugged. "If you ask me, it's good riddance."

"Oh, my God!" She screamed. "Why would you do that!!! What could possibly make you think it was a good idea!!" She raged, furious, walking up to him. How dare he, she gritted her teeth, how dare he think he was entitled to make decisions for her?

"Calm down." Alexander raised his hands. "You're better off here."

"What are you talking about?!"

"Here." He reached for the keys in his pockets, and put them in her hand. "This is your new place."

"Are you crazy? I can't possibly afford this!"

"But you can," he grinned, "you can ..." he grabbed a stack of papers from the coffee table, and handed it to her. "Here's the contract," he said, "you just need to sign it."

"You gotta be kidding me ..."

"Not at all," Alexander smiled, happy, "I took care of everything, the contract is for a year – because I know you're uh ... not keen on long term commitments," he eyed her carefully, wondering whether she would catch the hint or not. Based on her still irate look, she didn't.

"You're not seriously saying you went behind my back and not only got me evicted, but even signed a lease contract under my name without telling me anything!" Emma yelled, still furious and at the same time disbelieving. He couldn't have possibly been so crazy.

"Well, technically, it's not signed," he hinted at the contract in her hands, "I only negotiated the terms, which ... before you fly into a rage," he took a step closer, and placed his hands on her shoulders, "it was very easy, since, well, I kind of designed this whole building and its apartments." He grinned.

"What does that have to do with your pretentiously arrogant act?" She spat, livid.

"Everything, silly girl," he chuckled, "it's exactly because this is my work that I had enough leverage to negotiate incredible terms for your lease." Alexander explained, eyes on hers, well aware that she couldn't really remain unfazed when he stared straight into her browns. "The owner loves me," he laughed, "he's commissioned me a few of his buildings, we're basically friends, so ... it was easy to convince him."

"And what did you tell him?" She scoffed. "That you needed an apartment for your mistress? So you can go in and out as you please?" She shrugged his hands off her shoulders.

Alexander rolled his eyes, albeit mildly amused. "First of all," he held up his index finger, smirking mischievously, "if you call yourself my mistress, that entails you have thought at least once of getting kinky," he winked.

"You know what I meant," she grumbled, looking away, mildly embarrassed.

"Of course," he laughed, taking the chance to invade her personal space, pulling her into his arms. "I did all this because that place is unsanitary and would have possibly killed you," Alexander said gently, moving a hair lock behind her ear while pulling her closer with his arm around her waist. "And before you say it, no, I don't have a key, only you do. Also, for the record, I've never called you in the middle of the night for a quickie," he pointed out, sultrily rocking them back and forth as his thumb stroked her cheek, his lips nearing hers. "What I was saying is, when I went to your apartment, I noticed something."

"The mold? You already said." Emma rolled her eyes, yet unmoving.

"No," he chuckled, "the sketches."

She pressed her lips, blushing the slightest. "That was ... nothing." She tried to pull back from him, but he didn't let her.

"Especially this." Alexander said, grabbing a piece of paper from his back pocket.

Even before he unraveled it, Emma knew what it was. She lowered her glance, now fully blushing. He was not supposed to see that. It was a pencil sketch she'd done absentmindedly a week ago, after a particularly stressful day. Alexander was out of town at the time, and her hand had started drawing before she could even realize she was thinking of him.

The result was a pencil portrait of him, just his face and enough of his shoulder to get a glimpse of the lion tattoo. It was the sketch of a specific moment, a Sunday where she'd caught him staring in the distance while he thought she was getting dressed, not paying any attention to him. She'd caught the depths of his tormented gaze as well as that peculiar glint she'd sometimes noticed when he was looking at her.

"It's amazing." Alexander said, truly admiring her work. "You clearly have a talent."

"I don't," she murmured, turning away from him, facing the corner window, "I just ... it's nothing." Emma crossed her arms over her chest, stiffening.

"How can it be nothing?" He said, approaching her. "Emma, this is art!"

"Alexander ..."

He snaked his arms around her waist, pulling her into him, and left his chin on her shoulder. "You have a talent, you should hone it."

"It's just a senseless hobby."

"Whatever it is, it's your thing and you shouldn't be ashamed of it."

For a few moments, Emma eased in his arms, letting herself go to his cuddles as he whispered in her ear how she should value her art, how it didn't matter that she hadn't pursued a career, it could be a hobby, but it was her passion, and she should embrace it, especially if it made her feel better.

Alexander moved her hair to the side, so that he could nuzzle the back of her ear, his hands slipping underneath her sweater. Emma felt slightly relieved when it seemed he was about to veer this sweet and caring moment towards something merely sexual. However, much to her surprise, he didn't go further. Alexander placed a soft, gentle kiss on her cheek, holding on her tight with both his arms around her, and smiled. "So, what do you think?" He asked, leaving his chin on her shoulder. "This could be a new beginning for you."

"I ... I ..." she stammered, her thoughts running just as rampantly as her heartbeats, his touch clouding her senses – as usual, yet differently. "I can't afford it." She murmured.

"I told you, you can," he chuckled against her skin, "especially with this new job ..."

"No ..."

"Yes."

"No ..." she turned her head to him, "I won't be your housekeeper."

"I've got something better." Alexander said. "And before you argue, no, it doesn't entail working for me or near me." He laughed, placing yet another kiss on her cheek, this time slightly more sensual. "I've got a friend-"

"You have so many friends ..." she teased, amused.

He laughed. "Like I said, I'm a nice guy."

"Right." She rolled her eyes.

"Come on," he tightened his grip on her when he felt she was about to move, "whatever you may think, I'm not doing any of this for secondary reasons. I'm only doing it because I care about you, Emma, and I hate to see you waste your life jumping from one hideous job to the other."

It would be better, Emma thought, it would be much better if all that work he put into giving her a new chance at life was just an attempt at keeping her as his secret lover. But all that was way too deep, too personal, too ... caring, to be a random act of kindness. "Alexander, I ..." She turned to him, only to then yelp slightly when she realized just how close his face was and how endearing the smile on his lips was as he stared at her. I care about you, his words resonated loud and clear in her head, I care.

As far as her memories went, only one person had ever really cared about her, her father. Sure, Nancy had her moments when she was kind, and Daniel had loved her – if she was to still believe it was true. But it was never like this. It didn't feel the same, not even close enough. The warmth of Alexander's embrace – because it truly was a hug, not an attempt at touching her with view to sexy times – hit different.

All the time, Emma realized as her heart beat faster, all of their moments felt more and more unlike anything she'd ever lived. But this one specifically, this one wasn't the same. Sure, every time he touched her, her heart went ablaze and her skin felt on fire, but right now she felt warm and fuzzy inside. Alexander was showing her, proving her that he cared beyond their arrangement, and that he wasn't asking for anything in return. He expected nothing from her, no favors, not even simple sex.

Daniel's romantic moments were mostly aimed at receiving a reward afterwards. The rare kind and gentle moments Nancy had, they were the equivalent of helping a lost puppy, basically pity. Alexander didn't make her feel in debt. He was kind ... just because. He could be unnerving at times, but if there was one single detail Emma could not doubt of, it was precisely the affection he felt in her regards.

"You don't have to decide now," Alexander said with a small smile, "but I'd like you to really think about it. Don't feel pressured to refuse just because you think you owe me. You don't."

She turned around in his arms, halfway between stern and touched. "Do you realize what you're doing?"

"Helping a friend in need?" When he noticed her frown, Alexander immediately corrected: "A friend. Helping a friend." His hands slipped inside her back pockets, so that he could more easily pull her against him. "You don't need me, do you?"

"I don't need anyone."

"True."

"Are you mocking me?" She furrowed her brows.

Alexander chuckled, shaking his head. Without answering, he caressed her cheek, then kissed her – gently yet sultrily, affectionately yet passionately. Emma realized immediately the danger of such a kiss, yet she didn't fight it. When his tongue traced her lips, seeking entrance, she immediately offered it, leaning against him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as she basked in that forbidden moment.

There was something in that kiss, something odd that dulled her senses, slipping her into oblivion. Yes, his every kiss, every touch was intoxicating and impossible to resist to. But this, this was on a whole different level. It was a pleasant numbness, a pure ecstasy that only he could give her, she was certain.

What was it about Alexander Adams? He made her forget how to think, yet she welcomed it. He was a numbing drug that offered her a fickle bliss before she was jolted back into the real world. Every time his fingers skimmed over her skin, she felt soothed, every time he pulled her against him, her heartbeats became frantic, every time he smiled, her stomach churned. All of that was happening right now, just brought to a higher level, one whose consequences she wasn't sure she could bear.

For his part, Alexander was determined to take everything he could before she realized what he was doing. He craved to go further, yet he didn't exactly want to. It was a rare precious moment and he needed to cherish it and prolong it as much as possible. If only things were less complicated, if only there wasn't Nancy ...

He pushed Emma against the corner window, and as they kissed, they slid against it, until they reached the wall. He smiled against her lips and seized her in his arms, so that he could climb up the short stairs that brought to the bedroom. He pushed her onto the bed, hovering over her, and she welcomed it, thinking he was finally changing that dangerous pace. However, he didn't. Alexander started slowly trailing kisses along her neck, but when she tried to unbuckle his jeans, he didn't let her, instead pinned down her wrists.

"Alexander ..." Emma called in a murmur that soon became a moan when he ripped her pullover, leaving her skin bare for him to banquet on. Her wrists firmly pinned down on the bed, he went on trailing kisses all over her cleavage, then moving to her chest, taking all the time in the world, as if to tell her clearly that no, this wouldn't be just one more session in the number, this would be the time he went deeper, reaching for something she was terrified to give. Her heart.