Waking up was different.

Florencio slept peacefully, not a care in the world. His long hair poked at his eyes. I wondered if he was ever going to cut it.

The blanket exposed the top of his naked body. Smooth, scar, and scratched up body.

My body being sore reminded me why I was naked.

Take a deep breath, it's okay.

I doubted Florencio put on pants.

His nose scrunched up, cheek was pressed up against the pillow. He laid on his side, facing me.

How'd I get here?

I just had sex with a man who had done more dangerous things in his life than I ever will.

He edged his way into my life and I couldn't remember what it was like before him. I couldn't even remember what I did the day before we met. Did I take a shower? Was I wearing makeup? What did I eat for dinner the day before?

Somehow I couldn't find it in me to care who the person was in front of me because I couldn't imagine life without them.

An eye cracked open.

Stunned, I couldn't move.

He dragged me to his chest, trying to lay on top of me.

"Morning, honey."

The roughness of his voice spiked something in me.

I wrestled out of his grasp and took the sheet with me, leaving Florencio with the actual blanket that fell off the bed anyways.

"G-good morning," I stuttered. Oh, geez...

Florencio didn't bother to cover his bottom half. If I looked like him, I probably wouldn't care too much if I was naked either.

"Get back here," he beckoned, pointing to on top of him.

Flushing, I shook my head. "I need to shower." Again. "Please." I walked like if I was on ice. The feeling between my legs wasn't exactly pleasant. I stopped walking. "Don't...don't come in."

Once I was in the safety of the bathroom, I let the sheet fall.

Why was I so awkward? I sure wasn't like this when he was, well, everywhere.

The mirror told me I had sinned.

My neck was littered with small bruises. I peeled my legs apart, gasping at the large blotches on the inside of my thighs. My breast didn't seem to make it out safe either...

When I finally looked at my face, it was red with embarrassment, shame?

No, not those.

I was shocked I was capable of doing such things and that I would look like this after.

I took a hot shower, steaming up the bathroom. The water eased my aching muscles.

When I got out, Florencio wasn't in the room. I slipped on a pair of my underwear and a shirt of his. Although Florencio was tall, taller than anyone I'd ever met, so was I. His shirt reached just the end of my bottom.

I brushed my hair out and tried not to think about it.

I skipped downstairs, slightly nervous to see Florencio. Last night meant everything to me. It couldn't get any better. But I didn't know if Florencio felt the same.

Even if he seemed to have been satisfied, I didn't do much. I couldn't even remember when he wasn't touching me. My hands either gripped his shoulders or the sheets. Should I have touched him elsewhere?

Chewing on my lip, I ran back upstairs, deciding to put on some pants, but Florencio was at the top of the stairs, stopping me in my tracks.

"Hi," I squeaked.

He smirked knowingly. "Where you running off to?"

I snapped out of staring at his body. "Oh, I, um—"

"Let's go get breakfast," he suggested.

Breakfast. Yes. I needed something to refuel my energy. Florencio burned it all last night. Even far after I was exhausted, he someone recharged me and I crashed right after he touched me. Over and over again.

Nodding, I tried to move past him to get changed, but he stepped in front of me, beating me to his room.

He dug around in my bag until he found a pair of leggings.

"Wear these?" He asked, handing them to me.

"Okay." Only because I was going to grab those anyways.

"Keep my shirt on."

I bit back a smile. "I can do that."

Something gleamed in Florencio's eyes and it reminded me he did all the teasing. "Don't wear a bra."

My blissfully shy mood faltered. "No! I never go out without a bra. People will stare. Hand me a bra. Now."

He smiled and grabbed me, kissing my lips with his wicked mouth. "I'll be the only one looking," he promised.

A laugh bubbled in my throat. "I think that's the problem."

He bit the tip of my nose and I barely flinched, used to the pain of being with him brought.

"I was kidding, honey."

I nodded, then... "Florencio," I started, voice insecure. "How was last night?"

He stroked my cheek. "Pretty good, why?"

My eyes fell, shame filling me.

Pretty good.

I had felt so much, emotionally especially, and it was more than pretty good. It was wonderful, I didn't think anyone else could make me feel that way—

He kissed me, cutting off my thoughts.

"Parker, it was everything to me." His sincere eyes and gentle voice gave my heart that crazy feeling it did last night.

I love you.

"Im going to get dressed and wait downstairs." He dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt quickly, leaving me to change in privacy.

With the the newfound confidence, a smile spread on my face.

I didn't wear a bra.

-

My arms felt unreasonably cold, but I sat up straight, hoping Florencio would notice I took his joke literally.

The car had this tension I couldn't get rid of.

"What are you thinking about?" He asked me, grabbing my hand, intertwining our fingers.

"Nothing," I replied, closing my eyes as the air flowed through my hair. "You?"

"Lot of things." His eyebrows knitted together. Was something wrong?

We reached a small diner that thankfully didn't look too packed.

Florencio parked and turned to face me.

I did the same, raising my eyes to his.

His gaze slid down to where I wanted his attention.

I was already struggling to breathe.

"Need help?" He asked.

He flicked my chest and I curled into myself, nerves going haywire.

"If you hadn't runaway this morning we could've—" dirty eyes back on mine. "I am hungry though. Let's go."

I scrambled out of the car and followed him inside. We were seated at a booth and I didn't trust Florencio to not grab me. I sat on the opposite side.

His legs tangled with mine under the table. "Chicken," he taunted.

I giggled, kicking his legs. "Get away from me."

His eyes softened and he stopped trying to fight me.

Florencio ordered us a coffee pot, murmuring how the waiter wouldn't make his coffee right.

I almost prided myself, knowing I could make something as simple as his coffee order. So I did. I poured barely any coffee in there, majority milk, like they'd give us more than the little cups of creamer, and a crap ton of sugar.

I licked the sugar off my finger, pushing his cup to him.

"All that work for me?" He questioned. "Shouldn't have." He sipped his coffee, shoulders slumping.

I drank mine black, loving the way it slightly burned. Florencio ordered an omelet and I got eggs benedict.

He ate quickly, but gentlemanly. I quickly shoved the food in my face, not wanting him to wait on me.

Florencio tipped generously. The waiters face was a mix of excitement and worry, like he was afraid it was a prank.

"Oh, um, thanks, man!" His voice wobbled and Florencio didn't bother to spare him another glance.

I gave him a kind smile as we walked out of there.

"That was nice of you. Generous," I commented.

Florencio grinned. "Wanna see how generous I can be? Come here." He moved his seat back.

We were practically in front of the restaurant. Well, I guess that tree did cover that window and a lot of the blinds were down to protect costumers eyes from the morning sun.

My knee hitched up, ready to climb, but my phone rang loudly. I took it of the cup holder. Ten missed calls from mom. Oh, I forgot to take it into the restaurant...

"Hi, mom," I answered. "How's Oregon?"

"Just amazing!" She gushed, not even mentioning the missed calls. "Felix is closing down his restaurant just for us tomorrow. Can you believe that?"

I could hardly recognize the woman over the phone. This who she was? Alright.

"Really? The whole—" I gasped, remembering tomorrow was Friday and Felix would be proposing. "Restaurant," I finished. "That's so romantic. What else have you done?" I wanted to try and squeeze the goodness out of her. See if I could do that, or if she was just like this not around me.

Florencio stroked up and down my thigh. I snatched his hand and it held it to my collarbone.

"We've been to almost every hiking trail, have eaten every meal. Felix insisted it just be us but I begged him to bring Aaron on at least one of our dates. He's a sweet boy."

Why'd I ask more? Now I was hurting.

"Yeah, he's a good kid," I agreed. I was going to have a stepbrother.

Stepfather.

Suddenly anxiety filled my chest. Felix seemed to like me. Would he want me around? Yes, I was an adult, but would he invite me to live in Oregon? Would he take the father role?

Oh my god, these people would be at my wedding. At the thought marriage, I looked a Florencio.

He raised an eyebrow at me and I dropped his hand.

No, no, no.

"Parker? Jesus, you've already ignored ten of my calls you could at least respond."

Her harsh tone grounded me.

"Yeah, sure. Look, I have to go. I was in the middle of something."

"What are you doing? Are you with—Parker! What have you guys been doing?"

"Nothing," I scoffed. You have bigger fish to fry mom, you're getting engaged tomorrow.

"Well, tell Florencio to keep it in his pants. I trust you but not him. He looks at you too much."

Florencio rolled his eyes. I know he didn't think highly of my mom. After watching her scream at me, I didn't think I'd like her too much either.

"Don't be so concerned." Being away brought out some of the parenting skills she should've practiced years ago.

"Parker Rose!" She hissed. "Did you have sex?"

"Where's Felix?" I asked, wanting to change the subject. "You should be with him. Don't be like this. We both know why you're suddenly on me."

"I-I, ugh you know what, fine. I'll see you Sunday. Don't forget I come in at ten pm."

I hung up, throwing my phone back in the cup holder.

Florencio bumped shoulders with me. "Head up, honey."

My eyes stayed glued to my lap. "On the wedding day I think I'll just burst from anger."

On the drive back to his house, I remembered I had to text someone. It was a very important message.

While Florencio was checking to see if he could turn, I snapped a photo of us, my nose only in the photo.

I resisted the urge to admire how good he looked and sent the picture to Gina. The message attached read, did it.

Her response was wild. She said I finally wasn't baby, and asked questions about Florencio's... performance.

I gave her a quick description of last night, hoping that would fill her in. I felt giddy, happy I had someone to share this with, free of judgement.

She sent back a bunch of emojis making suggestive faces and hearts. I laughed.

Back at Florencio's house, he tried to lure me back to his bed. His crazy hands and mouth had me gasping for air and nodding yes.

I rolled off my pants and was about to crawl on top of him when my phone rang.

Florencio smacked my ass harshly when I turned my back to him. I jumped and muttered an apology. It didn't hurt too bad and the gesture made me smile. I wanted to sleep with him again too. An apology seemed appropriate.

"Hello? Is this Ms. Parker Rose?" A professional voice asked me.

"Yes, this is she."

"This is Robert Wilson..." my heart lurched when he said he was apart of my towns police department. "Seems like someone broke into your house last night. Uh, your neighbor gave me this number. Where is Mrs. Rose? I'm aware you're not the homeowner."

Someone broke into my house? It was becoming hard to breath.

"Ms. Rose?" Robert questioned.

"She's in Oregon on vacation," I choked out. "I'm sorry."

"Okay, no need to apologize. Now, I'd like you to come home and call the station..." Robert said he would come to my house and discuss the whole situation with me in person.

All I could do was nod, remember I was on the phone, then whisper a few yes's.

After the call was done, Florencio kissed my cheek.

"I'll take you home."

-