Chapter 5: If You're Going Crazy Just Grab Me And Take Me

6 Months Ago - Berlin, Germany.

The first thing Chanel noticed about Stephan was how his Louboutin loafers were the exact same shade of rich chocolate brown as the leather belt around his hips. As he strode through the warehouse, she thought he was exaggerating his steps so that everyone could see a flash of the red soles. Every piece of clothing was perfectly coordinated and styled. She couldn't find a single flaw. His sandy blonde hair was even tousled in the precise manner that came from standing in front of the mirror for half an hour.

He walked past her without a glance. In fact, he didn't waste a look at any of her newfound associates.

Chanel had recently been placed undercover in Berlin. Her mark was a drug kingpin known only as Klaus. She was supposed to be working in a coffee shop that was popular with Klaus' crew, but customer service wasn't really her forte. After nearly dislocating a man's arm after he asked her to remake his drink three times, she opted to join a low-level gang instead.

That is how she came to be at the meeting between her new boss and Klaus' partner, Stephan Kaiser. She paced anxiously around the run-down warehouse, watching her boss, a stupid short-tempered man, argue with Stephan.

What is he doing? He's going to ruin this deal.

Another gang member leaned in to whisper to her. "Boss gave the signal. We're taking him out, be ready."

"What?" Chanel whispered back in surprise. "Why would we do that?!"

The man shrugged, "you know how the boss is; he doesn't like to be treated like he's low-level trash."

"But he is low-level trash," Chanel mumbled under her breath.

She stepped forward with unearned confidence to intervene, causing the other gang members to widen their eyes in surprise.

Her boss shot her an annoyed look and she bowed her head in deference, "I apologize. I have some information you may find intriguing." She peeked up at him and he gruffly nodded his head, leading her a few paces away.

She could feel Stephan's curious eyes on her as she walked away. Looking back, she met his gaze. His serpentine eyes were well-practiced at luring in prey. Like the eye of the basilisk, one look could kill. Chanel was no exception, she stared for too long, and he winked at her, flashing her a cocky grin.

It wasn't the grin, or the eyes, or the impossibly sharp cheekbones, not even the air of danger that surrounded him that made Chanel decide to save his life. No, it really was the sapphire and diamond Cartier cufflinks that she spotted as he rolled up the sleeves of his pressed white shirt.

She licked her lips.

Holy shit. How did he get the Hold Tight cuff links?

They had to have cost at least half a mil.

Jesus.

Of course, the other stuff helped too, and of course, the mission. She couldn't forget the mission. She needed him alive to get to Klaus.

She refocused and tried to convince her boss that he was making a mistake.

"No, no, no. You still have much to learn about respect. This-" he waved in Stephan's direction, sending a fresh wave of cheap cologne in Chanel's direction. "This is not respectful. Klaus doesn't show, and this guy comes alone? They will learn to respect us now."

Chanel rubbed her temples in frustration as he turned his back on her and walked back to where Stephan was waiting. Violence was now unavoidable; she took a deep breath, and her fingers tapped anxiously against her thigh holster.

A coded signal passed between her soon to be ex-boss and the crew. Out of the corner of her eye, Chanel saw a gun raise, and she couldn't help but smile a bit as she pulled her throwing knives from her thigh holster. With a quick flick of her wrist, she sent one in the assailant's direction. The blade pierced his eye and settled in his brain, sending him crashing to the floor and setting all hell loose.

The rest of her knives found home in the necks of her boss and a few more cronies.

The action happened so fast that Stephan hadn't caught up with what was going on. He stood frozen in place until Chanel tackled him to the floor, taking cover behind the large metal table she had flipped over.

"What the hell?!" He pushed her off of him and started dusting the dirt off of his white shirt.

Chanel rolled her eyes at his trivial concern and pulled her pistol out of her boot. With a little more excitement than the situation called for, she popped up and fired into the chest of 3 more of her coworkers before she ducked back down.

"Are you planning on helping?" Her flippant smile faded when she saw Stephan still sitting on the ground.

The shock finally passed, and Stephan stared at her incredulously. "They were really going to kill me?" His voice dripped with disgust; offended by the idea that these nobodies thought they could kill him. As if he was nothing, as if his name didn't demand respect.

"Still might if you don't get the fuck up and help me, now come on, we have to get out of here!"

Chanel pulled a smoke grenade off of her belt and launched it over the table.

"In about 10 seconds, this room is going to fill with poison, so-"

Stephan pulled his pistol from his ankle holster and nodded, cementing their haphazard union. They jumped out from behind the table and fired blindly as they ran towards the exit. Bullets whizzed past their heads, encouraging them to move faster. Then, just as the poisonous gas began to fill the room, they burst through the large metal doors. Chanel spun around and sealed them shut, effectively ending the chapter on that phase of her time in Germany.

Chanel and Stephan sized each other up; neither said anything as they listened to the pounding fists of the trapped men behind the metal door until they went silent.

"Who the hell are you?" Stephan finally asked.

"Daisy. Daisy Daniels." She extended her hand, "and you're welcome."

Stephan eyed her hand warily and didn't take it; naturally, he was suspicious. There was no reason for her to have saved him.

He placed his hands on his hips in an attempt to exude power. "I've never heard of you. Why?"

"Why have you never heard of me? Or why did I save your life?"

"Both."

"I've been working with this shit crew," she motioned to the warehouse. "You wouldn't have heard of me." Chanel started walking towards Stephan's sleek black Rolls Royce. He watched her for a moment, admiring her curvy shape before he followed her.

"And as for your life," she turned to him with a smile, "well, that was just a bit of fun, really. I've been in desperate need of an upgrade."

"So you want a job, that's it?"

She presumptuously opened the car door, her confidence that he would want her making her cocky. But, Stephan wasn't having it; he slammed the door shut, standing between her and the car.

"What do you think you're doing?" He took a step toward her with the intention of forcing her back. However, his attempts to exert his dominance didn't phase her; she stood her ground.

Stephan had to look down at her now to meet her eyes. "Klaus doesn't just allow anyone to work for him. What are you anyway, some street pusher? You sell to teenagers and junkies? Not interested."

"So Klaus makes all of the decisions then? I thought you were his partner." Chanel smirked and enjoyed the flare of anger she saw in his eyes. "I have so many more skills," she stepped even closer to him and ran her fingers lightly over his arm; she smiled to herself when he didn't move away. She looked up at him, giving him her best fuck me eyes, "just let me show you. I'm sure I can change your mind."

Stephan was finding it hard to concentrate. The logical side of his brain knew this was a bad idea, and he should leave her behind. But, the devilish side of his brain was intrigued and wanted to see what would happen next.

His decision-making was interrupted when the sound of approaching vehicles caught their attention.

"Probably back up," Chanel noted.

Stephan turned to her, "give me your weapons and get in the car."

"Seriously?! We don't have time for this."

"Seriously. I don't know if you're a honeypot or just fucking crazy to turn on your boss like that, but either way-weapons now."

Chanel rolled her eyes and started quickly disarming herself. She handed over her pistol first, then pulled another one out of her waistband. Then, kneeling down, she pulled a large dagger out of her boot and unclipped her tactical belt.

Stephan smirked, almost looking impressed as he threw the weapons in the back seat of the car.

"Wait, one more," Chanel said as she lifted her shirt and detached a small gun from the holster attached to her bra. She threw it in Stephan's direction; he made no attempt to hide his ogling.

Bullets began to fly in their direction, kicking up dirt where they landed.

"Get in the car," Stephan commanded.

He stomped on the gas, sending them flying down the dirt road. The silent, luxe engine purred from 0 to 60 in a matter of seconds.

"One following us," Chanel observed just before bullets started ricocheting off of the bullet proof glass.

"Goddammit, I just got bodywork done on this car!" Stephan slammed his hand on the steering wheel as he sped up and took a sharp turn.

Chanel slid in her seat, her head hitting the window. "Geez, where did you learn to drive?"

"It's called evasive driving."

The car swerved again, sending Chanel the opposite direction this time.

"Um, no, it's not. And who the hell brings a Rolls Royce to a drug deal?"

"Well, I didn't think I was going to get dragged into a car chase, did I?!"

Stephan tried to lose the tail again, but they were persistent. As they got closer to city traffic Chanel knew she had to intervene.

"Oh, so you're blaming me then? That's rich." Chanel took her seatbelt off and leaned over into the backseat where he had thrown her weapons.

"Hey! I said no weapons!"

Chanel gave him a defiant look, daring him to stop her. When he didn't she grabbed her utility belt and sat back in her seat, "you just focus on your evasive driving."

She pulled a small disk off of her belt and loaded it into what looked to Stephan like a flare gun. He jerked the steering wheel again as she rolled her window down.

"Try not to throw me out of the window, please."

Chanel shimmied her body through the window until she was sitting on the ledge, and her hand was gripping the headrest to stay steady. Her left arm extended long in front of her as she aimed at the hood of the car, following them. The disk flew through the air with one shot and landed right in the middle of her target. Her lips curled into a smile just before the explosion occurred, causing the car to flip over as the flames consumed the occupants.

She slid back into the car and tossed the utility belt back into the seat behind her. "I'll be good now, I promise." She teased.

Stephan looked at her from the corner of his eye.

Has to be a honeypot. There's no way I'm this lucky.

"Nice shot," he said, focusing his eyes back on the road. "The knife through the eye earlier, that wasn't too bad either."

"Thank you," Chanel softened her tone. She was still adjusting her personality to fit his needs. So far, slight submissiveness seemed to be working. "Can I ask where we are going?"

Stephan decided he was going to test her. Maybe, if nothing else, she would be fun to have around the house for a couple of days.

"I was going to another meeting, but we need to get this car off of the street. So I'm going home."

"Oh, taking me to your house already? Very forward. I like it."

When Stephan pulled up to the villa hidden in the hills, Chanel was giddy with excitement. This was precisely where she needed to be...for the job, of course. She couldn't forget about the job.

Over the next few days, Chanel passed every test Stephan put her through. Finally, he lost patience with his own cautiousness and brought her back to the villa. She didn't leave again until the day she left for Paris.

During the months in between, Chanel lost herself at some point. She did her job, but she wasn't in a hurry. She enjoyed Stephan's company more than any other mark. His venom ran deep. Doing whatever he asked of her, no matter how amoral the request might be, was no longer part of her cover; she wanted to do it, wanted to make him proud.

"Du bist ein schatz; you are my treasure." Stephan would whisper to her after she pleased him.

And deep down, she enjoyed it; she was good at it. All of her anger, guilt, and sorrow were channeled into her viciousness when Stephan used her as his muscle. When she started to feel like she was going too far, Stephan would push her further, encouraging her to explore the darker side of her soul. After all, she was trained to be a killer; the government had given her these skills and used them to their benefit. So why should she feel bad for using them on drug dealers, sex traffickers, and other heinous creatures that pissed Stephan off?

She hadn't had a nightmare in months. She had become the very thing that nightmares are made of.

3 Months Ago - Berlin, Germany

Stephan only ever wanted two things in life. Money and power. Getting money was easy. Running an international drug cartel provided plenty of it. The power, however, came slowly and was never enough.

Klaus had seen potential in him and pulled him up through the ranks, but he still shut Stephan out when it really mattered. Like this Power Broker business. Klaus refused to tell him what they were buying or who the Power Broker actually was. Stephan didn't like the secrecy; he didn't trust it.

His hands gripped the leather steering wheel tightly.

Klaus is losing his touch. He's making rash, stupid decisions.

The dense, suffocating feel of the city faded as he drove farther into the rolling green hills of the country.

"I just need to find the right time to take him out. Everyone agrees that he has to go. We're better off without him."

Stephan's voice startled Chanel. After the meeting with Klaus, they got into a screaming match after Stephan yelled at her for speaking on his behalf. They had been sitting in silence ever since.

Chanel knew that Stephan would be in a stormy mood after the way Klaus had treated him. He had completely ignored all of Stephan's questions and concerns as if he was just another low-level pusher. She should have known better than to speak up during the meeting, but she was getting impatient. News of the meeting with the Power Broker had sent her boss into a tizzy; he was pressuring her to be ready for a sting op during the meeting.

Chanel tentatively placed a comforting hand on his thigh and squeezed lightly. She didn't say anything; her mind was preoccupied trying to make a decision that could potentially cost her life.

Stephan warmed a little under her touch. He had only ever wanted two things in life until he met Chanel or Daisy as he knew her. Now her company was threatening to become number one on the list of desires.

He always felt shitty after they fought. She just pushed his buttons sometimes; he couldn't help it. He suspected that sometimes she did it on purpose just to make up with him in the bedroom later. To an outsider, their constant bickering probably signaled trouble. But, passion takes many forms, and the more they fought, the more he was sure what they had was love. Even if Chanel wouldn't admit it.

He placed his hand over hers, "I'm sorry, I've been rude."

"Don't apologize. You're right. I'm sorry." Chanel's voice sounded distracted as she stared out her window.

Stephan brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently, a small gesture to express the feelings he couldn't speak out loud.

When he first met her, he didn't expect that she would be his number one confidant and partner in a matter of weeks. However, quickly everyone recognized her and treated her as an extension of himself. She was cunning and fierce when need be. He liked when she needed to be fierce and would push her to violence every chance he got. The way she obeyed him without hesitation delighted him. She could probably kill him if she wanted to, and he often thought about this when he fucked her. Their passion, adrenaline, and the thrill that came with being feared, usually had them tearing at each other's clothes as soon as they got a moment alone.

He certainly didn't expect that after a few months, she would have such a permanent residency in his heart.

Sharing dark secrets has a way of binding people together.

When they arrived at the villa, her delicate fingers laced through his as she led him to the couch in the sitting room. Her red dress fluttered around her thighs, demanding his attention. He tried to pull her down onto the sofa with him, but she resisted.

"Not yet; let me make you a drink."

Stephan kissed each of her fingers before letting her go. "I suppose that is acceptable."

Chanel sauntered over to the bar. Her decision had been made. While Stephan was distracted, she pulled a small vial from her handbag and added one single drop into the scotch she poured for him.

With the drink in one hand and her handbag in the other, she walked back to the couch.

"None for you?" Stephan questioned as he sipped the drink.

Chanel gave him a tight-lipped smile and shook her head no. "Come on, I know what you need to get you out of this mood."

Stephan followed her to the bedroom. She directed him to undress and meet her in the bathroom.

Chanel shut the bathroom door behind her and took a deep breath. She turned the bathtub faucets on and sat on the edge of the tub. The water slowly rose in the immense jacuzzi-style tub; the sound seemed to amplify the pounding of her heart. A fleeting thought about what would happen if things didn't go her way had her digging through her bag for a compact. She flipped it open and held it up to her eye. A green light flashed, and the mirror transformed into a communication interface.

"What's wrong? This isn't your usual report time." The droning voice of a bureaucrat sounded from the compact.

"Listen, I don't have much time." Chanel lowered her voice a tad. "I'm about to try something risky, and I need you on standby in case things go bad."

"I would advise against whatever it is you're about to do."

"That's what you always say. Just be ready."

As Stephan came into the bathroom, she snapped the compact closed and dropped it into her bag. Then, she placed the handbag on the floor, making sure to keep it nearby.

Stephan approached her, and she admired his chiseled frame; she inwardly hoped that this would work out in her favor. She wasn't quite done enjoying him yet. Not to mention all of the things he bought for her.

"You have too many clothes on," Stephan said as he placed the empty scotch glass down on the counter.

"Come," Chanel beckoned him towards the tub as she added a rose-scented soap. "This is about you, not me."

Stephan sank into the warm water with a sigh. "If that were true, then you'd be in here with me." He playfully grabbed her ass as she leaned forward to turn the faucets off.

"Steph!" She swatted his wet hand away, "this dress is expensive, don't get it wet."

"Seeing as I'm the one that bought it, I think I can get it wet if I so choose."

Chanel rolled her eyes and moved behind him. She checked the clock; she didn't have much time left.

She grabbed a bar of lavender soap and started with his shoulders. The scent filled the room with a false sense of calm.

"Klaus doesn't deserve you. He's an old fool."

Stephan hummed in agreement.

She worked the soap over his chest.

"He's reckless, and he's going to take us all down with him. You have to do something."

"I told you, I have to wait for the right time." His tone was snippy, but Stephan liked that she said us. He was never sure if she felt as strongly for him as he did for her. Of course, she would say she didn't, no, couldn't, but every now and then, something would slip like an us instead of a you.

Chanel started working the soap through his full head of hair.

"Steph now is the right time."

He didn't respond; he was relaxing into her touch. Talking business was not what he wanted to be doing at the moment.

"Do you remember what you said to me when we first met?"

Stephan tilted his head and opened one eye to peek at her, confused by the sudden change of subject. She looked so domestic, washing his hair, taking care of him. He knew she only did this to make him happy; it wasn't her natural state.

"Of course. After you saved my life—"

"The first of many times."

Stephan chuckled, "yes, and not the last time you did it by throwing a dagger through someone's eye." Chanel smiled, her fingers still running through his hair, scratching his scalp.

"I said that you must either be crazy or a honeypot. But truthfully, I didn't care much at the time."

Chanel smiled sadly. A flicker of doubt passed over her. Not because she was worried about the success of her plan, but because she wasn't sure if she was ready to give up this life with him. The best case scenario would be if he didn't attempt to kill her and instead shunned her from his life.

"After I watched you commit several more very illegal acts, I still wasn't sure, but I knew I wanted you. So I decided you were mine."

"And what did you say?" Chanel dropped her voice to barely above a whisper.

"That if you were a honeypot, you'd be questioning which side you were on after I was through tasting you."

Chanel's concentration wavered as she watched his tongue wet his lips.

"Steph—what if you were right?"Her voice faltered.

"I know I was; you had quite the raving review."

"No, what if I told you that you were right about me being a honeypot?"

Stephan froze, not sure where she was going with this.

"What are you saying?"

"I'm not who you think I am. My name isn't Daisy Daniels. It's Chanel Thomas. I'm a spy."

Chanel continued explaining who she was and why she was there, but Stephan didn't hear anything after the word spy. He sat utterly still, his muscles tense. He didn't say anything as he processed what she had said—a range of emotions passed over his features in quick succession.

Denial. It couldn't be true.

Anger. How could he be that stupid? How could she do this to him?

Despair. Was it all a lie? She really didn't love him.

His jaw was tight as he planned his next move.

Chanel took it as a good sign that he hadn't immediately tried to attack her. She rechecked the clock and tried not to panic. She kept her voice low and comforting. "I think we can help each other get what we want. I'm here for Klaus. My boss wants him and the Power Broker. If you help me, you can walk away; you can be in charge like you wanted."

Stephan clenched his hands into fists as he thought for a second about dragging her under the water. That's what he should do. That's what Klaus would do.

He rose from the bath and wrapped himself in a towel. Chanel braced herself as she watched the muscles in his back flex.

Finally, he turned to her. Rage simmered in his green eyes, threatening to turn them black. Although Chanel expected this, she didn't expect the hurt that took over and snuffed out the rage.

"You've been spying on me? This was all a lie?" His voice came out as a despondent whisper, barely audible over the pounding of his heart.

"I'm sorry-" Chanel started, but Stephan held his hand up, stopping her.

He looked away from her face; he needed to focus.

I should kill her; what choice do I have?

He started to feel light-headed.

I just can't fucking think.

His vision blurred, and he made his way to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands, taking in shaky breaths; he felt like he was going to be sick.

Chanel stood in the doorway, her bag under her arm.

"Steph come on, this works for both of us." Her tone was impatient.

"You want me to be a traitor? A snitch?" He spoke through labored breaths.

"I'm sure you'll find a way to spin it. You said so yourself; Klaus needs to go. I can guarantee that he will. I just need your help." She was practically begging him now.

Stephan looked up at her and, for a moment, considered reaching for the gun under the bed and killing her right there, but he couldn't do it.

Fucking bitch.

I love her.

He thought surely she wouldn't deny that the time they spent together was genuine. She couldn't be that good of an actress. Plus, she was right; he needed Klaus out of the way.

"Fine," he mumbled. "I don't—I don't feel so good."

Chanel's heart lifted at the concession. She quickly pulled a syringe out of her bag and went to him on the bed.

"Yeah, sorry, that would be on account of the poison."

"What—?" He stared at her in disbelief as he started to lose feeling in his limbs.

"Hold still; this might sting." She plunged the syringe into his arm and administered the antidote. "There, good as new." She kissed the spot she had punctured and rubbed his back soothingly.

The color came back to his cheeks as the antidote worked through his system. Chanel let out a sigh of relief; she would have been sad to see him go.

"Jesus Christ, you poisoned me?!" Stephan screamed at her as soon as he was able. He paced around the room furiously.

"I gave you the antidote!" Chanel yelled back, sitting up on her knees on the bed so that her face was level with his. "Don't be a baby about it," she added sarcastically.

Stephan shook his head in disbelief. He still wasn't sure he was making the right decision. But as he looked into her eyes, the eyes that got so defiant when they had their screaming matches, the eyes that widened so beautifully when he touched her just right, the eyes that mirrored his own wicked madness, he knew it was the only decision he could have made.

He let out a long sigh and caressed her face gently. "I guess that makes us even then because I almost shot you."

"What? Just right here in the bedroom?!" Chanel punched his arm scoldingly. "Manfred is too old to be scrubbing blood out of the carpet."

"What can I say? I can't think straight when it comes to you." Stephan's lips curled into a scampish smile, "I also briefly considered drowning you in the tub." Chanel's mouth popped open in surprise, and he quickly added, "just for a second. I know you don't like to get your hair wet."

Chanel tried to be mad but couldn't suppress the giggle that rose through her chest. They fell into a burst of easy laughter; nothing changed between them.

Stephan sat back down next to her on the bed. "Chanel, huh? I never liked Daisy anyway; it didn't suit you at all."

"You seemed to like it; you moaned it loud enough."

Stephan grabbed her and pulled her into his lap.

"I'd like to do a trial run with the new name."

"I think I owe you that much after the poison." She planted kisses on his neck, giving him the green light.

"One thing, though. You said we would both get what we wanted—"

Chanel hummed her agreement against his skin.

"But I want you."

"You have me. I'm right here."

"But what about after the job is done? What if I still want you then?"

Chanel sighed and sat back to look into his eyes. She was elated that Stephan wasn't pushing her away, but he always wanted too much from her. "Steph, you don't know me. Not really."

"I refuse to believe you're that good of an actress. Some of this had to be real."

Chanel started to argue with him, and he continued quickly before she could get a word in. "I know that you're fierce, you live for danger, your favorite color is black, but you wear red to please me…oh, you say your favorite drink is scotch, but you really prefer vodka…stop me if I'm getting anything wrong."

Chanel crossed her arms defiantly, but the slight smile on her face spoke to the joy surging in her heart.

"Okay, if all of those are right, then what is it that I don't know about you?" Stephan smiled at her teasingly, "don't tell me it's.." he widened his eyes in fake shock, "you don't like my Saturday morning pancakes…."

Chanel swatted his arm as her smile widened, "I love your pancakes."

Chanel kissed him in an attempt to distract him, and he let himself be distracted, leaning back onto the bed.

"I can't believe you poisoned me." He smiled against her lips.

"It was just one little drop. I didn't give you the full dose." Chanel returned his smile before sucking his bottom lip into her mouth. She could feel his growing excitement under the towel still wrapped around his waist.

"Oh, is that supposed to make me feel better? Do you want me to say thank you?"

Stephan's hands slowly moved over her hips and up her sides before yanking the zipper on the back of her dress down. She sat up, kneeling over him, and let the dress fall off of her shoulders. The red material slid down her arms and pooled around her waist. Stephan didn't move, so she reached behind her back and unhooked the expensive lace bra herself. Stephan licked his lips as she threw it to the floor, her dress soon joining.

She placed her palms firmly on his chest. "You should probably be more concerned about how easily you let your guard down, you know, in case another woman like me comes along someday."

Stephan chuckled lightly and flipped her over onto her back. She removed the towel and threw it to the side. Stephan started to remove her underwear but paused, giving her a quizzical look.

"Is it typical to continue fucking your target after you're no longer undercover?"

Chanel squirmed, uncomfortable with discussing one of the many lines she had leaped over. "I've never been in this position before, but I'm going to guess, no, it's not typical. I probably shouldn't have slept with you in the first place, but…" She trailed her finger down his chest and over his abs, letting the gesture finish the sentence for her.

"So I did fuck you to the dark side." Stephan flashed a cocky grin.

"You're insufferable." Chanel made a false attempt to get off the bed.

Stephan pulled her back under him and held her in place, one of his hands gripping her wrists together above her head. The other slowly removed her underwear. His fingers did a slow dance over her most sensitive areas, making her breath grow ragged.

"It's either that or you're just a very bad girl." The words made Chanel open her legs wider for him, and he smirked. "You're supposed to be one of the good guys, but you did everything I said without hesitation."

His fingers moved faster inside of her, and Chanel moaned, "maybe it's a little of both."

"I bet you say that to all the men."

"And women." Chanel teased.

"You wound me."

"Steph, I can't make any promises, you know that. But, I've never done the things I did for you with anyone else." Chanel's confession was partly a desperate attempt to get him inside her already and partly something else she didn't understand.

Getting the answer he wanted, Stephan pressed his lips against hers in a deadly amorous kiss. "There will never be anyone else like you, schatz."

He had effortlessly slithered his way into her heart, and his honeyed words wrapped around it and constricted until she was his to devour.