Christian is mad at me. It sickens me to know that he has every right to be. How could I have been so stupid? My hand runs gently over my bandage that is pressed against my lower stomach. Christian is right. What if Kevin had a gun or something? He could have shot me. Hell, he could have stabbed me for real and let me bleed out on my own kitchen floor. The thought alone sends cold shivers through my body.

I turn over on my side and face, careful not to harm my new wound, and face the wall that looks out over Seattle. The buildings are all lit up in a bright orange glow that shines through the diming light. My eyes seem to have grown heavy and I can barely keep them up. The weight of the day has hit me like a brick wall and my body is just now catching up. I feel achy. Like my body just took a beating with a baseball bat. I hug the covers up to my chin and allow myself to sleep.

I feel hot. My eyes open and I'm momentarily confused only to realize that I'm still in Christian's bed. I'm still facing the glass wall and I see that majority of the city has fallen to darkness. I glance over at the clock and see that it's just after three in the morning. Shit! How long have I been sleeping?

I feel Christian's arms tighten around my waist. Of course he is the source of all this hotness. He buries his face deeper into my neck and I feel his light breath tickle my neck. I slowly turn over to face him. The slight lighting from the city illuminates his face in such a way that he looks like a sleeping angel. I take a finger and softly stroke his face from the curve of his forehead, down over the slope of his nose, and trace to outline of his pouty lips. He really is a gorgeous man. And he's all mine. Without trying to wake him I gently lean forward and press my lips against his.

"Mmm, Ana." I freeze as he mumbles my name. I see his eyes clench up and his tongue comes out to run across his lower lip. Oh, my that is attractive. I quickly lay my head back down and close my eyes so he thinks I'm still asleep.

"What are you up to, Anastasia?" His voice is laced with sleep. He pulls himself up on his elbows and I feel him lean over me so our faces are inches away from each other. He presses a soft kiss to the tip of my nose and I remain quiet, still pretending to be asleep.

"I don't know what you're talking about." I mumble while keeping my eyes shut. He chuckles lightly and presses a quick kiss to my lips. I open my eyes and I immediately see his beautiful gray ones staring down at me.

"You should be sleeping." He whispers and gives me one more quick kiss.

"I'm not tired." I mumble against his lips. "How long have I been sleeping anyway?"

"Since we got back so," He looks over my head at the clock. "Probably nine or so hours."

My eyes practically jump out of my head. "Why didn't you wake me?"

Christian looks startled by my outburst. "I thought you needed your sleep. Ana, you're obviously tired and after what's happened…" He shrugs his shoulders. "You just need a nice rest."

I let his words sink in. Yes, he's right again. I am tired and I do need a little break. "You're very loving tonight…or this morning for that matter." I smile up at him.

"I'm just glad you're safe right her in my bed." He dips his head and presses his lips against mine once again. This kiss is different. His lips move nice and tenderly against mine. His tongue snakes out and strokes my bottom lip asking for my permission. I open my mouth as we deepen the kiss. His lips move against mine in our own little rhythm and my hands move out of the covers and tangle themselves in his hair.

"Oh, Ana." He sighs against my lips but doesn't stop kissing me. I feel his body shift as he moves over top of me and gently eases down so his weight is pressed against mine. Oh, I've missed this. This is the old us that I used to know and now it's back.

Christian's lips break away from mine and move across my face and travel from my ear down my throat. I can't contain the slight moan that escaped my mouth. Christian's hips press harder against my own and dig right into my cut.

"Oh." I hiss in pain and Christian acts as if a bucket of cold water was just dumped on him.

"Oh shit, Ana. I'm sorry." He leaps off me in a second and looks down as if I was caught on fire.

"Christian, it's alright. I'm fine." I reassure him as I lean up and pull up my shirt to look at the bandage. It appears to be fine. It stopped bleeding and I should probably change it out in the morning just to be sure though.

"I should have known better." He reaches out and softly caresses the area around the bandage. "Does it hurt?"

I shake my head. "No. Not really." I look up and see that his facial expression had changed completely. He's no longer soft and loving, but now hard and off in the dark places in his mind.

"Christian," I softly stroke his cheek with my hand. He pulls his eyes away from my stomach and looks at me. "I'm fine." I reach up and kiss him. "Please don't do this to yourself."

"Do what?" He says while returning my kiss.

"Don't blame yourself for what's happened to me."

"It's my job to keep you safe." He cups my face with his large hand and his sad eyes hold onto mine. "Apparently I haven't done such a good job."

"Oh, Christian you have no idea how much I need you right now. Without you I would probably be dead right now." I glance down and look at the pattern in the covers. Why can't he see himself as I see him? We all know deep down that if Christian weren't in my life at this moment then I'd probably be a victim to my own stupidity.

"Hey, look at me." He tugs my chin up so I can see him. "Nothing is going to happen to you." His thumb strokes my skin softly.

I close my eyes and lean into his touch. "You're my hero, Christian. I can't thank you enough."

"There is no need to thank me." He presses his lips against my forehead and keeps them there. "I love waking up to you like this, but it still is quite early and this conversation is too heavy for me right now."

"I'm not that tired though." I pout like a little kid being told to go to bed.

"Try for me." Before I know it Christian twists our body around so he's lying on his back and my cheek is pressed against his shoulder. His arms are around me and hold me tight to his warm body.

I snuggle up close to him and am relieved when he doesn't flinch away from my touch. "Christian?" I mumble into his chest.

"Yes, baby?" He mumbles back.

"What are we going to do about, um, Kevin?" I whisper the last part hoping that he doesn't get too angry with me.

I feel his body stiffen under mine. "Let me worry about that." His voice is stern.

"What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it, Ana." I know that's the end of that conversation.