May I?

Aselia's eyes followed his gaze and settled on the painting she had made of him before replying: "Don't flatter yourself, it's not my fault that you have been bestowed with such exquisite features that the artist in me couldn't help but draw you." Her orbs shifted back to his as a smirk played on her lips.

"Ahhh, and here I thought you had missed me. The painting is beautiful. Am I honestly that handsome? Or you were in a mood to exaggerate?" He didn't want to take his eyes off her for even a second. Her golden locks flowed all over her shoulders and neck.

"Do you want me to praise you more, Master?" Her mocking tone sent him into fits of laughter. How he had missed hearing her take jibes at him.

"I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Seriously, where have you been?" Her tone had taken a grave turn.

"There was something urgent I needed to take care of."

"What was it?" She needed to see how much he trusted her and what kind of information he was ready to share.

"Just some incident at a bar which happened to fall under my jurisdiction. Police are handling the case now. I needed to make sure no innocent lives were lost." His expression was solemn almost sad.

Aselia knew that he was talking about the same incident which Yurian had caused. So there was more than one property under him. She wondered how many more he owned. She kept her heartbeat in check and her face blank. Not wanting to give him any indication that she already knew about it.

"And, was there?" She asked quietly.

"Five vampires were killed but we are still investigating the innocent part. We have a witness though and she claims the vampires would have killed her if an unknown creature hadn't intervened." Aselia's heart almost jumped into her mouth, she felt her throat going dry and it was almost impossible to breathe. 'Relax girl, you will give yourself and Yurian away.' She thought to herself. They were fucked if the witness has already come forward.

"Oh! my, that sounds terrible. Unknown creature? She didn't know what attacked them?" She tried to act surprised.

"I guess she was too shocked and didn't stick around to find out, or maybe she is some sort of creature who killed those vampires and made up a story because we found no scent of any creature. I am just glad she is safe because if those vampires

had hurt her, they would have met a much worse end at my hands." There was a malevolent intent in his eyes. So he cared about a random girl more than his kind? What kind of vampire was he? He was always full of surprises and she couldn't figure him out.

"How would you have known if they had killed her?" She was inquisitive.

"Like I said it's under my jurisdiction. Come here." His serious tone indicated that it was the end of this discussion. She removed the blanket covering her and slowly moved toward him. She was wearing a baby pink nightshirt with matching trousers. His ravenous stares registered every move she made.

He took her wrist and slightly tugged at it, she lost her balance and fell into his lap. He wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her. Nuzzling his nose into her neck he inhaled sharply, taking in her exhilarating scent. The overload his senses had felt for the past few days gradually seemed to dissipate as he held her close, listening to her steady heartbeat and drenching in her rich aroma.

"May I?" his voice merely audible to her ears.

"Yes."

She wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to get comfortable in his embrace and tilted her head giving him more excess to her neck. He delicately brushed her hair aside from her neck. A sharp pang of pain ran through her body as he plunged his fangs into her soft skin. His hold tightened on her waist as he clutched her shirt pulling her even closer. His touch was a bit ferocious today, he had been hungry for too long.

His eyes were closed as he revelled in the ecstasy her blood provided him. Lifting the heavy burdens his heart held and the tumultuous ruckus of his brain. She soothed him beyond his imagination not only with her blood but with her presence as well. She stroked his hair trying to calm him down. Her own being became restless the way he held her. She didn't want to admit it but she had missed his presence and his soft caresses.

Suddenly, he stopped and pulled his canines out. The willpower took for him to do that was beyond immeasurable, but he didn't want to hurt her anymore. He just pressed the sore spot on her neck with his cheek, gathering her essence as it soothed him even more.

"Why did you stop?" She asked surprised.

"I guess I am just tired. I haven't slept in a while." His eyes reflected this truth.

"Get some sleep." She removed her hands from his neck trying to get up, but he held her tight not planning on letting go.

"Don't," he whispered. "Please," he pleaded.

"You need rest, look how tired you are. It's not like I am going to disappear. I will be here tomorrow as well." She tried putting some sense into him.

"Then let me sleep here." His eyes twinkled with a ray of hope.

"Fine, but no funny business. Sleep only." She glared at him getting up from his lap.

"I promise I won't give you a reason to complain." He finally smiled, that smile which almost melted her frozen heart. The smile always brightened up his face and made him even more handsome than he already was.

"This side is mine," she pointed to the left side and slid under the blanket which was still warm.

"Yes, ma'am," he began to take off his shoes and socks. After placing them neatly on one side he began to unbutton his black shirt. Aselia who had been watching him quickly closed her eyes and ducked under the blanket. He removed his shirt and efficiently placed it on the back of the chair before striding off to the right side and slipping under the blanket.

Aselia could feel the heat radiating from his body but she didn't open her eyes and lay on her right side. He snuggled close to her and draped his arm around her waist, pulling her closer to his chest. She almost stopped breathing as she felt his bare chest touching her back.

"Good night," he murmured. His breathing became rhythmic shortly as he drifted off to sleep. But Aselia stayed awake for a long time. Her body was stiff in case his sleep would get disturbed but her mind was racing and digesting the information he had given her. What if that girl remembered something? She had to inform Yurian and tell him to go back as soon as possible. She didn't want him to get caught. Someone else needed to take his spot, it was too damn risky now.