I smelt the strong scent of eggs and the sweet aroma of warm tea, before my eyes could even flutter open.

I was heavily asleep, but my stomach was up. Ready to devour the food my nostrils picked up on. I smiled knowing exactly what was going on.

I took a small peek with one eye and found a plate with eggs and a tea cup on the nightstand beside my bed.

"Morning sleepyhead." Henry pushed the plate closer to me so that I could take in the scent.

He knew exactly how to wake me up. From the looks of it, he hadn't been up much longer than me. His soft brown hair was disheveled atop his head. His facial hair was gruff. And his eyes were a beautiful hazel. Henry had the plumpest lips I had seen. And I loved when he kissed me with them. The way he devoured my mouth. He was shirtless, showing me that beautiful light golden complexion. Was he going to the gym again? I hadn't seen those abs in a while. Come to think of it... his arms were much more toned and bulky.

"You just gonna stare at me or are you gonna eat?" He smiled, sliding into bed next to me.

"I can do both." I finally sat up. I placed my head onto Henry's chest as he slid the plate to my covered thighs. With my fingers, I followed the beauty marks on Henry's skin until I reached the deep scar by his rib cage. Then I placed my palm flat against his chest. His heartbeat was strong and steady.

Henry wasn't mad at me. At least he didn't seem like it. When I got in late last night, I found him fast asleep in bed.

As I gazed down his body, his reddened fists suddenly caught my attention. "What happened here?" I took his hand in mine.

Henry pulled away, shaking it off. "I was hitting the punching bags at the gym."

"Well make sure you wear gloves, okay."

He nodded.

"Eat." He brought the plate closer to me.

"Fine." I grumbled, although my stomach was content. I lived for breakfast food. Henry's hands ran through my hair gently. It was soothing. So soothing I wanted to lay back down on his chest and continue to sleep.

"Now tell me about your night, Alixandria." He said lowly. The way he said my full name made my heart jump. My stomach twisted into a knot and I suddenly felt like skipping this meal. Did he know I had lied to him?

I pushed the plate away. Finding it hard to swallow the rest of my food. If Henry knew the truth, I was in trouble. I had learned from my past just how possessive Henry could be. It resulted in the loss of all my male friends. Not that I had many. Which meant if I told Henry about Idris... Idris would have to leave my life as well and a part of me didn't want that. Idris... Idris was a friend. A good friend.

I turned to face Henry before I spoke. His face was expressionless. There was a bit of coldness in his hazel eyes that made my goosebumps rise. He gently tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, before coming close and planting a kiss on my lips. When he pulled away he held my chin, stroking the bottom of my lip with his thumb. "Tell me about your night, Alixandria."

I sighed, "It was okay. It was a little too crowded and I got overwhelmed, but I didn't want to leave Camilla. She even made me sing on stage." I decided to skip all the Idris parts.

Henry rose a brow, "You sang in front of people?" He asked skeptically.

Just remembering it brought a smile to my face. Even if that was the cause of me having to go home. "Sure did baby."

"I'm kind of jealous. You only sing in front of me and last night all kinds of people got to hear that beautiful voice." He stroked my cheek.

Perhaps Henry wasn't mad after all? Perhaps all this lying was just making me paranoid. "Well, if it matters- I wish you would've been there to see it." I kissed his fingers as they trailed back to my lips. Henry would have loved to have seen me perform. A part of me was beginning to feel guilty for lying to him.

Even though I wasn't cheating I still somehow felt dirty. As if I was betraying him somehow. Maybe I should pull away from Idris a bit?

"You okay?" Henry took my hand in his. "You're clenching your fist."

I was? Hmm...

"No I'm fine." I grabbed my plate of food and began to stuff my mouth again.

"Hey baby?" Henry trailed his fingers down my back.

"Yeah?" I shoved a load of egg and tortilla into my mouth.

Henry pulled out his phone and turned it to face me. My body went cold. I'm sure the shock was showing on my face because the moment my eyes landed on the picture he was showing me, his brows furrowed deeply.

"So I shouldn't be worried about this then?" He seethed. His jaw was clenched tightly.

It was a picture of me on stage looking at Idris while he stared at me... with that look.

"Henry I-"

"Something I should no about baby?" He tilt his head, sitting up straighter. His eyes were hard, burning into me, beating me to the ground.

"No! No. That's Idris he's just one of the tutors at school. He just helped me with my performance."

"Really? Then why is he looking at you like that?" Henry spat. I could tell he was furious. His chest was heaving harder than usual. His glare was wild.

I knew Henry would never hurt me, but I still backed away. His hand came down on my ankle to stop me and I felt a jolt go through me, putting every nerve on edge. He was setting off one of my triggers and my body reacted on its own, cowering and shutting down. "Don't hurt me. Don't hurt me. Don't hurt me." I didn't feel in control anymore.

It was as if I was out of my body. Watching the mayhem below. I was rocking back and forth with my knees to my face and my arms wrapped around my legs.

"Shit." Henry cursed. Coming closer to me, trying to hold me. "Shh. Baby I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm sorry I didn't mean to trigger you. I just..." He sighed, "I need to know that there's nothing in my way. I love you Alixandria and the thought of you with another man drives me insane, because you're my girl. Only mine."

He pressed a kiss on my head and backed away. Henry knew me. Knew that when I got like this, what I really needed was space. He was trying to gain my trust again. Showing me he really wasn't going to hurt me. I believed him, but my body had its own thoughts. It reacted based on experience. It was like a reflex. Even though I wanted Henry to hold me, he knew better.

With him gone, my breaths became steady. My muscles relaxed and I felt myself open up. But that did nothing for the tears on my face. "I couldn't cheat on you Henry. I know I'm yours. You've done so much for me." It was true. Henry had saved me from a life of hell. I couldn't betray him by cheating on him after I owed him so much.

Henry stepped closer slowly. When I didn't flinch away, he grew bolder and hugged me to him. Placing me on his lap. He took my chin in his hand, making me stare at him. "That's all I needed to know." He pressed his full lips to mine, taking me in with a sweet kiss that begged for forgiveness, but that kiss soon turned rough, as if he was trying to prove a point.

"Henry," I broke away, but he just stared at me as if he was searching for something and before I could say another word, his lips smacked against my own, this time more gentle. His hand held me by the head as he explored my mouth like he needed it. "I'm sorry," He mumbled through the kiss, "we are meant to be." He whispered so lightly I barely heard it.

I wasn't sure what he meant by that? And perhaps seeing me with Idris had made him doubt our relationship. Yet as he kissed me, deep and desperate, I had the feeling that Henry was also looking for a reason to believe we were meant to be.

And, undoubtedly, I was the reason he was doubting himself. Henry had been there for me for so long. I owed it to him to reassure him that I was his...

And yet I felt guilt, because as Henry kissed me, all I could think about was Idris and how he had admitted to wanting to kiss me. I felt guilty because all this time, I was wondering what that would have felt like.

If my body felt fire when he was near, what would a kiss do to me— No, I had to stop thinking about it because the person who deserved my love and affection was right in front of me.

I pushed the thoughts of Idris aside as hard as I could and kissed Henry back.

As he melted into my touch, I realized that if I wanted this to work...I was going to have to pull away from Idris, because the truth was...

I was starting to fall for him.

~