"Chelle.......hey beautiful......Chelle." She opened her eyes to see Tony sitting over her on the bed. Her first thought was of how attracted to him she was. She could tell how deeply he was looking at her, a little smile began to slowly spread across his face and then he began to stroke her cheek gently with his thumb. She allowed her eyes to close for a few moments just to soak in how good his touch felt. She ran her hand up to cover his and then directed his hand to her lips. Michelle's eyes opened and closed as she ever so sweetly kissed his hand. Tony was taking a mental picture of Michelle running her lips over his hand. Nothing in the world could have deterred his attention away from her. He caught her gaze and they stared into each other's eyes. Tony couldn't help but smile when she stopped kissing his hand and began to give him one of her gorgeous cheeky smiles.

"Almeida man, I am just so attracted to you."

His smile doubled and he felt his stomach flip. "I am mesmerized by you Chelle, you are absolutely stunning." He leant in toward her so that their lips were only inches apart. "God...I love you."

"I love you Tony." She kissed him. It was sweet and tender.

After a couple minutes he pulled back but once their lips had parted he realized he wasn't ready for it to be over yet. He took her lips back and groaned when she tugged on his bottom lip and then pushed her tongue into his mouth. As they tilted their heads to the opposite side Tony put his hand to her cheek. Her arms moved around his neck and pulled him down to her. Michelle sighed his name when he pressed his body into hers, she loved it when his body covered hers.

Eventually Tony raised his body and sat back up next to Michelle. "As hard as it is to pull myself off you, I have to because I've got some breakfast here for us."

"You do? What time is it?"

"It's 2pm. We didn't get to sleep until like 7 though, I just got up like an hour ago." He grabbed a huge tray that he had put on his cabinet and bought it over to the bed. Michelle sat up and he put it in the middle of the bed and then sat down as well. He had made them pancakes with syrup, strawberries and yogurt and coffee.

"Wow....you put me to shame! Did you seriously make these pancakes?"

He laughed, "I seriously did."

"Thank you Tony, this is just perfect. No one has ever made me breakfast in bed before."

"I don't know how that is possible."

Michelle was smothering her pancake with maple syrup. "What do you mean?"

"Chelle I just don't understand how you haven't been snatched up yet. How did I get so lucky as to end up with you in my arms?" He bit his lower lip. "Michelle how many relationships have you had?" Tony knew he wasn't going to like hearing her answers but he wanted to know.

She immediately became a little blush and nervous. "Since I left high school I've been in 4 relationships." She didn't offer any more information than he had asked for.

"Do you mind telling me about them? Like why they ended, who were you with....that kind of thing."

"Ok.....Ummmm, Well there was Jason. That lasted like a year. He went away to a different college so that was it...."

Tony jumped in straight away. "Were you guys happy? Was it hard when he left?"

"I guess we were but we grew apart really quickly. He should've just been a friend all along. I hope this doesn't sound bad but it was more of a relief when it ended."

Tony smiled, it was easy to hear about a boyfriend like that!

"Then there was Tim followed by Michael – I went out with them both for about 7 months. Tim was first and then about 3 months after we broke up I went out with Michael. I ended them when I caught them cheating."

Tony held her hand. "I'm sorry Chelle, that's horrible. What a couple of idiots!"

"Yeah....I just don't care anymore. Wasn't like I loved either of them and we really didn't go out for that long."

Tony squeezed her hand. "And the 4th ....this was your last relationship right?"

Michelle noticeably calmed up. "Ummm, his name was Mark."

He used a very gentle voice. "What happened with Mark Chelle?"

"He was a bastard..."

"How long were you with him? Why was he a bastard?"

Tony could see Michelle's entire glow disappeared when this Mark guy was bought up. She was fidgeting and it seemed like she was having a hard time looking Tony in the eyes.

"2 years. I don't know, he just wasn't too nice. Ummmm what about you?"

He shook his head. "I'd like you to talk to me about this Chelle. 2 years is a long time, you must have cared for him at some point."

She was almost defensive. "Maybe....I was stupid, I wish I never met him."

"What did he do to you?" Tony knew it was going to be bad, he hadn't expected anything like this to come up. She seemed very hesitant.

"He had a shocking, short temper." Michelle had no idea how Tony would react when he found out what Mark had been like.

Tony moved the tray to the side and slid up closer to Michelle. "Did he ever hit you Michelle?"

She couldn't look at him. "I really don't want to talk about this, please can we just drop it?"

"I can't drop it Chelle....I need to know what happened. You can tell me anything..."

Michelle stared at the bed, she continuously tapped her finger on the covers. Michelle was so close to tears. She knew if she opened her month she would cry. Sensing how upset she was getting, Tony stroked her arm and tried to encourage her. "Hey...its ok....you can tell me sweetheart."

"It wasn't a healthy...."

Tony cut her off. "Did he hit you?"

Tony watched as she slowly nodded her head. His stomach sank as she confirmed what he had been dreading hearing. Confusion flooded his mind of how anyone could ever lay a finger on Michelle like that. "Chelle..."

Her head remained down and she spoke with an assertive tone as if she was making sure Tony completely understood and believed what she said. "It's not like that. I mean I used to always do the wrong things and he was just teaching me." Tony was horrified over what she had just said.

"Please tell me you are not serious. There is no way you really think that."

Michelle went to get out of the bed but Tony grabbed her and pulled her body into his. Once she realized he wasn't going to let her go anywhere she finally answered him. "What else was I meant to think?"

"How many times did this happen? Had you had a fight?"

"I don't know.....it was just if I said or did the wrong thing or didn't give him what he wanted. It doesn't matter Tony."

He kept his grip tight around her. "It matters everything Michelle. It's almost like you think this was all ok...."

"Cause I know I deserved it. Look he wasn't like you Tony."

Tony shifted them around so that they were facing each other. "What the fuck makes you think you deserved something like that? This all makes me sick."

"Because he told me. I'm sorry you feel sick, I told you I shouldn't tell you...."

Tony slammed his hands on the side of the bed and stood up. He rubbed the side of his face roughly and began to pace the room. He wasn't yelling but his voice was very loud and angry. "Because he told you....do you know how fucked up that sounds Michelle? Of course you should have told me, I need to know this shit."

"Of course I know how messed up it was Tony but.....but......but he was a lot bigger and stronger than me, I never knew what to do..."

He looked at her small thin frame. It was frightening to think that someone was taking advantage of her because he could over power her. He didn't think anything else had ever made him feel angrier. He was surprised how instantly he become totally over protective of her. "Why did you stay with him? Why didn't you leave the first time he touched you?"

"I tried....." She looked up at Tony who was studying her. Both of his fists were clenched shut, his eyes were watery and glazed over – she could see how deeply he was breathing. "Things were worse when I tried to leave."

He paced the room again rubbing his face. "You know what I don't understand....Look how angry you have been over how Nina treated me. You got so upset at how she use to speak to me. You've done everything possible to boost my confidence and make me feel good about myself because of what she did. Now I find out about this.....SHIT!"

Michelle wasn't sure what to say. She wondered if this meant that Tony couldn't accept everything she had said to him now. "So.....it changes nothing. Just because I had a bad relationship doesn't mean I can't hate what Nina did to you."

"Michelle he beat you. He laid he God damn hands on you. He hurt you. I'll kill him, who the hell is this guy?"

"What are you going to do? Go beat the shit out of him?"

Michelle just about had a heart attack when Tony grabbed his shoes and started pulling them on. He raised his voice at her. "WHO IS HE?"

"I can't believe this. I should never have said a damn thing. Why did you push me to talk about this?"

Tony stopped and watched as Michelle began to cry. It made him stop for a few moments and actually think about everything for a moment. He couldn't stand seeing her upset, it made him feel sick. "Chelle I should know about this....It's my right to know, I hate that I didn't know about this a long time ago. It's so important that I know everything like this Chelle."

"Why? So you can feel disappointed and angry with me?"

He sat back on the bed next to her. "I'm not disappointed or angry with you sweetheart, it's this guy – and I hate him for what he did to you. I need to know baby so I can understand everything better. I mean now I really know how important it is that I make you feel very safe in my arms. No one is ever going to hurt you ever again."

"I'm ok, really. Once I started my training I learnt very quickly that I didn't have to put up with that crap and I could defend myself. He use to scare me so much but as soon as I actually stood up to him I realized how weak and pathetic he really was."

Tony took her hand. "Chelle I completely freaked out hearing you say about deserving it. That breaks my heart."

"I just, well.....I don't know. You are so different from a lot of guys I have known. He was such a jerk. After awhile I just started to believe all the things he would say."

Tony lent over Michelle with a hand on either side of her body. He kissed her gently on the lips. "Well that's never going to happen again. I think it is proving just how perfect we are for each other." He lifted his body up and over so he could cover her body with his. She wrapped her hands around his back as he kissed her neck. Slowly he moved to her lips, he pushed his tongue into her mouth and they began to kiss passionately. As there bodies pressed into each other they both groaned and intensified the kiss.

Eventually Michelle broke the kiss. "Hey.....what about my breakfast?"

Tony got up and checked it. "Pancakes are stone cold and so are the coffees."

"That bites, I wanted that so much."

Tony gave her a cheeky smile. "Sorry, I kind of ruined your nice breakfast in bed by chucking a mental. How about you hop up and I'll take you out for a huge meal – your choice?"

"You are on Almeida man. Just give me a few minutes to look presentable."

Tony took Michelle to a restaurant by the water. The sat out on the balcony and took over 2hrs there as they got so caught up in chatting. Tony spent the entire time playing footsies with her and holding her hand across the table when ever he could. Afterwards they walked hand in hand down a few blocks checking out all the different shops.

Tony dragged Michelle into a sports memorabilia store. "I love this store so much. I could seriously buy everything in this place." As they walked around he explained which things he liked and why. Michelle was just enjoying watching him get so excited over everything. Tony found a huge Chicago Cubs framed team photo. It was autographed by the entire club. He stared at it forever, "wow it's beautiful."

Michelle had to laugh, "That's beautiful?"

"Chelle it's got everyone in it, it has autographs from all of them and even the photo is like a private club picture. It's gotta be like 70 inches long and the frame is just great quality." The shop attendant walked up to them. "Can I help you?"

"How much is this framed picture?"

"$1200."

Tony thanked him and then turned back to Michelle. She looked very surprised. "I can't believe how much it is for a picture, you would really have to be a true fan to get that."

Tony was nodding his head. "It is worth every single cent. I mean look at it.....it is perfect!"

They then walked up to a shoe store and went in so Tony could try on some new sneakers. Michelle picked out 7 or 8 pairs for him to try on. Whilst he was doing that she excused herself saying that she was going to the bathroom and would be back in a minute.

Michelle went straight back to the Sports store and bought Tony the framed photo. She would never ever normally spend that much money on anything but she didn't even have to think twice when she saw the excitement in his eyes as he had been looking at it. She knew how much he would love it. The guy looked surprised at her that she had come back to get it. He wrapped it up in bubble wrap and put it in a protective box. She lugged it up to the shoe store and got there just as Tony was walking out.

He looked at her completely confused as he watched her try to carry this huge parcel. "I thought you went to the bathroom?"

She smiled for him and then kissed his lips quickly and tenderly. "Actually I just wanted to pick this up for you."

"For me? What is it?"

She handed him the package. "I think it is too hard to unwrap here because you would have to wrap up again before we go anywhere. Do you want me to tell you what it is?"

Tony nodded and smiled. "I am so intrigued. I can't believe you got me something."

"I got you that framed Cubs picture that you liked at the sports store."

His mouth dropped open and his eyebrows went to the middle of his forehead. "What? No way......you have got to be joking!!!" He eyes darted between her and the package over and over. Michelle just stood smiling and nodding her head at him. "Michelle it was $1200...."

She leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. "I would pay a million times that just to see the glow you have got in your eyes."

"Holy Shit......I can't except this, you can't spend this much money on me."

"Tony, I want you to have it. Forget about the money, ok?"

He pulled her into him and kissed her passionately. Even though they were in the middle of the street he pushed his tongue into her mouth and let it roughly explore her mouth. They tilted their heads the opposite way and Michelle sucked on his top lip while he went for her bottom lip. As she went to pull back before they parted he sucked on her tongue. "Thank you, oh my God I don't even know what to say......I love you."

"I think it will look great up on your wall."

Tony was so animated, "Great?! It's going to look fucking amazing! Chelle you are just so amazing. This is the best present I have ever received – Wow.....I just can't believe it."

They hugged. "Tony should we put it in the car so we don't have to lug it around with us?"

"Ok – I so don't want to let it go though."

They took the picture and put it safely in the trunk. Afterwards they returned to the shops and kept on going. They were glued to each other the entire time, Tony's arms barely left her shoulders.

Michelle spotted a pet store across the street and took off grabbing Tony's hand and charged over to the shop. She started gushing over a little black and white puppy straight away. She picked it up and held it in her arms and laughed as it licked her cheek and hands. "Awww he's so adorable. I love it Tony!!"

"He is pretty cute." Tony just thought Michelle was adorable playing with the dog. He laughed as she put on different voices while talking to it.

"I've always wanted a puppy."

Tony had an idea. "Why don't we get it Chelle?"

Michelle gave him a look as if to say 'Are you serious'. "What are you talking about?"

Tony put his arm around her, "come on Chelle, why not?"

"I'm not allowed pets at my apartment."

Tony kissed her forehead, "I am."

"What are you going to keep him at your place? Do you want a dog?"

Tony took a deep breath as he took the plunge. "I want you. If you want the puppy then maybe you will move in with me and we can look after him together?"

She almost dropped the dog. She was completely shocked. She put the dog back into the cage and turned into his body. "You want to live with me Tony?"

His hands found her waist. "I know it is quick, but I've never been more sure about anything. I've wanted you for so long Chelle and now that I have you, I want you all the time. I'd do anything to be able to wake up next to you every day."

Michelle's stomach was full of butterflies. Happy tears began to roll down her cheeks, freaking Tony out. "Chelle don't cry.....I'm sorry...."

She threw her arms around his neck, "No, they are happy tears. I can't believe it, are you serious? You and me living together? But Tony I don't know how to cook...."

Tony laughed, "Honey, I wasn't asking you so you would cook for me. I can take care of that. I want you and me together. Please Chelle....live with me?"

She pulled his head down and when she was just inches from his mouth, "Yes....yes Tony, hell yes." She kissed him passionately.

Please review if you would like me to keep going.......thanks