My head has to be fucking messing with me. Confusion but most of all fucking rage.

Why the fuck is he standing in front of me? Why is he in my apartment? Next to Hunter? Looking at me? Standing the way he fucking is?

She has her eyes closed as she grinds her ass on some random dudes front. Her hips swaying to the music, slowly and sensually.

I watch my Avery run her fingers through the unknown males hair. Something she does to me.

"Why are you here?" I ask gruffly, not knowing whether I'm awaiting an answer myself. With a tightening grip around his shirt and throat I slam him back against the elevator door. The guy grunts from the impact on the back of his head. His eyes squeeze shut. The impulse to pull him back and slam him against the door but harder is strong.

I clench my jaw tighter when Hunter puts his hands on me in an attempt to pull me back. "What are you doing?" He snaps, his gaze piercing through my scull. "Answer me," I demand, ignoring Hunter's existence as much as I can. It's fucking hard.

"Aiden, lascialo andare!" I do. Not because Hunter ordered me to do so. I step away from him when I hear Avery walking towards us. She doesn't need to see me violent for the thousandth time.
(let go of him!)

He coughs out the moment I pull away. With a straight back, his posture yet again, radiates confidence, though the narrowed eyes confusedly looking into my glaring ones, give away a glint of confusion. A glint of weakness.

His eyes fall away from my own, to something behind me. Someone.

A warm hand cups my curled fist, his expression turns fucking smug when he recognises my girl. It's the same fucking smug expression his face wore the night he kept grinding against Avery in the club. When he kept grinding against my Avery, in my club.

His eyes skim over Ry's body several times, making the rage I've been feeling so far expand within me. I don't want her exposed to his eyes and right now, the clothes she's wearing make her just that.

"Hunter? Why are you here, again?" My girl asks oblivious to the tension surrounding her. The bastard's eyes meet mine again, a ghost of a smirk appears on his face.

The face I so badly want to punch. For the second fucking time.

"Hi," Ry acknowledges politely. Always being nice to strangers.

Her lips move as she talks to him.

The torturing images from that night make me want to dive my fist into his face over and over again. Until the smug bearing disappears. Until his skin turns black and blue, until his face is fucking unrecognisable.

Her thumb caressing my rough skin doesn't calm me the slightest.

"Hello." He greets back, his voice holding an amused undertone.

I don't want him talking her. To my girl.

"Why are you here?" I repeat, from Avery's reaction rather rudely I'd say. He looks back at me again but doesn't answer. If it wasn't for Avery being here...

Hunter clears his throat awkwardly, "Xavier hired him, this is Arsenio." He looks between Ry and I, "Avery's new bodyguard."

Fuck no.
Not happening.
This is not fucking happening.
Not today.
Not ever.

"What the fuck do you mean he's her new bodyguard!?" I snap.

"Xavier's orders." Hunter shrugs, "Arsenio is to be with her twenty-four hours a day, not follow her around and stuff but be alert in case anything happens. Of course, Avery has, uh," he hesitates before continuing. "You, but he is to be around. You are to decide when he'll be needed close by, though."

By the time he finishes I. Am. Fucking. Fuming.

.....

"Well," Ry starts once Hunter is gone, shifting awkwardly on her heels. Please don't. Please, I keep ranting in my mind, knowing exactly what she's about to do. "I'm Avery," she takes a step forward, thinking I'll let go of her so she can shake his hand. With my fingers practically digging into her hip bone, she stretches her hand out. The fucker steps forward, grabbing it.

"My name is Arsenio, as Mr. Marchetti said, I'm your new bodyguard." He gives my girl a smile, testing his diminutive limits.

Ry pulls her hand away first and returns to my side, her one hand holding onto mine that's on her hip. I ignore the gaze on the side of my head telling me to introduce myself.

He doesn't need to know me. He doesn't deserve to get to know me.

"This is my boyfriend, Aiden." She gestures toward me. The title she gave me makes me feel giddy inside. For the first time I look down at her. I'd like to make the title a higher one though. She gives me a scowling side glance. I keep looking at her.

Beautiful. And mine.

Not someone else's. Mine.

All mine.

The bastard in front of us reminds me of his unwanted presence. "Hello, I'm Arsenio."

Breathing deeply, I turn my face, staring icily at him. "I've heard your name three times already." He pulls back the extended arm. As he should.

"Uh. Would you like something to drink?" Ry asks after a tense silence. Ever the kind one.

"He's not a guest." I dismiss her offer.

Without another glance his way, I tighten my grip on her waist and make a move to turn around. To finish our unfinished business right now would be a dream but since people decided to be fucking cockblockers we'll have to settle for cuddles.

As long as I have her in my arms, I'm content and happy.

He speaks up again. "I would like a glass of water, please." I press my tongue against my cheek, my hand fisting the shirt on Avery's body.

Ry smiles with a nod before tapping onto the back of my palm with her finger. "Aiden," she nudges me lightly.

I hesitantly let go of her. She takes a step away from me but I cup her cheeks and press my lips against hers. The warmth of her cheeks can be felt on my own as I keep kissing her.

Pulling away, I smirk down at her flushed face. She gives me a shy smile, one that can bring me to my knees anytime she'd like. I watch as she walks out of the foyer and into the kitchen before I turn to face him.

"Why do you work for Xavier?" I demand. His eyes look away from the direction Ry went. I clench my fists by my sides as I realise that he was looking at her.

At my Ry.

"Mr. Marchetti needed a bodyguard and he chose me." He shrugs, as if the answer is fucking obvious. Well, it is but that was not what I was fucking asking.

"Why did you accept?" I feel the fury heighten. Is he fucking dumb? He knows exactly what I mean.

His eyebrows shoot up, "wait, you think that I accepted Mr. Marchetti's offer because I knew," he emphasises the last word, "that the girl I was supposed to protect is the same girl that danced with me almost three months ago?" Arsenio looks at me with amusement.

His attitude is something I really don't fucking like.

I take a threatening step forward, "just a reminder; she did not fucking dance with you, willingly." I spit taking another step, "and yes. That's exactly what I'm fucking saying." Another step. "Now don't ever fucking question me again. Know your fucking place and answer," another step, until I'm standing a mere feet across him, "my fucking question."

Arsenio takes a step forward. So small I barely notice it. Is he fucking challenging me?

"I wanted the job. Nothing more nothing less."

"Well, then do your job properly," I warn him, tilting my head to the side, "nothing more, nothing less." Mocking his words, I step away from him as Avery's padding feet sound from the kitchen.

A few seconds later, my girl appears, a glass of water in her hand. My eyes burn through his as he accepts the glass from her hand. I only look away when her body is pressed to my side again.

He better understand that she's mine. That I'm the only one she wants. That he is and always will be a bodyguard to her.

"You're not needed up here. You can stand in the lobby. I'll let you know if you'll be needed." I instruct.

He clenches his jaw, but plasters on a small smile as he nods his submission. "Of course, should I take Avery to school tomorrow? As Mr. Marchetti said, I am to be with her twenty-four hours a day."

What the fuck is he thinking calling my girl by her first name? As if he's known her for-fucking-ever, as if he isn't working for her?

"It's Miss Marchetti. Don't call her by her first name again." I feel Ry's eyes on me. She's probably confused to my sudden aggressiveness.

She really does not remember this guy.

"And you'll be informed tomorrow."

"Goodnight," Ry bids, polite once again, looking over her shoulder. Don't get me wrong, I fucking love that she's so nice to people but to him? I don't want her to be.

"Goodnight, Miss Marchetti," he nods. " Mr. De Rossi."

......

"Are you okay?" Ry looks at me concerned when I get in bed. She's lying beneath the covers, with nothing but my shirt and panties on, looking like a goddess. My goddess. I want her sleeping next to me for the rest of my life, that's something I know.

"Yeah, baby I'm fine. Don't worry." I pull her to me, her head laying on my chest. Her rosy cheeks don't go unnoticed. She tilts her head backwards, pressing a light kiss to my jaw.

"You can talk to me, you know. If something bothers you. I'm here to talk and listen." She reassures after a while. I smile at the concern she's showing for me.

God, I love her.

So beautiful.

"I know, my love." I peck the tip of her cute nose. Running my fingers through her soft hair, I press another kiss to her neck. She breathes in shakily, melting into my touch. "Go to sleep, you've had a rough day."

Smiling up at me she nods,"Goodnight, Aiden."  Avery stares deep into my eyes. I can see her having an inner battle with herself, it leaves me confused. She said I can tell her anything, doesn't it go the other way around? "I-" hope rises within me as she starts. I can feel my lips wanting to twitch upwards. Is she going to say what I've been waiting to hear for months now? "You're so important to me."

My expression doesn't flatter. I fucking hate to admit that I'm disappointed. Not in Ry. I could never be, but at myself. Why can't she love me?

Maybe she will, my mom always told me to be patient for the good things in life and as I look into her innocent eyes, I remind myself of something I became aware of long ago. She is the good. And I will be patient. I fucking need to be patient. For her.

"I love you, Ry. More than anything." I tell her in response. Emotions swirl on her face. I kiss her again, unable to look into her eyes.

Maybe she will love me.

One day.

I love her.

.....

A knock on the door brings me out of my thinking. Setting the pen down and the paperwork aside, I mumble a small 'come in' to whoever's on the other side. It doesn't need a lot of thinking to figure out that the gentle knocking comes from none other than Avery.

Bringing the heavy glass to my lips, I take a sip of the expensive whiskey. The liquor relaxingly  burns it's way down my throat. I lean back in my chair, a smile taking over my face when the door opens and expectedly reveals my girl. "Hi," Ry sends a breathtaking smile my way. "Hello, sweetheart." The need to hold her, kiss her, worship her in anyway she wants and desires, grows as I realise how much I've missed her over the past week.

With everything going on, I've been drowning myself in work. My main priority trying to protect her. That sadly lead to us spending less time with each other in other words it's been pure fucking torture. Especially when I knew that the fucker named Arsenio would be following my girl around most of the time. But it's for her safety, something I won't take a risk off because of my jealousy and insecurities.

Insecurities. Something I've come to realise that even I have.

Fuck.

"Are you finishing up here? It's late and you usually come to bed by this hour." She states in a silvery voice. I smile a lopsided smile, slowly shaking my head. "I'm sorry, baby but I have a few more papers to do." I lean back in my chair as I watch her walk over to my desk, letting myself enjoy her body clad in one of my white dress-shirts. It comes down to the tops of her thighs, her black lace bra visible.

Fuck me.

"Is Arsenio still here?" I suddenly ask, leaning forward as my possessiveness once again gets the better of me.

Since I've been locked up in my office, working, his presence was needed inside the penthouse. Much to my fucking dismay.

"Arsenio is in the foyer. He did not see me dressed in this," Avery rolls her eyes with a playful scowl, making me raise an amused eyebrow.

"Did you just roll your eyes?" I ask backing up from the desk and leaning back on the back of the chair, my arms by my sides.

My girl doesn't answer, instead she bites her lip, a blush creeping up her cheeks. Adorable. "Come here." I instruct, licking my lips when she sits down on me, her back to my front.

I wrap an arm around her waist, her hands falling on it, my other hand gripping her chin and tilting her head back. "You need a spanking?" My face is void of any emotion as I look into her emerald eyes.

She blushes at my words.

"No. And you don't need to give me one either. You need to get done with these papers so we can go lay in bed." She responds sassily, taking me by surprise.

"When did you get such an attitude?" I lean forward my lips brushing against hers. She responds by kissing me gently, her hand coming up to hold my slightly stubbled cheek.

"Want to stay here while I finish up? It won't take long," I mumble against her before pulling away with a peck.

"Yeah," Ry kisses my cheek and turns around. I roll the chair closer to the desk, grabbing the pen before I start to read over the paperwork.

I can see her fiddling with some sticky notes on my desk, drawing hearts on them. Fuck, I love her.

I stop what I'm doing when I see Avery's hand reaching for the half empty whiskey glass. Setting my pen down for the second time, I watch as she looks inside before bringing it to her nose, smelling it. Is she going to- my question is answered when she takes a gulp of the smoky liquor.

"Oh," she scrunches her nose up in an adorable way making me chuckle.

"Oh?"

......
A/n

Uhhhh so this chapter was not supposed to end here but you'll get the continuation in chapter 41 don't worry, well that's kind of obvious but yeah, I might continue the chapter here though but I'm not sure.

Tell me what you think, continue the rest of the chapter here OR make the continuation a chapter itself?

ANYWAYYY I hope you liked this chapter, I AM SOO excited for the upcoming ones, thank you for supporting me and the book and there's like fifteen chapters left.

Vote and comment if you'd like!

I love you, you're beautiful and important!