I glanced at the seductive beauty that was sleeping in the shotgun seat and then swallowed hard. My friend down there had been in misery since a while ago and it hurt so bad. What happened a while ago kept on replaying inside my head and my longing, desire and lust for her doubled seeing her nakedness like that.

She was still as beautiful as ever and she was the only woman that could affect me like this. My desire for her was unfathomable that even the first time I've laid my eyes on her, I knew that she already belongs to me and hell would freeze over before I would let anyone have her.

I've made a promise and I would never let her go...

After driving for about two hours, we finally arrived in my vacation house that only my closest friends knew about. It was proudly standing at the foot of the mountain and the only house in that area. My nearest neighbor was around 5 kilometers away which was a vacation house too that was owned by one of my closest friends.

The big gate automatically opened when it detected my car. I drove past the gate. My house was still around five-minute away.

After a couple of minutes, we finally arrived. I parked my car in front of my three-story mountain lodge house. We were welcomed by chirping of the birds, rustling of leaves in the trees and the cool breeze of the wind.

I looked at Athena. She was still sleeping with the blanket on her. Damn. She really looked so enchanting and I couldn't get my eyes off her. Her luscious lips were inviting and I had to restrain myself not to kiss her.

I gingerly toucher he cheek with the back of my hand and was about to kiss her forehead when I noticed that she her skin was slightly hot.

I was about to wake her up when I notice that her cheeks were reddish and her forehead was slightly crinkled as if she wasn't feeling well.

I grunted. Looked like she has a fever. Why didn't I notice that a while ago? I could've just brought her straight to the hospital! I groaned inwardly.

I quickly got out of the car and then opened the passenger door. I carefully lifted her and carried her onto my arms.

"Hmmm..." I heard her moan and I thought, she would wake up, but she didn't.

"Shhh...Just sleep, mi hermosa. I'll take care of the rest." I whispered and then walked towards the main door of my house.

Just when I was about to open the door, someone opened it for me from the inside.

"Buenas tardes, Don Maximus." Elisa, my household helper/caretaker, greeted me. Then, her eyebrows furrowed upon seeing Athena in my arms. She opened the door wider for us.

"Buenas tardes también, Elisa."

"I already prepared everything, Don Maximus."

"Good. Gracias, Elisa." She just nodded her head but didn't ask anything more. I brought Athena to the second floor, to one of the rooms, and then gently put her down on the bed.

I then took the hairdryer and blow-dried her hair.

"W-What are you doing?" She asked weakly with her eyes half open. Looked like she woke up because of the sound of the hair dryer.

"Shhh. Just sleep, mi hermosa. You have a fever and you need to rest." I answered and she just groaned before closing her eyes again. Looked like she really wasn't feeling good that she just did what I told her.

After a couple of minutes, I finally finished drying her hair and then combed it gently. After that, I went to the bathroom to blow-dry my hair as well so that I wouldn't disturb her sleep again.

I took my pants and briefs off. I was shirtless because I took my wet shirt off in the car a while ago because I felt cold. I took the towel and wrapped around my waist. I wanted to take a shower but I couldn't leave Athena in that state.

After that, I went and out was about to head to the walk-in closet when I heard her moan again. I approached her right away. I couldn't help but to feel worried while sitting next to her and holding her hand.

"Hmmm...cold..." I heard her mumble in her sleep so I put another blanket on her but looked like it wasn't enough.

"I-It's...cold..." She repeated and I grunted.

I took the towel off me and then decided to join her under the sheets to give her additional warmth using my body heat.

"fùck it!" I hissed through gritted teeth upon feeling the softness of her body against mine as she instantly drew closer to me as if seeking for comfort. We were both naked and I had to gather all the self-control I could muster not to let my desire and longing for her win.

I stared at her lovely face for I didn't know how long before I raised my hand and gently touched her cheek in a feathery manner.

"I'm sorry, mi hermosa. Because of me, you got wet in the rain and fell ill." I clenched my jaw. Maybe, this wouldn't've happened if I didn't let her go and just kept her inside the car. I sighed, didn't expect this to happen.

All I wanted was to talk to her and make her listen to me. I gathered her into my arms and made her pillow on my chest.

"I can't believe that you're this close to me right now, mi hermosa. I really thought that I wouldn't have the chance to do this again. You don't know how much I've endured watching you from afar but couldn't even get near you." I whispered full of emotions.

I chuckled mirthlessly.

"I don't know why but whenever I'm with you, those are the times I remember that I'm actually a normal human being because of these emotions that you make me feel. I turn into a new version of myself because of you. You're really one hell of a woman and I'm glad that you're mine. I hope, you still know that."

"Hmmm..." I thought, she was going to wake up but I was wrong. It was obvious on the expression of her face that she wasn't feeling well. I kissed her forehead as I wrapped my arms around her body.

Feeling her warmth made me feel at ease. Knowing that she's finally here in my arms gave me the strength to proceed on fighting for the things that were rightfully mine.

I didn't know how long we were in that position because I fell asleep myself. I didn't even wake up for dinner.

I woke up around three am because Athena was groaning and slightly trembling as if she was cold.

"Mi hermosa, are you okay?" I asked her worriedly but she just kept on groaning as if she was having a hard time. I touched her forehead and my eyes widened when I realized that she was burning.

"Hold on, mi hermosa." I took my phone from the bedside table and then dialed one of my friend's number.

"Damn it!" I grunted when he wasn't picking it up. It took me three tries before he finally answered.

"What do you want, fùcker? Don't you know what time is it already? You interrupted my dream! I really thought, it was true!" He sounded pissed yet sleepy.

"Fùcker! I don't care about your dream! Just come over to my vacation house as soon as you can. I need you right now!" I couldn't help but to panic as I glanced at Athena. Damn it! She's still shivering!

"What? Do you swing that way now? I didn't know that you see me like that." My eyebrows knitted together, didn't get what he meant right away but when I did, I cursed expletives.

"Damn you! Can you come over or not?!" I roared because he was beginning to get on my nerves. He laughed.

"Fine. I'm coming. Give me an hour."

"An hour?! Use your chopper so that you could get here as soon as possible!"

"Chopper? Just make sure that this is an emergency or else, I'll kick you're a*s."

I tsked. "Why would I call you at this hour if it wasn't an emergency?!"

"Fine but I'm going to charge you double for everything."

"You, swindler! Just come here already!" He tsked.

"Okay, fine. I'm coming. Such an impatient guy." I heard him mumble the last sentence before he ended the call. I put back my phone on the bedside table and then held Athena again in my arms. I fixed the blanket, making sure that her whole body was covered up.

Even though I was already feeling hot, I endured for her. I couldn't help but to blame myself again. If I didn't let her get out of the car, she wouldn't get wet in the rain that long and now, she's sick.

"Shhh...Everything's going to be okay, mi hermosa." I whispered to her and then kissed her forehead. Even though, my body was reacting to the feeling of her naked body against mine, I tried to push that thought away and concentrate on warming her up.

Then, after about ten minutes, she finally stopped shivering so I decided to get out of bed and quickly went downstairs, gathering everything that I needed as fast as I could before going back upstairs.

I soaked the towelette that I was holding into the cold water and then wrung the water out of the towel, neatly folding it in rectangular shape before placing it on Athena's forehead because she was burning. I then repeated the process in an effort to cool her fever down.

After about thirty minutes, the person that I was waiting finally arrived.

"Don't come in yet. I have to do something first." I said and let him stay outside the door while putting my shirt on Athena. I didn't have any women's clothes so I didn't have a choice.

I grunted when I realized that I didn't have any underwear that she could use.

"Damn it." I swore when I couldn't find any in my closet and just gave up. After making sure that everything's okay, I opened the door and let him in. He came in with furrowed eyebrows.

"What's the cause of the delay?" He asked and then looked at me. I was only wearing boxers. He smirked.

"Don't tell me—"

"—Fùck you! Stop pissing me off and just do your stuff. My woman here has a fever."

"Woman?" He then looked past me and that was when he saw Athena in bed. His lips parted in shock.

"Princess Athena of Costavia? Why is she here? You said she's your woman? How come?" Joaquin queried confusedly. Instead of just going to Athena and do his stuff, he remained standing there, waiting for my answer. Tsk. Such a gossipmonger.

T introduced him to me around 5 years ago and we became friends. Even though, I don't see him and T often, we remained friends.

I huffed. "Just attend to her for now and we'll talk later."

"Okay. Whatever you say." He then walked past me and then put his things on the bedside table.

"What happened to her?"

"She got drenched in the rain this afternoon." He nodded his head and then sat on the edge of the bed. He readied his stethoscope and began checking her heart beat. Then, my eyes widened when he held the blanket and was about to pull it off of Athena when I stopped him.

"Don't fùcking try to remove that!" I hissed. He looked at me with a scowl.

"Why? I just need to cheek her heartbeat." He looked serious but I could tell that he was doing that on purpose to piss me off.

"Don't fùcking give me that! We both know that you could check her heartbeat without lifting her shirt." I answered sternly. Athena wasn't wearing any undergarments and I would never let him see her nakedness in anyway!

To my surprise, he suddenly burst out into laughter. "Man, I was just kidding." He then proceeded on doing what he needed to do and when he finished, he prescribed some meds for Athena. Thankfully, he had those medicines with him so I didn't have to go out to buy it.

"She's going to be okay. She just needs to rest for now. At least, her fever has come down." Joaquin said and that was when I finally felt at ease. I kissed her forehead before standing straight and then looked at Joaquin.

"Thanks, bud. I'll just deposit the payment the usual way." I said. He chuckled.

"No problem. Be thankful that I haven't gone home yet because I wouldn't be able to come here in 30 minutes if that happened." He's from Germany but been living in the USA for many years already.

"You know that you can't go home yet. Everything's not done yet." I answered with a serious face. He sighed.

"Well, you're right. I accepted this mission because you asked me to. You need my help and T can't be here to help because he's busy doing something very important." Yes, I was the one who asked for his help and thankfully, he agreed.

Even though, he's busy, he managed to find time to come here to Costavia just to lend me a hand.

"Anyway, how come Princess Athena is here?" I released a breath.

"Let's go to the terrace. I don't want to discuss that here." I threw a glance at Athena, making sure that she was okay, before leading the way to the terrace. Joaquin followed silently.

"So, care to tell me about it? You called me here to help you in your mission but you didn't tell me about the princess that's why I got surprised when I saw her here with you. I really thought, you were referring to one of your bimbos when you said 'my woman'." He brought out a pack of cigarette and then took one stick, lit it before giving me one.

I scowled at him. "What the hell are you talking about? Since when did I waste my time with those kinds of women?" He laughed.

"Just messing with you, bud. No need to be so serious. Anyway, care to explain why the princess is here?" He queried after that.

I lit the stick of cigarette that I was holding, put it in my mouth and then began pulling smoke into my mouth. I don't smoke that much but when I need to calm my senses, I puff a smoke.

"Just like I've told you on the phone; she's my woman." I answered and his eyebrows raised. He whistled.

"What the heck. So, I assume that she's the one?"

"Yes." I answered and he nodded his head before puffing out another smoke.

"Don't tell me, this is just about it that's why you're with her—"

"—No. Yes, she's rightfully mine but I love her too. I don't care about anything else." He gaped at me as if he couldn't believe of what he just heard.

"Love? Do you even know the meaning of that word?" I didn't know if he was just trying to make fun of me or what because he looked serious.

"Shut up." He laughed.

"I was just messing with you, bud." He then released a breath. "Damn. This has become complicated. Now, I understand why you had to stay here in this country when you had all the chances in the world to leave after what happened."

"I can't leave this country until I get what I want. I can't wait to finish all this so that I could finally live normally. I'm tired of all this." I uttered bitterly. He nodded is head.

"I understand. Sometimes, I feel that way too. Life sucks." My forehead crinkled.

"It's weird hearing that from someone who usually accepts the most dangerous missions as if he doesn't value his own life." I answered sarcastically. Yes, I asked Joaquin's help on T's stead because I knew how capable he was. He'd been to many dangerous missions that only those who were already numb and crazy would have the guts to accept.

He just smirked and then looked outside as if he was thinking about something.

We talked for about an hour before he decided to go home. During that time, I kept on checking on Athena to see if she was alright. Thankfully, looked like she was beginning to get better because her face looked more relaxed now.

After Joaquin left, I went to the washroom to brush my teeth again because I smoked. Then, I slept beside Athena and when I woke up again, I decided to go downstairs to cook something for her. It was already 7 am.

"Do you want me to do it instead, Don Maximus? Looks like you're having a hard time." Elisa offered and the corner of my lips twitched.

"Don't worry about me, Elisa. I can manage." She nodded her head and continued cooking. After I was done, I put everything in the tray and then took it upstairs. Upon opening the door, I was surprised when I saw that Athena was already awake.

I tried to talk to her properly but she kept on insisting to go home even though she still looked weak. Of course, she's always been stubborn and hard-headed but I didn't let her win this time. I needed to do everything I could to make her stay and listen to me.

I've told her what my real feelings were and I managed to reach out to her. I could see the resentment and anger in her eyes but I could tell that she still loves me. I didn't want to be conceited about it but I could feel it.

"I'm happy to see that you're finally walking on your own. I'm sorry that I couldn't fulfil my promise to be there with you in every step of the way while you were having your therapy. If I only had a choice, I would've been there for you." I professed and her eyes watered. My heart ached. Seeing her like that hurt me too.

"I missed you so much, mi hermosa. I really thought, I wouldn't've the chance to see and hold you like this again but God gave me another chance in life to make it up to you. I'm sorry for all the pain that I've caused you. I know that you're mad at me right now but please, give me another chance and listen to me. I love you so much and I hope, you haven't forgotten that." My eyes watered as well as I poured all my emotions while saying that.

My voice was slightly shaking but I was determined to make her believe me because I was telling the truth...