Rosa nodded stiffly and responded with sarcasm in a feeble attempt to mask her turbulent mood, "You are correct, mon beau. I did not die today. Ouais."

Yay.

Despite the blasé tone in her attitude, in truth, she felt caught, stripped, naked, both literally and emotionally before Mr. Massera. She pulled the blanket over her chest to hide her nudity. Rosa hadn't been expecting him to show his face at all this evening. Especially since he told her, earlier in the day, not to wait up for him.

Rosa felt shocked to see him. She wasn't ready to face another human in her state of dissolution. Yet, there he stood, in the flesh, after barging in during her moment of utmost frailty.

Her emotions remained a fucking mess.

For once, Rosa didn't know if she possessed the mettle to keep her shit together, to suppress her pain any longer. It was draining simply to sit there and pretend as though nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

But Rosa pushed herself to stay strong.

She hated letting anyone see her weaknesses.

A moment later, Mr. Massera was moving towards her across the dingy motel room. He said nothing, but a troubled look lingered on his handsome face.

As he sat down beside her on the edge of the mattress, they spoke over one another at the same time—

He muttered, "Mesrine was not supposed to be with Moulin today."

She mumbled, "I thought you were going to be gone all night?"

Again, mirroring one another, their eyes widened as they both took a moment to process what the other person had said.

Mr. Massera responded to Rosa first.

Although, the man looked a bit uncomfortable as he said under his breath, "Plans... change."

Frowning, Rosa followed up with, "You have been keeping tabs on Mesrine's movements?"

He nodded. "For years, I have been keeping tabs on everyone who is anyone in our world."

Years?

Mr. Massera elaborated, "Mesrine is only one of many."

One of many?

She thought of Favreau and Vosa and Moulin. "I see."

Who else was on Mr. Massera's list of targets?

He stole another glance in her direction and confessed in a halting manner, "I... was worried about you. Earlier. Today."

Her heart gave a funny, little lurch. "Because of... Mesrine?"

As her former tormentor's name left her lips, Rosa withheld a shudder. It was nauseating just to say his name out loud.

Mr. Massera nodded again. "Yes. Especially when you did not respond to my messages."

Quietly, Rosa informed him, "Well, you have nothing to worry about now. The assignment is complete. Moulin is dead, and, in a few days' time, Favreau will be gone as well."

In gruff tones, he surprised her by clarifying, "I was not worried about the assignment."

She tilted her head to the side, narrowing her eyes shrewdly. "Are you saying that—you care about whether I live or die?"

"I do."

She couldn't help inquiring, "Why?"

As Mr. Massera gazed back at her, admiration brimmed from his face, but he hesitated before answering, "You..."

"Out with it," commanded Rosa.

He grumbled with some more resistance, "You are a... remarkable... woman. Truly."

Remarkable, was she?

Rosa's cheeks grew warm even while she preened, "Tell me something I do not know."

Mr. Massera added smoothly, "Your expertise in your line of work is one of a kind. I value your abilities very much."

"I knew that, too."

He chuckled at her shamelessness.

Oddly enough, her jaded mind didn't doubt his words. She could tell that he valued her. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone through the trouble to help her today. It was a nice feeling to be seen as a person. To be recognized for her skills. Even if those skills made her something of a monster.

Rosa suddenly felt the need to express her gratitude once more, "Thank you, again, by the way, for getting Mesrine out of Moulin's room."

Softly, he replied, "You are welcome."

As always, Mr. Massera's dark eyes appeared to be riveted on her.

His scrutiny made her feel... shy?

What in the world?

She was reacting like a foolish girl with a childish crush. Rosa glanced away with a vexed huff. Still, something about the tenderness of his gaze and tone chipped away at her resolve. Her pain and despair began to seep out from the cracks.

Rosa closed her eyes for a moment.

To gather her composure.

In a faint, meandering voice, she murmured, "It was... good... of you... to do that... for me."

With a steadfast expression, Mr. Massera returned, "I have told you. I intend to be very good to you."

Her eyes fluttered open as she turned towards him. "Is that so?"

"I am a man of my word."

"Imagine that, a man of his word," Rosa remarked dryly, "you are like a fucking unicorn."

Mr. Massera ignored her sass and, instead, shuffled closer to her on the bed, asking gently, "Are you... alright?"

Rosa's heart seized up as Mesrine's cold blue eyes flashed before her.

Non, non, non...

She wasn't alright.

But she was alive.

Still free from the blue-eyed monster.

All thanks to Mr. Massera.

Right then and there, Rosa decided to thank the man for saving her life—supposedly, for the second time now after he shot Hugo—in the only way she knew how...

Slowly, she let the blanket slide away from her bare breasts.

In a somewhat choked manner, he demanded, "What are you—"

She crawled over the mattress to him like a siren, like a lover, like a whore. All familiar roles she had played many times in the past. Suddenly, her mind and body were at war. Rosa wanted him so much, but she was also afraid to touch him. Hesitation held her back but for a moment. With a set of her jaw, though, Rosa pressed on. Mr. Massera's devil-black eyes went wide as she settled her naked body onto his lap, straddling his legs with her thighs.

"Je me sens bien, mon beau, merci d'avoir demandé," she whispered into his ear, reaching down to grasp his hardening cock, "et, maintenant, j'aimerais que tu te sentes bien aussi..."

I feel good, my beautiful one, thank you for asking, and, now, I would like to make you feel good, too...

For once, Mr. Massera looked as though he was at a complete loss for words. His pupils had dilated to a pure black color. His breaths were quickening by the second. He appeared to be captivated under her spell. His face was so close to hers. She could count every single one of his beautiful dark lashes. She could also read every single one of his emotions in those beautiful black eyes.

Lust.

Uncertainty.

Concern.

He opened his mouth to protest, but she didn't let him speak. Rosa smiled and leaned forward a centimeter or two, like a magnet drawn to its mate, to close the space between their lips—

Then, ever so softly, ever so sweetly, she kissed him.

❧

Herro. Alice here.

Ahhh! They finally kissed! XD

Gyah, I never thought it would take this long to get to our first smut scene. I appreciate your patience, lol. I meant to stop here with this stretch of "Rosa" updates, but I'm so tempted to write one more chapter.

Anywho, how to you think Mr. Massera will respond to Rosa's kiss? Will he keeping going? Or pull away? ;)

As always, I'm so very grateful for every single one of your votes and comments. You guys are amazing. Lub youuuuuu! <3