THE SUN HAD DISAPPEARED behind the dark clouds as we returned home. I had to give my statement to the police who was called. Kate drove me home leaving Stephen and Nathan behind.  

            "Are you sure you don't want to come?" Kate asked softly watching from the doorway.

I shook my head sitting down on the edge of the bed. She hesitated slightly her eyes moving around the room.

           "Go, I'll be fine."

With a small smile she walked out of the room closing the door softly behind her. I sat there silently for a few more minutes before getting up. Changing into my one piece swimsuit I grabbed a towel making my way out of the house.

The water is cold against my feet, I shivered slightly but walked in further. I need a distraction from my trouble thoughts, the only thing I can think of is swimming. As the water lapped at my hips I realized that it's rougher than usual. The wind has also picked up.

Guess swimming is out of the question. Turning I made my way back to shore taking a seat on the sand. Wrapping the towel around my shoulders I stared off into the angry waves.

If Nathan didn't pull him off, would he have stopped? He could have killed the man.

            "Alia?"

I tensed pulling the towel closer around me. Stephen walked closer towards me, slowly sitting down.  

             "Are you mad at me?" He asked softly.

I ignored him glancing at him from beneath my lashes. My eyes fell on his bruised knuckles, they are still slightly bloody.

             "You could have killed him." I whispered turning to stare at the ocean again.

             "He was going to take you."

Shaking my head I got up walking back into the house. How do I make him understand? What he did was wrong, even if he had a good reason. He could have gotten arrested if...

              "I'm sorry Alia!"

I span around glaring at him. "Sorry doesn't justify that you have beaten up a guy so bad that he had to go to the hospital. You weren't stopping!"

Tears blurred my eyes making anger rise. I should not be crying! There's no reason to cry, it happened it's over with.

             "I know!" Stephen took a step closer. "Please Alia."

           "You shot a man." I whispered hearing his sharp intake of breath. "Without reason."

            "Alia-"

I should have listened to the warning in his voice but I didn't. If I had things would have gone better.

            "You just killed him, just like that. Is that why you became a police officer? To commit a crime and get away with it?"

           "I had a reason!" His voice boomed around the empty kitchen.  "He knew we didn't have any evidence, that we couldn't do anything. That sick bastard knew it and he took advantage of that."

I frowned taking a step back as he moved toward me. He's large body intimidating mine, his eyes are dark with anger, mouth set in a grim line.

            "His daughter. He molested his own daughter. For years and no one noticed. She called the police and we went out. There was no evidence, but I saw it. When we walked out of that house he was smirking. He knew and he was planning on doing it again and again."

             "So you just s-shot him?" My voice cracked shivers of fear racing through my body as he placed his hands on either side of my face.

           "You don't know a thing about real life. You grew up in the perfect little house, with a mother and a father that took care of you. You get everything you want on a fucking gold platter." He paused leaning closer his breath fanning my face. "You have a perfect fucking life Alia."

         "How would you k-know?" I sucked in a shaky breath slowly lifting my eyes to his. "How do you know that the girl was being molested?"

           "Because I lived through it!" He yelled slamming his palm flat against the wall before spinning around and storming out of the house.

I sank to the floor my legs no longer able to keep my weight. Leaning back against the wall I closed my eyes feeling the tears slip down my cheeks. His words repeated over and over.

I lived through it!

Does that mean that he-? But who would so that? He's build with so much muscles, and his height, surely someone wouldn't have managed to do that to him with his size.

          "You only see what he wants you to see."

_______________

THE BED DIPPED SLIGHTLY making me tense. Slowly opening eyes I frowned at the darkened room. I could hear the rain pelting against the window.

I turned onto my back only to see a dark figure bend slightly. Fear flashed through me, the events of the day once again resurfacing.

            "Hey, it's okay. It's me baby." Stephen said softly switching on the bedside lamp.

I blinked at him letting out the breath I've been holding. "You scared me." 

            "I'm sorry." He gave me a small smile pulling his shirt over his head.

My eyes dropped following the movements of his hands as he unbuttoned his jeans pushing then town. He stood in only a pair of Calvin Klein boxers. Turning onto my side to face him completely, I watched as he dropped is phone onto the bedside table.

A few seconds later he slid under to covers next to me. Wrapping an arm around my waist he pulled me closer to him.

             "Are you okay?"

I nod snuggling closer to him. His warmth and his scent surrounded me. Stephen reached over switching off the lamp. He pulled the covers over us his lips brushing my forehead.

             "Stephen?" I whispered tilting my head up slightly. "I'm sorry about what I said. I didn't mean it."

            "I know baby. We both said things we didn't mean, it's okay."

I sighed smiling when he pulled one of my legs over his. He has wrapped himself completely around my body. A few minutes pass, it's just as I'm about to drift off that he spoke.

          "Happy Birthday baby."

__________________

KATE AND NATHAN ARE completely hammered. It's the only word I could think of using. I woke up in bed alone, no sigh of Stephen. The only clue I had of him being there is his scent on the pillows.

I showered and dressed in one of my new shirts and some booty shorts. When I walked downstairs I found both of them on the couch. May I had that both  are half naked?

Shaking my head I walked into the kitchen. I searched through the fridge with a frown. I'm in the mood for something sweet for breakfast. I bend down lower trying to get a better look at the bottom shelf.

           "Ain't this a good morning." Stephen drawled behind me with a faint southern accent.

I giggled turning around to find him leaning against the counter. He's wearing only a pair of black shorts, his hair wet and sticking to his head. His bare chest glistered with sweat making me lick my lips.

           "I was planning on making you some breakfast in bed." He stepped forward pulling me against him. "But you got up too early."

          "I'm sorry." I wrapped my arms around his neck leaning up on my toes. "You can still cook me breakfast."

He smiled leaning down to capture my lips. I moaned trying to press my body closer to his.

          "I need a shower." He mumbled lips trailing down my neck.

        "Can I shower with you?"

He pulled back looking down at me. His lips pulling up into a slow sexy smirk.

          "It's your birthday." Bending slightly he hooked his hands under my thighs hoisting me up.

I kissed him again my legs tightening as he started walking up the stairs. His hands moved to my ass gripping it making me moan.

Instead of walking to the left to my door, he turned right walking down the hall. At the end he pushed open a door slamming it shut with his foot before lowering me.

My hands fidget nervously with the hem of my shirt as I glanced around the large room.

Large is an understatement. There is a bathroom, a walk in closet, a sitting room of sorts with a large TV mounted against the wall. Blue curtains are pulled closed over large windows which I can only guess gave a great view of the beach below.

In all my life, I've dreamed of having a room as big as this.

             "Make yourself at home." His voice came from behind me making me tense.

Taking the chance I glanced at him over my shoulder. He leaned against the door arms crossed over his broad chest. His lips are pulled up in a slight smirk as his unnatural coloured eyes watched me.

            "T-thank you." My cheeks heated.

Tonight is the night. I know it, I can feel it. Why else would he bring me in here? In the time we've been here he never once invited me into his room. 

He's going to make love to me tonight.

My eyes moved to the bed, the colour slightly drained from my face as nervousness settled in.

The bed is four poster, pushed against a wall in the middle of the room. The covers are plain blue, the pillows a mess on top of the bed.

A arm wrapped around my waist, lips traced the skin of my neck making me shiver.

             "I'll be gentle."

Yeah right! His hands move to the buttons of my shirt, slowly, he unbuttoned one for one.

His hands move to my hips pulling me back against him. Against his warm hard body that is so much bigger than mine. 

            "Stephen..." I sucked in a shaky breath my hands gripping his wrist.

           "That's it." His lips tilted up against my skin. "You'll be screaming my name the whole night."

I gasp cheeks heating as he laughed walking towards the bathroom. Is he serious about this or is he joking?

           "Are you coming baby?"

Rolling my eyes I walked towards the bathroom stopping in the doorway. Stephen stood by the shower testing the water with his hand. Seemingly satisfied he stood back fingers hooking in the band of his shorts.

I bit my lip eyes slowly trailing down his gloriously naked body. God he looks amazing! Pressing my legs together I licked my lips.

          "Are you coming?" His voice broke through my thoughts making my eyes snap to his.

Nodding silently I walked further into the bathroom closing the door softly behind me. Stopping in front of him I pulled off my shirt allowing it to drop to the floor. With heated cheeks I undressed dropping my clothes with his.

Stephen has seen me completely naked before, I shouldn't be ashamed or shy, but I am. I know for a fact that I've gained some weight.

           "Alia." He called softly making my eyes snap up to his. "You look beautiful."

I smiled taking the hand he held out. We stepped into the shower the water instantly pelting down on our naked bodies. Stephen moved me in front if him with my back to his.

He reached forward his body brushing against mine making me gasp. He's hard!

           "Stephen?" I closed my eyes sucking in a deep breath before turning around. "I don't think I can wait until tonight."