AN: I am so pleased to see all the reviews. I was a little skeptical about posting this story because I was under the oppression no one shipped Mina/Alexander because all I have seen is Lucy and Mina stories.

But I am so glad to see you all interested. Please enjoy this next chapter and I will do my best to keep these two in character the best I can. One again please Read and Review!

I heard the creek of the iron gates to Mr. Grayson's magnificent home swing open as the carriage we vacated trotted through. I was so anxious, for I have never in my life stayed the night in a mans home…alone, unsupervised, and with a man I so desired.

The carriage halted to and abrupt stop and I saw Mr. Grayson move forward to get out. His assistant opened the door and he stepped down turned around and put his hand out to help me make my exit. Eagerly grabbing his hand I stepped down and took my place by his side.

He looked down at me as he started to guide us to his French iron doors that his faithful assistant already had ajar and waiting for us. He stopped and let me walk in first only to quickly follow behind me. My eyes were quickly drawn to everything surrounding me. Everything just screamed wealth and class, something I always had dreamed of being able to have one day. I didn't want to have to struggle in my life; I wanted a wealthy, handsome husband that loved me unconditionally and lit a fire in me for the rest of our lives. I wanted children…many, many children; Brave little princes that would yearn to be like their father and adorable, sapphire eyed, chocolate ringlet girls that had a passion to be smart as I. She wanted it all but; the only man that took an interest in her was Jonathan. That snapped her out of her daze and sent her on a search for Mr. Grayson. Her eyes looked hungrily around the room and she was immediately put at ease when she saw him standing off to the side giving orders to his black burly assistant. I saw him quickly dismiss him and then turn to head towards me.

" I have sent Renfield to ready you a room," he informed me.

" Once again I don't know how I could ever repay you for tonight, you have been most gracious." I said feeling the need to assure him.

"Again Mina, there is no need to keep thanking me, for it brings me great pleasure to take you into my home, I assure you." He replied. About to answer him back we were interrupted by my tummy letting its presence known and letting out a growl. Blushing bright pink I turned my head down out of embarrassment.

"Are you hungry?" I heard him chuckle. Snapping my head up I shot daggers at him.

"Are you teasing me Mr. Grayson?" I accused.

"No! Never, for I simply find it amusing for a tiny little thing like you to be hungry at this late hour in the night. Tell me Miss Murray, have you ate at all today before consuming that wicked absinthe?"

How the devil did he know what I had to drink I thought angrily. How much worse could my night get, admitting my starvation for the day and my tummy growling is not attractive and I came her to sleep not be fed…but, I was really hungry. When was the last time I ate? For getting my anger at the moment I chose to submit to him, maybe that would move this thing we had going on a little faster.

"I do not remember Mr. Grayson, I guess time was moving by so fast that I lost track of it." I admitted sheepishly.

"I see." Was all he had to say, was he mad at me? I asked myself.

"If I didn't no any better Alexander, I would say you are upset." I teased trying to lighten the mood.

"If I didn't know any better Mina, I would say no one is taking care of you and you are being overly careless." He snapped. Taken aback I didn't no what to say.

"REINFIELD!" He shouted, bring his assistant to appear in the doorway.

" Prepare dinner, Mina and I would like to eat. I will finish the rest of the arrangements for her bedding quarters." He commanded. I shuddered internally at the way he took command. In any other situation I would have been firing back venom at anyone who dared to tell me that I didn't take care of myself but, I wanted him to take care of me, I wanted… just him but, that doesn't mean I was going to loose my dignity in the process.

"Mr. Grayson I think it is highly unfair for you to accuse me of being overly careless, I for one have always taken care of myself and I don't believe you no me well enough to make such a quick judgment if I may say so." I told him boldly. He looked me over before smirking. Oh how that smirk infuriated me, I just wanted to kiss it right off his face.

"Follow me." I heard him say as he started to saunter away towards the door. I quickly sprinted off to catch up with him all the while thinking of another plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dracula~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I felt like we had been walking forever. Flights and flights of stairs, grand red carpeted hallways and oak doors upon oak doors was what I was led passed for a good 10 minutes.

Finally coming to a stop in the biggest hallway I had ever seen. Mr. Grayson stopped in front of the only door in the huge space.

"This is where you will be sleeping tonight." He informed me as he opened the door and guided me inside. I was aw struck when I walked in to the room that I would be sleeping in that night. There was oak furniture that glossed above the beautiful red plush carpet, the wall paper was a mystical dark blue that made you melt, and the bed…the bed in the middle of the room was the biggest bed she had ever seen. It stood proud and tall from the ground to literally the roof, it was a canopy bed that had a beautiful white sheer curtain covering the front and black silk curtains on the sides. The white curtain split in two allowing you to enter the luxurious cave. Her eyes traveled down to see a pretty miniature staircase at the foot of the bed that was surrounded by a most inviting sapphire silk comforter spilling out from under the curtains that rudely hid the rest of the bed.

"This…room…is the most splendid thing I have ever scene," I told him amazed.

"I am happy to know that you will be most comfortable." He said. She turned to look at him and decided to voice her only issue.

"I must say Alexander, I am in love with this room but, I …"

"Is there something wrong?" he asked bringing back is worrisome tone.

"No, no, no that's not it at all." I said assuring him. "Its just I feel a little nervous being in this room all by my self and having literally the whole floor to myself well… I just…still feel a bit alone I guess is all I am trying to say.

"Hahahah Ahhhhhh I see. I assure there is nothing to worry about Mina." He said taking my hand gently and walking back out of the room. He stopped right out side the door to which we had just exited.

"My room is right over there." He said pointing to a door that I had clearly missed. It was on the other side of the hallway all the way down at the end clearly being unable to find unless pointed out. I felt better knowing he was on the same floor as me but I still needed more assurance.

"But what if something happens?" I rushed out sheepishly. He looked at me with raised eyebrows.

"Amuse me, what in the world could possibly happen to you in a room so very high above the entrance of this mansion that is at all times on lock down and while I am nearest to you?" he asked as if it was the most obvious question in the world. He really did have me at a lost, I was indeed in a secure home with absolutely no reason to be worried about being harmed when I was alone. I just wanted to see how far he would go to be close to me. God was the only one who knew that I would not stop any move he would try to make on me.

"Mr. Grayson, Miss Murray. Dinner is served." Renfield informed us coming of nowhere.

"Well than Mina, shall we?" he asked putting his arm out for me to take. I just nodded and pressed myself into his side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Dracula~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arriving in the dinning room Alexander quickly pulled a chair out for me and then took his place at the head chair with me on his left hand side. Our dishes were already set up, we only had to take the lids off so I moved my lid to the side and picked up my fork. The food was delicious she thought as it melted down her throat; she had never tasted something so rich, yet so creamy.

"This is delicious, what is it?" I asked taking another bite.

"I believe that would be my chefs famous lobster melt, he learned it in Paris while studying his recipes." He informed me while taking a sip of his red wine. I stared at him as he drank, his lips became slightly stained but he licked them right after so they went back to being rouge pink. She really wanted to know what those lips felt like.

"Well it was most delicious." I once again complimented finishing off the rest of it.

" I am happy to know it was to your satisfaction." He said tilting his head to the side to set his gaze on me. Setting my fork down and leaning back in the chair I met his stare for the first time.

We stayed that way for what felt like forever, even the table was cleared and we still didn't budge. Sooner or later though we had to move and he was the first.

"Do you care for dessert?" he asked. I was rather full from the meal, but I didn't want us to depart for bed just yet. If at all if I could help it. So I nodded my head yes and he motioned to a servant for dessert to be brought out.

A cream cheese cake toped with a cherry glaze was set in front of me and I quickly picked up my fork and started eating. Taking my first bite I lifted my eyes to see that Alexander wasn't eating, he didn't even have a dessert in front of him.

"Where is yours?" I asked accusingly.

"I am quite full from dinner, but please, do not be shy." He said motioning to my dessert plate. "I enjoy a woman with an appetite." He smirked. Blushing I started to play with the dark red cherries on my plate.

"Please…" he drawled leaning forward. "Don't be shy." He said in a commanding voice.

"The absolute last thing I want you to ever feel around me is as if you need to hide yourself and be uncomfortable. Do you understand?"

I just nodded my head in a yes motion, to nervous to say anything. I saw his hand on the table and I decided then and there to make a daring move. Leaning forward and over the table I took hold of his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. His eyes snapped up to meet mine and I could immediately detect the shock in his eyes.

"Thank you." I whispered. "All my life I have never felt accepted to an extent do to my choices, but when I am with you…I feel as if I can be myself and never have to look left or right to see if someone is gossiping or judging, because I know you will be there. Or at least I hope you will." I admitted gently. His gaze was so intense I though I would catch fire. I felt his thumb start to stroke the inside of my palm and that caused me to desperately want to move closer.

"Are you ready to retire?" He asked gently. No I wasn't, I wanted to spend more time with him.

"I don't feel tired." I said honestly.

"Perhaps we can change that." He hotly replied.

"What exactly did you have in mind." I asked taking a teasing tone.

"Wouldn't you like to know." He said widening his eyes

~~~~~~~~~~~~Dracula~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I was done with my dessert he escorted me back to the room I would be sleeping in for the night. We stopped in front of the door and my hand was forced to drop from his arm as he put it down to his side.

"I pray that you have pleasant dreams tonight Mina." He said taking my hand to his mouth and kissed my knuckles. He clearly let his mouth linger than what was proper in society and I swear I felt his tongue. Dropping my hand back down to my side I opened my door and quickly turned back to him.

"Can you send a maid up to help unlace me?" I asked. I saw his face go blank in confusion.

"I am sorry, but I do not hold a female staff to perform those needs, for I don't have a permanent women residing with me." He admitted quietly. This surprised me a little, but at the same time it made sense. He didn't have a wife so what need did he have for a staff to tend to female duties.

"Perhaps that should change." I said boldly.

"Have you ever thought of taking a wife?"

XOXO: I hope you all enjoyed and it was long enough. Please R&R I appreciate anything and everything you all have to say. Also don't be shy to share what you think or want to happen. Thanks so much.

XOXO-ManhttanACMxoxo