After Queen fell asleep, my mind couldn't stop replaying everything that happened. Every kiss, whimper, moan, and touch was engraved into my mind. I tried to sleep but my body was craving hers, begging me to wake her up, but I knew she needed sleep. Which was why I needed to put some much needed distance between us. I could still taste her on my lips and it took all my willpower not to go to her and bury myself in her.

I already knew tonight was rough for her so I didn't want to push her to do too much, but it was difficult. Almost excruciating. After not being able to sleep all night, I ran thinking that would help, but ten miles later and my mind was still stuck on her. If I knew she was going to keep me up at night, I would've thought twice about kissing her at that church. I didn't regret it, but I was missing the control and discipline I used to have over myself.

When Queen fell on top of me early this morning, I had her stay in an effort for me to sleep better but she had the opposite effect.

I walked back into the house and straight to my bedroom, removing my sweat soaked hoodie and set it aside. I headed into the restroom and cringed as I saw myself in the mirror. I looked like shit. I rolled my eyes at the bags under my eyes and removed my clothes. Hopefully, a shower would make me look somewhat presentable.

Usually, I wouldn't care but today I didn't want Queen to wake up, see me looking like a maniac and regret this morning. I shook my head when I realized my mind was in the same place where I saw Xavier go after countless dates and relationships. If she didn't want me when I looked like crap, then I didn't need her.

But...

"Fucking hell," I cursed. I always made fun of Xavier for acting just like I was right now, and karma seemed to be taking its sweet time on me.

After showering, I put on sweats and spent the better half of the morning trying not to get pissed at business associates. "Mr. SinClaire."

"Speak, Montgomery."

"There was a break-in at the club on 57th street, sir." I threw my pen down, rubbing my temples and I sighed.

"What did I tell you about calling me with bad news?"

"That I couldn't do it unless it was after twelve," he replied. I glanced at my Rolex, my jaw clenching as I saw it was barely ten.

"And is it twelve?" I questioned through gritted teeth.

"Well sir, I have lunch with my husband at ten and I didn't think that-"

"Tell me what they stole," I said. "Do it fast before I fire you."

"I watched the camera footage with our security team, and all they stole was the alcohol."

"And you couldn't handle this yourself?!" I snapped.

"Well sure, but it was quite funny sir and I wanted to share it w-" I hung the phone up and set it down, shaking my head and returning to my paperwork. Xavier was right about my slacking off, and I needed to get back to work before I lost my business and my mind.

A soft knock sounded at my door and I looked up to see James peek his head in. "Good morning!" He chirped.

"Hi?"

"Hi!"

"Well," I started, tapping my pen against the stack of papers. "Are you going to stay at the door or would you like to come in?"

He grinned, running into the room and lifting himself up onto my bed, taking a look around the room. He held his blanket tight around himself and when he remained quiet, I turned back to my work and started reading.

"Where am I going after this?" He asked, interrupting my focus and making me turn around.

"Do you want to go with your grandmother and sister?" He shook his head and I nodded. "Then I'm not sure yet, but I'll find you a good home."

"Can I stay with you?"

"As in live with me?" I asked.

"Yes!"

"Forever?" He nodded quickly and I grimaced. "Hell no."

There was no way I could take care of a kid. I didn't even like children. I was planning to find him a permanent home once we got back to the palace. He needed stability and a good role model, so not me. I was the worst option.

He frowned and I set my pen down, turning my chair to face him. "I mean...I don't think that is a good idea."

"Why?" He asked with a small frown.

"I'm not a very good person, James," I confessed.

"That's a lie!" He shouted with a smile. "You're awesome."

If only you knew.

"Please. I will stay in my room and I won't bother you. I can take care of myself."

Why would an eight-year-old offer to take care of themselves? He'd probably been doing it all of this time, but his job was supposed to be a kid. I could see the desperation in his eyes, and I didn't feel like hearing anyone cry, so I sighed.

"One month," I said. "I'll let you stay for one month, and then we'll discuss it more then."

"Thank you!" He cheered, hopping off of the bed and running to me. His small arms wrapped around my shoulders for a hug and I frowned, not used to the gesture.

"Umm," I awkwardly pat his back, pulling away. "Are you ready to eat breakfast?"

He nodded and I exited the room with him following behind me. I helped him sit on the stool in the kitchen and rummaged through the fridge and cabinets looking for something to make. What do kids eat anyway? I asked him what he wanted, but he was no help as he was opposed to nothing, so I made a little bit of everything.

He offered to mix the pancake batter and I rolled my eyes as he spilled most of it on the counter. He then cleaned it up as fast as possible and wanted to help me crack eggs...which is something he didn't mention he had never done before...leading us to throw out the entire thing.

I realized halfway through making the breakfast that he was trying his best to show me how useful he was so I would let him stay with me. I know he thought he was helping, but I found it annoying quite frankly. I was used to doing things in a certain way, but he was all over the place; his small hands wanting to aid in everything I was doing. He even offered pressing start on the microwave for me.

After somehow managing to survive the chaos he created in the kitchen, we finally finished. The eggs were done successfully with no shells in them and the pancakes were a little on the burnt side...but that was my fault. The bacon, waffles, and fruit on the table, however, were just fine.

I think.

James looked down at everything we had made with a grin on his face before looking up at me and holding his hand up. "What?" I looked between his hand and him.

"High-five!"

I raised my hand to him, mimicking his movements and he hit mine. "Well that was...anticlimactic. Let's never do that again." I shook my head, walking to the cabinets and pulling out plates. When I turned back to him, his blanket was off and I finally took note of how malnourished he looked.

"Do you drink blood?" I asked. If he didn't that would explain why he was this small. Vampires didn't need to drink much blood, but it helped them stay stronger. Without it, they would eventually wither and die.

"I have once when I was little," he said as he drowned his pancakes in syrup. "But my parents never let me." Assholes. Julius did the same to me when I was under his care so that I couldn't grow strong enough to retaliate.

I walked to the fridge and brought out a blood bag. When I turned to him he eyed the bag with a disgusted look on his face and shook his head. "No, thank you."

I ignored him and sat back down next to him. I grabbed a spoon nearby and poured some on it. "Open up," I said moving the spoon closer to him.

"Nooo," He whined and I rolled my eyes. I didn't know how to do this at all. Do I pretend the spoon is a plane? I shook my head as I thought about doing that. I would never sink that low.

"It's good for you," I said. "Have I lied to you yet?"

He looked at me skeptically, but swallowed the blood. After a moment, he beamed up at me."That was good!"

"No shit," I muttered. We continued eating breakfast and after a few minutes, Xyla entered the kitchen.

"Morning," James said to her in a chirpy voice. Xyla glanced at him, grabbed a plate of food from the counter and returned to her room.

"I like your other girlfriend more."

"I don't have a girlfriend," I replied.

"Queen," he said as he stuffed his mouth with eggs.

"Not my girlfriend."

"Guess who's here," Xavier sang as he entered the house, a bag in hand. He made his way to the kitchen where James and I were and picked up a piece of back, taking a huge bite and leaning against the counter. He and James introduced themselves to one another and Xavier made himself comfortable, fixing his plate and sitting on the chair across us.

"Oh wait!" He said. "Where's Queen? I need to give her something."

"Give her what?"

"That is none of your business," Xavier said, smugly smirking as he looked at me. "Just tell me where she is so I can take this to her."

"I'll take it to her," I offered, holding my hand out.

"Okay, Casanova," he said, handing me the bag. "You got it."

I rolled my eyes, grabbing it from his hand and walking away as he burst into laughter. I walked to the room where Queen was staying and knocked. "Queen?" When I heard no response, I knocked once again...but still nothing.

I opened the door, finding the room empty. The bed was made as if she'd never even slept there and I furrowed my brows. "Shit!" I heard her curse from the restroom, and I relaxed, walking towards it and knocking.

The door flew open and I saw Queen wrapped in a towel with a shower cap on her head. When our eyes met, she slammed the door in my face. Well, okay. I heard a few muffled noises from the other side of the door, and the door opened once again. This time with no shower cap, her curly hair cascading down her shoulders as she nervously looked at me.

"Hey," I said.

"Umm, hi."

I eyed her, noticing how fidgety she was and I clicked my tongue. "Here you go. Xavier brought it for you."

"Thanks," she whispered, looking into the bag. "Umm...would you mind calling my sister for me?" I could hear her head pounding quicker than usual and I raised a brow.

"What's wrong?"

"N-nothing."

"Queen..." I warned.

She sighed, looking down at the floor and biting the corner of her lip before peeking back up at me. "Well umm, I just started my period right now, and...I need girl...stuff." She nodded slowly.

I nodded in return at the same pace she was, trying to understand. "Like the diaper and pluggy thingies?" I moved my hand up in a plunging motion, and Queen stared at me, her mouth agape and shock-riddling her features.

"Pluggy-do you mean tampons?!"

"I don't know what they're called." I shrugged. "I just know they go in your-"

"Syn..."

"When you're on your-"

"Oh. My. God." She cringed, laying her hands over her face. When she dropped them, she blew out a breath and looked up at me. "They're called tampons, and never say diaper again unless you want the girl you're with to slap you."

"I'll keep that in mind." I nodded. "I'll go check with Xyla."

"Thank you."

I walked to Xyla's room to ask her if she had anything for Queen, but she ranted on about how men had no business asking a lady about that, so I left. Seeing as there was nothing I could do in the house, I told Queen I'd be right back, and drove to the store nearby.

I locked my car, lowering my hoodie as far as possible as I walked into the store and hoped no one would recognize me. I grabbed a small basket from the entrance and roamed around the aisles, refusing to ask anyone for assistance. After about ten minutes, I strode into an aisle that read, 'Feminine Care' on the sign and I let out a relieved breath. "Finally," I muttered. "Why do they make this place so hard to find?"

"I know, right?" A couple of women in the aisle agreed with me, and I side eyed them, awkwardly turning away and focusing on what I was looking for.

I squinted my eyes, reading labels and looking up reviews on my phone for each different brand. "Oh, definitely not you." I walked on, moving to the next brand. When I got to the end of the aisle, I had searched up every one, yet I was still unsatisfied with them all. Especially the plug- well...tampons; the reviews online were disturbing.

Giving up and tucking my phone into my pocket, I turned to a woman beside me in the aisle and cleared my throat. "Excuse me, ma'am?"

"Yes?" The middle-aged woman looked up at me, tucking her hair behind her ear.

"I'll pay for those...in your hand..." I pointed to the box of tampons she was holding. "If you help me figure out which ones I'm supposed to buy."

She laughed and shook her head. "Aww, shopping for your girlfriend?"

"No."

Her smile dropped. "Sister?"

"I don't have a sister."

"Friend?"

"If I said yes could we move on?" She gave me a strange look, slowly backing away from me and fleeing the aisle.

What did I say?

"I'll help you," another woman in the aisle said as she approached me. "Are you shopping for yourself or a girl?"

"Why would I-a girl. It's for a girl."

"Would you happen to know her flow?"

"Huh?"

"Is her cycle light or heavy?"

"Her what?" I questioned in confusion. "I don't understand."

"Here." She grabbed a couple of boxes and placed them into my basket, wincing and giving me a sympathetic smile. "Just take these and hope for the best."

"Thanks?"

"Just in case you got the wrong ones, I'd suggest getting pain medicine and candy or ice cream to soften the blow."

"And if she doesn't like those as well?"

She took a deep breath. "Then I'd turn to prayer, young man."

Fantastic...