Erika stands still as she feels his lips on her. She looks at him wide eyes before kissing him back.

He holds her waist and presses her to him as she too grabs his hair tightly. She moans as Enzo nips her lip asking her to open her mouth but she refuses smiling at him.

He groans pushing her to the wall hard but she just don't let him win. He let her go before frowning and looking in her eyes.

"Open up!" he hisses but she simply shakes her head no and smiles teasingly at him making him mad.

"Erika? Don't play with me!" he warns but she just simply shrugs her shoulders trying to annoy him.

So, he picks her up before settling down on the loveseat with her straddling him.

"So, you won't let me kiss you properly?" he asks annoyed.

He had always dreamed about how her lips would feel but never acted on it but today hearing that she loves him ignited the feeling he had kept hidden for ages so he couldn't help but taste her only for her to not let him kiss her properly.

"Come on! I deserve that kiss after everything." he complains when she doesn't let him.

"I can't believe I have to beg for my first kiss!" he curses making her eyes go wide.

"Your first kiss, didn't you ever have a girlfriend?" she shrieks making him winch.

She can't believe she is his first kiss, his very first kiss. Wow, that was unexpected. With the power, status and looks like him anyone would have thought as soon as he gets out of his house girls would be shedding their clothes at his sight and jumping his bones.

"Of course, my first kiss! You are my mate. I have known it for ages, you think I would cheat on you knowing you are my mate?" he asks her incredulously then narrows his eyes at her.

Aww, that's so cute. She really likes this side of him. It's a definite that pouting suits Enzo a lot.

"Wait, don't tell me this isn't your first kiss?" he speaks making her blush.

He growls at her annoyed. He has been loyal to her all his life never giving a woman any glance and he finds out that he isn't her first kiss? What the actual fuck?

He is sure there wasn't any guy she hanged out with except the twins so who could she have kissed? God dammit, he should have tried harder to look out for her and just because of that he lost the chance to be her first kiss and that sure as hell is not something he liked, nope not at all.

"What? I wasn't the one who was hiding the fact we were mates. And no this isn't my first kiss" she says the last part slowly trying to defend herself.

He grabs her arms tightly as she finishes making her winch a bit.

"Who was he?" he demands angry now.

Erika turns bit red as soon as he ask her the question. She really does not want to reveal who her first kiss was to him of all people. Nope not him!

"Well, um it was just my curiosity and" she yelps as his hold on her tightens.

"Enzo you are hurting me!" she cries at him but he just simply ignores that.

"Name!" he growls again.

Curious, that's it? She lost her first kiss to someone just because she was curious. Hell, does that mean if she was curious about sex she would... hell no!

He can't believe she had lost her first kiss to someone else and that someone wasn't him and it's killing him to know that. Who could that be?

He is sure she never went on any dates and no guys ever flirted with her in her school and even if there was any he took care of them. So, who?

His inner turmoil gets interrupted as suddenly Erika speaks as his hold on her gets too painful which he isn't aware of.

"You were asleep!" she shouts at him and he looks at her in confusion.

"What?"

Erika looks around the room not knowing how to explain all this because she doesn't wants to be known as a pervert.

"Well, um remember the time you came back after your college graduation? Well um you were sleeping in your room when Marisa asked me to call you up for dinner. I, well I couldn't resist it so I just kissed you and ran" she confesses making him laugh out loud.

"Oh Lord, so it was real!" he smiles pinching her nose as she pouts hearing him laugh.

Enzo feels relief as he hears it. Of course, he remembers it because he wasn't asleep but on the verge of sleeping. He had ignored it thinking his unconscious mind had played games with him and it was just a dream but the truth is out now. So, he can't help but grin.

"I thought I dreamed that you came in my room and pecked me. It wasn't even a real kiss" he states smiling evilly at her.

"This is!" he adds before kissing her hard and this time she lets him enter and fully kiss her.

They spend most of their time kissing each other when Enzo's phone rings making him curse. He ignores it but after ringing constantly he gives up and picks it.

"Enzo!" he says as he pulls Erika more closely to him playing with her hair and brushing her swollen lips with his thumb.

"Okay sure mail it to me, I'll report you back. No, it's not necessary. I will handle it from here. Sure" he states before cutting the line.

"What is it?" Erika asks curiously, he puts his phone back in his pocket before speaking.

"Work stuff. I have taken too long holidays so now it's cramping back at me. I can't afford any more negligence" he states before getting up from the seat and settling Erika on her feet.

"But you were not neglecting your work, you were just busy with family stuff" she says smiling to him.

He grabs his coat before putting it and entering on in full mode of his working self. He really has lost a lot of times, he shouldn't have been so careless but when it comes to Erika he always seems to forget who he really is and how he should function.

And that is something he won't let anyone know not even Erika herself as he knows he will never hear a end of it if she knows how much hold she has of him that sometimes he even forgets what or who he is?

"Yes, but work is work, it comes first and if I don't handle it on time I'll have to be awake extra hour. Now, come on time to go back" he says walking up to the door.

He really needs to get out of here if he wants to be on time. How the entire thing can go from well to a mess within a day? Dammit!

She watches at him a bit hurt as he just walks away and break their little bubble of happiness.

This is the Enzo I have always known, work will always come first for him.

What were you expecting from him? Now, that he accepted you as his mate he will suddenly be all over you?

It took him a decade to look at you as his mate and he hadn't even confessed that he loves you as you do, she berates herself.

Enzo Antonio was, is and will always remain the type of guy who won't really care much about romancing his mate!

As Enzo drives back to his house he looks at the very silent looking Erika who hasn't spoken a word to the drive back.

"What's wrong why so quiet?" he asks her worried.

He knows he shouldn't have interrupted his time with her like that but he can't help it. It was an emergency. All he can do is hope she will understand the curriculum of his job and support him.

Because this won't be the only time they will get interrupted and he wants no any drama between them and wants to make her happy. That's what he always wanted for her to be happy and safe.

She just tries to ignore him as much as she can but when he asks her that she can't help but roll her eyes at him before opening her mouth.

"Are you seriously asking me that after everything?" she can't believe this guy.

He looks at her in confusion before focusing on the road "What do you mean? Did I do something to make you upset?" he asks making her sigh.

"We were having our moment and for the first time you were doing so well, but my mistake I forgot you are The Enzo Antonio to whom romance comes last and work first" she folds her arms feeling a bit hurt.

Not knowing what to say he just keeps focusing on his driving as lots of thoughts are running in his head at the same time which he can't keep control of.

When he parks the car in the side out of his house Erika doesn't make any plan to get out of the car and he really needs to go.

So, he does the only thing when he doesn't know how to handle her,

"I know what you are thinking so just forget it" he snaps "don't think for a second I'm going to be romancing you like my brother's did to their mate and still does. I like things clear between us, you are my mate and I'm yours so that's what counts, so don't let your pretty little head get ideas about stuffs, I will never do or will ever happen!"

Erika looks at him speechless at his sudden outburst for a while. What just happened to the guy that was so loving and caring in the cottage?

"So, what are you going to do wham, bam thank you mam?" she asks incredulously making Enzo rub his temple.

"I should have known better!" he grumbles.

"Ya you should have known Enzo, I'm your mate not some girl you pick from a bar! I do have expectations that you will treat me more nicely" she huffs making him glare at her.

"I don't pick girls from bars!" he snaps making her get out of the car and slamming the door hard.

She can't believe from everything she wants to point out to him, he picks the bar part! She stops near his door and knocks at his window which he rolls down.

"So, I was right all you want was to fuck me. I got the point so don't bother coming after me" with that she turns and get in the house smiling but it drops when he just starts the car and leaves.

Enzo really do want to stay and handle this all and clear her doubts about them but right now he can't do that. He has more important things to do as his phone once more keeps ringing reminding the situation his friend is in and asking for his help so he drives off to his destination.

Julian laughs from the above the window seeing all of the drama unfolds while Erika throws a death glare at him. He rushes to her side as she enters the house.

"Oh, this is so much fun you two are made for each other, I tell you. What makes you think my brother would come running after you begging for forgiveness! Oh my baby girl! He is never going to be like me sweet and romantic" she rolls her eyes before pushing him hard, making her way to the kitchen only to be stop by his words.

"Enzo is more of a realistic kind of guy tiger, the few changes you have seen in him for few days that are the only thing you are going to get. So, I suggest don't have high hopes from him. I'm happy that you are the part of this family and after all this time he accepted the truth but I'm worried for both of you"

"I know that, he is not going to be the ideal mate or he is not the romantic type but what makes you think, I'm going to settle for less. He showed the part of him that no one had seen before, just for me. So, I'll have higher hopes from him because the Enzo I have known will do everything in his power to have what is his not like you Julian, running away from truth about your own self"

She can't help but throw it in his face. She never was the one to keep silent when someone pokes her because she will bite them hard

Julian growls at her for the accusations and for the first time Erika sees a side of him she never thought he had.

"What makes you think, you know everything about me?"

When he snarls at her dangerously she takes a step back in shock. But she can't put a stop on her lips as they keep running on their own.

"I know things that tell me, Julian Antonio isn't that much of a happy man he shows he is!" she says before rushing past him now truly sacred for her life.

Julian stands stiff hearing her words before he comes to his senses and curses her! She always was the kind to dig a hole for her and put her nose where it wasn't necessary!

That girl will be death of not just Enzo but all of the Antonio's! He should talk with Enzo to have a lease on his mate before she destroys herself in name of curiosity!

Julian gets out of the house for some much needed fresh air as these past few days has been too hectic to try finding the kid and Erika.

Now, there is Rose to take care of which they have to before she does some more damage than she already did!

And moreover seems like his secrets isn't his secret anymore as their little tiger has got a wisp of it and he knows she will not be satisfied until and unless one of them give in.

Knowing her it seems he will be the one to give in but not before he fights back hard.