The beautiful morning sun shining on my eyelids is the first thing that wakes me up. The strong arms of a devil is the second. His smell is intoxicating even in the morning. It doesn't help that I'm embraced into his chest.

Not that I'm complaining

I shift so that we're chest to chest.

How can someone so beautiful have such a scarred heart?

I want to know everything about him. The things that make him wake up in the morning, the things that get him going. I want to know what he wants to do with his life. I've never been so invested in someone's wants and desires. I've damn sure never fiend for someone's attention as much as I do for his.

I reach up and kiss his forehead. It was something random to do. Something I would have never done if I hadn't been smothered in my infatuation for him.

"Buenos días, Princesa,"

(Good morning, Princess)

Good Lord

His morning voice almost made my eyes roll to the back of my head just upon hearing it. The heat running to my face is immediate.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were awake," I mumbled into his chest.

"I wasn't but I am now," He pulls me back by my chin with a lazy smile, "It's alright, Gatita, I will never complain about you kissing me," He smirks.

(Kitten)

I roll my eyes, sliding out of the very comfortable bed to take a shower. Very comfortable bed - Did I mention that?

"I'm going to take a shower," I tease, entering the bathroom, "You may join me if you'd like,"

Two can play at his sinful games

He shakes his head, "Don't start something you can finish, Gatita."

(Kitten)

Oh, baby, I can finish it

***

"Princesa, hurry up!" Cole yells through the bedroom door.

I was picking which workout outfit I wanted to wear for my first time at the gym. I'm not used to options, so now that I have them, I'm using them.

"Shut up!" I yell right back.

"Rose, It's the gym, not a runway," I can hear the aggravation from behind the door.

Is he crazy?

"Baby, everywhere I go is a runway."

I look in the mirror one last time before throwing open the door.

(Her attire)

His eyes set on me, slowly reaching my face.

"You're lucky you're worth the wait," He shakes his head, placing his hand on my waist to guide me out of the door.

"If it's any consolation, you're worth wait as well." I boop his nose.

I just now realize how cute of a nose it is, like it's perfect.

He just chuckles while helping me into the passenger seat. There are very few times when we drive ourselves. It's normally a guard driving with a car following. Also, we're riding in a different kind of car.

We're riding in a G-Wagon, if the guard was driving we would have ridden in a Suburban.

"What will we be working on today?" I ask once he starts the car. He glances over at me before returning his eyes back on the road.

"Kickboxing to start and then we'll have you take a small class on self-defense with one of our female trainers,"

I just nod.

"Is Elijah going to be there?"

"No, he's taking my place at work today," He turns left onto the interstate, "I also want you to know that while I'm at work you will be going to the gym. You will be taken to and from the gym by a guard," His tone is starting to remind me of Elijah.

Annoying as fuck

"It's important that you always stay with a guard, not a member, a guard," He switches to the left lane, speeding up slightly. I grunt in agreement.

"Will I spar with you?" I shoot him a devilish smile, which he embraces with grace and returns.

"If you think you can handle it, Princesa,"

(Princess)

"I'm sure it won't be a problem."

He helps me out of the car, taking my hand in his.

Walking through the house, I smile and wave at the guards. They've always been nice to me even though they don't speak very much. Everyone there is working on something, everyone is busy. Something I've learned about gang life: There is always something that needs to be done.

Always someone to kill

We finally walk to the back of the large house. The room's door is steel. In the cracks of the door, you can see dried blood that someone failed to clean.

Cole takes my hand from his and places it on the screen of the door. On contact with my finger, the door opens. An audible gasp is emitted from my throat involuntarily. Cole just smiles in response.

"Is it like that with all doors?" I ask mouth still agape.

He nods, "You can open every door with a finger pad."

"That would require trust wouldn't it?"

"There are always consequences - everything that is done can be changed."

We walk into the room, a red and black mat line the floor. All walls padded with a black mat except for one. That wall was lined with all kinds of weapons: From nunchucks - to assault rifles.

You name it, it was hanging on the wall. The matte black color complimented them well.

"They're so pretty,"

He smiles -That goddamn smile.

"Only you would call an AK-47 pretty," He laughs.

"No, only people with a sense of fashion would call AK-47's pretty."

I find myself gravitating to the punching bags. They looked beat up, contrasting with the high tech room. That wasn't the only thing that caught my attention. They didn't just have the bags, they had some that looked like people. The people ranged from height, weight, some were even female punching bags. I can't say I've ever seen a female punching bag. It's good though - it just gives the training some diversity.

"Now show me how you would punch." He steps back to watch.

I ball my fist and swing at the bag.

"Okay that's good, but untuck your thumb and bend your legs more," He comes behind me removing my thumb from my fist, "Put your left foot back, this is called 'squaring up.' The energy of the punch will travel up through your feet. That's where you get your power,"

"Now try again."

I punch the bag again; I could definitely feel the difference. I don't quite understand the logic behind the 'power' that he mentioned, but I could feel it.

"Good, Princesa," He praises, stepping back once again. "You must use your entire body."

(Princess)

I punch again, scaring myself because the bag flies back. It then flys forward almost taking me out with it.

"Beautiful, Nena,"

(Baby girl)

"Snap your fist back in place after the punch so you can guard your face."

I continue a few other punches, my fist starting to hurt. Cole seems to notice.

"What's wrong, Hermosa?"

(Beautiful)

"I'm fine, my knuckles are just sore."

He steps forward, taking my hands in his. He unwraps them to see the color. They were tinted pink, meaning a slight irritation.

"You're done punching for the day, Princesa," Lips glazing over my sore knuckles, "You'll have to increase durability,"

(Princess)

His lips would feel a hundred times better on mine

"I'm going to go workout, your trainer should be here soon," His dark blue eyes bore into mine, "I don't really know where she i-" The sound of the steel door swinging open cuts him off and attracts both of our attention.

I frown looking at the door. I could sense the person's attitude from the door swing. I mean, the door opens by itself so slamming it open requires effort.

What the fuck?