"Now I'm gonna give you something to remember me by, okay sweetheart?" He said and paused watching me tear up. I felt as if my throat was choking itself. Laughing, he leant back and examines me.

The tightness in my chest woke me up. A feeling as if someone was choking me to death came over me like a net. Trapped. My mouth gaping.

It seemed as if every time I tried to inhale in the oxygen, my throat contracted tightly. I tried to force myself to become calmer. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. I did that until I no longer had to do it manually.

My hands latched onto the sheets and scrunched them with frustration and confusion. With my teary vision, I cautiously searched my surroundings for any threats. When I realised that I was still in the same room as before, my heaving chest settled down slowly.

I let out a tiny sniffle as I recalled my nightmare that I had experienced. Everything felt so real. Everything. My heart still pounded against my chest even when I unclenched the sheets and flexed my aching fingers.

Where was Mr Grumpy? Was I dreaming about him being here?

Just thinking about the possibility of Mr Grumpy not being here left a sour taste in my mouth. I trailed my hands up to my mouth to muffle the sob bubbling out. The ferocious pounding of my heart egged on my crying even more.

I hiccupped unattractively. I felt the urge to scream out the frustration that coursed through my veins. I tried to word out a sentence but I just couldn't stop the crying.The mewling sound of my cries irritated me even. Every whimper, flinch, tear that I had produced irritated me to my core.

When footsteps came towards me, my crying intensified, my eyes were beginning to burn. Despite my sore eyes, I carried on and just whimpered through the pain.

"Leave me alone!" I shut my eyes and felt the wetness on my cheeks.

The sound of my cries blocked out any movements of the unknown footsteps heading in my direction. The fear started to invade me creating the trembles all over my body.

If I knew that I, Anastasia Wilkson, would ever be acting like this, someone who's afraid of the sound of footsteps, I would have giggled and call them silly. But now that I was experiencing it, I felt absolutely ridiculous and pathetic. If anything I felt was perplexed at my new abrupt change of behaviour.

The footsteps came to a halt before someone spoke up. "Kid."

I gathered my strength to lift my head and open my eyes to see Mr Grumpy standing over me with a hard look in his eyes, surprisingly, I don't think it was directed to me.

That's a first.

I whimpered and lunged at his towering frame, catching him off guard, which by the way was not an easy thing to do. My neck dug into the crook of his neck as my face squashed against the leathery fabric of his jacket. I let out another hiccup as I realised that he was here before and not in my dreams.

If he was here then what happened with Nox was real.

I froze.

Automatically, my whole body scrambled away from him so quickly that it was a miracle that I hadn't gotten tangled in the sheets and then rolled onto the floor looking like a burrito.

Obviously, that was a bit too much physical activity for the morning, and anyone could tell that by the sound of my heaving and dramatically loud coughs.

I tried to avoid Mr Grumpy's gorgeous face and those soulful eyes that were always so alert, but as usual, I failed. When I finally mustered up the courage to look him in his eyes, I nearly fell apart. There was something about the way he looked at me that became my undoing. As if he needed me as much as I needed him.

Those gooey brown entwined with light green swirling orbs of mysteriousness had compelled me to crawl towards him. They made me want to be at his beck and call. The bed dipped up and down with each passing movements from me until I reached him.

He didn't say anything. We stared at each other waiting for the other one to say something. I didn't know what he was thinking. I mean who ever knows what Adrian Miles was thinking, the guy was a total mystery.

I decided to break the ice. "I was raped." Okay, that wasn't exactly how I intended to break this so-called ice, I wanted to say something else, but I just needed confirmation about what happened yesterday or else I was going to lose my mind.

Tension began to build up so hard that I could see the way his muscles coiled up tightly unable to spring free. He blew out a snarl from his throat as he stood up and gazed down at me. "Yes."

I flinched. In a way, I was prepared because I knew it was most likely that yesterday wasn't a dream, and that every pain and thought I felt was real and raw. I just needed to make sure.

"By Nox," I stated the two bitter words loud and clear that when it reached my ears, my throat made a revolting sound. Tears were starting to form but I grunted and erased any traces of the familiar tears.

Mr Grumpy didn't look at all pleased about the topic, I mean neither did I, but the man looked like he was about to rip something to shreds. The scowl on his face would have sent an army man running. Honestly, even I was contemplating it. His fists scrunched up tightly and he exhaled loudly as if it would release any tension. He made anyone in his presence nervous and intimidated.

I watched the broadness of his tight chest heave up and down at the action. The steady pace of his chest rising and rising impelled my heart even further against my ribs. My fingers twitched but I fought against the urge.

"I brought you this." My head lifted up towards Mr Grumpy's eyes bashfully, afraid that he'd caught my ogling. Then my eyes trailed down to the rectangular lavender coloured package in his hands. His rugged and broad hands dwarfed the medium sized package and I curiously raised my brow at the package.

I grabbed whatever the heck was in his hands. Once in my possession, I could read the purple title, ella. I gaped and turned the box to read all the information on the sides. This was an emergency contraceptive. For the seventeen years, I have graced this Earth, this was the first time that I was holding a contraceptive, in the presence of Mr Grumpy!

"Gotta take it baby, prevents pregnancy." Mr Grumpy rubs the scruff on his chin and I momentarily forget what he said as he stared at me with those soulful eyes and rubbed that five o'clock shadow.

"Right. No pregnancy." The foulness of the word pregnancy made me want to throw up. I didn't want anything to do with Nox and I couldn't even take care of myself so throwing an innocent child into the mix was definitely not gonna happen.

My cheeks became hotter because I now realised that Mr Grumpy, who was six foot something of muscles, glares, mysteries, silence and hotness all rolled into a ball, had walked into a chemist, probably confidently with authority, to buy an emergency contraceptive for me.

"Would you like a bath?" He asked. Was this my Mr Grumpy?

I nodded feeling super weird. I felt a whole lot of emotions swarming at me; confusion, frustration, fear and humiliation. I think that the lying in the bath will make me feel much better.

My private part still hurt and I think that Mr Grumpy got the hint, because he swiftly picked me up and carried me like I was some bride and he was my groom.

I fought the urge to grab onto his bicep and caress it because that would be creepy. He held me so firm and my belly erupted into a pit of butterflies.

He walked through the unfamiliar hallways of an unfamiliar house.

"Who's house?" I mumbled into his chest, pressing my lips closer to his chest to feel the hardness. Mhmm. He paused for a second when I did this and released a low manly sound that caused the butterflies ram into each other.

Oh my gosh! What if the butterflies killed each other? Would I be charged with the like second-degree murder or something?

"One of my safe houses. Live here by myself." Nice. He said one of his safe houses, so he had more than one to hide away when he disappeared. Is this where he vanished to once every month?

I was still surprised that Mr Grumpy was talking to me and even sharing some information about his life to me. I felt as if in these two days, Mr Grumpy has spoken more to me than the past few months. Everything was just too much for me.

He was another factor in this situation that overwhelmed me to the next level.

We stopped at a white bathroom door. I didn't move my head from his chest, I felt cozy and I liked the smell of him. He grunted, another familiar sound emitting from Mr Grumpy. Actually, his grunts and glares were Mr Grumpy's most famous trademarks.

He seemed to want to ignore my curious eyes as he paused in front of the door. It was as if he wasn't quite sure if he should step inside with me or let me go in by myself.

He scoffs and moves forward. I wonder what's swirling in that mind of his, what is he thinking about? Does he think I'm weak? Pathetic that I couldn't stand up against Nox? That I lost my virginity to a rapist?

He set me down on the bathroom counter. I flinched when I came into contact with the cold counter. I furrowed my brows in confusion when he didn't walk out of the bathroom. Dark denim covered the thickness of his thighs that brushed against my bare knees.

I felt my cheeks turn red when I realised that I was still clad in just a T-Shirt and boxers which I'm assuming was his. As usual, the nerves began to bubble up inside me whenever Mr Grumpy was near me.

I stared at my shaky thighs then tried to pull my shirt lower not wanting to furthermore embarrass myself. I mean, he already saw me naked. How humiliating! The shirt didn't move any lower than the top part of my thigh. The most skin I've ever shown.... wait, that's a lie because I wore a bikini in front of the man too.

He plucked the box from my trembling hands and put it next to me. My eyes still low as they traced the action, they lingered on the box unsure of where to look.

I think he was expecting me to say something, but I really didn't know what to say. I didn't even know what to feel. Nothing!

To my complete and utter surprise- something that he's been doing a lot lately- I felt the pad of his thumb graze beneath my chin as they push my head up to meet his gaze.

Once again, my whole world slowly crumbled as we stared at one another. The poor butterflies had exploded into bits. His eyes were blazing with rage, which hopefully wasn't directed at me, but still, the emotion clear as day swirled in those orbs.

I openly gaped at him.

"Bath." I think it was supposed to be a question, but his tone displayed complete demand and authority. I nodded like a puppy.

I sucked in a breath as I watched his eyes travel down the length of my body. Still, as I sat down on the counter, he's body towered over mine like a damn building.

His hand left my face. I tried my best not to feel disappointed but it was hard especially when his thighs were brushing against my knees, his scent completely taking over my mind, and his soulful eyes scanning over me. This man was just too much.

I began to move my legs but my thingy was still so sore. I contorted my face to show the pain I felt and stopped moving. It felt red and raw down there. I just ached.

Before I knew it, my tears started again. The salty taste stained my lips and I wiped them away. Hiccuping, I rubbed my nose in frustration because I was crying again. The cycle repeated over and over.

Mr Grumpy paused for a split second and then I remembered that he was here and watching me break down. God dammit. I blushed. I can't get a break from embarrassing me, could I?

He bent down slightly and pushed back my hair behind my ears and lifted my head again. Him touching me felt out of this world. He was warm and his skin felt so smooth yet rough alongside mine.

I blew the air up as if it would dry my eyes. Dumb bum. His fingers made their way up gently. The touch of his fingers on my cheeks sent the skin ablaze. I didn't know what to do.

"Baby." That's all he said. I was fine with that. It was as if I understood everything that he was trying to say without hearing it.

I hiccuped unattractively while I felt my cheeks turn a shade darker. I then stuttered, "C-Can you p-please help me, Mr Grumpy?"

He stared at me as if he had seen a new species. I frowned. Then coughed uncomfortably while he just continued on staring at my face. He didn't say anything at all when he swiftly turned around and walked to the white clawfoot bath tub.

The bathroom that I was in was very beautiful and elegant. Everything was white and pristine with light grey undertones. The shininess and immaculateness was definitely Mr Grumpy.

I stretched my neck to see what he was doing because I was beyond confused. What was he looking for? Was there someone by the window or did he see blood from his victims that he forgot to clean up?

"Um, what are you doing Mr Grumpy?"

His back was still turned towards me as he bent down to let the water run. While he waited for the tub to fill up, he picked up a small white bottle before adding the essential oil into the water. "Bought you some lavender oil type sh-"

"Profanity!" I blurted out. I received a glare from him and I shut my mouth. He turned back around and I felt my cheeks, once again, flame up because of how thoughtful and sweet he was. He was so cute.

There were a couple of minutes before the sound of the running water stopped. Thick frothy bubbles started to form on the surface of the warm water. I grinned, because I loved bubble baths. I mean who didn't?

Mr Grumpy then turned around and took a few long strides before he was back in my face. I let out a squeal as he picked me up without my permission and went closer to the bath.

I could see that he was trying to be the softest he could with me, especially when he steadily placed my marshmallows on the edge of the bath. My only reaction to that was a gulp. That was it.

He was just about to leave me when I gripped onto the top of his shirt, digging my fingers into his skin. He raised his brow. I coughed, "Um can you just hold me, but look away because um that's awkward?" I paused, "I just need to get undress and like um yeah."

I shut my eyes briefly because I was afraid to look at his reaction, then I slowly peeked open each eye one by one. His face was black, void of any expression but I saw the way his eyes scrutinised over my body making me feel like the T-Shirt and boxers were transparent.

He nodded without any verbal confirmation. I slowly inhaled the oxygen surrounding me and watched his neck stretch higher displaying the bold and unique tattoos. His head tilted back as he stared at the ceiling like it was a fascinating thing he had ever seen.

I already knew that my face was dipped in redness when his hand landed just above my waist. Oh my gosh, this is so embarrassing for him and I. I narrowed my eyes at his tilted face, making sure he wasn't looking at me and then I awkwardly tried to shimmied out of my boxers.

Whoever said it was easy to shimmy out of boxers when an unfairly attractive guy holds you like you're his world, is a big fat liar. No offence to whoever you are.

I took quite a while trying to get wiggle the boxers off my marshmallows. I groaned silently and felt the humiliation seep through me.

Mr Grumpy didn't say a word while he stared at the ceilings but the grip of his hands had tightened and I froze momentarily before carrying on. Finally, after seventeen-thousand-years, I finally got them off. I kicked the boxers off my feet and grinned at my accomplishment.

"Yay, I got the boxers off! They were so hard!" I gleefully said, because damn they were hard. Mr Grumpy released quiet grumble at my words and I saw his eyelids shut. Good thing he wasn't watching me. That would be a bit embarrassing for me.

"Um, Mr Grumpy, I kind of need to get the shirt off. " I awkwardly coughed out and scratched my neck trying to erase the heat building up there. I watched his eyes open but his head was still facing the ceiling. Oh my gosh! Mr Grumpy's neck was probably hurting. I'm such a bad friend!

I felt a bit guilty now because his neck was probably cramping really bad. I watched his hands slip away from me before they fell to his bent knees. While I reached for my hem I watched his hands curl into tight fists and the veins on his arms were now visible to my eyes, and they weren't a bad sight.

My voice was low and soft when I said, "Okay Mr Grumpy, no peeking, please. I'm almost done."

He sucked in a breath. I watched his eyes shut and his jaw clenched tightly displaying his heavenly crafted jawline. I then pushed my shirt slowly over my head before throwing it behind Mr Grumpy. The sound of the material landing on the floor was loud and Mr Grumpy let out another grumble under his breath.

I was beyond naked.

Then my small hands tried to cover his fists and move them above my waist so that he could pick me up and set me in the tub. "Mr Grumpy can you please put me in the tub now?"

If my dad was here, he'd probably kill my me and Carlos, my non-existent-bunny. If my mom was here, she'd probably shriek until dad tackled her down. If Alex was here, he'd just meow.

His eyes were still shut tightly and head still tilted away from me as he stood up with me. Oh my god! I'm naked! Holy cows! AHHHH!

I was as stiff as a pole until he gently descended me down into the tub. I was so nervous that he'd see me naked so I made sure to watch his eyes cautiously. This was so embarrassing.

Once I felt the warm water surround me, I began to feel better. The warm water glided around my aching muscles and it felt soothing. The frothy bubbles came up to my neck and covered my small body from top to bottom. I giggled at the feeling. I loved bubble baths.

"You can open your eyes Mr Grumpy." I almost sang the words out. I giggled at his tensed body and screwed tight eyes. He calmly opened his eyes before his head snapped down at me and his eyes lingered on my face before they travelled over the fluffy bubbles. I giggled again and picked up some bubbles before I blew them.