I am soo sorry for not updating sooner. School can really suck all the creative juices out of someone. Unfortunately I don't know when the next update will be.Probably not for a week or two because I have less than a month before the end of school and lots to get done. But rest assured I am working as fast as I can. Thanks for your wonderful reviews everyone! Enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 18

"Good morning, Mr. Almasy, a word with you please." Seifer's eyes flew open. Damn, I must've fallen asleep. Confused, he looked outside, watching the large rising sun float over the horizon. Morning already? How long was I out for? He got to his feet, barely suppressing a yawn as he saw the serious look on the General's face.

"Is everything alright, sir?"

"Yes, everything is fine. Please accompany me to my office. There's something I'd like to discuss with you." Seifer nodded and was just about to pick up his Hyperion when his eyes fell upon his trenchcoat that lay folded neatly on the chair. Rinoa… Last time he saw her, she was cuddled underneath it. He fought the urge to ask Caraway about her condition not wanting to create any suspicions. Casually reaching down to grab the grayish fabric off the chair, he followed the general out of the living room.

"Please sit down. Would you like a glass of water?"

"Yes, please," Seifer responded, suddenly very aware of his dry, scratchy throat. Feeling much refreshed, he turned to look at the General, slightly raising his eyebrow in expectation.

"Before I get to the main object of this conversation, I would like to thank you for all your help. You have saved both mine and my daughter's life, and I am sincerely grateful to you for that."

"Thank you, sir." Seifer felt a rush of blood to his head and took another gulp, feeling the ice cold water slide down his throat.

"Shall we get down to business? Tell me, Mr. Almasy, how would you like to prolong your stay at Deling?" Seifer cocked his eyebrow.

"What did you have in mind, General?"

"Well, since the unfortunate incident last night I have been left in a very precarious position. My bodyguard is dead…a third of my guards viciously murdered."

"Do you want me to work for you?" Caraway looked at him approvingly.

"I like your directness. Yes, that is what I had in mind."

"I am not interested."

"Excuse me, sir?"

"I already have another job lined up for me once I get back to Balamb. Minimal risk of personal injury and a handsome paycheck. You do understand, don't you General?" Caraway gave him a sour smile.

"That has been taken care of, sir," he said with pointed politeness.

"Oh?"

"I took the liberty of contacting Balamb Protection Services when I did a check on your references." Seifer's heart began to race a bit although outwardly he kept his calm demeanor.

"And what did you discover?"

"You are one of the best."

"No, you are mistaken, General. I am the best. Otherwise this conversation would've been long over."

"I will double whatever your other client is offering. You can start today."

"You will have to meet certain conditions."

"Name them."

"First, I must follow you everywhere you go. Even a one-second lapse in security and we get another incident like yesterday on our hands. I won't take that risk again. "

"But.."

"Do you want to stay alive, General?"

"Ok, I agree." He sounded extremely irritable.

"There's more."

"More?"

"I don't think you need me to say that the security system in this place is flawed at best. I will need to do a complete systems examination and check of security protocols."

"Fine."

"And lastly but most importantly, none of your men must ever question my authority. Do I make myself clear, General?" Caraway sighed uneasily and then lifted his tired eyes to meet Seifer's.

"Your conditions will be met. Just keep my daughter and me alive. I cannot afford any more security breaches."

"I am glad we agree, General. It will be a pleasure working for you." Seifer gave him a smile and extended his arm.

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The sun was already in its zenith when Rinoa finally woke up in her bed. Slowly she lifted her self up to a sitting position. She cringed as the pressure on her arms that reawakened the dull pain on the left side of her chest. I must contact Zone and Watts. Oh Hyne! Please let them be ok. Taking a deep breath she forced herself into a sitting position, ignoring the sharp jabbing pain that started in her midsection. She reached behind her nightstand and pulled out a tiny cell phone that was carefully taped to the back. With shaking fingers she dialed the number. After a couple of rings a man's voice answered.

"Rinoa?!"

"Watts! What happened? Is everyone allright? I was so scared."

"There are rumors flying around that you've been shot? What the hell went down inside the house?"

"I am fine. I don't know what happened. Armed men barged into the living room and almost killed my father. I couldn't let him die… Not like that… Seifer…he…saved my life."

"The general got shot? Seifer did what?"

"No, he is fine. Where were you guys? Who were those men?"

"Our van got intercepted midway to the mansion. All our men stunned with some kind of a stun gun and thrown outside. They left with the van. "

"Any ideas on whom it may've been?"

"No, still no clues. It is like they came out of nowhere. Are all of them dead?"

"I am not sure. It is likely that father took a few into custody for questioning. Oh, someone's is coming upstairs! I'll call you back later." She hastily threw the phone inside her nightstand and climbed under the blanket.

"How're you feeling, angel?"

"Seifer! Thank Hyne!" She tried to lift herself up again but fell back down on the pillow limply.

"Who else did you expect? I told the General I would bring you some food. Nailah is still recovering from last night."

"Did father ask… did…"

"Yep, he completely bought it. I start today. Congratulations." He gave her a smug smile and placed the food tray on the shining black surface of her nightstand. Rinoa's mouth immediately began to water, as she smelled the steaming cup of soup and freshly baked bread.

"Looks like I'll hafta feed you today," he smirked. "You'll be a good girl and eat, won't you? Otherwise, I just might have to withhold the dessert," he purred in a low seductive whisper. Gently lifting her up to a sitting position he carefully brought the steaming cup to her mouth, allowing her to take small gradual sips. His face was unreadable except for a tiny smile that played in the corner of his lips. She ate in silence, enjoying the warmness that was spreading over her entire body. When she was done, Seifer moved the cup back to the nightstand and then positioned himself beside her on the bed.

"You shouldn't do that. Someone might catch us."

"Shh, trust me, angel. Close your eyes." She looked at him incredulously.

"Close your eyes, Rinoa," he repeated softly. After a moment's hesitation she obeyed. Seifer reached over to the food tray and noiselessly took the top off a small silver bowl, extracting a slice of a red ripe peach, brimming with gooey aromatic juice. Holding it between his thumb and his index finger, he very slowly passed over her lips, lightly squeezing the sticky juice into her half-opened mouth. Rinoa moaned softly and tried to lift her neck to find his lips, but Seifer held her head firmly in place.

"Look at me," he breathed. Rinoa's eyes fluttered opened and she found herself gazing into his liquid oceans of green with just a touch of gold. Instinctively she followed his fingers with her eyes, her entire body earning for another taste of the luscious fruit. She could almost feel the sweet flesh of the peach melting in her mouth when Seifer suddenly pulled it away and placed in into his mouth.

"Mmm, so good. I think I'll have another." He gave her a wide grin, relishing in her helplessness.

"If it didn't hurt like hell to move my arms, Almasy, you'd be in trouble by now."

"I know," he said in a playful tone of voice only increasing her agitation. He reached over to the bowl and placed on the bed beside them. After dipping his finger into the heavenly nectar, he slowly outlined Rinoa's lips, the mere contact with them sending shivers down his spine. Suddenly he got off the bed and walked across the room ingoring Rinoa's look of confusion. Just what I wanted. Smiling impishly he walked back to the bed and lay beside Rinoa. In one of his hands he was holding a feathery blue scarf. Rinoa's eyes widened in surprise as realization of what he had in mind dawned on her.

"You're gonna blindfold me? Now? But I haven't even recovered yet. Tch tch, getting a little anxious there, Seifer?"

"Call it therapy," he smirked at her.

"Yes, doctor…" She would've kept talking had Seifer's lips not stilled her words mid-sentence in a deep kiss. His hands immediately shot up to her eyes as he expertly blindfolded her with the quickness that clearly indicated he'd done that before. Rinoa gasped at the feeling of cold silk against the sensitive skin of her face and deepened the kiss more, enjoying the sweetness of the peach that still lingered there. Momentarily pulling away from her, Seifer picked up the coveted piece of fruit and slid it half way into her mouth, closing his lips on the other half. Rinoa purred in delight as the sweet, sticky juice trickled across her lips and face, the blindfold adding another dimension to the entire experience.

"You are such a messy eater," she giggled as Seifer removed the blindcloth and looked into her eyes. "Thanks for the dessert. I feel much better now."

"Care for seconds, then?" he grinned. Cleaning off the remaining juice off her their lips, Seifer glanced at the clock.

" Sorry to have to leave now, I'm meeting Caraway in five minutes. It's time to find out who is responsible for these attacks. There were two survivors. Let's hope one of them talks. "

TO BE CONTINUED