Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.

-Oprah Winfrey

The drowning sun casted a purple veil over the glistening water and smooth sandy beach. A line of beautiful palm trees fenced between the private beach and the hotel's swimming pool.

My bright blue eyes took in the smiling faces of men, women and children littering around the pool. It had been an wonderful day.

What had been my dull blue eyes now turned to vibrant ones upon having a pair of father-daughter invade my life. I couldn't say it was much of an invasion if one truly desired their presence.

I closed my eyes, breathing in the salty air of dusk. A big, bold smile curving over my face, radiating my happiness to whoever was looking up at the balcony.

As I said, it had been an wonderful day given the way it had started for me. I had enjoyed every precious second of today with my thoughtful husband and hyped daughter.

If someone had said to me six months ago that I would be leaning against a luxurious hotel's balcony railing, enjoying the beautiful sunset in Greece as well as waiting for my husband to finish tucking in our tired daughter, then I wouldn't had called that someone insane, in fact I would had registered myself into an asylum because I was pretty sure I would go insane myself at the thought of having this moment ever in my life.

But God was great on me.

"Hey."

Opening my eyes, I faced the direction of the voice to find the man I was thankful for, in lounge pants and grey t-shirt, leaning against the balcony door while crossing his arms and spotting a tender smile.

As always, my heart beat quickened at the sight of this pure gold specimen. God had all the intention of making the female population go weak on their knees when He sculpted this brown haired man.

"Hey." I said, running my fingers over my loose hair. "Lydia's sleeping?"

A sensual wind blew from behind me, caressing the ends of my silk robe at the middle of my thighs. I had been planning for a long, soothing bath but I was too indulged in the beauty of beachside sunset.

"Yes." Tyler replied but his eyes were on the flow of the silk robe.

I tightened the knot on my midriff suddenly feeling the darkened passion filled look shoot through me lightening fast. Swallowing, I walked past him, into the bedroom but halted at the doorway of the wide bathroom.

He was my husband. I had been with him for more than once. He had seen me bare, felt my skin, made love to me like no other.

So why shy now, Claire?

Aware of his eyes on me, I blew out a breath and worked on the knot. Loosening the side of the robe, I let it drop from one shoulder, making sure it only hinted half of my back and covered my already hardened nipples.

Slowly, I met his intense gaze over my bare shoulder and licked my dry lips. "I'm going for a bath." I paused, increasing the tension between us. "Join me?"

His response was no words but his action said it all.

Never straying his eyes, he took one step at a time, fisting the ends of his t-shirt and lifted it over his head. His hard abdomen and pecs rippled with each movements as he threw the material over the bed.

I knew we had concerning things to discuss but damn it, I wanted my gorgeous husband, so our talk could wait till our bath finished.

Giving my back to him, I let the robe hang loosely on me as I padded to the large jacuzzi, already filled with water.

Even before I felt him, I smelt him. His cologne floated to me, engulfing me with the thought of his body wrapped around mine. His breath blew over my ear as his fingers feathered the lapels of the peach coloured robe before tugging it off in one swift move.

I inhaled a sharp breath as his palms closed around my breasts from behind. I leaned my head back on his shoulder; his toned legs pressing to the back of my thighs as his already hard anatomy nestled between my bottoms.

One hand started sliding over my front to the inside of my thighs. As his fingers brushed my tingling opening, I trapped his hand with my thighs.

Having enough of this slow torture, I swung around to face him. Flattening my breasts over his massive chest, I wrapped my arms around his neck and let my tongue do the talking.

Strong and smooth.

Just like the man himself, his tongue was strong and smooth as it dominated my mouth. I felt his hand stop at my hip, pulling me to him making me painfully aware of the demanding part of him.

Pulling back from his hypnotising lips, I trailed my tongue over his side of the neck, sucking in his skin. I leaned down more and rolled my tongue around his nipples before biting it.

Gripping my hair gently, he hissed and pulled me back up then kissed me once more but this time softly.

Somehow without losing the heat between us, we placed ourselves inside the tub. Tyler picked up a bottle and squeezed some body wash onto his palm before leathering it all over my body.

It felt so sensual as his soapy hands glided over my neck to my abdomen.

"Tyler..." Leathering some body wash onto my own hand, I circled around and straddled him. Shooting him a coy smile, I whispered. "My turn."

Grinning, he lazily leaned back, dropping his head on the head rest as I started appreciating the fine ups and downs of his body. My hands slowly travelled down until they found the throbbing manhood. The glistening top of it winking at me, barely sticking out of water level.

"Goddamn, Claire." He growled out as my palms circled him but sitting up, he picked up a shower head and rinsed us both before gripping me hard on the hips. "Enough. I need you."

Nodding, I sat up straight atop his standing arousal then took him deep inside me in one trip down. We both moaned at the feel of each other, joined as intimately as any humans could.

Before I could start a rhythm, Tyler stilled, his eyes wide with urgent. "You're on the pill, right?"

I nodded, squirming my hips making him lose the last reign of control.

We had been careless on our wedding night. We had been so distracted that we forgot about the protection but thank god for morning after pills, there was no need for worrying. Since then Tyler had been careful enough to sheath himself before making love to me but tonight, I was already ready.

None of us were ready for a child. We were just married and we already had a child. Rather than trying for another child, we had to give all our time to the one we had already. She was the reason we both happened but I realised my purpose changed the day of the wedding.

When I stood at the alter, I vowed my purpose in life would be to take care of not only Lydia, to love not only her but her father too.

And speaking of her father...

The feel of him bare, inside me had one of the most magical feeling. It was hard to describe. I just wanted him, wanted him so much.

Abruptly, I felt deep emotions rise in. "Tyler, I--I.."

His unfocused eyes shifted to my face, waiting for me to complete my words but looking at his face, I lost courage. And it was hardly a perfect situation to blurt out my love to him.

We were in a tub, joined together and intense pleasure building from deep inside us. Yes, it wasn't a best setting. Perhaps another time.

A straightaway thrust, touching the hilt inside me -had me falling over him. My hairs in dismay, my nails wrecking havoc on his shoulders and his strong hands on my hips gripping me hard enough to bruise.

The feeling that coursed through me at the final lift of his hips was so forceful that a tear dropped, trailing over my cheek and onto his shoulder.

"Claire...?"

Taking deep breaths to sort out my emotions, I straightened up and met his anxious eyes.

"Did I hurt you?"

I shook my head, smiling at his humble way of cradling me. "No."

Before he could ask more questions, I pressed my lips softly on his parted ones.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll tell him.

******

It was around midnight when we finally dove under the sheets.

The warm, soothing air around us swiftly turned into cold, harsh air as Tyler finally questioned every last detail from me, about the blonde man.

"Does he seem familiar to you?" I asked him, quietly.

His hand tightened around me, pressing me to his side. "No, I don't know anyone named Luke Trevor. But who to say that it's his real name."

"True." I let out a tired sigh.

"Don't worry, Claire. I'll find out about him. There was cameras around the hallway after all."

"And what happens after you find him? I mean technically he didn't do anything to me." I snuggled deeper into his warm, throwing my leg over his one.

"He sounds suspicious to me and I'm going to see whether he's related to the stalking. And trust me, if he is..." He trailed off, his tone turning into steel.

"I doubt he's related. He's probably one of those despo weirdoes. He didn't harm me you know."

"Weirdo or not, that's what I'll worry." He said, lifting the sheet till my chin. "You sleep now. You can barely keep your eyes open."

"Okay." I complied, instantly losing consciousness, too tired to argue with him.

Couple of hours later when a new dawn appeared, I became conscious. Tyler stirred and tipped my chin up to press a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Morning."

"It's already morning?" I pouted, stretching my limbs and hitting his chin with my elbow accidentally. "Sorry."

He rubbed his chin before dismissing it. "If you want to sleep more, you can."

"No. I'm well rested. But have you noticed something?" I asked him, rising on my elbows and curiously looking at the closed door.

"What?"

"No, Lydia. Where is she? She should've been barging in here by now." I perplexed, noting the silence around our suite.

"She had quite a tiring day yesterday. She must be still sleeping and it's a good thing she's sleeping...." He paused, peeking inside the sheet that covered us. "After all, we wouldn't want to traumatise her now, would we?"

"No." I laughed, pushing him away when he came close for a kiss. "Don't. Morning breath."

Smiling, he opted for a kiss on the cheek instead.

Picking up a pant, he covered himself with it and gestured toward the bathroom. "Why don't you go and freshen up? I'll wake Lydia up."

Wrapping the sheet around me, I straightened up and started for the door.

"Really, Claire? Is that necessary? I've seen it all already." He chuckled, combing his hairs with fingers.

Like a stupid little wife, I showed him my tongue and escaped into the bathroom.

Forty minutes later, three of us were in the living room, freshened and dressed for the day.

"Why don't you order some breakfast for you and Lydia? I'll be back in an hour. Two hours tops." Tyler said, after buttoning up his white shirt.

Thank god, he didn't touch any of the suits he brought after the first day. Yesterday he had impressed me with a light brown khaki shorts that reached just beneath his knees and a sky blue shirt. Today he dressed the same too but it was maroon shorts and white shirt and he looked good enough to eat.

Gosh, I'm hungry.

"Why? Where are you going?" I said, wrapping a band in Lydia's braid and glanced up. When he only stared at me, I sighed. "Never mind. Lydia and I could just finish the breakfast and visit the gift shops downstairs."

"Liam will be with you both." He told me but stopped when he saw me going through some cash in my purse. "Claire, use the card."

I stood up, gesturing Lydia to watch some Tv then raised my eyebrow at him. "Why? Can't I use my money? I have some saved money you know. I think I can buy even just a small thing for my husband and daughter."

"No, Claire. I didn't mean t---" He sighed then softly looked at me. "Claire, what's mine is yours."

"You're too kind." I smiled and crossed the room. Pecking him on the lips, I pushed him gently out the door. "Now go. Come back soon."

"Yes, ma'am." He grinned, stealing another peck from my lips then shouted over my head. "Bye, Lydia."

"Bye, daddy. Don't be late." Lydia called out from behind me and I shut the door.

Turning back to the elegantly sitting red-haired, I wiggled my eyebrows and clapped in glee. "Breakfast then shopping?"

She nodded eagerly.

******

"What about this one?"

"Nah, daddy already has many pens in the study." She informed and shook her finger at me. "Don't get that."

I let go of the fountain pen and glanced down at her, hands on hips and eyebrows raised. "And when have you seen it? Everyone knows you're not allowed in there."

She bit her lips, sheepishly dragged her pointy shoes over the floor and raised one finger then after a pause, added another. "I sneak in once or twice."

"You cheeky little Ariel." I shook my finger with a grin before grabbing her by the hips.

She giggled and let me place her on the counter. Glancing to her right, she palmed my head and turned it to that direction. "What about these hats?"

I gave Lydia a long look. "Honey, when have you seen your daddy wear a hat?"

A confused expression crossed over her little face. "Ah, never?"

"Exactly."

"Oh." She smiled and nodded then lifted her head to take a look around the shop once again. "Then what does daddy want?"

"May I suggest something?"

A voice said behind us and for a second I thought, the blonde man came back but I relaxed when I noticed it was just Liam, who was discreetly standing guard at the entrance of the shop until now, not that it was discreet at all.

Even though he and Simon both changed their getup to shorts and T-shirts, they still seemed as if there was BODYGUARD stamped upon their forehead in bold letters. Twice a head turned at them and even now, other customers were eyeing Liam as if he held a gun in his hand.

Though I knew he had a gun on him but it was hidden under his waist band. Trust me when I say, I was startled quite a lot when I first saw his gun but I quickly accepted it and warned him to hide it from Lydia at all times.

"Sure." I said, beckoning him to come close. "We could use all the help we can get."

He clutched his hands behind him and cleared his throat as if he was about to give a speech. "Boss...I mean Mr. Sanders has the most expensive things but if you don't mind me saying, he doesn't have any sentimental things."

"Sentimental?" I scrunched up my face. Now, he made it even harder for us. "He's Tyler Sanders. What on earth can be sentimental to him?"

"May I suggest once again?"

I threw my hands in the air. "Sure, why not?"

Liam lifted his head in the direction of a photo booth, just across the shop. "Perhaps both of your photo?"

Lydia and I glanced at each other before raising twin pair of eyebrows and speaking in sync. "Photos?"

"A man always takes out his wallet multiple times in a single day." He stated then walked back to guarding the door.

"What do you think, sweetheart?" I anxiously turned to her. "I gave you a bracelet and you seem to like it but photos? Will your daddy like it? Is it too simple?"

"You know I'm just six years old?" She expectantly said but seeing my forlorn face, she sighed. "I like this bracelet because it has your, daddy and my letters."

I had given Lydia a charm bracelet but I choose T, C and L letters with couple of small heart shaped charms, to be hanged from the bracelet. I didn't have to even explain it to her. Her smart brain figured it out as soon as I placed the bracelet around her wrist.

But her daddy was a different matter...

"And I'm sure daddy will like the photos..." She continued, trying to get down from the counter. "..when you finish explaining him what Liam said because I don't know what senti...sentim-- was it mental?"

"I hope he'll like it." I nodded and helped her down. "And yes, it's sentimental. It means somethings that means a lot to you, in your heart ofcourse."

Within a couple of steps, we stood before the white photo booth. I didn't know why there was one in a hotel but it was there.

Lydia and I went in and sat on the bench. I looked at her in confusion then at the camera.

"So what are we doing?"

"Why are you asking me? I'm just a child." She exclaimed but letting loose a laugh later on.

"Ha. Ha. Very funny." I gave her a flat look. "But really what will we do? We can take three pics maximum in one time."

A thoughtful look came over her face before she clicked her fingers in the air. "I got it. What we do when we see daddy?"

My forehead strained. "What?"

"When he comes back home from the office, what do we do?"

"Oh. We hug and kiss him." I answered, waving a hand in the air at the obvious greeting.

"And that's what we will do." She explained but faltered. "But how? He's not here."

"Well, we'll hug ourselves." I told her and wrapped my arm around her.

"Yes!" She clapped her hands. "Then when he sees the photo, he can feel like he's hugging us."

"Yeah, sure." I laughed, going with her theory. "Then we can make kissy faces at the camera and there we have it. Hug and kiss."

She nodded and then pulled out a third fingers. "What about the last one?"

"We can say goodbye?" I suggested, with a strained smile. I sucked at this. She was so much better at this planning.

"No! Grandma never likes goodbyes but when I say I love you, she always seemed happy. Maybe we should do that."

I stiffened. What was this girl planning to do?

"Uh, honey. We can't really say that. He can't hear us."

She sighed then gestured toward the camera and the little monitor. "But he can see us. We make a heart sign. That means I love you, right?"

"How do you know that?"

"Everyone knows that."

"Okaaaaay." I faced the monitor. "But let's not say you knowing the heart sign to daddy, okay? Say it was my idea."

She agreed then we started posing for each click. Getting out of the booth, I picked up the photo, noting the three pictures down by down.

"Let me see. Let me see." Lydia jumped on her feet to get a peek. I showed and she cooed. "We look so cute. Daddy's going to love it."

"Let's hope for the best." I wished, placing it inside my purse and held her hand. "I'll sneak it inside daddy's wallet later but for now, you want to buy some gifts for your friends?"

"Yeah, I already bought for both grandmas, grandpas then Luke, Aunt Chloe...wait, mommy? What should I call her? I'm so confused between Miss. Chloe and Aunt Chloe."

I laughed. "How about at school Miss and outside Aunt? She doesn't like either one anyway."

She frowned but nodded. "Got it."

After that we indulged ourselves in the hotels gift shops, relaxed in the spa and later on had a light lunch in the restaurant.

By the time we headed to our suite upstairs, we were already famished. Lydia yawned and I immediately laid her on mine and Tyler's bed. Liam was off doing God knew whatever in the living room.

So all alone and awake in the bedroom, I entertained myself by picking out one of Lydia's book.

But a click of a handle on the bedroom door made me drop the book instantly.

How odd would it be to find a grown woman reading a fairytale book?