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I don't know what snapped inside of me today, I don't even know when it happened.

Somewhere between that paint fest. Somewhere between watching him smile and laugh around those kids, somewhere between him kissing me and pulling me into his lap, neither of us caring who saw. Somewhere between him smearing paint on my cheeks and then kissing my lips before running off with a little boy. Somewhere between the handprints, he left on my skin and clothes in red, blue, and green. Somewhere between the real and the fake, it finally hit me.

I didn't just like him, I loved him. I loved him more than I knew, more than I realized. I've loved him for a while but I have no idea how long. I liked him when I started working for him. Maybe it's that stupid crush I always had and tried to bury deep inside of me. But it never really went away.

It just got bigger and bigger until it took up every corner of my heart. And then that crush became adoration and I really liked him. And between the real and the fake, between pretending and knowing that I wasn't just pretending, it became love.

I was in love with Vince Hunter.

And I was trying so desperately hard to just keep my patience, to just wait a little bit longer, but I couldn't because all I could think was how he said he wanted me before he slept with me in New York.

How long did he really want me for? What if we wasted two years just fucking waiting? What if we slept together way before New York? This would have happened sooner, I would have had him sooner. And I wanted him sooner because I don't even know how long this will last. It's half a miracle if someone so busy and famous like Vince can even keep a relationship going with the media getting in the way. But I could have had a shot. Because I really do love him.

"Why are you doing this right now, Demi? If you want to do this now, let me at least drive us home."

"Why? Why does it matter where we are or who sees?"

"You know why it matters who sees," he sighed.

"Tell me anyway, Vince."

"Demi, there are people here. People I can't afford leaking information about me."

"You didn't care earlier today. Sometimes, you don't care at all who sees you kiss me, and other times you do. Vince, this isn't a game."

"I know that, Demi. I don't care who sees me kiss you but this conversation isn't something people can know about and I know you know why. If someone finds out we're not really together, it'll ruin everything we worked for."

See. We're not really together.

I sighed and gathered the dress, turning to leave. I just needed to be away from him for a while, I needed time to wrap my head around what was happening, to get my emotions under control so I wouldn't lash out. I stopped as I stepped onto the grass, realizing that I had stepped into the downpour.

"Demi!" I rolled my eyes and kept walking as I heard his footsteps behind me before he grabbed my arm, pulling me to a halt and spinning me around to face him. "What are you doing?" He sighed, pulling me closer. "I'm not letting you run off on your own right now, okay?" He wasn't yelling at me but he was scolding me. He was angry. "Stop," he demanded, "stop running from me and from whatever this is that we're doing. I know we don't have it all figured out, okay? But we will figure it out, Demi. Just be patient."

"Patient?!" I snapped, throwing his hand off. "I've been nothing but patient, Vince! I waited two years before I finally let myself give in to the attraction I had for you. Then I kept myself from going back to you during the six months after you fired me! And now I've spent over a month pretending like what I feel for you isn't real! How much more patience do you want me to have?!"

"Demi, I'm not asking you to wait for months or years this time. Just till we get home. Can't you—"

"No, I can't," I cut him, shaking my head. "I can't do it anymore. Don't you get it?" Thunder echoed and water droplets fell harder on my shoulders. "I don't know what's fake or what's real anymore, Vince, I can't do this... I really can't." I hated myself for the way my voice broke.

But the thought of him telling me that this is done, that we'll end the contract and stop pretending, horrified me. It broke my heart. The thought of not having him around me anymore gutted me. I would miss him way too much if he left me now. It feels like I'm in too deep. He stared at me for a minute while I blinked the water and tears out of my eyes.

I doubt he knew I was crying. I better not sniffle. "I'm sorry," I mumbled. "Why can't you just, tell me, huh?" I sniffled and realization flickered across his face.

He took a step forward. "Demi—"

"No, just tell me. What's fake and what's real, Vince? Because I don't know anymore."

"It's real," he said a little louder, getting frustrated.

"What's real?!"

"All of it!" he groaned. "Every fucking part of it."

"Well, I don't believe that," I chuckled dryly. "Everything we've done is for show. I can't believe that."

"Well, you better," he scoffed, stepping forward, towering over me. "You better fucking believe it, Demi," he said softly, holding my gaze.

I huffed, "Why do you have to—"

He leaned down, smashing his lips against mine.

I stopped, my hands freezing at my sides. I felt him grab my waist before he pulled me into him, my hands flying to his chest to steady myself. He deepened the kiss and I grabbed his suit, pulling him even closer as his lips moved against mine. My blood turned hot under my skin, I could feel the heat prickling at me, the blush crawling up my neck, my stomach growing with butterflies, my heart racing.

The kiss turned greedy, rushed, and we both took full advantage of it, crossing lines we haven't crossed since New York. He stopped kissing me, grabbing my hand as it moved to the back of his neck.

We were both a little breathless by the end and he closed his eyes, taking a breath and sighing before resting his forehead against mine. He pulled away after getting himself together and looked me straight in the eyes. "I'm taking you home," he announced, "now." He held my hand and pulled me inside with him. He really didn't care anymore.

We walked right through the crowd, hearing gasps, whispers, and Ms. Blythe exclaiming, "Vince!"

I picked up my pace, biting down a smile as he opened the car door for me. "Get in. Quickly," he demanded and then added softly, "Please."

I got into the car, watching him.

He fixed the dress for me so it wouldn't be caught in the door and then closed it, rushing to his side and climbing in, speeding home. He got out, opened the door for me, and took my hand, taking me inside.

We got into the elevator, waiting for the doors to close. As soon as they did, with a small ding, his lips were on mine again. He backed me up against the elevator wall, hands on my waist. I moved to touch him just once and he groaned against my lips, grabbing my wrists and pinning them to the wall. His lips left kisses as he moved lower to my neck, then my collarbone, kissing and biting at my skin.

"Vince," I breathed out as we almost reached our floor.

"Come up here," he ordered, pulling back to look at me.

"What?" I stuttered.

"Now. Jump," he said sternly.

I blinked, slowly moving my hands up to his shoulders while he grabbed my thighs as I jumped up, taking in a sharp breath. He held onto my thighs at first, moving his hands to my butt as the doors opened and he stepped out. I leaned down and kissed him, resting my arms around his neck.

He went to the kitchen first, placing me on the counter and breaking the kiss to shrug off his suit and tie. He kissed me again and picked me back up, my legs going around his waist as he headed upstairs. I was scared he would trip but he didn't. He pushed his door open and kicked it shut, slowly setting me down and pinning me to the door, every inch of his body touching every inch of mine as the kiss only escalated.

We need to breathe.

His hands were everywhere, so were mine. We were practically trying to rip each other's clothes off and have it all without breaking the kiss once. We slowed down the kiss, both of us needing a moment to catch our breaths and calm our racing pulse.

He pecked my lips once before pulling away.

I stayed against the door and kept my arms loosely wrapped around his neck while his fingers dug into my skin through the material of my dress. They felt warm and made chills erupt all over my skin. I liked it. I wanted more. I opened my mouth to tell him I wanted him. In more ways than one. But he beat me to it.

"Demi," he whispered, resting his forehead against mine.

"Yeah?" I asked softly.

"I need you," he let out a pained sigh. He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Then my cheek. Then my jaw. He dipped his head, kissing my neck while trailing a finger up my arm, my shoulder, and teasing me, pulling off my dress strap but not pulling the other one down.

I was fuming at him earlier, he probably shouldn't be teasing me.

He leaned down to kiss my collarbone right where the strap was and I hold perfectly still, trying not to let out a gasp at the heat his kisses send down my body. He pulled back and met my eyes. "Say it," he demanded.

"Say what?" I mumbled.

"Say that I'm yours and you're mine. Tell me you're mine, Demi."

I bit back a smile. "That's awfully selfish of you."

"You be quiet," he scolded, "I'm telling you what I want. Selfish or not, I don't care anymore."

I stared at him before nodding softly, giving in. "I'm yours. All yours," I smiled.

He let out a faint groan and kissed me again without any softness or patience this time. He wanted this, he's wanted it for a while, I could tell. And so have I.

He takes a step back, almost stumbles and I laugh against his lips but he silences me with another kiss. He turned us around so I walked backward, somehow not falling as I reached his bed. He didn't let the kiss break once. He seemed almost angry. Angry that he waited so long to do this, angry that the last time we did it, we were drunk. Just a little angry.

He lowered me down until I was flat on my back and he hovered on top of me, his lips inching down to my neck.

I hesitated, closing my eyes and taking a breath. "Vince," I said breathlessly. I grabbed his shoulders and pushed him away so I could get my words out. My eyes met his and my heart flipped. And I couldn't say it. I got scared and the words got caught in my throat. Maybe later. I softly shook my head, "Nothing." I bit down on my smile while he sat back on his knees and unbuttoned his shirt, huffing in frustration. I watched each button as he pulled it free, his body being revealed slowly. It takes everything in me not to touch him.

He pulled the shirt off his shoulders, tossing it to the ground. "Sit up," he ordered.

I propped myself up on my elbows, meeting his eyes. "Do I have to?"

He nodded, not amused with my teasing.

I sat up, kneeling so I was in level with him.

He leaned down, his lips brushing against but not quite kissing as he snakes an arm around me and opens the zip, pulling the dress down to my waist. He lay me back down, climbing on top of me and grabbing the dress at my waist, dragging it past my hips and pulling it free once it reached my feet, tossing it on the floor with his shirt. He moves down to kiss my neck and one of his knees goes between my legs. His smile told me he did that on purpose.

I gasped softly but his lips came down on mine before I made a noise.

He slows down, taking his time with the kisses, drawing each one out like we have all the time in the world.

My heart rate calms down, my breathing returned to a slower pace and I brought my hands up to touch him. My nails dragging down his chest, his abs, before I put my arms around him, scratching down his back.

He groaned against my lips but didn't do anything. He's being patient, he's holding back his desires. He's not rushing even when it feels like he wants to, I know I do.

I'm angry that we wasted so much time in the last two years and then again six months being apart and now an entire month calling our feelings fake.

"I'm glad," he whispered into the kiss. "We're sober this time."

I smiled, "Me too."

It feels like we're so close to ripping whatever is left of our clothes but he manages to bring himself back from the edge and pulls his hands from my body. He holds my hands instead, both of them, and locks our fingers while pinning my arms down to the bed harshly. I thought he'd make me wait the whole night with how slow he was taking things. It was like he was cherishing the moments, every little one, at first.

But then his movements became desperate and needy when I moaned. I didn't know all it would take was one moan, calling his name. "Vince," I panted.

He paused before a look of desire, almost carnal, flashed across his eyes as they met mine. He kissed me harder, reaching under me to unclasp the bra, throwing it to the floor. I unbuckled his pants, sliding them off, hearing them fall somewhere on the floor. He seemed greedier now. He put his thumbs into the waistband of my underwear, he eased it down slowly, and paused.

I watched his eyes. Only his eyes. I was too nervous to see the look on his face.

He leaned over to the nightstand and I heard the packet in his hands before he ripped it open. I pulled him down to kiss me, only stopping to gasp when his hips shifted over mine. "Are you sure?" His eyes searched mine.

"Yes," I nodded quickly. "I want you, please."

"Are you begging?" he smirked.

"Please," I demanded, louder.

"Please what? Use your words, love."

"Vince," I groaned.

He chuckled softly, kissing me.

I expected it, the feeling, that sensation when his hips inches forward but I still gasped against his lips.

He moved down to kiss my neck, holding still. "Are you okay?" His lips brushed against my ear.

I paused before nodding. "That feels good."

He drew his hips back, then forward again, harder this time. He did it again, and again until we found a rhythm. There's a difference between fast and hard and Vince knew it very well. If I whispered, "Faster," he went faster and if I moaned, "Harder," he went hard enough to hit every spot.

I was gasping with every move, every minute. He kissed me everywhere he could, touched me everywhere he could. He kissed my neck, my collarbone, my chest, my lips. He even smiled into the kiss right after biting my bottom lip which made me gasp in surprise. I couldn't tell where it started and ended, but one minute I was panting, the next I was gasping. It felt like my entire body was on fire. I let out moans and sounds I never knew I could make. He pulled back to look at me while the knot in my stomach tightened more and more.

I came closer and closer to the edge. "Vince, I—"

"I know," he whispered, leaning down to kiss me. "Me too." He kissed me before I could make another noise and I held him closer.

I wanted it to last forever and it almost felt like it did. But at some point, he pulled away. I was too unfocused, my head too foggy, my body too sensitive to move until he kissed me again.

"I love you," I mumbled against his lips, absolutely horrified to see his reaction.

He blinked, focusing on me before he smiled. "I love you, Demi."

"Do you mean that?"

"I swear it," he whispered, nodding softly.

We lay there for a while, both of us on our sides, just staring at each other. A few minutes later, I was first to get up to go to the bathroom. He handed me his button-up and I sat up, pulling it on, going to button it up but he grabbed my hand. "Let it be," he teased.

I rolled my eyes, smiling as I pushed his hand away. But I let it be. I went to the bathroom and glanced at myself in the mirror while washing my hands. My cheeks were flushed, my hair was... something else entirely. I pulled it back into a bun, taming it down before buttoning up the shirt and walking out.

He was still in bed. He might have been sleeping. I could see the waistband of his Calvins peeking out from under the covers. They sat so low on his hips. If I looked long enough, I'd want him all over again right now.

I crawled back in beside him and he opened his eyes, putting an arm around me and pulling me against him. I watched him as his eyes scanned my face, coming back to my lips.

He swallowed and blinked before kissing me softly. His hand under the covers grabbed my thigh, pulling my leg over his before he kissed my jaw and just held me close until we both fell asleep.

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