**Double update. Make sure you read Chapter 22 first!**

I was startled awake by the sound of my phone ringing. Rubbing my eyes, I sat up, or tried to at least, between the soreness I felt and Fen's arm wrapped around my waist, the task was easier said than done.

I eyed the man sleeping beside me. I could've sworn I'd specifically told him to get out, but if there was one thing I knew about Fen, it was that he didn't follow directions or rules all that well.

If anything, it seemed that he preferred to make them.

I shook my head as memories tried to invade my mind and reached over to grab my phone from its position on the nightstand. Eli's name flashed on the screen and I quickly answered.

"Hello?"

"Hi, you sound terrible," Eli blurted out which had me rolling my eyes, but a small smile formed nevertheless.

"Way to improve a guy's self-esteem, Eli," I sarcastically replied as I tried to free myself from Fen's hold.

"I'm just being honest. Did I wake you?"

"Yeah, but it's fine. I needed to get up anyway. Why'd you call?"

I managed to loosen Fen's grasp but just as I was about to wiggle my way out of the bed, he retightened his grip and pulled me closer than I previously had been which made me scowl.

"Reu said you wanted to talk to me," Eli explained.

That was right. I had wanted to talk to him about Fen, but after last night, I wasn't sure if there was a real purpose for it. I'd already fucked him and I wasn't sure telling Eli that was a smart idea in the slightest.

"I got everything figured out," I lied and hurried to change the subject. "Reuben told me you were going to get suits and dress?"

Eli's voice seemed to light up as he went on about the clothing he wanted to buy. I made sure to hum in agreement now and again to make it appear as if he had my full attention while I focused on Fen. If it wasn't for the fact that I was specifically trying to not wake him up, I would've been rougher or just shaken him and told him to move.

Grabbing his arm, I attempted to ease it away from my waist, but this time he let out a half-growl, peeked his eye open, and said, "Stop."

"Did you say something?" Eli asked.

"I wasn't talking to you...I was talking to my cat." I cringed at the lie.

"A cat?"

"Yeah, a cat."

"You hate cats," Eli pointed out.

By now Fen was awake and staring at me with a haughty, amused expression that had me seriously questioning why I agreed to let him touch me.

"Yeah, but I found the little shit out in the woods and I couldn't just leave him out there, you know? I swear he finds a new way to piss me off every day, though." Eli laughed at that and I shook my head. "I'm glad you find my struggle to be funny."

"Sorry, but it's amusing to imagine you of all people getting your ass handed to you by a tiny cat."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

"I want pictures."

"He's always running around so if I manage to take some, I'll send them to you," I said, knowing full and damn well I wouldn't be sending him a thing. "How's Willa doing?"

"Good! She started speech therapy not too long ago and has been getting a lot better than the last time you saw her. I'm sure you'll be surprised when you see her—"

A yelp escaped my mouth as I felt Fen's hands running along my sides.

"Everything alright?" Eli asked, sounding concerned.

"Yeah, just... the cat being a little shit again," I said through gritted teeth, glaring at Fen, who looked entirely too pleased with himself. His fingers continued their maddeningly slow exploration, making it difficult to concentrate.

"Have you decided on a suit to wear?" He asked me.

"Not yet." Fen's hands moved lower and I gripped his wrist.

"Really? I would've thought you'd already picked something out."

"I've had other things on my mind. I'm gonna go shopping with Callie soon to find something."

I could practically hear the smile in Eli's voice when he said, "I miss Callie."

"Do you guys still talk?"

"Yeah. Every once in a while she calls me, but it's mostly when she calls Reuben and I happen to be there."

"What do you guys talk about?" I asked with genuine curiosity.

"Nothing," he said a bit too quickly.

"Liar."

Eli sighed. "Not always, but we mostly talk about you."

I frowned. "Why would you do that?"

"It's never anything bad! I just...wanted to make sure you were okay after everything that happened."

I couldn't be mad at him for that. It was in his nature to care about those around him, but I did feel bad knowing he was worrying about me.

"You don't have to do that. I'm fine, Eli. Really, I've got everything under c-control." Dark eyes stared at me full of mischief and I knew the longer I remained on the phone, the further he would go. "Hey, Eli, I'll call you back later. I need to deal with this cat."

I knew for a fact he probably wouldn't believe that, but I didn't give him the chance to question otherwise before I hung up the phone and turned to Fen with a narrowed expression.

"What was that?"

"Fun," he shrugged halfheartedly.

I scoffed. "You get one night and suddenly you've gone batshit insane."

"You were enjoying it though," he teased.

"A natural reaction. Don't misunderstand."

"Right." He hummed, clearly not believing my words. "How do you feel?"

"Like shit," I deadpanned, which was true. Not just because of the soreness, but also because I wanted to take a shower and was hungry. "You wanna know what would make me feel much better?"

"What?" He asked curiously.

"You leaving."

He deflated slightly. "I thought you were being serious."

"I am," I retorted. "Move so I can get up and shower."

"I cleaned you yesterday," he replied but moved his hand nonetheless.

"All the more reason for me to do it again."

"You make no sense," he responded. "You'll have sex with me, but somehow me cleaning you afterward is a step too far?"

Goddess, he was never going to let that go now.

I didn't respond to his statement as I got out of bed and headed toward the door. I could feel eyes following me as I did so, but I ignored them and continued on my way.

"If you're going to sit there at least remove the sheets," I told Fen before leaving to go shower.

I walked into the bathroom and I immediately not the amount of hickeys covering my neck. I shut the door behind me and ran my fingers over them. Shit. I ran my hand through my dark hair which surprisingly wasn't tangled—something else I figured Fen had a hand in.

My mind traveled back to when he gripped my hair the previous night and I don't know what was more fucked up: the fact that I let him, or that I enjoyed it.

"I'm going to make breakfast!" I heard Fen shout.

I didn't answer as I moved to the shower. The cold water hit me instantly and I welcomed the feeling. My fingers brushed against the hickeys again and I sighed. Leaving the house was likely out of the question for the time being. They would be gone relatively quickly, but until then, I needed to wait. The last thing I wanted was someone I knew to spot them.

I quickly finished washing myself up and headed back to my room to get dressed for the day. Rather than putting on a "nice" outfit, I slipped on a pair of sweatpants and a sleeveless undershirt before heading to the kitchen where Fen stood, clothed and ready for the day.

"I'm making pancakes," he announced. "Take a seat."

I shook my head. "I'll help."

"You know, if you'd just do as I say sometimes, things might run a lot smoother. It's just pancakes and sausage. I don't need help."

I rolled my eyes and took a seat on the couch. The subtle change in his attitude wasn't lost on me, but I wasn't sure if it was due to last night or a sign that he was getting more comfortable.

"I was thinking you and I could do something together. You know, watch a movie or play a game. Something like that."

My eyebrows furrowed. "Why?"

"Why not?" He still didn't look at me.

An uncomfortable feeling sprouted inside me. "Look, Fen, like I said before, last night was—"

"'Just sex'. I remember your words," he interrupted. "But I also remember you telling me that you'd give this bond a chance when I first moved in and now I'm asking you to honor that statement."

"Asking or telling?"

He shrugged. "Take it how you will."

He finished making breakfast and brought a plate over to me. I sighed as I considered his words.

"One movie," I reluctantly agreed.

His eyes lit up. "What did you want to watch?"

"Wasn't this your idea?"

"I'm trying to be nice."

I shook my head and picked up the remote. "Don't complain if you don't like it."

"I won't," he promised.

I stared at his excited expression for another moment and sighed as I picked a movie. I guess this wasn't that bad.