I slowly blink my eyes open, feeling warm and content. Shifting my head I turn to see Winston fast asleep beside me. He looks so innocent and peaceful, the sunlight streaming in between the cracks of the curtains highlighting his hair and turning it gold. A small smile touches my lips.

"What are you staring at?" Winston mutters, eyes still closed and voice raspy with sleep. I love his morning voice.

I lay back down on my side. "Oh nothing."

He cracks an eye open and I smile innocently at him. Pulling me closer Winston presses his lips against my forehead, then both my cheeks before kissing my lips.

"Good morning to you too."

"Go back to sleep," he murmurs. I turn around and he settles in behind me so we're spooning. Pressing another kiss to my neck I feel the moment he drifts back off, and I too am on the verge of sleep when I realize something.

Yesterday was Sunday...

"Holy shit!" I yell and shoot up like a rocket. Winston rolls over and groans.

"Now what?" He grumbles. Apparently he's not a morning person.

"It's Monday! I have school!"

He gives me a blank look. "Are you serious? Just skip."

I stare back at him likes he's grown two heads. "Skip?!" I screech. "I can't skip! I haven't missed a day of school in my entire life. I have perfect freaking attendance!"

"Wow," Winston smirks. "You really are a goody two shoes."

I glare at him and fling the covers off me. It's already seven thirty, which is extremely late for me. Usually I'm at school by seven. I stomp over to his dresser and yank the top drawer open, pulling out a random shirt and shrugging it on, quickly buttoning up. Then I race downstairs to where I left my phone.

Fuck. There are ten missed calls and texts from my mother. I'm so screwed. I ignore the other messages which are less important right now and respond to hers.

Me: don't worry, I'm fine. spent the night at Vienna's. Sorry, forgot to tell you. Love you, xoxo

Then I text Vienna.

Me: if my mom asks, I spent the night at your house. I'll explain later.

Finally I text Charles, my driver.

Me: pick me up in fifteen minutes. Bring my school bag. Also if my mom asks you, which she probably will, I spent the night at Vienna's house and you're coming to pick us up but I forgot my bag. Thanks, you're the best <3

I text him Winston's address. Thankfully I always have my school bag packed and ready to go. After responding to everyone I need to I sprint back upstairs to Winston's room. He's relaxing back on the bed without a care in the world.

I start ticking off my fingers. "I need to shower. I need clothes. And I need makeup."

Winston furrow his brows. "Why do you need makeup?"

"Ugh! Does it really matter? I just need it!"  I refuse to go to school without covering my freckles. I'll stop at the drugstore for foundation if I have to.

He shakes his head. "The bathroom is down the hall and the guest room is right next to it. Cecilia leaves her stuff there for whenever she stays over."

"Thank you!" I dash off.

"You know this isn't really how I imagined our morning would go!" Winston calls out after me.

I take the fastest shower of my life, almost slipping and cracking my skull open in my haste to get out. I dry off quickly and then raid Cecilia's closet. It will be weird showing up without my uniform, but at least she has taste. I find a sleeveless wide leg green jumpsuit and pair it with a white blazer. I'm so glad her clothes fit. After I'm dressed I find some makeover she must have left, which luckily includes foundation. Thankfully our skin tones are similar, so I don't look like a clown. As I'm patting my face I notice Winston standing in the doorway from the mirrors reflection, arms crossed and watching me. He's wearing a pair of boxers that hang low on his hips. His body is literally perfection personified, toned and built in all the right places. I shoot him a death stare.

"This is your fault you know."

He laughs. "What? How is this my fault?"

"Because," I turn around. "You kept me up way too late last night with all your- with all your-" I splutter and wave my hand at him. He grins.

"I didn't see you complaining."

"That's not the point!"

I finish my face and use her brush to wrangle my hair into a ponytail. Finally I'm ready. Just in time to, as I get a text from Charles that he's downstairs. Cecilia and I don't have the same shoe size so I'll have to wear my sneakers out, but I always keep an extra pair of flats in the car for emergencies.

"Okay, I'm going now. Bye," I kiss Winston quickly on the lips and move to brush past him but he spins me around and kisses me again, sliding his tongue into my mouth. I know I'm running late but he's like my kryptonite. I can't resist him.

"Winston..." I breathe out as he kisses down my neck. "I really have to go."

"What if I don't want you to?"

"I have to. I can't miss school."

He groans. "When is your next break again?"

"Very soon," I smile. Thanksgiving is almost here.

After a minute he finally releases me, albeit reluctantly. "You'll survive without me," I tease.

"Doubtful. I'm going back to bed."

"Have fun sleeping!" I exclaim on my way out.

"Will do!"

...

"You have a lot of explaining to do missy!"

I look up as Vienna takes a seat across from me during lunch. I knew this was coming and I've been avoiding the topic all day, using classes and schoolwork as an excuse. But now there's no more dodging the subject.

"Let's start from Saturday night, shall we?" Vienna folds her hands and gives me a deadpan look. "Start talking."

I blow out a breath. "Okay fine."

So I tell her everything, about the guy who hit on me, after her and Cecilia left the dance floor, how he kissed me, how I felt so horrible after I actually induced my own vomiting, and then telling Winston and him getting mad at me. 

"Hmmm," Vienna says. "So Winston has a jealous streak huh?"

"A big one apparently."

"No wonder he was all moody. He wasn't mad about you going to the club though right?"

I shake my head. "No, just about the guy kissing me."

Vienna nods. "Good. Continue."

"Well then the next day I'm nursing the hangover from hell while also stressing over the whole situation, so I'm not in the best mood. I text and call him but he ignores me, so I just work on my Yale application. Then you called."

"And you acted like a complete bitch," Vienna rubs her chin. "Ah yes, it's all coming back to me now."

I cringe. "Sorry." I do feel bad about how I was yesterday towards her. She was only trying to help.

She waves her hand. "It's okay, I understand. I would probably act the same way if the roles were reversed and it was Danny."

"Yeah. So then after our phone call Bagel comes in-"

"Wait hold up. Who's Bagel?"

Oh yeah. I haven't told her about Bagel yet.

"He's my dog," I reply. Vienna's eyes widen.

"Your dog?! Since when did you have a dog?"

"Since two nights ago. He was a gift from Winston."

Vienna stares at me incredulously. "He got you a dog? Please tell me you two worked things out."

I laugh. "I'm getting there. Anyway-"

"Wait, you named you dog Bagel?"

"Vienna!"

"Sorry sorry. Continue."

I clear my throat. "As I was saying Bagel came in and gave me some profound advice."

"I'm sure he did," Vienna snorts.

"Yep. He basically told me I needed to confront Winston face to face. So I went over to his house. Long story short we got into a huge argument."

"Oof."

"Pretty much. It all culminated to us admitting that we both want to be with each other. Then we had sex."

Vienna's eyes practically pop from her skull. "You had sex?!"

"Keep it down!" I glance around furtively to make sure no one is staring. "Jesus, I can't tell you anything. I haven't even gotten to the good part yet."

"I promise I won't yell anymore," she mimes zipping her lips. "But you have to spill. I need to know how was the sex. Was he good?"

I grin. "My toes were literally curling."

She whistles. "That good? Hot damn."

"But listen to this," I lean it. "Right before...you know-"

"Right before he put it in," Vienna interrupts.

"Yes, before that, he said he'd be rough with me. And then he choked me."

Vienna slaps a hand over her mouth before she can scream. When she's calm enough she removes it. "He choked you?!" She whisper yells. "During the sex?" I nod.

"Ohmygod. That is hot as hell."

"Not only that, but he spanked me."

"What the fuck? That's some fucking BDSM shit. I swear, if Danny doesn't do some shit like that to me during sex, I don't want him."

"Vienna, Danny looks like he's into kinky shit."

She grins. "You're right. But who cares about that right now. You're such a lucky bitch! How do you feel?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you feel different?"

I shrug. "Not really. It's not like I was a virgin before. But sex with him was...I can't even explain it."

"And you guys are officially dating now?"

I can't wipe the stupid smile off my face. "Yes."

"Ahh! I'm so happy for you two. You're literally perfect for each other."

"You think so?"

"Yes you baboon!"

I laugh. "Okay, I get it."

Vienna huffs. "You better. But now if he does anything to hurt you, I'll have to kill him."

"Dully noted."

"Speaking of killing, what's the plan for Halloween this year? It's only a few short weeks away." Vienna waggles her eyebrows. Halloween is Vienna's favorite holiday. I on the other hand, could care less for it. I haven't dressed up since fifth grade.

"No plans. You know it's just another normal day to me."

"Boo! That's so boring. I'm making you do something with me this time."

I shake my head. "Nope. Maybe if Winston isn't busy we can stay in and watch horror movies."

Vienna grins. "And then have spooky sex! You're right, your plan sounds way better."

I roll my eyes.

...

Today was one of the rare days there was no tennis practice, so I got home early and decided to get ahead on my assignments. Grabbing an apple from the kitchen I head up to my room and settle in to work. I know a lot of people hate homework, but I surprisingly love it. Maybe that makes me a freak, but doing homework helps me relax, and it's good to apply what we learned in class. There's nothing better than the feeling of finishing an essay or completing a hard math worksheet. And I prefer to do my assignments early instead of procrastinating, so I'm never stressed like half my classmates are the night before something is due. It's why I always have a lot of free time to do the things I want.

When I'm finished with my homework I put on some music and re-organize my room a bit. My room will definitely be missed when I get into Yale, I've put a lot of money and effort into it over the years to get it exactly as I want it. It's my own mini sanctuary.

My phone rings as I'm fluffing my pillows and I pause my task to check who's calling. My whole face lights up when I see Asshole on the screen. I quickly accept the call.

"Hey asshole."

"Hey buttface. How's my favorite little sister doing?"

"I'm your only sister doofus."

Austin laughs. "True. I miss you. Law school is kicking my ass."

I flop backwards onto my bed. "I bet. But you're the best there is so I know you can do it."

"There's the encouragement I so desperately needed. Have you taken over the world yet?"

I giggle. "Still working on it. What about you, meet anyone special yet?"

Austin groans. "Between classes and studying for the bar? No."

I roll over onto my stomach and lift my feet up. "Oh come on, that is so not an excuse. We all know what the real problem is."

"Which is?"

"You have commitment issues."

"I do not have commitment issues."

"Says every person with commitment issues."

I love my brother, I really do, but he has serious problems with relationships. I'll never understand where it stems from since our parents are still together, madly in love, and we all had great upbringings. Anytime things start to get serious he jumps ship, leaving a string of heartbroken girls in his wake. It's the one thing Tristan has over him, and our mother never misses an opportunity to lord it over his head. Austin pretty much has everything a man could ever wish for in life, except someone to love and love him in return. We all want him to settle down and be happy, my mother more than anyone, but that seems as likely as turtles flying.

Austin sighs. "Will you ever just drop it?"

"When you fall in love, then yes, I will."

"You're as bad as mom."

"Where do you think I get it from?"

I know him well enough to know he's pinching the bridge of his nose. "Changing topics now. How's Tristan, have you spoken to him recently?"

"Only a little. He's as busy as you, but he's doing fine. Mother is having a ball planning his wedding, so I'm sure that's taking some stress off his shoulders."

"I bet she is and I bet it does."

"Have you called her and father yet?"

"A few days ago yes. I didn't know dad was working with Norman King."

"Oh yeah, they are. I never did find out what that was all about, did he mention anything about the case to you?"

"Nope. He was being very hush hush about the details. Client confidentiality and all that. All I was able to get from him was something about stolen money."

A conversation flashes through my memory, when I visited Winston's office for the first time and he was reprimanding that man Mr. Miagi about the profit and loss reports from one of their hotels. Some money had been missing. Maybe it was connected somehow.

"I pity the poor fool," Austin clucks his tongue. "Only a complete idiot would steal from Norman King."

"You really think someone is stealing from them?"

"Well yeah. And I bet it's someone on the inside too. Classic case of embezzlement."

I frown. "If someone is stealing money, why would Norman hire a private defense attorney?"

"Well dad used to be a prosecutor before becoming a defense attorney right? So he knows both sides of the coin."

My thoughts race at a hundred miles per hour. It seems almost laughable that someone would actually dare steal from Norman King. The man practically runs New York. He's ruthless. Why would they risk it? And if someone really was embezzling from the company, it made sense why Winston had been working such long hours lately, and why he was so stressed and tired all the time.

I'm so deep in my thoughts I almost forget I'm on the phone with Austin. "Well I gotta go sis. Just called to check in."

"Okay. I miss you. You'll be home for Thanksgiving right?"

"You kidding? There's no way I'm missing your pumpkin pie."

"I do make a mean pie."

"Talk soon buttface."

"Later asshole."

After hanging up I press my phone to my chest. I should call Tristan soon. It may seem like I love Austin more, but I love both my brothers equally. Growing up we were like the three musketeers. It just sucks that Tristan lives so far away now, and he has his own family to think of.

I roll off my bed and continue cleaning and organizing until I'm satisfied. To be honest this whole day I've tried to avoid thinking about Winston so I don't become that obsessive girlfriend, but now that I have nothing to do all I can think about is him. As if the universe is reading my thoughts, my phone chimes with a text.

Winston: left work early. I need a vacation

Me: busy day?

Winston: more like headache inducing. I could use a pick me up

Me: I can come over

Winston: I'll be waiting

I do a little mini dance around the room before changing clothes. Before I leave I make sure Bagel has fresh food and water.

"Be back soon buddy!" I kiss the top of his head before slipping out.

...