I felt warm. My body was in a state of bliss, I felt no pain for the first time in weeks. I could almost feel myself sinking into the fresh, soft mattress that I was lying on top of.

I could hear voices, they were subtle and hazy but I could still make them out.

"I've given her a strong dose of morphine, so her pain shouldn't be an issue. However she's going to be a little out of it."

I let out an involuntary moan of satisfaction. I couldn't stop the sound from slipping out of my mouth, I just felt so comfortable for once. I simply wasn't used to the sensations that were now overcoming me.

"Thank you Doctor."

I recognized that voice.

I slowly peeled my eyes open, squinting from the sudden rush of light. However they were soon dimmed by whoever else was in the room.

I tried to sit up, my body weighing tons as I was unsuccessful in doing so.

"Hey, hey..."

My attention was turned to the man who spoke in a hushed tone. Tears filled my eyes, my heart threatened to leap out of my chest as I saw who it was.

"A-Antonio...."

I smiled and let out a loud cry. However, these tears were from happiness and not pain or fear.

"Hi."

He spoke softly and kindly whilst pulling a chair over so that he was closer to me. He put his arms under my own and effortlessly lifted me into a more practical position.

"You're really here...."

I sobbed in-between every breath as I took it all in. I wasn't with Ryan. I was with Antonio, the man that I loved so dearly.

"I'm really here."

He whispered to me while leaning forward, closing off the space between us. I bought my hands to his face as he cupped the back of my head. Without being able to wait a second longer, we finally sealed the space that divided us. The kiss was long and desperate, as if it had been forever. Which in our case, it had been. Or at least it felt that way.

"I thought you left me there...."

I muttered once we had pulled away from one and other, still wandering if this was all a dream and I'd wake up next to my worst nightmare all over again.

Antonio shook his head at me, staring into my eyes as if he was searching for my tainted soul.

"I could never."

After our short reunion I must have fallen asleep again because I had no recollection of what happened next.

Although Antonio had obviously never left my side because when I woke up he was still sat next to me.

"Hey."

He smiled and sat up straight from his slightly lazy position on the chair.

"How are you feeling?"

He asked me, genuinely compassionately.

"Better."

That wasn't a lie. I no longer felt drowsy from the medication but the majority of the pain was gone too. I just felt sore but most of the extreme pain could be avoided unless I moved too much.

"Good. I'm going to get us some food sent up."

I wasn't feeling very hungry so tried to decline the offer. My stomach was one of the main areas that felt painful and I really didn't want to eat right now because of it.

"I don't care if your not hungry Alice. You haven't eaten for a few days and you have lost a lot of weight in the last few weeks. You'll eat whether you like it or not."

I rolled my eyes at Antonio. He was clearly back to his over-possessive and controlling self. I was a grown up and was fully capable of deciding when I wanted to eat.

"Don't fucking roll your eyes at me Alice."

I had to stop my lips from curling upward into an excited smirk. I knew very well what I was doing. God I had missed this man.

"Or what?"

I rose an eyebrow in a taunting manor, knowing that my behavior would trigger Antonio's dominating nature in an instant.

In a split second, Antonio had managed to climb onto the bed so that his masculine figure hung over me. His large hands reached for my own dainty ones, so that he could effortlessly pin them down by my sides. Then, all of a sudden, his lips came crashing down on my own. I couldn't help but let out a prolonged moan of pleasure. It had been so long since I'd experience the bliss that was being with Antonio. I was literally begging for his touch, shifting my body so that he was closer to my own.

He released my wrists so that he could hold the back of my head and deepen the kiss even more. Don't get me wrong, I was enjoying the kiss but he was being so....gentle. I knew that he was being careful not to harm me in any way but part of me missed the roughness that he usually had. Seeing an opportunity, I bought my stiff arms down to his pants and began to fiddle with his belt buckle, desperate to undo it.

All of a sudden, Antonio pulled away and took my hands in his own - halting their movement.

"No, I want you -"

He only hushed me and stroked my hair.

"I know. And we can.....as soon as your better."

I let out an over-dramatic cry of frustration and slumped my head back down onto the pillow. I had been in complete and utter agony for the last few weeks, all because he had left me, and now he had the audacity to deny me of my long overdue moments of euphoria?

Sensing my annoyance and disappointment, Antonio once again spoke.

"But....."

But? But sounded good......

I lifted my head again, awaiting the words that came to follow.

"That doesn't mean we can't do other things."

He whispered, a mischievous glint present in his eye. My lips pulled themselves into a small, excited smile as his hands sensually ran down my body until he reached my underwear. His intentions now clear, I let my head fall back to the pillow, this time out of joy.

Now there's the Antonio I know and love.

"We will be staying here until you are well enough to return to Italy with me."

Antonio was explaining everything to me as we ate. We couldn't really move yet because of my condition. According to the doctors I was very lucky. If Antonio hadn't found me when he did things could have gone a lot worse. I had broken a few of my ribs and even punctured a lung. That's why I needed the operation. The doctor had also come to check if I had a concision. Turns out that I did, but it was only mild.

I could see how badly I was bruised, my arms and legs were on full display to me and I could see the dark bruises that were scattered across my pale skin. I dreaded to think about what my face looked like. Although Ryan's main target had been my stomach area so it couldn't be too horrific. I held on to the thought that if I looked like this, God only knows what Ryan looked like

My head snapped up and I instantly began to shake as I heard a knock at the door. I was more on edge than ever before. Any sudden noise or movement had me shaking, hence why Antonio was taking everything so slowly with me. He was being patient.

Sensing my fear, Antonio reassured me and went to open the door.

"It's just Edward."

Edward was around the same height as Antonio. He had dark skin and curly hair that framed his perfectly symmetrical face. I wondered if he was in the same profession as Antonio. It wouldn't surprise me, to be able to afford a house like this he must have had a pretty well paying job. The only question was whether it was illegal or not.

I scanned Edwards form, instantly stopping when I saw the blood that was splattered across his once crisp, white shirt. I hadn't even comprehended that I'd let out a shocked gasp until the two men turned to me.

Instantly following my gaze to the crimson stains, Antonio nodded his head towards the door so he and Edward could step out.

Who's blood was that?

I know that I should have been somewhat used to the blood and gore by now but it didn't change the fact that I couldn't hide my shock just yet. I couldn't help but think about how long it took Antonio to get used to all of this. However I suppose that being bought up a certain way would bend your morals no matter what was right and wrong by worldly standards. If everyone around him acted a specific way then he would just follow and learn from them. This was simply fate for Antonio, his destiny.

The men were only gone for a few minutes, all the while I was sat in bed making up scenarios in my head about where that blood came from. The possibilities were endless.

The door reopened and this time only Antonio came back into the room.

"Who's blood was that?"

He remained silent, slowly walking back to his designated seat with drawn out movements.

"Who's blood was that on Edward's shirt?"

I repeated my question, demanding some answers, something that I was now used to getting very little of.

Antonio only sighed and leant back in his chair to rub his forehead slightly. However he soon straightened up again and put on a poker face.

"It's nothing that you need to concern yourself with Alice. We need to focus on getting you better."

This was the part that I had always hated. The bit when he made it sound like I was some weak being and the smallest bit of information could shatter me. I wanted some answers and it pissed me off that he was not willing to give me the truth that I deserved.

"Antonio I know that you want to protect me, I know that I have to get better. But please, just tell me. If we want this relationship between us to work then we need trust! I love you Antonio, I do but -"

"What did you just say?"

A look of happy confusion and shock was painted all over Antonio's face.

"That we need trust if our rel-"

He shook his head at me and gestured with his hands.

"No, no....after that..."

My eyes widened, suddenly realizing what I had said.

"I-I love you...."

My voice was barley audible as I whispered those words. And I realized in that moment that I had never actually said those words to Antonio. But I meant them with all my heart. I loved him.

His face morphed into an expression that I'd never seen before. One of pure and utter glee. I had never seen him so happy.

"I love you so fucking much Alice."

He muttered while kissing me in a way more passionately then he ever had before. It felt like an eternity before he pulled away, pulling something out from his pocket.

It was the ring case.

"Marry me."

Antonio opened the case and sure enough, there sat my ring. My brows knitted together in confusion.

"What are you talking about? Antonio we are already married so I don't know what you-"

"No.....no."

I was still lost for words. What on Earth did he mean, marry me, we were already married.

"This time I want you to say yes because you want to, not out of force. You are not my prisoner anymore."

My eyes met Antonio's and I had never been so positive about anything else in my whole life. Despite everything this man had done to me, I couldn't help but be completely in love with him. Maybe I was crazy for that. Insane in fact, but nothing else had ever felt so real.

"Yes."