I stare at my swollen eyes in the mirror.

I can't believe he did this to me.

"Hey," A knock from the door made me jump. "Are you okay in there?"

I opened the bathroom door to see an uncomfortable looking Aiden. "You've gotta forgive him, he didn't have a choice"

I stormed pass him without responding.

"Not again" He grumbled before following behind me quietly.

People in the hallway watched me in horror as I stomped down the stairs. Just pretend they're invisible. I arrive in front of the maghony door and glance back at Aiden. He stood behind me, blond hair illuminating under the dim lights in the hallway. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wanted to prevent me from going in. There were six other men behind him, all fiddling with their headsets and trying to avoid eye contact with me.

A hand firmly grabbed my shoulder just before I turned the knob and I sighed.

"Miss, you can't go in there right now" The security guard said.

I bit my lip, analyzing my options.

Here goes nothing.

Slowly nodding my head I pretended to walk away from the door then quickly stomped on his toes and flung the door open before he could stop me.

"Wait no!—"

Jackson turned around sharply at the security's voice. I smiled, staring at my Husband. He stood in front of a panel of glass windows, looking out at the fountain in the garden outside. His dark hair looked disheveled as if he's be running his hand through it for a while. His suit still looks perfect, although he's been wearing it all day now. He lifted his pointer finger up to his ear, showing his bluetooth.

Oh crap, he's in a meeting.

"Sorry" I whispered before his eyes sharpened and he stormed over to me.

"What the hell happened to her face?!" He yelled at Aiden, completely forgetting about the person on the phone.

" Oh...she was crying... again," He said apologetically. " We tried to stop her from coming here but—"

"Crying?" He leaned in close to my face and looked at my puffy eyes curiously.

"Who do I need to kill?" He asked.

"What?," I touched my face then gasped when realization hit me. " Oh... uh Aiden and I were watching a K drama..."

"Really?" Jackson sighed in relief, his fierce eyes turning playful in an instant.

"Yeah the main character risked his life to save the girl and I..." I shook my head. " I don't wanna talk about it"

This has been a hobby of mine for about 2 years now. After I married Jackson we moved into the family mansion together and I finished college, but it was in vain because I'm not even allowed to work since it's 'too dangerous'. I tried working as an editor but Jackson had five bodyguards follow me around —with weapons— and five more spying on me from the shadows. I quit when one of my coworkers —Greg— tried to slip his number in my handbag and got pinned down at gunpoint.

So now, I spend my time binge watching TV shows with Aiden —who is also my bodyguard, but still my friend. Jackson basically works 24/7, Zara only wants to teach me combat stuff — for three hours everyday—and the other guards are scared to look at me because their Boss has threatened to lacerate their genitalia if the do. This is why Aiden is my only friend in this house.

Technically he's supposed to be in a big office like Jackson, telling other people what to do and over seeing things because he's second in command, but he doesn't want me to tell girlfriend number 1 about girlfriend number 3 —or girlfriend number 3 about girlfriend number 6— so he listens to me a little. He tries to hide it, but he actually cries more than I do during the shows.

" Everyone leave now" Jackson used his Mafia Boss voice.

Aiden reached for my arm.

" Except Aiden and Vanilla Bean"

When everyone left Jackson grabbed Aiden in a headlock and ruffled his hair. "You had one job asshole"

"I'm sorry!," Aiden struggled. "Your wife is too stubborn, she just has to touch you when she's sad"

"Then don't make her sad, idiota" He said sharply but his smile gave the persona away.

" You know she likes watching those Korean shows everyday, I can't stop it...she's obsessed" He slipped out of Jackson's grip.

"Hey, you like them more than I do!" I point accusingly.

"There's no way i'm getting in trouble for you" Aiden stuck his tongue out at me but Jackson kicked him out before I could respond.

As soon as the door closed, I found myself pinned against the wall.

"You bad, bad, girl" He nibbled on my bottom lip making me gasp in surprise. This gave him the perfect opportunity to envelop me with a kiss. His warm lips embraced mine in a dominant show of affection. My hips pushed against his, yearning for more.

"Your phone call" I whispered, pulling back and smacking his arm.

Jackson smirked. "The whole house heard you screaming last night but suddenly you're shy because of a phone call?"

My cheeks turned red.

" I did not scream" I whisper yelled, hoping the guards behind the door didn't hear.

He stared at me completely amused then threw his earpiece on the floor and leaned close to my ear. "He hung up ages ago, baccello di vaniglia"

The way he said vanilla bean in italian sent shivers up my spine.

"Good" I meet his intense hazel stare.

"Why did you come here?" He asked as he began kissing every square inch of my body.

" It's 3 am," A soft moan escaped my lips. " I miss you"

" Hmm," His voice was low and husky. " Do you wanna go to bed?"

At this point my body was begging for him to touch me. I shook my head.

" No, I wanna stay here... lets sleep after"

His lips paused on my inner thigh. " After?, you've gotten bold, principessa...I like it"

He bit me there gently and my legs collapsed beneath me. I fell forward and he reached out to catch me from his position on the floor. I ended up falling on top of him.

We stared at each other for a second before I burst into a fit of giggles.

" At least wait 'till we get to the couch" He chuckled.

"Behind it is fine" Straddling him, I pulled my —his— T shirt off revealing a plain beige bra underneath. Ever since we got married, i've gained a sudden boost of confidence partly because my Husband is feared by everyone, and partly because of the way he's looking at me right now.

"Wait—" He gasped and threw his head back when I wiggled around a bit. " let me make sure the door is locked... or did you want everyone to rush in thinking you're in danger?" his lips curve up in a seductive smile.

I blush and lift my leg so he could get up. I watched, clutching his shirt to my chest as he turned the lock on the door. I stood up, only to see one of the guards through the window.

"Oh my G—!"

"Relax," Jackson laughed as I ducked behind the couch again. "His back is turned, i'll draw the curtains"

He hung his head over the couch after a few seconds. "Are you gonna hide there all morning?"

I stood up, trying to hide my embarrassment.

"How did I get so lucky Vanilla Bean?" He slid his hands around my waist and pulled me over the couch so I was now lying next to him with my head on his shoulder and my hand on his chest.

I looked up at the man of my dreams. We've been through so much together. It's crazy how's it's already been a couple years since I was a freshman in college ready to start a new life. Then this guy became my roomate, he had a list of 'rules' for me to follow but never did. I've been in danger so many times but he was always there to save me.

My bad boy was always my hero, my friend, my prince charming... my first everything, my boyfriend and now my Husband. It feels like it was just yesterday that I kept getting cornered by Andrew, targeted by Vito, betrayed by Sadie, kidnapped, assaulted but Jackson was there for everything, and at some point I fell in love with a guy that was hurt one too many times. Surprisingly he too, fell in love with me.

I gotta say, i'm not the same good girl I was back then —too much has happened— but i'm still his good girl and that's the only thing that matters.

"Promise you'll never leave me" I whisper.

Damn it Ashley, why'd you have to sound so desperate?

He shifted a bit so he was on top of me. " I love you more than life itself Vanilla Bean, why would I ever want to leave someone so beautiful. Sweet and gustosa?"

"Gustosa?" I thought about the list of everyday italian words I tried to memorize the other day.

"Any guesses?," He smirked. " If you get it right, you'll get a reward"

Hmm, gustosa, gustosa, gustosa...

"Tasty?"

He smiled. "Correct"

"I'm...tasty?" I asked, confused. That doesn't make sense, why would he say tasty? I guessed wrong and he's being nice.

"Very" He removed my shorts and panties all in one swoop and placed his lips over my sweet spot.

My eyes widened.

Oh.

"Try not to scream this time okay?" He looked up at me, the smirk never leaving his expression.

"Okay" I squeaked, already placing my hands over my mouth.

I stare up at the chandelier in the ceiling, trying to anticipate his movements. Maybe I should start counting. It might help if I know when to expect him.

1...

My breathing intensifies.

2...

I can feel his warm breath against me.

3...

He uses his hands to hold my hips in place.

4...

"Holy—!"

it doesn't help.

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