5

Tamsin

Our car drives past intricate iron gates where guards with rifles wait outside and my eyes widen. This is...unnerving. We stop in front of a manor that looks like something out of a movie and it's seated on a small but prominent hill. Three stories high, there are towers at each corner of the manor, reaching to the sky and I stretch my head when I catch glimpses of what seems to be a park at the back.

"Tamsin...?" Viper says gently and I shift and turn to him and there's a somewhat amused look on his face. "We're here." He strokes my cheek with his knuckles and I have a feeling my throat is turning red.

"I'll help you out of the car," I stutter and Dolph grunts something but I ignore him. He's about as smooth as a bull in a china shop and frankly not that careful and I don't want him to accidentally hurt Viper. But Viper doesn't wait for me, he's already out of the car with a strange look on his face and I stop, looking up at him in surprise. "What is it?"

"Nothing. Except that you're too good for me."

Shaking my head, I look down because that's not true. He takes my hand and leads me into the house and people that look both like staff and guards stare at us. They seem shocked, making me feel self-conscious and Viper notices my confusion, rasping,

"We don't bring women around here. You'll probably find this place somewhat...harsh but you are free to change everything to your liking."

I stop, staring at him. Huh? Change everything to my liking? Is he expecting me to stay at this mob compound for a long time? A long time as in forever? Viper doesn't pay a lot of attention to my surprise but reaches for me and practically drags me through the rest of the house. He seems to be in a hurry somewhere.

"Please I'd really like a quick round tour," I murmur because I've always been like that. If I don't know my environment well enough, I won't be able to relax. As a kid, I even had a hard time with sleepovers. Viper lets out a hiss between his teeth but he nods. He leads me through a large dining area, a clean and a little sterile kitchen, pool room and a glorious library. Well...glorious apart from all the stuffed animals and there seems to be a penchant for the northern ones, grey wolves, arctic foxes and lynx...

We walk farther down the hall, until we stop at a door and Viper opens it up. "This is our bedroom," he rasps. "Make yourself at home."

Throwing a look at him, I murmur, "Ours?"

He nods. "You're staying here. I'm not letting you go back to that hospital again."

"But what about my work?" I gulp. "I'm a nurse and I've worked hard for my degree. I'm not ready to let that go."

Viper gets a shrewd look on his face. "Don't worry, you won't. From now on you will be our nurse."

I stare at him. "What does that mean?"

"It means that a lot of my men get hurt on a regular basis. You will tend to them, provide them with your services and in return I will reward you greatly." He licks his lips. "You can get whatever you want, angel. There's no limit."

My head spins as I look around the room. It's dripping with a severe, cutting elegance which is why I don't know why I feel like I belong. I'm not in my element and yet Viper doesn't have any qualms about making me the nurse to the mob. My eyes trail off to the corner and I let out a surprised squeak,

"Is that what I think it is?" I run over to the suitcase, rummage through it and find my clothes and some other stuff I'll need. I look up at Viper in astonishment but he shrugs.

"I had my maid pack it for you."

"How did she enter my apartment?" I ask and when he throws me a silent glance I murmur, "Never mind." Should I be more upset at him? I'm not sure but thing is that I can't. He's in pain right now because of me and I keep getting flashbacks of what happened in the alley, the way his body shook and the way he gritted his teeth because he refused to move. I wouldn't even be breathing right now if it weren't for him. Getting up from my kneeling position, I glance at him.

"There's just one bed in this room," I say and Viper leans against the bedpost.

"I know. That's the point."

"I'm not sleeping in it with you tonight," I add and Viper looks like he's about to choke on something. "I'll be afraid of rolling over and hurting you. And...and I'm a kicker and you'll keep waking up in the middle of the night."

"I'll take those interruptions and use them to make love to you."

My body flashes hot. It's what I want. Be in that big bed with him, squirm my body under his hand until he touches the right spot. But I wasn't lying when I said I'd be wary of hurting him and on top of it making love to me is out of the question. He has lost so much energy and he should still be in the hospital!

"Is there another room I can use?" I ask, looking at him beneath my lashes and he grinds his jaw.

"Only this one other than the attic or the dungeon." His eyes harden before I catch a rare reluctance to compromise. "Follow me."

Grabbing a pair of silk shorts and a matching tank top, I follow, hoping he won't actually take me to a dungeon. He doesn't because of course he wouldn't do that. Instead, he takes me to a smaller guestroom with a view over the park.

Out of all the rooms, this one is probably the warmest and most feminine.

"This is great," I murmur and when I turn around, I realize Viper is a lot closer than I thought. It's how he moves, silently like a panther which is impressive considering his size. I gasp when I feel his hands on my shoulders and his breath tickles my ear and he's so tall that he needs to bend down extensively.

"Let me at least undress you for bed," he rasps and I nod. My heart speeds up when his fingers go to the buttons and he's taking his time, going so slow that I start to heavily pant. His hand slides down my bare belly before he pulls aside the uniform, leaving me standing in only my bra and panties. I bite my lip when he palms the lacy cups, kissing his way down my throat and unclasps my bra. At the sight of my breasts, he lets out a possessive, animalistic growl.

"Tits made to bring me to my knees and keep me there. You're a ruthless little girl, angel," he adds and brings my mouth to his and his tongue slides over my lips. He pushes me toward the bed, my hands landing on the duvet while Viper's hands land on my buttocks. He gropes it while I squirm and automatically swirl my hips around and he lets out a grunt of appreciation.

My eyes flare when I catch him about to unbuckle his pants and I sit down, whispering, "No lovemaking, remember? As your nurse I have to be responsible."

"You won't be my nurse for long," he warns, "already I'm plotting on how to make you my wife." He bends down and my mouth opens in surprise when he moves my legs aside. "May I?"

I nod even though I'm not sure what he's referring to and my hot cry erupts in the room when he buries his nose against the fabric of my undies.

"Fuck," he curses, between groans that make my mound vibrate, "your little pussy has been soaking in these all day long." He tugs at the fabric with his teeth and his eyes are dark. "I'm jealous."

"D...don't be..." I pant and he gives me a glowering glance as if nothing I say can make him think that us not sleeping with each other is a good idea.

Slowly withdrawing, he grabs my shorts and tank top and helps me put them on. When he presses his lips against mine, I feel a rush of desire in my body. I don't trust myself much longer with him and I murmur,

"I'll see you in the morning."

Straightening, his steely eyes flare but he gives my cheek a stroke and then he leaves. I look at the closed door and I'm already tempted to run after him. Suppressing the urge, I crawl beneath the covers and sleep comes quickly.

****

Stretching, with my eyes still closed, the first thought that pops into my mind is Viper. I'm in his house, in one of his beds and a smile crosses my face and I blink, opening my eyes and twitch. Viper is sitting on a chair in the corner, watching me with a possessive look in his eyes. And he's wearing the same clothes as yesterday...

"You didn't even go to sleep," I cry and he shakes his head.

"Couldn't. Not when you were in here, rubbing on my sheets. I watched you sleep all night."

That explains his bloodshot eyes. "You shouldn't have. You must be exhausted. This was so not the nurse's orders."

Viper's not even listening. "Do you have any idea how stunning you look when you've just woken up?" he asks in that smoky voice of his.

Getting out of bed, I coax my finger at him and he raises his brows in surprise. "I need to check your wounds. Where do you have your medical kit?"

"Dolph will bring it," he rasps, watching me with a stunned expression as if I keep on surprising him.

Five minutes later, we're in his room and he's lying on his bed with his shirt off. He looks at me without blinking and plays with the ends of my hair while I clean him up. When I'm done, he twists my hair around his fist as I make a move to get up and I gasp.

"Viper you have to rest. There's a risk you'll collapse if you don't."

"If I sleep, I won't be able to see you."

"Please listen to me..." I bite my lips, "you're white as a sheet." I've never fussed this much over anyone but his stubbornness is infuriating. "I won't sleep with you until you rest."

"I could seduce you into it." He moves to snatch me but I let out a yelp and chase for the exit. I shoot him a smile but shiver because it seems like he's fuming and then I close the door. Outside I take a deep breath. It's harder to say no to a mobster than I thought. Down in the kitchen I have breakfast, stuffing my face full of fresh fruit and pastries the chef had made for me but I get interrupted by the maid.

"Mr. Roz keeps asking for you." Her face blushes. "He wants you with him upstairs."

"Tell Mr. Roz that he needs to take my advice first," I murmur and flip a page in the newspaper. There's an article about what happened in the alley but it's a tiny one, so small that nobody will pay any attention. Once I'm done with breakfast, I wash up after myself even though the maid says she'll do it but then she smiles at me as if appreciating the gesture. Drying the dishes, I'm busy putting them back on the shelf when I notice a giant man in the corner of my eye. He doesn't say anything, just stares at me with bitterness.

I ignore him and walk out of the kitchen and roam down the hallway and let out a squeak of surprise when I notice there's a movie room. And a popcorn machine! Flipping through the selection, my eyes widen in surprise when there are even movies that aren't out in the cinema yet. Walking out again, I take to the left but I notice a figure moving behind me and I look back.

It's him again. The man who was watching me down in the kitchen and I clench my fists.

"Stop stalking me", I cry and he growls back,

"It's my job."

My jaw slacks. "Viper wants eyes on me even in his own house?"

The guard curtly nods and I roll my eyes. Oh my goodness, Viper truly is something else. He's being way overprotective and I'm not sure what he thinks will happen in his own home but I know better than to protest. The guard follows me around like a shadow everywhere I choose to explore. At first I don't mind so much but after a while, it starts to get on my nerves and I excuse myself by going into the bathroom and then sneak out again when he's not looking.

It feels good to get rid of him and I walk over to the window and glance with longing at the pool that's in the middle of the park. I could use a dip. There are some clouds on the sky but it was a long time since I went for a swim. Besides, maybe the cold water will help soothe the fire I feel on the inside...