"So how'd it go?"

Dwindle spoke from behind me while I was reclined horizontally on the bed.

I was reading a book, the red one, the one that had sent Dwindle into a rage several hours before.

I was lying on my stomach but I propped myself up, crossed my legs into a half lotus position and then waited for him to approach me from behind.

I wasn't all that eager to jump up and run to him and I certainly wasn't too keen on making eye contact with him, not after that fit of rage, not after he locked the door on me and then came back with blood on his breath.

"It went well, no filming yet, just preproduction stuff so far. I met his lawyer today, Mansfield's lawyer, he introduced me to him".

"And how was that? What was he like?"

"He was nice enough, a bit of an oddball, he looked like death but he was pleasant and charming in his own weird way."

"Never judge a book by its cover,my dear, which I hope you'll never do".

His voice was soft and sultry, I felt the icy prickle of his finger tips on my neck and he made small circles with his fingers, gently massaging my muscles, I don't know quite what he was doing but the sensation felt unbelievably divine.

"Do you enjoy that?"

I could feel his frosty breath on my neck, I couldn't help but tilt my head and allow my neck to unfurl onto him, I felt my body, descend ever so slightly as I eased into the comfort of his arms.

"You like that don't you? Shall I continue?"

I hardly had enough breath to answer him.

"Yes, please...it feels amazing."

"As you wish, my queen, I shall do that for you, all that and more.

I shall show you the depths of the night,my dear, just trust me,I will even take you beyond the realms of the night, if you so wish".

I wanted to trust him even while I was in this state of pure bliss. I wanted to lose myself in his voice, I wanted to fall into his arms and have him carry me away into the night.

"I'll take you away, that's what you want isn't it?

Allow me to be your escape, I'll carry you to my netherworld and then we can rule the night together."

I hardly felt my body ascend, I thought it was merely my soul losing itself in this moment.

I felt his lips on my skin, his lips embracing my neck and he made the same circle motion his fingers had, however then I felt a warm sensation amongst the overall clamminess.

I felt like the warm touch of rain which left my neck rather slippery.

Wait I wasn't supposed to be slippery. I shot my eyes open I grabbed my neck however when I opened my eyes so I could step away, I realized there was nothing but air beneath my feet.

Meanwhile my knuckles were between his lips instead of my neck.

"Careful there, I wouldn't want you to slip. It doesn't hurt you know".

"What won't hurt Falling to my death?" I grunted out to him.

"No you silly girl,You know what I'm talking about. I'll have you know he didn't suffer, there was a slight tension and then a blissful release, I think he may have enjoyed it, however I doubt he knew what was going on, the poor thing and I don't think he's even capable of enjoying anything in the first place yet you can. I'm sure you will be able to appreciate it."

"No...I can't...I won't...please I'll give you anything else, I promise you".

"Promises, promises, don't just give me promises, give me guarantees, give me wishes, give me desires, give me all your sadness and all your hate.

Yes hate me if you must but please do not forget to love me. Be my dream queen, be my nightmare. Can you be scared for me? Oh yes fear me, fear my shadow, fear my fangs, fear my somber voice, fear my chilling touch."

"No...NO, I'm not falling for this.

I was the one that showed you that book. I was the one that told you about the book in the first place!

Now you're acting like it's the ultimate solution for everything."

"It was you who presented it to me as a solution...far before you even showed me that precious book of yours. You said you were curious about what I could do, curious of what I'm capable of, you told me it could be another option, it was your little idea, your alternative plan, your so called loophole.

So I'm confused at your reluctance since I was under the impression you actually wanted to follow through with it."

"I never said I wanted to, it was just a suggestion, an idea, a theory if you will, I wasn't actually serious about it".

I felt him grip onto my shoulder and violently he twisted me around to face him.

"Oh it was just a joke now was it?

Am I a joke to you Splendor?

Is this just another script to you? Is that what this is, just one big stage play? Am I just an instrument that you can play whenever you please?

Are you just putting on a show for me? Is all this amorous passion for me all pretend?

Now I would choose your next words very carefully if I were you.

I do not play games, Splendor. So explain yourself".

There was a passion arising in his eyes and it inflamed his face with an unnatural shadow his words were sharper than his teeth and icier than his skin.

"Alright, I wanted to try it, maybe once or twice to see if I liked it but most importantly I wanted to do it for you. When I heard about how everyone treated you and I saw the incredible kindness you gave me and the undying compassion in your eyes, I couldn't help but think how unfair life has been for you. It's not fair how they've treated you, this lot in life here isn't where you're meant to be, you should be given so much more, you deserve better. Honestly all I wanted to do was help but this option I'm frightened by it.

I'm scared for myself but I'm also scared for you. I'm afraid you may lose control, I don't want you to lose the good you have in you, don't lose yourself Dwindle, don't stray too far. Stay with me here, the darkness doesn't have to be your home forever".

"So...you were willing to sacrifice your own blood for me in a selfless attempt to save me?"

"Something along those lines yes...I think. I just wanted you to be content that's all. I wanted you to be happy".

"That...is very...touching...sadly I will never be happy it's not in nature to be nor was it how I was made. I've never been happy and I shall never find happiness, that is my curse in this life.

Tell me do you fear pain or discomfort?

Is it the unexpected that scares you? The unknown is troublesome yet I promise you that nothing beyond your understanding and imagination can harm you.

If you're worried about curses, there will be no curses my dear, the mark I place upon your neck will not be permanent, it will not be a mark of death, it shall be a mark of life for both of us.

Please trust me, my touch will not scar or maim you, there will be no dark energy or dark magic involved, these marks will have no curse attached to them, I promise you."

"It's not the discomfort or the pain it's the lack of control that worries me.

I mean think about the kiss of the vampire, isn't just a bite, it's the mark of ownership, it's the vampire's way of claiming people as their own.

So won't I belong to you afterwards?

Won't I have this undying loyalty for you?

Am I going to have to follow you wherever you lead?"

"Nonsense, you won't belong to me unless you want to be".

He grinned like a pranking schoolboy.

"I'm joking, Splendor. You don't have to follow me anywhere. I mean if you were that easy to magically influence I would have done so by now.

Your uncle is very easy to spell, no will power, no hidden strength whatsoever. When I went downstairs he was helpless as a babe in my presence.

You have harsh resistance, a scarred heart, well weathered and hardened by the leathery discipline of your silence and sadness. That was the first thing that caught my attention was that tremendously foreboding aura of sadness. It attracted me to you like a moth to a flame.

It's such an exquisite combination, sadness and strength.

You are heartbroken but resilient, I like that and now I'd very much like to taste it that is of course if you don't mind".

"You really shouldn't have drank from him you know. He's tainted. Drinking the blood of someone who's that evil can have its consequences. There is a possibility that you will become evil yourself".

"Hey I read the manual, it says that sort of mental transference is only possible if you actually bite them. I didn't use my teeth on that vermin.

I just used my finger nail if you must know."

"Oh I suppose that's supposed to make it better. You still drank his blood and that's bad enough even if there might not be any serious consequences.

Wasn't he kind of bitter anyway?"

"He tasted like loose change that had rusted over, so yes not exactly a delectable treat, it did subdue him quite a bit though.

He actually apologized which I guarantee is something he never does."

"Yeah blood loss will do that to you but how much did you take exactly?"

"Enough to give him a head rush.

I'm sure he's fine by now. It doesn't take much to make the brain feel light and fuzzy. I bet he complained about feeling dizzy. Did he say he felt ill? I know he did and I knew he would

That didn't bother you did it?

Did you feel even a tiny twinge of sympathy for him?

No you didn't feel sorry and as for empathy, oh that was beyond you, it wasn't beyond your capabilities, no it was beneath you to feel his pain.

Oh you wanted to feel for him but you dug deep down, searching for that ever loving empathy, all you brought back in your hands was emptiness.

You were mostly numb, I only felt a tiny bit of concern, you weren't worried for him, you were worried for me. You already admitted that to me yourself. You thought "Oh I wonder if Dwindle is alright. I hope he doesn't go too far. I wish I was there to help him".

He was using a breathless whispery voice to mock me.

"I suppose I wasn't that chocked up about it. I was more disturbed by what you did. I feel ashamed of myself, I should have saved him, I should have done something to help but instead I did nothing. I just sat here on the floor in front of the door and cried. I was worried about him but after I saw him I felt nothing.

I'd never felt that before, I'd always had an incredible amount of sympathy and empathy for him but even that seems to be gone. Any tender feelings for him has left me. Even when he apologized so sweetly to me, I couldn't feel the tenderness of his words, my soul tensed up, my heart was hardened, Dwindle, just like Pharaoh in Exodus. Oh what is wrong with me?"

"There is nothing wrong with you, there never has been, don't you understand it was him all along, he's the one that's crazy, he made you question yourself, don't you understand he's turned the lights down in all the rooms and then he convinced you were the one to blame, he told you it was just your imagination, then he forced pills down your throat so you'd comply to his rules. He sent you away so you'd fear him and in your fear you would obey.

He wanted submission and subservience, you are nothing but a slave to him and he wants for you to call him master. I know you think I'm being a real silver tongue here but this isn't a deception,Splendor.

This is real life, this is the truth.

He sexually assaulted you, Splendor, so it's perfectly normal for you to be numb right now.

You are no doubt still in shock.

Should you feel tenderness for someone who attacked you as an animal would in the woods?

You shouldn't have to feel anything for him.

He's a predator, you didn't accept his apology because you know he isn't sorry.

So why feel sorry for someone who never felt sorry for you?

What I'm saying is this is all perfectly natural, there is no reason to forgive him at least not yet. Give it time, the numbness will fade and will give way to rage. You dealt with so much silence and suppression for so long aren't you angry about it?

Aren't you angry at him for making you suffer in silence and drown in your own tears?"

"I'm not angry just yet. I'm still indifferent as ever."

"You're still sad as well. Let me take that sweet melancholy from you. Give me your trust and I will give you joy and bliss.

Let me be your happiness.

Float away on this ecstasy I give you.

Let me in, Splendor.

I'm at the door, just invite me in, I promise I won't hurt you, I won't hunt you as prey, I'll only be your shadow. I'll be your submissive shadow, I'll follow you wherever you go instead."

"You're right I'm being ridiculous. I'm the one that suggested this, it was my idea, I don't even know why I'm avoiding it. You're right it wouldn't hurt to try".

"That's my girl, now turn around, you might not want to watch what I'm doing since It's your first time. It's okay to be nervous. I've only done this once before so it's new to me too.

Breath, Relax, oh don't be so tense, just allow yourself to fall into me, I can hold you, I can carry you, I'm definitely strong enough so I'll never let you slip away. Close your eyes, let go of all your worries and drift away. Think of this as nothing but a dream, you'll awaken with no scars, no marks, not even a trace of blood, all that will be left is this feeling of blissful ascension."

I didn't know quite what to expect.

I was tensing up in anticipation, I wanted to prepare myself, brace myself for the unknown but the moment his fingertips tilted my head up, I felt my heart sputter and roar like an engine which left me with an overall queasy feeling of jitteriness.

I felt his lips embrace my neck once more, the raw and wintry kiss from his fangs made me gasp faintly in the night.

It was unbelievably icy, it wasn't painful just incredibly cold.

I wanted to struggle but he kept my hands from interfering.

I felt the force of his fangs, the firm grip of his jaw, the satisfying squeeze of his lips, the tension was unbearable for a moment until I felt a blooming eruption of blissful warmth.

This bliss warmed my soul even though I felt something vital was being taken from me, it was being blissfully replaced by overwhelming joy. I was groggy, my brain was fuzzy, I felt very sluggish and drowsy but I was happy, I was actually happy, this was a brand new kind of happiness, the kind of happiness I'd never felt or ever experienced in my life.

I felt my hands limply flop to the side, my body was like a ragdoll but still this river of ecstasy kept flowing through me, the bliss kept washing over me in waves and I was floating away and ascending on this storm of euphoria.

I was now completely relaxed, I couldn't help but fall into him and I felt his strength sustain me, preventing me from slipping away into the darkness below.

"It is done. You can open your eyes now. You can face me unless you can't bear to look at me."

I didn't feel like turning around because I was so content with where I was at that moment.

I don't know how be did this but he let me go a little and like a dance he spun me around without even touching me drifted back into his arms, my face became buried in his chest.

"Let me see.

Oh that doesn't look so bad.

I can take care of that for you."

He took out a handkerchief, wet it with his tongue and he dabbed my neck and proceeded to slide the handkerchief across my neck so as to remove the blood from my skin.

"I mustn't leave a mess. I do hate a mess, so I simply have to clean up. I know I'm a bit of a neat freak but I think you'll appreciate it because when I'm all done, there won't be a single mark on you".

I touched my neck and it was smooth and untouched, it was clean, the skin was fresh and untainted, almost new.

"How do you feel?"

"Well...I feel different.

I'm surprisingly warm and I feel peace for the first time, I am at peace, I'm actually happy, I'm perfectly relaxed, maybe too relaxed. I'm a bit light headed, I feel I should probably rest, I'm rather tired."

"Of course. You should rest. Don't you worry, your strength will return to you in no time."

I felt myself descend and then for a moment I felt absolutely weightless and then I felt the soft comfort of my bed.

"Is there anything I can get you?

A glass of water? A bite to eat perhaps?"

"No not now.

I'm not hungry.

I'm not thirsty either.

I just want to enjoy this for now".

"So you enjoyed that hmmm?"

"Yes I did and I'm still enjoying it".

I smiled rather goofily up at him.

"I'm so glad that you feel that way. I enjoyed it too.

You tasted of pink Moscato and Pinot Grigio. It reminded me of champagne, it has a sour edge, a bitter bite but with a sweet aftertaste. I could get used to it. I could everyday but I won't, I don't wish for you to become anemic. I should wait a little while before I do this again. I'm certainly not going back to that cretin downstairs. Not only is that soul of his disgusting, his blood is absolutely appalling, it was atrocious, like battery acid, plus he's not exactly a young man, he's way past his prime, there's nothing worse than old blood".

I grabbed onto my pillow and gave him a playful smack, However since my strengths hadn't returned quite yet it was more of a light toss instead.

"What? He's a nasty old man that nobody wants around.

You avoid him like the plague and as for me, I just sneer at him and mess with the lights and the furniture. He's not impressed much by it, at least not yet, he still thinks it's an electrical issue and that there are massive drafts around the house.

He's one of those idiots you hear in horror movies that say "Oh it must have been the wind".

I despise him but if I do away with him who I play with when you're away?"

"The fact that he's old has nothing to do with how horrible he tastes. I told you he was tainted, he's a rotten individual so naturally he's rotten inside as well."

"Yes rotten to the core. He's a real villain, almost makes me blush how absolutely despicable he is. Why I almost envy him yet I wouldn't trade places with him.

He doesn't even enjoy being himself, so why would I wish to be in his shoes?

He's a brainless brute, he's an unkempt thug, he's a failed antagonist, that might as well tie himself up to the train tracks cause he's essentially a worthless slob.

He's a lazy bum living off the fruits of your labor".

"Yes and no. Some of that money he actually stole. Mansfield's Lawyer told me that he nearly went to court for money laundering".

"Oh really? How absolutely scandalous. I'm curious though what do you mean he nearly went to court?"

"Oh he never showed and the court case before that, he never showed up for the last court date either".

"Very interesting. What was the other court case for?"

"Sexual Assault".

"Oh you don't say. Fascinating, he's a real find your uncle.

A real catch, I mean he doesn't just have one charge against him but he has two. A real double threat.

What a gem, a real winner, why he might even be the best father of the year.

Sick bastard. What I don't understand is why monsters like him are even allowed to take up space on this planet.

He should take up space on another planet perhaps one where the atmosphere is so thick and toxic he can't even breathe."

"Don't make him feel important Dwindle. I'd rather him choke on his own saliva or have him choke on the air he has inside his lungs right now".

"Barbaric but I like it.

Karma will catch up with him eventually but he better hope I'm not the karma that's coming for him".

"Oh he's poisoning himself as we speak. He likes to drink and when he drinks, he drinks heavily until he passes out.

It doesn't happen very often and usually he's not much of a threat when he's like that but it might be the death of him one day".

"We can only hope. Are there no limits to his depravity? Seriously is he Satan by any chance?

He certainly has that dark mysterious look to him, not bad looking from what I've seen, Lucifer himself I've heard is no ugly duckling either.

Demons actually aren't that hideous, they have beauty but darkness hides much from the naked eye. Sin itself has a strange way of disguising the true ugliness that's underneath, sin hides behind a pretty face, it never comes at night but rather it approaches your door during the day, it whispers to you of joyous things, it speaks of light, love and bliss, it promises you entry into the heavenly realms.

Evil isn't always ugly at least not at first. Ugliness is within the spirit and it lives within the soul.

Remember that, don't trust outward beauty, only trust the beauty you can feel and beauty that sings to your very soul.

All other beauty is temporary and will soon wither and fade into nothingness. Even your uncle's looks are beginning to wear away. He won't be pretty for long I guarantee it.

Humans are not very skilled at hiding their ugliness, while demons at least change their skin if their ugliness begins to show."

"Can demons actually change their shape?"

"Why yes of course they can.

I for example can take any form I wish yet for some reason ever since I came here, I found it more difficult to use that ability. Eventually it became impossible for me to do it at all. I don't know why that is.

Maybe you know since you're clairvoyant and all".

"It was your sadness. You couldn't fight the loneliness, so the depression took over which inhibited your ability to shapeshift.

Sometimes when I'm sad or depressed I can't think straight, I won't hear the voices, I can only hear my own thoughts and that's absolutely terrifying at times to be left alone with only your own thoughts to keep you company.

Sometimes I feel as if I've stepped into a black hole and I'm falling through a dark oblivion I can't get out of."

"So sadness weakens me. It certainly would make sense...

which means I was never weak in the first place, I was just sad and heartbroken like you.

Thank you Splendor, for coming here and giving me your insight".

"It's the least I can do, you did save my life after all, so I do think I owe you something special".

"Oh you gave me something special alright.

You gave me yourself and that is enough for me. You are enough you know, you do satisfy me, I don't have an insatiable appetite like that horrid little gargoyle downstairs. I can control myself, although a few more drops would be nice, I shall restrain myself ...for now".

"Oh stop it will you. You're being so goofy".

"Am I? I'm feeling ever so giddy right now.

I feel so very free and almost brand new. Do you feel that way too?"

"Yes I do actually. I don't think I'm quite as giddy as you though".

I gave him another goofy grin.

"Well look who's being goofy now."

At that he lunged forward and kissed me, the force of his lunge, took the air right out of my lungs, his kiss was warm and wet, the wetness slipped past my lips, I felt his jaw drive itself into my face, his mouth felt as if it was digging into my own but as rough as it sounded it still was absolutely heavenly.

"Oh I'm sorry. Was that too much?

I hope I didn't hurt you.

I'm such a hypocrite, I say I can control myself and then I practically plunge into your face.

Where are my manners?

I'll contain myself.

You rest, Just forget I'm even here."

"How can I forget that such a magnificent creature like you exists especially when that magnificent creature is in my bed?"

"Well you asked for me to be in your bed remember?"

"I can't forget that either.

You did kind of knock the wind out of me but I'm willing to overlook it because it the after results was absolutely amazing.

So consider yourself lucky".

"Oh I'm the lucky one now. Yes I suppose I am.

I have the comfort of your presence, the warmth of your smile and now I have warmth of your blood. I have you here to advise me, I can turn to you anytime,you may go away for a while but I know you'll always return to me.

Promise me, you'll come to me when I call you."

"I promise on one condition, when I call on you, will you come to me as well?"

"Of course. Anything you wish and anything you desire I will give to you".

"You could come to the studio if you'd like".

I smirked at him rather smugly.

"The studio? You sure you want me to be there? Wait what would I do there?"

"Well nothing for now but when I actually start filming we'll probably be going to different locations so I might need your help then possibly".

"Help with what?"

His cat-like eyes came aflame with concern and worry.

"I'm going to haunted locations with real ghosts and possibly even real demons.

I'll need someone to protect me.

Would you be alright with that?"

"I'd be honored but I've haven't left this place in ages.

I don't know if I, even can ".

"Is it the curse that prevents you from leaving?"

"There really is no curse, my life is a curse, I am a curse, nobody likes me so that's my curse.

I'm left to suffer in silence and loneliness, so that's another curse there. I'm just piled high with curses, I'm practically buried alive in them but I think I can leave the house without much trouble".

"Good, I'm so glad. There's no need for you to come now but when the time is right we can go on all sorts of adventures together.

It will be fun.

Maybe you could even use a bit of your magic to help out with the show."

"That would be cheating wouldn't it?"

"No, a demon using their supernatural abilities is actually pretty authentic and nobody has to know about except the two of us".

"You are perfectly wicked.

You seem like such a sweet and innocent young girl but then you have this beautifully dark twisted side and I like that about you."

"Darkness does that to you.

I've been in darkness for a long time unfortunately."

"So I have I. This darkness will be different, you won't be alone this time, you'll have me to run to, you can hide behind my shadow and when the time is right I'll help you escape this reality".

"I wouldn't mind escaping now but I'm curious what will happen in this reality. Frolock Studio might actually be my key to freedom and my gateway of escape somehow".

"Oh so I suppose you'll run to that Mansfield fellow or how about that grim lawyer friend of his. Tell me is this Mansfield good looking by any chance?"

I gave him disdainful glare.

"He's decent looking I suppose, he's handsome in a German sort of way as far his lawyer...well he's not half bad but he's not really my type. He's kind of creepy to be honest, his mouth is far too big, he giggles at odd moments, he looks like a Cirque Du Soleil character. I mean I thought he was auditioning for Sweeney Todd but apparently it was just his face.

He's a very strange man, he makes me rather uncomfortable especially when he looks at me, I feel he knows things I'm not telling him."

"That may be a good thing, it might even work to your advantage."

"Yes you're probably right. You see he's not really a lawyer, he's actually the head of security at Frolock Studios.

So I think it would be best for me to get along with him. He seems genuinely concerned for my safety. Even, Mansfield was on board, he claimed he wasn't afraid of banning my uncle from the studio, if he tried anything.

Mansfield was the only one that stood up to my uncle, besides you of course.

He saw right through him and instantly I felt I could trust him, I was rather foolish and I told him things about my uncle that literally nobody knows about.

I was a bit miffed at him when he told Sidney all those things but he is the head of security, so I let it go after he told me what Sidney really did around the studio."

"You should trust him then."

His voice was sad and somber.

"Trust who? Mansfield or Sidney?"

"Both, trust them both, of course."

His eyes were blinding and reminded me of the sun shining through icicles.

I saw his jaw tighten into a sneering frown.

"What's wrong?"

I reached my hand out, I touched his hand to comfort him.

"Nothing. I'm sorry I got distracted for a moment.

I was lost in thought.

Nothing is wrong, I was just distracted."

"Your voice says "I'm just fine" but your face says "I can't stand this". So I know something is wrong.

It's okay you can tell me."

"Nothing escapes you does it?

Very well, it's just I have this pang of dread in my chest, it's an unmistakable foreboding that keeps crushing my heart, this incredible apprehension that keeps digging at my soul, I know you'll leave just as everyone before you, I know you won't stay.

It's the endless cycle of my life, people come into my life and then they abandon me in the end."

"You think I'll abandon you?"

"Eventually you will, I know you will. Even if you choose to stay here with me forever as long as you hold onto to your humanity, you'll still leave me lonely, life will leave you, death will claim you, I'll be all alone again".

"Well I'm not that attached to my humanity, so you can take it if you'd like."

"I think I already did in a way but giving me your blood isn't enough, I mean it is enough for me but in order for you to be completely immortal you'd have to give me everything.

Blood, energy and emotions, everything short of your soul of course. You'd keep your soul but once you cross over to my world, you can never return, you'll be forever changed, you'll be in the darkness forever, you'll never be human again.

Are you sure want that?"

"I'm not sure of anything but one day I'll be ready.

You'll be the first one to know, I promise you.

One day I will belong to you, I promise".

"I wish I could believe you, it's not because I don't trust you, it's just that I'm naturally suspicious. I've been left behind so many times, I hardly know what feelings to trust, even now I don't know which feelings are real.

I feel drunk from the happiness but then the dread Overshadowed me instead of apprehending your love I'm apprehending that you'll hate me one day.

I'm a demon, I'm meant to be hated."

"I don't hate you. I could never hate you. Is there anything I can do to reassure you?"

"You are my reassurance...for now. I suppose I'm just being silly. You shouldn't concern yourself over me.

I'm fine, I'll be fine, I'm just -"

"You're not being silly, you've just been hurt and you don't want to be hurt anymore.

I understand that yet don't shut down just because you fear that history will repeat itself, just enjoy this while it lasts, be with me now.

I don't want to ever hurt you.

I only want to help you."

I attempted to kiss him, he turned his chin to avoid my lips and then when I pressed my breasts against his chest, he laughed and nestled me into the safe and sturdy aclove of his arms.

"So you think this is going to reassure me?

Well I suppose it will do...quite nicely."

He smiled down at me and that smile was the last thing I saw before I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

I literally had the best night of my life.