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It's very quiet. The light is muted. I am comfortable and warm, in this bed. Hmm… I open my eyes, and for a moment, I'm tranquil and serene, enjoying the strange unfamiliar surroundings. I have no idea where I am. The headboard behind me is in the shape of a massive sun. it's oddly familiar. The room is large and airy and plushy furnished in browns and golds and beige. I have seen it before. Where? My befuddled brain struggles through its recent visual memories. Holy crap. I'm in the Heathman hotel… in a suite. I have stood in a room similar to this with Ruffnut. This looks bigger. Oh shit. I'm in Henry Haddock's suite. How did I get here?

Fractured memories of the previous night come slowly back to haunt me. The drinking, oh no the drinking, the phone call, oh no the phone call, the vomiting, fucking shit the vomiting. Thuggory and then Henry, I'm wearing a big t-shirt, bra, and panties. No socks. No jeans. Holy shit.

I glance at the bedside table. On it is a two piece of paper, standing, and written there is 'drink me' with a glass of orange juice and on the other side is 'eat me' and next to it are two tablets. I sit up and take the tablets. Actually, I don't feel that bad, probably much better than I deserve. The orange juice tastes divine. It's thirst quenching and refreshing. Nothing beats freshly squeezed orange juice for reviving an arid mouth.

There's a knock on the door. My heart leaps into my mouth, and I can't seem to find my voice. He opens the door anyway and strolls in.

Holy hell, he's been working out. He's in black sweat pants that hang, in that way, off his hips and a black singlet, which is dark with sweat, oh. Henry Haddock's sweat, the notion does odd things to me. I take a deep breath and close my eyes. I feel like a two-year-old, if I close my eyes then I'm not really here.

"Good morning Astrid. "

I look at him, as if I don't care what's his doing. He took a bottle of water and drink it, oh gods, the way he drinks, so… manly.

"How are you feeling?"

Oh no.

"Better than I deserve," I mumble. I put back the glass of orange juice and look at him. "Did you put me to bed?" Please say no, please say no.

"Uh-huh." His face is impassive.

"Did you undress me?" I whisper.

"I didn't have much choice," he quirks an eyebrow at me as I blush furiously.

"Where did you sleep?"

Henry pointed out the bed. Oh gods, what happened last night?

"Gods, did we, we didn't," I whisper, my mouth drying in mortified horror as I can't complete the question.

"Necrophilia is not my thing." He says dryly.

"So you just slept then?"

"There's nothing for me to choose to." He stands up and handed me a small plate with a sandwich on it. "You need to eat." Haddock said then get back on the place where he sits. "I told Gobber to pick you some clothes."

Wait, what?

"Who's Gobber?" I started to eat the sandwich that he gave me.

"A friend."

"Thank you, but you don't have to do that."

"Yes I did. Yours was covered with vomit."

I look at him, embarrass, what the hell?

"You shouldn't get drunk like that, you put yourself some risk last night."

"I know."

He started to stands up and takes off his shirt. Oh my gods, I saw it. 6 pack abs, that super yummy and delicious abs. Wait, what the heck am I thinking? And why is he taking off his shirt in front of me?!

"If you were mine you wouldn't be able to sit down for a week," He move forward to me and crawled to bed, eye to eye, I look at his green eyes. He looks down and took a bite on my sandwich.

I flush at the waywardness of my subconscious, she's doing her happy dance in a bright red hula skirt at the thought of being his.

"What?" I ask, acting that I never knew what my subconscious did.

"I gotta go take a shower." He whispers and rises. He then heads into the bathroom then closes the door.

I let out the breath that I've been holding. Why is he so damned attractive? My hormones are racing. I feel like squirming with a needy, achy… discomfort. I don't understand this reaction. Hmm… Desire. This is desire, this is what it feels like.

'If you were mine.' What does he mean? He did say he didn't want me, or it was just my thought. He's the only man who has ever set my blood racing around my body. Yet, he's so antagonizing too; he's difficult, complicated, and confusing. One minute he rebuffs me, the next he sends me fourteen-thousand-dollar books, then he tracks me like a stalker.

"Why am I here, Henry?"

"You're here because I'm incapable of living you alone," He move out of the bathroom and goes back in the room, he gaze at me while his other hand leans on the bathroom side, model-like really.

My appetite vanished. He can't stay away! "Then don't," I whisper, here it goes. "Why did you sent me those books?"

"I thought I'd owned you an apology," He move forward and seat in the bed.

"For what?"

"for letting you believe that I- listen to me, I don't do romance, my tastes are very… singular. You wouldn't understand."

"Enlighten me then,"

He reaches over and runs his thumb down my cheek and across my lower lip. I close my eyes. I thought this will be ii, the moment I've been waiting for, but for the second time, he moves away and leave me like in nowhere.

After Henry finished his bath, a big man, maybe Gobber, knocked and gave me a paper bag. We didn't talk much, Henry and him talk about things then he offered me to take a shower. Getting into the bathroom, I inspect the paper bag. Not only has Gobber brought me jeans and new Converse, but a pale of blue shirt, socks, and underwear. A clean bra and panties actually to describe them in such a mundane, utilitarian way does not do them justice. They are an exquisite design of some fancy European lingerie. All pale blue lace and finery. He said he's tastes are very singular, what does that means? Does he want me? Or he just wants to make fun of me? He wouldn't even kiss me last week, even now. Am I repellent to him? And yet, I'm here and he bought me here. I just don't know what his game is, what he's thinking. You've slept in his bed all night, and he's not touched you Astrid. You do the math. My subconscious has reared her ugly, snide head. I ignore her.

The water is warm and soothing. I could stay under this shower, in his bathroom, forever. I reach for the body-wash fantasizing that it's him rubbing this heavenly scented soap into my body, across my breast, over my stomach, between my thighs with his long fingered hands. Gods. My heartbeat picks up again, this feels so… so good.

I closes the bathroom door after I finished washing myself and putting the clothes on. I saw Haddock, sitting at table with his laptop on his front, he looks at me and smile.

"You look beautiful." He said, then closes his laptop.

I blush and stare down at my fingers.

"Gobber has good tastes."

"What are you doing later?"

"I'm working at the Hardware Store till' 7,"

"I'll have Gobber to pick you up then," He move a little closer then move his hand again, touching my lips using his thumb. "I like to bite that lip." He whispers darkly.

Odin's beard. I am completely unaware that I am chewing my bottom lip. My mouth pops open as I gasp and swallow at the same time. That has to be the sexiest thing anybody has ever said to me. My heart beat spikes, and I think I'm panting. Jeez, I'm a quivering, moist mess, and he hasn't even touched me.

"I think I like that too." I tried to challenge him with my tone.

"I'm not gonna touch you, not until I have your written consent." His lips hint at a smile.

"What?"

"I'll explain later, come on, I have to take you home." He moves out of the room as I followed him.

We walk in silence down the corridor toward the elevator. As we wait, I peek up at him through my lashes, and he looks out of the corner of his eyes down at me. I smile, and his lips twitch.

The elevator arrives, and we step in. We're alone. Suddenly, for some inexplicable reason, possible our proximity in such as enclosed space, the atmosphere between us changes, charging with an electric, exhilarating anticipation. My breathing alters as my heart races. His head turns fractionally toward me, his eyes darkest slate. I bit my lip.

"Fuck the paperwork," he growls. He lunges at me, pushing me against the wall of the elevator. Before I know it, his lips are on mine. He's got both of my hands in one of his in a vice-like grip above my head, and pinning me to the wall using his hips. It's only just not painful. I moan into his mouth, giving his tongue an opening. He takes full advantage, his tongue expertly exploring my mouth. I have never been kissed like this. My tongue tentatively strokes his and joins his in a slow erotic dance that's all about touch and sensation, all bump and grind. He brings his hand up to grasp my chin and holds me in place. I am helpless, my hand is pinned, my face held, and his hips restraining me. I feel his erection against my belly. Sweet Freya… He wants me. Henry Haddock, Norse god, wants me, and I want him, here… now, in the elevator.

The elevator stops, the door open, and he pushes away from me in the blink of an eye, leaving me hanging. Four men in business suits look at both of us, speechless, as they climb on board. My heart rate is through the roof; I feel like I've run an uphill race. I want to lean over and grasp my knees… but that's just too obvious.

I glance up at him. He looks so cool and calm, like he's been doing the Seattle times crossword. How unfair. Is he totally unaffected by my presence? He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, and he gently blows out a deep breath. Oh, he's affected all right, and my very small inner goddess sways in a gentle victorious samba. I smile widely, want to giggle, to shout, to whatever. I want those lips again.