"There must be a sweeter place, we can sugarcoat the taste. Sweeter place. There must be a sweeter."

--- Selena Gomez

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cheek makes me stir. Another poke. I groan, rubbing my cheek.

Another poke.

"Stay away," I mumble sleepily.

The pokes go away.

It was easy.

I almost go back into my La la land when something warm hits my cheek and neck. Something then brushes against them and something wet is on my jaw.

Kisses.

Someone is kissing me. That someone being Christian.

His lips coming closer to my lips and now his breath hitting my lips.

The next moment his soft, addictive lips were touching mine, his lips moved against mine making me open my eyes.

My hands reach for his hair and his shoulder, kissing him back.

I pull him even closer as he is on top of me then his tongue enters my mouth making me moan. After a few seconds he breaks the kiss puts his forehead against mine.

"That was an amazing way to wake me up," I whisper gazing into his eyes.

"And I could get used to waking up next to a goddess — like yourself." He whispers back in a husky voice.

"Christian?" I say his name. "Did something happen again to me last night?"

"What do you mean?" He again rests on his elbows still straddling me.

"Night terrors or anything because I don't remember anything from last night. The only thing I remember is taking a shower and going to bed with you." I ramble and play with his hair in the nape of his neck.

"Nothing happened sweetheart. You had a perfect night but there was only one time you held me more tightly waking me up. There was a frown on your face which made you look silly." He chuckles. "You were having a bad dream but I held you closer and kissed your head a few times making you go back to sleep."

By now there were tears in my eyes and he notices it too.

"Hey, hey. What's wrong baby?" He gets off me and pulls me onto his lap so that now I am straddling him.

He wipes off the tears from my face.

"Talk to me baby girl." He murmurs.

"You know when I had night terrors before, they got really bad and they still were. One day I had a night terror and tried to kill myself in my sleep. And now..." I trail off.

"Now what?" He asks caressing my cheek.

"And now that you are here everything is going amazing for me. I never thought I'd see the day where I was nightmare free." I say resting my forehead on his chest.

"One thing I want you to drill, glue or whatever inside your head is that I won't ever leave your side. You are the best thing in my life and too selfish to leave you." He explains.

"Are you trying to say what I think you are trying to say?" My heart beating fast.

"I think I made it pretty clear that I like you very very much, Victoria Forbes." He tells me looking into my eyes.

His eyes telling me clearly that whatever he is saying is true. Sincerity in voice tells me it all true.

I smile at him. "I like you too Christian, so much."

He leans in to kiss me but realization hits me and I gasp.

"What's wrong!?" He asks with a very worried voice.

"Morning breath," I mumble placing a hand on my mouth.

"Isn't it too late now to remember that?"

"Better late than never." I shrug making my run to the bathroom and giving Christian a flying kiss.

Then hearing him mumble something like 'she is gonna be the death of me.'

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After I took a quick shower I came to know that the bag Christian had consisted of our clothes.

Yes. He invaded my cupboard and took out my spaghetti strap white dress along with my white strapless bra and underwear.

Yeah. He did that.

I just finished getting ready. And am waiting for Christian to come back so we can go. He went to handle something.

After 15 minutes the door opens and Christian comes in giving me a smile.

"Ready to go Princess?"

I nod and get up. We go for breakfast and after that he tells me that he is taking me somewhere that is going to be a big step for me.

After 45 minutes we reach a lake house?

It's a big house made up of bricks and is painted dark brown. It's a huge property.

Christian takes off his shirt. I try not to look at his toned back but it's hard not to. It's so muscular that it's really really hard not to.

"Um, Christian? What are you doing?" I ask with blazing cheeks.

"Going for a swim."

Before I could say anything he drops down his pants leaving him in his black boxers and dives into the lake.

Cold mist rains over me. He emerges, threading his hands through his beautiful soft dark hair.

My mind goes to when he told me he will always be there for me and how he will protect me and wouldn't let anything happen to me.

I see a fish jump in from the lake and with a splash goes back inside.

If I get into the water. All the things could go away. My nightmares, the fear and flashbacks.

It could all go away.

Christain stands up looking at me. The clear water droplets slide down his torso, shoulders, face and arms making me forget how to breathe.

By looking at him, I know I'll be okay if I am with him.

I'll be okay.

He starts swimming in front of me and with a shaky breath and hands, I unzip my dress and drop it down the ground and step out of it.

My breathing stops and fear coils through me. Sharp barbed wires constrict my heart.

I'll be okay.

Christian is here with me.

I repeat it over and over in my head.

"Whoa..."

I snap out of my trance and fear. I see him standing again raking his eyes through my body. His eyes trailing from my neck, chest and then my legs.

"Damn mia dia, are you trying to kill me?"

Heat crawls to my face but I don't reply. He called me his goddess.

It's not like I don't want him to find me attractive. I'm just too scared for what I am about to do. The feeling of his eyes on my body isn't distracting me from what I am about to do.

And I know something now.

That I can't.

I am backing out. I can't go in the water.

"Never mind." I pick up my dress. "I can't."

"If you don't try you will never be ready."

My throat closes up and my pulse is pounding. I could rip the Band-Aid, right here and right now. I could go in the water and feel it's coolness for the first time in thirteen years.

Get over my damn fears.

"You'll be okay. I will be by your side." And this was enough for me to believe everything will be okay.

So I drop my dress back and take off my sandals.

Christian's smile widens. "Atta princess. You can do it."

I slowly go near the lake and touch my foot with the water and jerk back as it bit me.

The small space of the bathtub. Arms holding me down. Me thrashing in the place. The weird taste. All comes back to me.

But for them I see the difference. It is not a small bathtub but is a big lake. There is no one to hold me down but someone to hold me up. Always.

Christian extends his hand for me and I slide my small hand into his.

I take small steps and go into the water ignoring the feeling that comes with it and only knowing that he is here with me.

He'll catch me.

Protect me.

Won't let go.

And never leave me.

When I am halfway under, I clench my eyes shut and held his hand in a death grip.

"Oh God, Christian. I can't."

"You can. I know you can. We are almost there, I got you."

"Please don't let go."

"Never. I promise."

The further I go the more my feet lift off the ground. I kick keeping myself up. Christian holds the curve of my torso while I grip his shoulders.

He is standing tall and rigid. His hold on me is unmovable. My legs are floating behind me and I don't exactly know what they feel like but it's so good.

"Look at that." He pulls me towards him. "You're okay. You're fine."

I look around to see I'm actually in the water. And I'm okay.

I kick again and go towards the direction, Christian is taking me.

"I can't believe this." I laugh happily.

"See you've got it baby girl." He smiles at me.

"Don't you dare let go."

"Never."

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Whatever we are doing is wrong. Because I don't know anything about him or his background.

I don't know why he decided to stay with me when I am pretty sure he can afford to live anywhere.

I don't know about his family. His parents. His friends. Where he's from.

Nothing.

But I know one thing.

He is everything I need.

He is where I feel safe.

He is the one.

He is perfect.

My sweeter place.

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