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"When love is real, it finds a way."

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Slowly — I spun the glass in my hand, wiping it dry with a rag as my mind traveled to last night in the backyard. When Anakin's hands and lips roamed my body as I ran my fingers through his hair, moaning his name.

Then to this morning in the guest room. Where we had one of the most heated and heart-pounding make-out sessions Ive ever had in my life. I could still feel his skin on mine, with the taste of his lips lingering on my tongue, and the heat from the friction of us rubbing our bodies together while he moaned my name—

"What are you thinking about?"

Ahsoka startled me out of my thoughts and I screamed while dropping the cup onto the floor, completely shattering it, "Shit," I rushed to get the pan and broom. That's what I get for thinking about him and not paying attention to my surroundings. But in my defense, these thoughts were involuntary.

"I'm surprised it didn't break when you were obsessively wiping it moments ago," She folded her arms and leaned on the counter as I began to sweep it up, "What had your mind so occupied that you cleaned the same cup for five straight minutes?" She asked and when I looked up from the floor, I saw her smirking. Leading me to believe that maybe she did hear something last night. She didn't mention anything when we saw each other this morning so I assumed she didn't, but now I'm thinking that she might have wanted to catch me off guard.

"Nothing." I said as I glanced back down and finished sweeping the last of the glass before dumping it in the trash. This isn't a conversation I wanted to have with her, especially because I was still lost when it came to what I plan to do with what has been happening with Anakin lately. So before I listen to her get excited about everything, which will only enhance my guilt, I wanted to first figure myself out.

"You liar," She smacked my arm with a rag before walking around the bar to wipe down and sanitize the bar stools.

Today was Sunday and that means it was the day of the special event that they're calling 'A Night of Burlesque'. Meaning yes, I was wearing the uniform he got for me and I have to say, us bartenders matching looks really good. Plus the outfit was nice too; I had on leather pants with a black laced body suit that did show off some cleavage, but nothing that would be classified as too much. Our hair was requested to be down—curled or straight, our choice—we have to wear heels, and he said he prefers red lipstick for the makeup, but the color is optional if we don't feel like red is fitting for us.

"Fine, I was wondering what made him choose today to have one of these special parties. Is there a significance to the date?" I lied, but these were still questions I've been curious about since Anakin called me about today, "And why does he have them only on Sundays?"

She narrowed her eyes at me for a moment, like she was contemplating on believing my topic change. And wether she did or not remains a mystery because she didn't comment on it, "There's never any real reason except to make more money," She shrugged, "These Sundays he tends to make triple of what is usually made on a normal day here."

Which is perfect if you're laundering money, the more legitimate money they bring in, the easier it is to clean the dirty. And so that can mean one thing — they're doing this because they're about to come in contact with a lot of money.

I still plan to search for answers to all the questions I walked into this place with — it's what I end up doing with those answers is where my judgement has been shifted. Do I turn them in and put the man I'm falling for in prison? Or sabotage everything by turning this mission into a failure and risk losing all that I've worked for? An impossible choice, but at least I have the time to figure it out. Investigations like these can ride on for months. Who knows, maybe this thing with him will be short-lived — my own husband of years can't even be faithful, who's to say Anakin won't do the same thing?

"And as for why it's only Sundays, I don't know, you'd have to ask him yourself." She nudged her head towards the metal stairs and my eyes gliding up to see Anakin standing at the top of it with his arms crossed.

"What happened?" His voice echoed from above, "I heard something break." He slowly waltzed down, and uncrossed his arms to grab the railing of the staircase.

"(Y/n) broke a cup," Ahsoka ratted on me instantly.

He raised a brow when he stepped off the last step, my heart racing faster the closer he got, "How many is that now, hm? Three?" He tilted his head as he folded his arms and rested them on top of the bar.

"Your sister needs a bell around her neck, she pops up out of nowhere and I get scared easily," I defended myself, "And this would be number four not three. Sorry boss." I smiled innocently.

He breathed a soft laugh, glancing down for a moment before looking back to me, "Sooner or later I'm gonna start taking them out of your paycheck."

I shrugged, "Go ahead," Jokes on him, I don't even get to keep the paychecks.

He pushed his tongue to the inside of his cheek, amusement flashing through his eyes, "Come upstairs with me then and we can get that all sorted out," He nudged his head for me to follow as he stood straight and started to walk backwards to the stairs.

The smirk he was holding made the butterflies in my stomach flourish and I was having a difficult time keeping my heart rate in check. I knew why he wanted me to go upstairs with him, and it had nothing to do with broken cups.

I smirked back, "No thanks, I'm a little busy right now," I couldn't help but tease him, something about just made me feel so — happy.

"Up. Stairs. Now. Or you're fired." He said as he spun around and waltzed your the stairs, leaving no room for me to reject his offer again.

Ahsoka snorted when I walked out from behind the bar, "Try not to be loud this time."

I paused in front of the stairs with wide eyes, my cheeks burning red in embarrassment. I couldn't even bear to look at her, knowing the smug grin she would be holding. So I quickly walked away and headed up the stairs while listening to her laughter echo throughout the empty lounge.

I got to Anakins office and the door was already open, but I didn't see him when I stepped inside. That is, until the door behind me closed and I spun around to see him flicking the lock so there were no intrusions like yesterday, "I want to get this out of my system now before I'm too busy to see you later." He said as he turned to face me.

"What do you-" He cupped my cheeks and pressed our lips together, answering the question I didn't get to finish.

My heart beat quickened and I didn't hesitate to kiss him back as I wrapped my arms around his neck. He walked me backwards until I felt my back press into desk and moments later, I was lifted on top of it and he placed his body in-between my thighs. His hands leaving my face to slide up my legs as he squeezed the fabric of the pants.

I slid my hands up his neck and into his hair where I lightly tugged on his strands, blessing me with a low moan from him that was breathed into the kiss, "Fuck, where did you come from?" He whispered in awe before slamming his lips back on mine.

After a minute longer, I broke free from the kiss to gasp for air. This time we didn't go back into the kiss right away, we were both panting like we had just ran a marathon. But he still warmed my heart and gave me the same amount of butterflies by leaning his forehead against mine. His eyes glimmered with adoration and he caressed my cheek gently, like I was a fragile pierce of art, "I know you told me not to buy you things," He said slowly, still catching his breath, "But I got you something on the way over here this morning." He smiled.

I sighed while continuing to brush my fingers through his hair, "Anakin, you don't have to-"

"I know," He cut me off with a quick peck to the lips before backing away to stick his hand in his pocket, "But I saw it and I couldn't resist." He pulled out a black box and grabbed my hand so he could set it in my palm.

The excited smile he held was enough to convince me not to out of any type of fight, since I'm sure if I didn't accept it he wouldve broken down into tears.

I smiled at him for a brief moment before looking down at the box, and slowly lifting up the lid. My heart skipped a beat when my eyes landed on a necklace, with the pendent being a snowman made of small colored stones. It was beautiful and I already loved it, but I didn't understand the significance — I never once said anything about liking snowmen. Mainly because I don't. Not that I hate them, I just have never given them a second thought as someone who has grown up in sunny California.

"You look confused," He chuckled as he gently grabbed the necklace from the box, "It's because of your last name, Winters. I thought it was fitting." He shrugged with a sweet smile as he laid the charm on my chest and locked the chain in place before adjusting it, "Beautiful, like you." He kissed my forehead which, in a way, felt more intimate than a kiss on the lips.

As if I didn't feel guilty enough, he just had to twist the knife in my gut by getting me a gift that represented my lie.

But if I didn't think about that, all I was seeing was a thoughtful gift from a man who adores me. And I haven't gotten many of those, aside from yearly flowers on my birthday and occasional chocolates on Valentine's Day—if Connor remembered it.

I glanced into his eyes, mine watering, "I love it, thank you."

His smile widened. I guess gifts aren't that bad if they get a reaction like this from him, he seems as if he's over the moon that I love it, "Good," He brushed my hair behind my ear before dropping his down to my shirt, where he began to fix the black spaghetti strap, "You look out of this world in this outfit by the way. I might just have to make it an everyday requirement." He took a single step back and eyed me up down, I was still sitting on top of his desk and I placed my hands back and leaned on them so my chest popped out more.

I didn't do it for the sole purpose of popping my chest out, but I didn't hate the way his eyes lingered down to it either. Something about being desired by him felt so good.

"That would be fine, as long as you drop the temperature in the club to the sixties because leather pants are hot, and I can't imagine wearing them here everyday." I said honestly. Yes the leather looks amazing with the lace, but I was starting to overheat down there cleaning. I can only imagine how hot I'll get when this place is filled with people and I'm rushing to make drinks.

He smiled as he closed the distance between us again and placed his hands back on my thighs, "Baby I'll make it snow if that's what you want." My stomach did a somersault at the name he called me as he leaned down and kissed my chest, my neck, my jaw, then my lips, "Hey I wanted to ask before I forget," He switched the subject when he stood back up, "What did my sister say you wanted to ask me?"

"Hm?" I knitted my brows.

"When I went out there earlier, she said if you wanted to know something then to ask me." He clarified.

"Oh," I expressed in realization, "I was just asking her about these events of yours and why they're only on Sundays," His body language subtly changed and he seemed a little uncomfortable by my question, but he hid it well. If I wasn't a cop who studied body language in the past, I never would've noticed, "Don't you think Saturday's would be more profitable to have these event nights on, instead of a Sunday where most people work the next day?" I hid my curiosity by pretending my angle was all about business.

Anakin glanced away from me towards a clock in his wall, before looking back, "We can talk about this another time, it's already almost time for opening and I have a lot to do." He removed himself from between my legs, but not without giving me a quick peck on the cheek.

I knew there was a significance, and it was driving me crazy that I didn't know. But eventually I'll figure it out, I'm learning more and more as each days goes by.

He walked to his door and unlocked as I got off of his desk and fixed my clothes, "Should I be worried about you going missing with any of the dancers or servers tonight?" I half-joked to somewhat lighten the mood that had suddenly dropped.

He stood in front of me and held my hands in his, "No. You may not be my official girlfriend or anything, but I don't want to risk the chances of that not happening," He brought my hands up and kissed my fingers with a smile, "I've never felt this way for someone before and I want to see it through." He pulled my hands to his chest, resulting in my body being pulled towards him as well. And without a second to spare, he bent down and softly kissed my lips.

Tears filled my eyes when I had an involuntary thought — I don't think I've ever felt this way either.

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