I didn't realize how crazy it sounded until she put it into words. "I'd do anything to protect you."

Her eyes softened in a way they never had before. She cupped my face and pressed her forehead against mine. She cried quietly against me, forcing me to feel the profound moment with her. Our hearts were in sync and our minds worked as one.

And I was terrified.

Chapter Eleven.

Pearl I was gently stirred from my dreamless sleep. A large hand gripped me by the shoulder and softly rocked me, pulling me from the warm bed and the soft sheets. A masculine voice came into my ear, dragging me further into the light. "Button, wake up."

My eyes opened and I saw Crow's five o' clock shadow. His green eyes were amused by my sleepiness, and the smile on his lips was irresistible because it was so rare. "Hmm?"

"I've been trying to wake you up for five minutes now."

"Muh."

He chuckled. "Didn't catch that."

"Why are you waking me up at all?" If it were anyone else I'd throw a tantrum.

"I have to work today. And I'm taking you with me."

"Why?"

"I don't want you anywhere without me." His fingers dug into my hair until they rested behind my ear. "So get up."

"Ugh."

He pressed his lips to mine and gave me a soft kiss. "Don't ugh me. Now get your ass up."

I smiled because I couldn't contain the words behind my lips. They slipped out from defiance. "Ugh."

He lifted me from the bed and cradled me into his chest. "Fine. I'll just take you like this."

"Whoa, hold on."

"Nope." He walked to the door.

"Okay, okay. Let me shower and try not to look like a train wreck."

"That's better." He set me at the edge of the bed. "I'll get the water running."

I definitely needed a shower if I had any hope of waking up that day.

"Stop carrying me everywhere." I fought in his arms and tried to get my feet on the ground.

"It's fine."

"No, it's embarrassing."

"Who cares what they think. I'm the boss. They'll get over it." He carried me onto the gorgeous vineyard where a cultured Italian house sat along with a few buildings for the kegs, the equipment, and the delivery trucks. It was a small compound but the winery itself was immense.

We entered the building and he carried me into his office. People eyed us as we passed but no one commented. "They're all staring at me."

"Because you're a beautiful woman."

I was anything but beautiful right now. "I look like I jumped on a grenade."

"No, you don't."

I'd seen my face. It was still discolored and ruined. My lips were plump and swollen, and my eyes still looked black and blue. "Whatever..."

He carried me into a large office. A window overlooked the expansive vineyards, showing the hills and the valleys. It look similar the house he slept in every single night. His furniture was pristine and sterile, as if someone came in and leaned it every single night after he left. Bookshelves lined the walls with hardback novels.

"Wow. This play is fancy."

He sat me on the couch in the corner and grabbed a stack of books for me. "Thank you."

"I wasn't giving you a compliment. Just saying."

That ghostly smile was back on his lips again. "It sounded like one."

"Nope."

He kneeled down in front of me, that old look of intensity on his gaze. "You'll be okay right here."

"Well, I wish I were in your lap..."

His eyes darkened just the way they did when I first came into his possession. Instead of making a move like he normally would he kept his hands to himself, probably because I was injured. "Can I get you anything?"

"I'm okay."

"Don't be distracting." He gave me a quick kiss on the lips, one that was rushed. He probably didn't want to get caught up in our chemistry and let the flames turn into a forest fire.

"When am I every distracting?"

He pressed his forehead to mine. "Always." He rose to his feet and walked to the desk, his powerful shoulders tense with strength. He lowered himself into the chair, holding himself upright like a king. He looked good in anything, but he particularly looked divine in a colored suit-divine.

When he felt my gaze burn into his face he looked up. "What did I just say?"

"I'm not doing anything."

"Distracting." He gently nodded toward the book on the table. "Now get to it."

I rolled my eyes and stuck out my tongue.

That just made him stare harder. "Don't test me today."

With a heavy sigh, I picked up the book and started reading. But minutes passed and I felt his stare still stick to me. It was like a branding iron pressed right against the skin. I turned back to him. "Now what?"

He finally looked away. "Nothing."

After lunch a knock sounded on his door.

"Come in." He looked like up from iPad, his eyes concentrating on whatever he was reading.

The door flew open and a brunette walked inside. She didn't notice me because the couch was placed right against the wall and slightly behind the door. When I looked at her long brown hair and fair skin, I immediately recognized her.

It was the woman from the vineyards.

That. Kissed. Crow.

Crow looked up from his iPad but didn't react. He seemed indifferent. "Yes?"

"I just talk to the shipping department. They said they're a little short-handed down there and have to postpone the next delivery." She placed her hands on the edge of his desk, her tight dress showing every curve she possessed.

If I could walk, I'd knock that bitch out.

"How many people do we need?" He turned back to his iPad.

"At least three."

"Alright. Take care of it."

Even though the conversation was over she continued to linger.

"Yes?"

"Have you had lunch?"

Hell no.

"Yes," he answered. "I suggest you take your lunch break soon. They're there for a reason."

"Well, maybe you and I could get an early dinner tonight. We haven't talked in a while."

Now she was just asking for it. "Hey, lady."

She stiffened when she heard my voice from behind her.

The corner of Crow's mouth rose in a smile, amused by the impending situation.

She turned over her shoulder and saw me sitting there, immediately noticing all the scars and bruises. "I beg your pardon. I didn't see you there..."

"Just because you can't see me doesn't mean I'm not here." Crow told her I existed. He made it clear he was seeing someone. But she tried to snatch him anyway. "Crow has dinner plans tonight. And he has dinner plans every single night for the foreseeable future. So take a hike." I snapped my fingers and pointed to the door.

Shock by what I just said, she stood there awkwardly. It took her a moment to decide what to do. It seemed like she was embarrassed but also irritated. "I should go..." She walked out.

"Cunt." I said the words right before the door shut.

Crow rested his fists against his lips, trying to cover up a smile that just formed. "That was entertaining."

"That dumb ho knows you're seeing someone. She needs to keep it in her pants."

"I think she will from now on."

"She better. I'll get a big stick and whack her with it."

"How scary..." His voice dripped with sarcasm.

"When I can walk again I'll definitely be a formidable foe."

"At least she has a big head start."

I narrowed my eyes to slits.

He matched my look with his signature intense gaze. He seemed amused more than anything else. "You're cute, you know that?"

"Cute?" I asked the word in shock. "That word is in your vocabulary?" This brooding and mysterious man who had enemies that would give you nightmares knew that word?

"No. But you're in my vocabulary." He turned back to his iPad, dismissing the conversation.

Everything was different after he told me the truth about that woman. The fact he remained faithful to me, established a monogamous relationship with me, told me there was something here. Maybe he kept me as his prisoner at one point in time, but he let me go since. I was here by own my choice, having nowhere else to go. He told me his biggest secret, his biggest regret. Everything was different and nothing was the same.

After we had dinner we retired to his bedroom-our bedroom. All of my things were inside. My clothes hung in the closet, the drawers were full of my undergarments, and some of the masculine decorations had been swapped with the things that were left behind in my old room.

I didn't have to pay him to sleep with my anymore. He stayed beside me throughout the night, and sometimes I felt his hand move for mine under the sheets at three in the morning. Once he felt my beating pulse, he pulled away.

"Why don't you have a TV in here?"

"Why?" he asked. "Do you want one?" He stripped down to his boxers and got in the sheets beside me.

"Everyone has a TV in their bedroom."

"I guess I prefer the fireplace. But I can arrange it, if you wish."