I came back home a few hours later when the sun was rising in the distance. Along the way, I cursed Preston in my mind with the most vile words I could come up with. 'Devastating news' he called it. Little did I know I was pulled away from my home to investigate a serious case of theft from our supply room. Playing detective around The Castle couldn't wait until the next day.

After I unlocked my door I took a peek inside. Deacon hadn't left. Not this time. He was asleep on my sofa, all curled up. I took a seat next to him and sat there for a while, a satisfied grin winding its way across my lips. I caressed the skin peaking from under his t-shirt, hoping I'd wake him gently to continue where we left off.

My gaze fell on a notebook on the floor and I noticed that it was not one of my own. It had to be his. A jolt of electricity shot through my belly, piquing my curiosity and driving me to action. Having reassured myself that he was still asleep, I snagged it off the ground and ran to my bedroom as if I held a conquered treasure in my hands.

With a flick of a switch, I turned on a dim light and studied the outside of the book. It had a black leather cover and most pages were torn and tattered, others were missing. I flipped open the book on a random page. A summary of features was scrawled on the faded piece of paper. 'Brown hair, grey eyes.' 'Female.' 'Likes the classics.' 'Possible recruit. Confirm intel and gain trust. Befriend.'

A word was written with several thick circles drawn around it, lines connecting with other keywords.

My name.

I felt my eyes widen, my spine stiffen. In silence I stared at my name, my eyes stuttering. The most unnerving feeling hit me right in the guts right before I stormed out of my room, taking an offensive stance before him.

'Wake up.' I demanded, my voice trembling from the hybrid feeling of anger and disbelief that coursed through my veins.

'Oh, hey you.' He murmured as he straightened himself, smiling as he was rubbing his sleepy eyes. 'You're back.'

'I found your notes.' I sneered at him, throwing the notebook against his chest. With a dismal thud it fell down onto his lap. He took it into his hands, clenching it and tapping it a few times against his other hand.

'Okay. I can explain.' He spoke calmly.

'Well, that's just peachy.' I replied sarcastically, my hands resting on my hips.

'It's not that simple, Sophie. Trust me.'

'Trust you?' I scoffed, 'Well, aren't you the comedian.' I snagged his notebook out of his hand with one swift gesture. 'Let's see-' I started my rant, flipping wildly through the pages. 'Oh, here.' Irately, I pointed at the series of words he scribbled down. 'Possible recruit? Befriend and gain trust? What the actual fuck, Deacon?'

He slides his hand across his forehead to rest over his eyes, covering them as my words continued to carve a path of destruction. The moment of silence that followed made me realize this situation was even worse than I believed.

'My god.' I quietly mumbled, complete and utter disbelief in my voice. 'You tricked me. Y- you knew about me.' He looked away from me. In spite of the grimace on his face, I continued pouring out my feelings in front of him.

'You knew exactly what to say. Where to show up. I knew it, damn it.' I berated myself so violently with the truth that I turned around, unable to face the person who misled me so tactfully. 'I knew you were too good to be true.'

'God damn it, it's not like that.' Deacon grunted as he stood up, grabbing me by my shoulders. He turned me around so that I would face him.

'Listen carefully, Sophie. Yes. It's true. I had orders to spy on you.' He paused for a moment, a worried scowl appearing on his face. I force myself to consider his words, to come to terms with the fact he had an hidden agenda all this time.

'For how long?' I hesitantly asked, knowing that deep down I didn't want to hear the answer. He reached for my wrist, dangling wistfully against my side.

'Look, when I first met you-'

'Don't.' I sharply interrupted him with closed eyes as I shoved his tender hands away from me. I tried to listen to his words. But the anger boiling inside my chest insisted otherwise.

'After I met you that night in the bar I had this funny feeling you would cause me trouble. I didn't want to drag you into this- this complete mess. I changed my mind. I couldn't, I-' He groaned, noticeably frustrated by the fact he was forced to tell me the truth.

'Deacon, what's going on?' I ask with noticeable worry in my voice. Seeing him before me, struggling with his confession made me waver. Even in this moment, I couldn't ignore the attraction I felt towards him, fueled by everything that happened in these few but explosive days. The way he acted made me doubt my own words, made me feel guilty for the acrid way I had confronted him.

Driven into a corner by my last question, he took a deep breath and backed away from me, reclaiming his seat on my sofa. I recognized the look on his face. I had seen it before, on the night we met when he so casually strode into my life. That moment was being churned and ground into fine dust, fading away to nothing by the slightest breeze imaginable. It was rigged from the start.

'It's not like we have a reputation for operating out in the open. I- ah, where do I begin?' He sighed, clearly weighing his words inside his mind before letting them run over his lips.

'Okay. Does 'The Railroad' ring any bells?'

'Oh I know about them.' I replied honestly. A few weeks ago I was asked to attend meeting with the spokesperson of the Brotherhood. They lacked intel on The Railroad, turning to me for answers I couldn't give. Not even if I wanted to.

'Supposedly they're an organization that saves the Gen 3's. But they're elusive, that's for sure.' I answered rather nonchalantly. I didn't understand why he posed me this question.

'What's this got to do with me?' I continued, my voice exhausted from the non-stop inquiry about his true intentions.

'Good, then I can skip the whole sales pitch,' he chuckled. The wide smile on his face disappeared instantly when his eyes locked with mine. I wasn't in the mood for a laugh and he got that message instantly.

'No? All right, sorry.' He spoke awkwardly, but he continued once I kept my mouth shut.

'When the tales of your exploits reached our ears, it was an obvious decision to seek you out. Truthfully, we kind of hoped you'd be an asset to us. You know the wastes. I mean, c'mon. You're the damn General of-'

'Stop.' I shouted, begging for an end to the endless stream of new information that made my head spin.

'Just stop. This is insane.' His eyes were undeserving to watch me waver. I refused to look at him, for I knew it could be my demise.

'I didn't know if I could trust you, you have to understand. Most of the time, there is real danger for the people involved. It's not as glamorous as some make it out to be. And once I met you...' He averted his eyes. I could've sworn I saw him blushing.

'I couldn't continue with my assignment.'

'Oh so, now you're telling me you lied out of the goodness of your heart?' I exclaimed. He closed in on me, his eyes full of sorrow. I took a step back to avoid his touch once more.

'Don't you see?' He raised his voice, aggressively enough for me to stop thinking and listen to him. With his hands he cupped my face and I - foolish and captivated as I was - let him. He directed my eyes into his by gently guiding my chin to face him.

'I refused to give them any piece of intel I had gathered on you. I protected you, damn it.' His words sank in deep, all the way to my heart, igniting the spark I had previously believed to be extinguished.

'All I wanted was to keep you safe.'

'Deacon...' The tenderness of my voice returned as he closed his arms around my waist, placing a strong kiss on my temple. I caved in, answering his touch by stroking my fingers over his cheek. Feeling torn, I was unable to decide whether or not he was telling the truth. I caught myself romanticizing his lies. I needed them to be true. I wanted them to be real.

'What about yesterday?' I asked him quietly, struggling to accept his delicate and honest words.

'I know how crazy it sounds.' He sighed, 'But I knew the moment I met you. You, Sophie... you were different.'

Speechless, I stared into his eyes and I caught myself falling for him all over again.

'It doesn't matter anymore.' He announced sadly, his hand now lingering on the doorknob. 'I understand if you want me to leave.' He mumbled as he opened the door beside me.

I could've taken this moment to conceive his fear and thus teaching him a valuable life lesson, but I didn't. Nothing happened. I stood there like a fool, my feet nailed to the ground. Amidst this moment filled with truths pouring out and lies being uncovered, I felt enraptured by the amount of passion he sank into his every word.

I placed my hand on his, shutting the door with a sharp thud.

'I don't think so.' I whispered, gazing straight in those dark blue eyes of his.

I pinned him against the closed door, my hands clutching fistfuls of his white t-shirt. He enveloped me, both our bodies impatient and needy, unable to take it slow. His hands sank into my hips, pulling me against him.

He turned me around, facing the door. His hand sensually crept upwards to rest against my throat, sliding his thumb over my separated lips.

I pushed myself against him and let my head rest against his shoulder as he worked his hand further down my shivering body. I looked at my chest when I felt him sliding his hands under my top from behind. Without hesitation he shamelessly cupped my breasts, my nipples locked tight between his nimble fingers. A shy moan escaped my lips when he started to knead them. While he continued to savor my neck like an aged whiskey he began to pull at my shirt, slowly exposing my waist. With his rugged hands he indulged my feverish skin, yet he had hardly satisfied my growing desire for his touch.

'Please...' I whimpered, circling my hands around his neck. Gradually I felt myself slipping away, succumbing to the carnal attention I had craved for the past days.

'No need to beg,' he assured me with a dazed and mellowed voice, his lips brushing against my earlobe.

He collected my wrists with one hand and pushed them upward against the door. I was at his mercy, eagerly awaiting his next move. A shiver traveled down my spine as he turned me around and lifted me up from the ground from around my hips. My shaky legs wound around his waist as we traveled across the room, aflame by the bold swirl of his tongue against mine. My fingers trailed the outline of his shirt, tugging the fabric upwards. He understood what I wanted, what I needed so badly to feel.

He dropped me on my bed and inspected me. My now messy hair, the buckle of my belt opened and dangling against my jeans. My hands reached for him, but he was too far away.

'Come here.' I spoke, my voice sultry and demanding.

He grinned wickedly as he grasped my knees, easing them apart. Now placed between my legs, his face loomed over mine. When I lifted my head to answer his gesture, he retreated further down my body.

'You tease...' I mumbled, intoxicated by the smoldering look in his eyes.

Before he was out of reach, I ran my fingers through his hair and with a loose grip I directed his view into my longing eyes. He escaped me again, lifting the worn fabric of my shirt with his warm hand. Enthralled by his touch I sat up straight. I couldn't stand it anymore, the thought of anything between his hands and my skin. When I fell back on the soft mattress he kissed my chest, his lips reaching the hidden skin under my bra. I felt the result of his arousal pushing against me. His greedy tongue took possession of my nipple, causing me to writhe beneath him. I squirmed under his grasp as my breath grew rapid and shallow.

I inhaled sharply when the sensation of his hand against between my legs hit me. His hand applied pressure, matching the movement of my hips rocking back and forth. Once Deacon noticed how much I enjoyed his agile fingers teasing me, he unbuttoned my jeans. I saw his hand vanish inside my panties before I let my head fall back on the pillow. I couldn't bear to watch this slow ride of delight. It was almost maddening. With closed eyes I listened to my uncontrollable deep moans, fueled by the long absence of these shameless actions.

'I can't wait anymore.' I breathed as I pulled off the ribbon of my pony tail, my hair lushly dangling over my bare shoulders.

Hastily I worked myself out of my jeans underneath him as I watched him take of his t-shirt. He threw it on the floor. The outline of his muscles were softened by the dim light. My hands ran over his shoulders and across his chest. Proudly I took in this moment, having this unbelievable charming liar between my legs. I had him under my spell and I relished every single second of witnessing it. With my feet I shoved his jeans down, counting on him to finish the job successfully.

His hand slides over my arms resting around my face, ending with a lovely embrace of hands. Our fingers intertwined as delicately as if they were made out of porcelain. I found my flushed face buried in his neck as he entered me. I craned my head and let out a stuttering moan, unable to help myself from digging my fingernails into his broad shoulders. My back arched, allowing me to accept him with more ease. He paused all movements, shivering from pleasure as his hard thighs were pressed against my bottom. I could tell it's been a long time for him, too.

When he closed in on me, I noticed how he was shuddering from desire. I kissed his jaw line as my breasts rose and fell with the rhythm of his fluid, powerful trusts.

He grabbed my upper legs, sliding his hands across my legs to my ankles. Slowly but surely he directed my legs against his torso, tampering with my sanity. I panted heavily as I watched my own feet dangle next to his face, unable to focus as he brought me to unbearable heights. I resonated with him as he let out a dominant grunt, speeding up his rhythm even more. Unchaining my wild and ravenous feelings, I felt completely out of this world. His musk filled the room, primal, thick and hot.

I felt myself nearing my shattering. My eyes fluttered shut in ecstasy, grabbing hold of his hips. My blood hummed in my veins, every doubt and worry cast away. I craned my neck sideways and clenched my eyes shut, crying out his name, beckoning him like a siren's song.

My legs quaked wildly against him when I reached my breaking point, molten waves of pleasure washing over me. He spread my legs and placed his hands on the headboard. I saw his flawless muscles flex from the devotion he put behind his last movements. With my hand behind his neck, I pulled him close. He bit his lip as he joined me in the finale of our raw, physical desire.

'Damn...' He breathed, 'You don't understand how-'

I shushed him and took his hand, placing it on my chest.

'Listen.' I commanded him, still feeling my heartbeat pounding rapidly in all the right ways.

'So fast.' He remarked with amazement, slowly retreating from me.

In the soft coziness of our passionate aftermath, we laid entangled on my bed. I laid my head to rest on his chest as his right arm kept me in his warm embrace. In silence we drifted away into a well-deserved sleep...