Long time no post everyone! Before I get to the long list of thanks I'd like to apologize for my absence. Life has really been ramming me hard, and though writing is my escape even that has been a chore for me. My muse is partially lost and my schedule is packed, so even when I do have motivation I can't find the time to type. But here I am with a fluffy chapter with some slightly darker themes twisted in there.

Now onto the thank you's. A huge thanks to ArtLover and 191987 for the long reviews, also thanks to Lillias014, gladysnotw, and bellestanfield1 for the kind reviews. Welcome along to the Han train, I hope to see more of you in the reviews. CHOO CHOO!

Forgive all grammar mistakes and I forewarn you, my updates may be belated because as I said life is hectic, but hopefully what I have planned for the next chapter will make up for that.

Please review with suggestions, requests, or to say if you liked it or not. Toodles!

-Dev

Chapter 9: Dully Noted

The small piece of paper I'd received the day prior was still gripped firmly in my grasp as I began to shake the spell sleep cast over me. A pair of strong arms were wrapped around me, cocooning me in a blanket of warmth and musk that had a sleepy smile curling at my lips. Hans was still asleep, his obstinate snoring proof of that. I tried to peel his arms off of me, but it only resulted in him holding me closer, his arms tightening their grip like an anaconda would on its prey. I felt his nose nuzzle deeper into my hair and felt my body rumble as he murmured something, but I didn't quite catch it.

I sighed, settling for looking over my shoulder at his face. I could feel the warmth of his body and feel every muscle from our closeness, but I found I loved staring at his face. His hair was cute all ruffled, but I concluded he looked better all well-kept, it just suited him. Not that he didn't look utterly adorable with a relaxed face, little parts of him twitching unconsciously in his slumber. A smile had crept on my face without me knowing it, and I leaned in to peck his lips, surprised that he responded quickly. He didn't deepen the kiss, though I admitted I wouldn't have objected it he had.

"Good morning."

"Morning," I murmured back, twisting around in his hold so we were chest to chest.

"Sleep well?"

"Mhm," I responded, my hand trailing up his chest, over his jaw, and into his hair. I loved the way it felt beneath my fingers, and as I ran them through his locks I heard him purr slightly. "Aw that was cute, you're like a cat."

Hans's eyes had closed during my ministrations, but I didn't stop as his eyes opened and he looked at me with black swirling eyes. We were both ignoring the question that I'd asked last night, and Hans saw the questioning look in my eyes. He took the hand I was running through his hair and brought it to his lips, kissing on my knuckles, then my wrist, then going to my palm when he noticed the paper lodged there. I'd temporarily forgotten about it at the feeling of his lips against my skin and the overwhelming thought of how they'd feel in other places.

"What's this?"

"A number, Karl gave it to me. Says I can call him whenever I need him since I saved his life or whatever."

Hans chuckles, prying it from my hand, looking at it, before reaching over me and placing it on the desk behind me. "Karl has a rather funny idea that when you owe someone, it means you must do whatever you can do redeem yourself."

"It's honorable in a way, so good for Karl."

Hans's eyebrow arched, "What if I don't follow that rule? What does that make me?"

I smirked, his breath fanning over my face at the close proximity. I was jealous his morning breath smelled minty, it was rather refreshing. "It makes you a very kissable, handsome, German man that I would very much like to…"

"...Kiss? I think you should say kiss." He continued for me in a rather husky voice, I was unaware if it was because of how early it was or if he was turned on.

"Actually, I was going to say get away from." I kissed him on the nose before wriggling from his arms and falling off the bed. I popped up, winking at Hans before scrambling out of the room and shutting the door behind me. I giggled childishly as I bolted into Karl's room, pushing all thoughts surrounding how I shouldn't be acting like this around my kidnapper into the back of my head. Anymore, it felt like I was here willingly.

"KARL!" I screamed, watching with an amused smile as the blonde man bolted upright in bed before grunting painfully and falling back. I locked the door before collapsing on the bed next to him. "Wake up sleepy head."

"You better have a good reason for waking me up." He said groggily, and I felt bad for causing all the pain evident on his face. It was truly a wonder that he'd survived, but I'd just go with it.

"It is a matter of utmost importance, I promise. You see, I abandoned Hans in bed and I have every reason to believe that he is coming after me." I explained, situating myself so that my hands were tucked comfortably under my head.

"He is a patient man, I'm sure he won't-."

Karl was cut off by the abrupt knocking on the door, followed by a deep, irritated demand from the man of conversation. "Hadley open this door right now."

I giggled, shrugging as Karl looked slightly appalled at the door before looking at her with a crooked smile. "I stand corrected." They both shared a laugh as the door continued to be hit by an increasingly irritated Hans, and Hadley realized she quite liked talking to Karl. He looked much better with a crooked smile rather than the sneer she thought was imprinted permanently upon his face.

"Hadley I swear if you don't open up!"

His frustrated voice only made me laugh harder as I watched the door handle jiggle madly. "He's getting impatient Hadley, I suggest you open up the door." Karl said in a slightly sing-song voice, which, for some odd reason, made me laugh even harder.

"I can't breathe," I gasped in between laughs, earning an amused chuckle from Karl as he glanced at the door.

"He's going to find a key, you know."

"I know, good luck finding—."

Suddenly the handle clicked, and all laughter ceased as Karl and I looked up at the now-open-door where a very annoyed Hans stood, a glower on his face. My look of fear exploded into uncontrollable giggles despite myself, and when Hans picked me up and threw me over his shoulder I started laughing harder.

Before I knew it I was being thrown onto the bed, and after a solid flop against the soft covers I was feeling suddenly very sober. That feeling was once more lost when Hans pounced on me, quite literally in a blur he was standing in front of me, all intimidating and sexy, then he was on top of me, kissing me, feeling me. All sober thoughts disappeared as we felt each other, bodies and lips locked in a dance as old as time. He pulled his lips from mine, but then his tongue was dragging its way up my neck and to my ear. He peppered kisses around the soft, sensitive skin, earning an appreciative moan as I enjoyed the attention my throbbing body was receiving. "You can't escape me, not when our bodies yearn as they do for each other." His voice was low and husky, barely above a whisper; and I couldn't entirely decide if he was serious or merely trying to scare me. Both were working.

We kissed again, and his grip on my hips tightened as one hand slipped beneath my shirt and trailed up my back It brushed over my breast, and I felt butterflies swim in my stomach as my nipple peaked under his smooth, skillful hands. I could smell nothing else but my own heady desire, and for a moment I thought we were going to go farther, but he pulled back. There was a deep level of seriousness in them, but I knew now was not the time for us to go further.

"Will you go to dinner with me?"

I frowned at the sudden change of subject, "I mean, even if I didn't want to I don't have a choice." Hans didn't look amused, and I flashed an innocent smile. "When?"

"Tomorrow night, I know a very fancy place in Italy for us to eat at."

"Italy?" I asked skeptically, "But we're in Barcelona."

"We're flying out tomorrow, after that we'll have three more stops. France, China, and then Egypt."

I rolled my eyes, I didn't hate flying, but those didn't sound like short trips. "But I won't have anything to wear, I'm not a big dress girl but knowing you the restaurant is like six stars or something."

Another quirked brow, "Six stars? That's not possible."

"I didn't think I'd be kissing a German guy in Barcelona a week ago, with you, anything is possible."

Hans chuckles and kissed my nose, softly. I reveled in the closeness, his smile, and the way he made me feel safe from being so close. I tried hard not to think how wrong it was. "I never thought of it that way, but perhaps I can calm your nerves by saying we are going to go shopping for said dress after breakfast."

"Ooh, breakfast you say? Hans, if you wanted to seduce me why didn't you suggest so earlier!"

-0-

Breakfast was a very long word I didn't understand or try to for the sake of my brain cells.

It was delicious though, and after eating paying, then buying Hans a very nice suit with a red tie (I suggested that) we were off to shop for me. I was never one to particularly like dress shopping, but I was sure with Hans, I would enjoy it. He seemed like he knew his ways around clothing anyways, so I wouldn't have to worry about that.

The shop we ended up going to had a very fancy name as well, and once I glanced at the price on the first dress that caught my interest I bee-lined for the door. Hans caught me by the arm, however, and dragged me back into the store saying I could spoil myself because he was a multimillionaire. That didn't particularly put me at ease, because the most expensive thing I'd ever owned was an old Chevrolet car, and I was pretty sure this dress was more expensive than that.

There had been a lot of dresses that caught my eye, but I couldn't seem to grasp how much they cost. Hans had disappeared somewhere in the back long ago, saying quickly he had to do something, which left me alone to brood with my college savings and three bags of chips surrounding me.

One dress in particular caught my attention as I walked around aimlessly, a tune dying on my lips as I looked at the gray dress. I had always been one for neutral or bold colors, nothing in between, and this gray dress was to die for! I hurriedly ran my fingers over its length, reveling in how it fit beneath my fingers. My hands found the tag, and I nearly screamed, if my calculations were correct it was nearly ten thousand dollars.

"If this is ten thousand dollars I better look like a supermodel and be able to fly, Jesus Christ! Is it made of children's dreams and unicorn poop?" There was a short chuckle behind me, and I whipped around to face a very tall broad, and handsome man with black hair and tan skin. He had large green eyes, and immediately I noticed how attracted to him I was. I wasn't technically in a relationship with Hans, and though I found him more handsome in a technical manner than this man I couldn't help but think that looking at the menu was alright as long as I didn't order.

"Not quite, though I must admit, I often wonder why people would waste so much money on a dress."

I quirked a brow, his accent was nice and thick. But not as hot as Hans's. "Don't you work here? Aren't you supposed to be advertising the buying of these dresses?"

"My name is Marko," He held out his hand, and I felt a small prick which I ignored. "Usually, but I don't think it's necessary for such a pretty lady to need one." Wow, that was blunt. My flirty facade dropped as his words weighed down on me, I suddenly felt very guilty and embarrassed. The feelings didn't feel like my own, but they were so overwhelming my breath hitched in my throat and my ears went red, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Once Marko noticed this, his face dropped, but it was almost too quick to be real "I'm sorry, Miss, I meant no offense-"

"Nope it wasn't you, I just got very dizzy all of a sudden." It wasn't completely a lie, my brain was fuzzy, but mostly clouded with thoughts of where Hans was. Odd how now I was so reliant on him. My brain produced no argument to that statement.

"Do you need to sit down?" He grabbed my arm, leading me to a chair. I hobbled over, words dying on my tongue as the world swirled around me with black dots everywhere. I don't know what was happening, but I was suddenly feeling very sick. Nauseous. Dizzy. Unstable. I realized he'd twisted our route to the exit, and before a word could leave my mouth there was the resound sound of a click behind me.

"I suggest you let her go or I will put a bullet in your skull." I knew that voice! It was Hans! I turned to look at him, and I swear there were halos and angels singing around him. He could've been riding a horse with armor on—my mind was all over the place, and I barely managed to pick up on the cold tone of his voice and the way his hazel eyes darkened. It would have been scary had I been mentally present, but I wasn't.

"Hans!" I gasped dramatically, free from Marko's grip as he let me go for fear of his life. "I'm so happy to see you—."

I stopped when I noticed the quelling expression on his face, my lips sealed. Even if I was high I knew how to take a hint. Hans turned to Marko, gun still raised. "Did you really think I would let you take something that was mine? You should truly do some research on your captives before you take them, because next time you touching something I own you won't breath again. Understood?"

Marko gulped, large green eyes wide as he rushed out the store. Hans quickly pulled out a phone, harboring his gun into the waistband of his pants as he dialed a number. "Find him and kill him."

I didn't process his words, but I hugged Hans tightly around the midsection and stared up at him with dreamy eyes. I was on cloud nine, but in that moment I was happy. "You are so handsome when you look like that."

Hans looked down at me curiously, his arm wrapped protectively around my waist as he led me out the door and helped me into a black limo. "Like what?"

"I dunno, all the time. But I like your hair, and your eyes, and your suits… Oooh! And I love your lips!" I punctuated the statement by touching them with my fingers, loving the way they felt so soft beneath my sensitive pads. "I love your accent too! I just love everything about you, I love you!" I giggled, collapsing into his lap, cheek pressed up against his tight stomach.

I felt him tense beneath me, but I was too gone to notice. "Hmm, I think you should rest my dear, you've been drugged. It should wear off soon. I'll get you some medicine and water soon."

I nodded dumbly, staring up at him with an almost childish awe. He was handsome, and I meant what I said when I said I loved him.

His hands tightened on my body, as if he was afraid I'd disappear if he didn't hold on tight enough. "I'm not going anywhere, Hans." I yawned, my temple resting against his abdomen.

"I know," he stroked my hair. "But I am afraid to loose you nevertheless. I've never cared for someone or something so much without understanding why I do, and I'm afraid if I lose you I'll never be able to care again."

I hiccuped, that was romantic, right? I bet it was, my brain thought it was despite the mess it was in. "I can't be that important," I smiled reassuringly, but he didn't look too reassured.

"You are, more than I can understand." He paused, and suddenly the cautious smile on his lips disappeared into a hard frown. His eyes went cold, and I noticed the change despite myself. "Promise me something, Hadley."

"Anything."

"You will be mine, no one else's."

My throat went dry at the thought, and all the blood rushed south. Even my muddled brain managed to pick up on that turn on. "I will be yours and no one else's." I echoed.

The smile returned, but it was a darker smile now. "Good. Now sleep."

He sealed the pact with a kiss, and I smiled as I fell into a light slumber, unaware that he too felt the same way, though neither of us realized it.