AN: After this update, it may be a few weeks (2-3 at most) before another chapter is published. I'm moving into a new dorm soon and Fall classes will be beginning. Save me.

Hope you enjoy! Thanks for reading, and as always, reviews/comments are appreciated!

Kruger would have to make due without breakfast whenever he woke, but as a grown man (100 years or older at that), he would have spent many years cooking his own meals. Besides, Olivia didn't think it would kill him to fend for himself for once. For now, she had to get to work.

From behind the bar, Olivia readied an order of drinks. Normally she would be the one waiting tables and filling orders, but Markus had just received a phone call, and she offered to cover while he stepped away. Another waitress took the tray and passed around the beers while the redhead reached under the counter for her bottled water. Markus stood a few feet away, hunched over a notepad, back turned as if to tune out the dance music playing over the speakers. Probably business, if she had to guess. Her boss never spoke much about the club's owner, or of himself for that matter. She assumed he kept professional affairs out of his day-to-day shifts, and she couldn't blame him. But how many corporate concerns could a little strip club have?

Suddenly Markus spoke up from the corner, his voice loud as he snapped. He appeared to be cut off by the other end of the line. Running a hand over his buzz cut, he stood to his full height and waited. Whatever he was dealing with was none of her concern, and she turned away just before he slammed the phone and returned to her side.

"Everything okay?" Olivia took another swig of her bottle and looked to the bartender with mild concern.

"I hate dealing with people." With his jaw tight, she figured whatever eating at him would be doing so for the rest of the day.

"And yet here you are," she laughed and gestured to the polished, black faux granite counter.

That at least got a snort out of him. "Here I am."

"Would you rather be somewhere else?"

"You have no idea." He was then slipped another order for drinks and gathered a few glasses. "I think we all would."

"I don't know..." Olivia started, hopping down from her stool. "I don't mind it so much anymore."

"Don't tell me you're starting to like living with him."

"Well, no, but..." Honestly, she had no idea how to finish that thought, and from the look on the bartender's face, he wouldn't buy whatever bullshit she may come up with.

Not in the mood to acknowledge the skepticism slipping across his face, Olivia spun on her heels and snatched the rag from her back pocket to clean tables. She knew that her silence was more than enough of an answer for him, and if she didn't learn to keep her mouth shut and figure out her thoughts toward Kruger, she would have to deal with more ribbing. What would it matter to anyone if she did learn to care for his company? She had no close friends, no family nearby to answer to, and she did not consider herself close to her coworkers. If she chose to become attached to Kruger, let alone sleep with him, it wouldn't be anyone's concern but her own.

For the rest of the day she managed to avoid Markus, just in case he felt the need to bring up their earlier conversation. But now, at the end of her shift, she knew she would have to approach him in order to sign out and buy the case of drinks she had kept under the register just for her.

"Those for you?" He asked, returning her change.

"I don't think he fancies himself as the lemonade and liquor type."

"I wouldn't put it past him. Alcohol is alcohol."

"Right. See you Thursday."

Olivia pressed the open bottle between her breasts and tried to hold tight to the case of drinks while she searched her pockets for her key. No doubt Kruger would be home, but it was clear he wasn't the type to leave the door open for company. She slipped in, immediately kicking off the heels and loosening another button on her uniform. Funny enough, the club didn't mind the hem of the black denim shorts hugging the dip of their waitress' asses, but they maintained a one-button rule on their lavender blouses. Back in her old apartment, she would strip as soon as she walked through the door, ready to toss the bra and lounge comfortably. Here, even if this was her home now, she would have to make due with a popped button or two until it was time for bed.

The drinks were put away before she made her way up to the rooftop. The setting sun cast Kruger's shadow from the far corner where he stood over the smoking grill. Olivia stepped over shards of broken glass and watched as they caught the light, sending slivers of amber rays through the dusty air.

When she approached him, he looked up from the charring meat and immediately eyed her drink. "None for me?"

Sitting on a stack of crates she raised the drink to the sun, studying the red coloring. "It's vodka and strawberry lemonade. Didn't think you'd be interested."

He sneered, turning the rack of ribs.

"Suit yourself." 'More for me.'

Kruger seemed to deem the meat ready and jabbed through the rack with his blade. Olivia didn't pretend to know much about weapons, but she felt she had seen a sword like that before, years ago in some old samurai picture. An unusual choice, especially for a mercenary from the South African bush, but somehow it seemed to fit. She couldn't see him with pistols, but perhaps maybe a shotgun...

"How'd the mission go?" She asked. The weapon must have triggered her memory.

The question seemed to catch him off-guard, but he shot back with one of his own. "When've you been concerned about my work?"

"I'm just curious."

He grinned through the smoke still hissing off the grill, a wicked sight. She thought back to the night they met, and how the dark of his eyes burned like testimony he had been born of Hellfire. How much longer until he'd exchange the sword for a pitchfork? "Fair enough. Went well. But I can't be goin' and revealing any details to you now, can I?" He clucked his tongue against his teeth, shaking his head.

Well, she supposed that was good enough. "I guess not. At least you're safe, right?" She took another sip, licking her lips of the artificial flavor.

"Watch it there. Might make a man think he's been missed."

Olivia felt a knot rise in her chest, and instead of snapping back with some half-assed reply, she downed the rest of the drink and stared into the flame of the grill. She had missed him for some reason or another, one that she hadn't quite thought of yet.

When she didn't respond, Kruger's smirk fell. "My boys will be stoppin' by soon. Make yourself scarce."

She looked up from her bottle, squinting into the sun to stare up at him. "Why?"

The look he gave implied she knew exactly what for. Then it dawned on her; Drake. Kruger reminded her of a sitcom father who refused to allow his daughter date the boy next door. Not that she wanted anything to do with the other man.

With realization flashing in her eyes, she moved in a huff towards the latch that lead down the rickety flight of stairs. "Get over yourself," she hissed under her breath. She couldn't tell what bothered her more—Kruger suspecting anything between her and Drake, or his skirting around his odd relationship with her.

With two quick steps Kruger seized her arm, snatching her back and keeping her locked flush into his chest. She recoiled at the shock of pain shooting from under his grip. The feel of the untrimmed scruff of his beard grazed her cheek as he spoke along the shell of her ear.

"Watch it with the backsass, eh?" he scolded and reached up to cup her jaw, forcing her to look up into the temper in his eyes, unable to squirm away. With her breasts flush to his chest, she felt a spike of arousal coiling in her abdomen, and she silently hoped it didn't show. But even if he noticed, his ire pushed it aside. She could tell he was restricting himself somewhat, since his locked jaw shook with suppressed anger. "Be grateful you're still here," he breathed hotly against her cheek. Whether that meant living under his roof or living at all she couldn't tell, but the threat was still real. No matter what feelings he stirred inside her, he would always be frightening.

She managed to nod before the sound of the latch being thrown open broke the tension. Kruger released his hold and she stumbled back, both turning to face Drake and Crowe. For once they were dressed casually, trading in their fatigues for t-shirts and cargo slacks. They seemed to notice something was amiss, but only Drake was brave enough to ask.

"We interrupting something?" He looked from his boss to the redhead.

"Nah, Drakey." Kruger's grimace became a toothy grin. "C'mere and join me, boets."

The two paid Olivia no mind as she pushed her way by to scurry down the stairs, slamming the latch just for good measure. At the lingering sensation of his lips brushing her skin, she shuddered and gave her cheek a swat, trading in the warm blush for a stimulating sting. She grabbed herself another drink before throwing a pair of clean clothes over her shoulder. She'd take a bath and fix her own dinner. Hopefully the men would stay on the roof for the rest of the evening.

Throwing her uniform and bra into the sink, she bent over the tub to adjust the warm water filling the basin. Luckily the smell of bleach had worn thin, now replaced with the strange combination of her soap and Kruger's musk. She slipped her panties down her thighs, but not before noticing the bit of soaked cotton. Shit. They were thrown aside while she prayed that hadn't come from his earlier aggression. She wouldn't be surprised if it had. Olivia was no advocate of sexual violence by any means, but for as long as she had known her own personal tastes, something about watching a man come alive with anger had always gotten her off. And with Kruger as a hardened, hairy temperamental furnace, she'd be creaming her panties whenever he'd be nearby.

Once the surface of the water stilled with steam, she eased herself in until the bathwater circled her shoulders. She hadn't treated herself to a bath since she left home, and while it felt odd that Kruger's tub would be the first to break that dry spell, at least she had the opportunity to find some peace. Drawing the curtain, she allowed herself to lie back and rest.

Another opportunity for him to snap her neck and he hadn't taken it. He could have just as easily given her neck a quick crack and be done with the nuisance of her company. But what reason did he have to harm her? She knew no company secrets, wasn't a threat to his work, and provided him with most of her pay. And if he ever decided to take her to bed, then all he would have to do is ask. Most men would take advantage of having a woman so accessible and would make advances, but not him. Sure, Kruger seemed to enjoy being coy with her and knew well enough that he baited Olivia with crooked smiles and playful offers, but he never once made a move to push himself on her; never groped or pawed when he had the perfect opportunity to.

'He's not as interested as you want him to be,' she mused bitterly.

"Hm. Probably not." Before she could pout, she reached for her dollar bin body wash and began to lather her skin.

'Disappointed?'

'Yeah, I guess.' She surprised herself when she admitted it so easily. 'I'm not the type you make fuck buddies with.'

Relaxing back along the tile of the wall, she mulled over her round body. She knew her figure was part of her own fault, thanks to her incorrigible sweet tooth. Some days she didn't mind how the dip of her waist rounded into her middle and hips, but other days she wanted to claw at the stretch marks and hide away. Luckily she recently learned to come to appreciate her figure, probably due to being away from home. It never helped when her mother poked and prodded at her, or whenever her grandmother teased her for her soft stomach. It honestly hadn't taken long to realize her family had been the ones holding her back from helping herself. But even now, despite her progress, she grew scared of how Kruger saw her.

"Lions don't eat marshmallows," she mumbled to herself, smiling drowsily at the silly idea.

"Never thought you the type to talk to yourself." She heard Kruger speak up from behind the curtain, the humor in his voice mocking her.

Instantly Olivia sat up, tucking her knees tight to her chest out of instinct. "What do you want?" She flinched as her voice climbed an octave higher in her shock.

"You want a list?" His shadow moved across the curtain as he made to lean along the wall. The width of his shoulders in silhouette reminded her just how fearsome he was, and if she wanted to get past him and out of this bathroom, she wouldn't be able to dash by his brute strength. "You should really lock the door."

She thought she had, but her memory didn't recall the sharp click of the lock. "You knew I was in here..."

"Yup."

Olivia felt the frustration of the situation welling in her chest, but took a deep breath and thought over her choice of words.

"Why are you in here?"

"Would you believe I wanted some company?"

"...Isn't that what they were here for?"

"The boys took off. You've been in here for a while, ya know."

No, she didn't know. She stretched her neck to peek out of the dirty window that overlooked the neighboring rooftops. The night sky crept over Los Angeles and reached for the far outskirts of the city limits. She had been in the bath for longer than she realized.

"Oh."

"Mmhm. Thought you may have offed yourself," she heard him yawn.

"Not that it would really matter to you," Olivia scoffed, still hugging her knees. The unnerving silence that followed made her uneasy, so she added quickly, "Can you go?"

"What's 'at?" He asked as if he hadn't heard her.

"I want to get out soon."

"Nothing's stoppin' you." She could practically hear him grin.

It felt like arguing with a child; a child trapped in the weathered, hairy body of a killer. She breathed in and tried again. "Please."

"Mm, you're makin' me weak, 'Livia," he sucked through his teeth, and she couldn't tell if he was taunting her. "Good ole manners get me hard, did ya know that?"

The apples of her cheeks flushed with color. Even in the now cool bathwater she could feel her pussy throbbing with warmth. The image of his cock confined in those fatigues... Heaven help her. "N-No, but I'll make sure to remember—"

"Yah, I bet you will."

"—Now please go."

Without another quip, Kruger's shadow slid across the curtain and disappeared after the quiet click of the door. Once she deemed herself alone, Olivia groaned into her knees. There had been the terrible fear that he would have drawn back the curtain, and she honestly felt surprised he hadn't bothered. Even if he held no interest in her like she suspected, the mischievous bastard could have snuck a peek just to humiliate her. Maybe he spoke honestly about her manners making him weak.

'Everyone has their own peculiarities,' she thought, draining the tub and wrapping herself in a towel.

'He'll get you to beg with that 'pretty please' talk. Also, looks like he snatched something of yours.'

Olivia froze, noticing her missing clean cotton panties. "Oh, fuck you."

'Hope this doesn't become a habit.'