Date = 1 April Place = San Francisco (UCSF Medical center) POV Enrique “They both have hypothermia …,” Ilkay starts to update us, but I only hear a word here and there, “bradycardia … their small size … Aria stabilized but Luke is still critical … moved to PICU … on hemodialysis machines to warm the blood … had to cut her hand from his PFD … damage tendons … brave girl … lucky to be alive …” I don’t care about all the medical gibberish, all I worry about is that she’ll be okay, so my focus is on the girl whose cold hand is laying limp and uninspired in mine. They’re using different measures to gradually raise her core temperature. Aria somehow managed to stay awake up to the end and cling to Luke with so much force that some tendons in her hand were strained. But she didn’t let him go, she kept them together. I run my free hand through my hair; sticky from the salty ocean spray and then I lay my head down on the bed and close my eyes. Maybe I drifted to sleep – maybe not. My eyes

Date = 4 April Place = San Francisco (Enrique’s home) POV – Enrique WARNING – sex scene!!! Aria’s lips are full and soft, but with a desperate intensity as if at odds with herself. At first, I’m slightly stunned; my mind trying to convince me for a moment that this should not be happening. It’s dangerous … for me. It’s not part of the contract. But my body quickly overwrites my conscience and I bite her bottom lip. She moans softly, the small opening in response is all I need and my tongue eagerly takes the opportunity to explore the sweetness of her mouth. Another moan. The sweet appreciative noise vibrates through me - to the end of my cock. For a moment I’m lost in the sweet taste of sugar-candy fudge; my absolute favorite by the way; and it’s simply just too much for someone like me, who’s been celibate for quite a while now, and all my resistance crumbles with a horny growl. To be quite frank, I’ve been suffering from lascivious thoughts since I met her, but that’s not somet

Date = 5 April Place = San Francisco (Inferno) POV – Enrique WARNING – sex scene!!! I notice the moment she enters the VIP section; the moment I’ve been dreading all day. Will it be awkward between us now? Does she regret last night? But she doesn’t give me a second glance … hell, I didn’t even get a first glance; she just rushes into the staff room to get changed. She seems stressed out. Is it because we stepped over the line? Damn, I shouldn’t have let that happen. But fuck, I needed it so bad. Is that selfish of me? Ship, I’m such a prick. I feel proud of myself … not because I’m a prick, but at least sometimes I remember not to swear so much. It’s difficult but we’re all trying at least … for Leyla and my soon-to-come niece … or nephew … but I’m hoping it’s a girl. Where has she been? I’ve phoned Anton and he said she left the house hours ago. Not that I’m stalking her or anything – I just can’t seem to get her out of my mind. I never had a problem forgetting about a girl, un

Date = 5 April Place = San Francisco (Enrique’s home) POV – Aria Mel hasn’t moved since she started reading what’s in her hands, making me a little queasy and I feel like shaking her back to reality. But instead, I peer through the huge windows where storm clouds gather dark and looming - as if they know our secret. The sea is a somber gray; it matches the sky … and my mood - I’m dejected and drowning in uncertainty right now. The first drops splatter against the glass. I examine how it breaks and then slowly trickles down in small streams; spellbound. A heartbeat passes and then the spell breaks, drawing my eyes back to the blonde. She tosses the paper and moves her hands carefully over her tummy, her face still in a stock-still emotionless state … simply gazing ahead. I hold my breath; expecting the worst at any moment I pick up my phone, ready to dial 911. “I seriously need a VERY big glass of wine right now,” she slowly turns her head and I meet her earnest gaze. I take a co

Date = 10 April Place = San Francisco (Inferno) POV - Aria “I miss you so much,” Mel swoons on the phone talking to non-other than her loverboy … and I’m jealous. Without even thinking about my actions, I hand a guy a beer, take his money, and stash it into the cash register; my mind dropping further and further into a pit of sorrow the more I listen to the blonde on the phone. I also want that … real love! But no, I had to go and lose my heart to a bloody robot that constantly forget about my existence. My eyes search for the object of my desire at the other end of the bar but he’s no longer there. See! That’s exactly what I mean. Damn idiot! The stupid unfeeling heartless thing has been ignoring me the last couple of days - he hasn’t even come home, staying here at the club. And it hurts. Badly. I mean … I’m the one with a reason to be enraged! Even though he explained that he never shagged anyone in his office before me, that he won’t break his promise to not cheat on me, and th