I'm jolted out of my dream, my eyes opening and the memories fading into fog, replaced by the familiar surroundings of my room. It takes me a moment to remember that it was all just a dream, a damn good one, but only a dream nonetheless.
My mind was still filled with the images and memories of the dream, so real a few seconds ago that I can almost still feel that aching heat from the memories. As I realize that it was just a dream, I feel so damn frustrated.
The doorbell rings.
The sound of the doorbell suddenly rings through my apartment, the unexpected noise jolting me fully awake. I blink a few times, trying to shake off the last remnants of the dream and the aching need that's still lingering in my veins.
Who in the hell could be visiting at this hour?
Curiosity wins out over my lingering frustration, and I toss back the covers and swing my legs out of bed. I try to fix my messy hair and pull the nightgown down to cover my thighs a little, not really caring that I probably look like a damn mess.
I pad barefoot across the apartment and to the door, unlocking it and opening it just enough to see who's standing outside.
Rei is standing there with a bouquet of flowers with that bright smile of his, spread across his beautiful face.
"Good morning, my sleeping beauty." He says lovingly.
I'm so surprised to see him standing there, smiling at me and holding a goddamn bouquet of flowers, that I can only stand dumbly in the doorway for a moment, staring like a damn idiot as my already confused mind struggles to process the fact that he's here. He grins, raising an eyebrow at my dazed expression.
"You gonna let me in, princess?"
I blink a few times as he stands there, grinning at me patiently. I snap out of my stupor, realizing I've been standing there like an idiot for too long. I let him in with a smile, my heart still beating a little faster from how surprised I am.
"What the heck are you doing here?" I ask teasingly, watching as he steps inside. "And since when did we turn into Beauty and the Beast, with you bringing me flowers and calling me a princess? Are you secretly a Disney prince or something?"
He laughs as he steps inside, closing the door behind him. He holds up the flowers, still grinning at me, that familiar cocky smile in place.
"What, I can't bring my girl flowers? And what's a princess without her prince?" He says, his voice filled with playful teasing. He steps closer, his eyes roaming over me, taking in my dishevelled state and the nightgown I'm wearing. His gaze darkens slightly at the sight of me in the nightdress, his eyes tracing my body.
I feel his gaze rake over me, his eyes darkening as they linger on the nightdress that's just barely covering my body. The heat in his eyes makes me shiver, even as I try to play it cool and act like his attention doesn't affect me.
"Seriously, though," I say, my voice still light and teasing. "You can't just show up unannounced with flowers and start calling me princess. It's too damn early for you to be this ridiculously romantic."
He laughs again, taking a step closer until we're practically standing chest to chest. He reaches out and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his touch gentle but possessive.
"What, I'm not allowed to be romantic first thing in the morning?" He says, his voice a low rumble that makes my heart skip a beat. "I figured it was the best time to catch you off guard, princess. And besides, you look damn good in that nightdress. You're killing me here."
His words combined with the heat in his eyes and the close proximity to him are making my mind feel hazy, but I still manage to keep my voice light and teasing.
"Oh, you like the nightgown, do you?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him. I know how damn good the nightgown looks on me. The fact that it's leaving almost nothing to the imagination was the whole damn point. "Is that why you're over here, then? To ogle me in my nightgown first thing in the morning?"
His eyes darken even more as I taunt him, the heat in his eyes making me shiver. He moves even closer so that we're almost touching, and he leans in to murmur in my ear.
"You know damn well I like the nightgown, princess. And you know damn well you're wearing it because you know how it drives me crazy every time I see you in it. Don't try to act all innocent, sweetheart. It's not gonna work."
His voice is a low, rough growl in my ear, and combined with the heat of his body pressed so close to mine and the possessive look in his eyes, it sends a bolt of heat straight to my core. I try to keep my voice casual, even as I shiver at his words.
"Who, me?" I say with mock surprise. "Acting innocent? I would never. I'm the picture of innocence, especially when I'm wearing a nightdress like this."
He growls again, the sound sending another shiver down my spine. He runs his hand up my side, his fingers teasing at the hem of the nightgown.
"Innocent my ass, sweetheart. The only thing innocent about you is this damn nightdress. You know damn well you're wearing this to tease me. Don't act like you don't know the effect you have on me."
I try to fight the shiver that his touch is sending through my body, but I can't stop the way my breath hitches softly as his fingers glide up my side. I swallow hard, my voice a bit breathless as I respond.
"Maybe I just like wearing it because it's comfortable." I say playfully, trying to keep up the act. "You've got a dirty mind if you think I'm wearing it to tease you."
He huffs out a rough laugh, the sound almost a growl, as he pulls me even closer. His hand on my side tightens, his fingers digging possessively into my skin.
"Oh, sweetheart. Don't try to bullshit me. We both know damn well you're wearing it to drive me insane. And goddamn it, it's working."
I gasp as he pulls me closer, his touch rough and possessive and setting a fire under my skin. His eyes are fixed on mine, the heat in them making it hard to think straight.
I try to come up with a smart retort, but the way he's looking at me is making it damn near impossible. I can feel my heart beating faster as I struggle to hold his gaze and not give in to the heat pooling in my belly.
"I… I… that's not…" I stammer, trying to defend myself.
He lets out a low, rough chuckle as I stammer, clearly enjoying my attempt to come up with an excuse. His hand on my side tightens its grip even more, his fingers almost digging into my skin.
"You don't have to lie, princess. We both know damn well the only reason you're wearing this nightdress is because you want me to lose my damn mind." he murmurs, his voice low and gravelly.
I can feel my body responding to him, my skin tingling with heat and my heart beating faster the longer he holds my gaze. His words are like a damn caress against my skin, making it damn near impossible to think straight.
I try to come up with another protest, but all that comes out is a soft gasp as he pulls me even closer against him until our bodies are pressed together completely.
"I… I… this isn't… goddamn it, stop looking at me like that..."
He chuckles at my attempt to defend myself, clearly not buying my protests for a damn second. He moves his other hand to my waist, pulling me even closer so that there's no space between us at all.
"You're only just making it worse, princess. The more you protest and try to act all innocent, the harder you're making it for me to keep my damn hands off you." he murmurs in a low, rough voice, his eyes raking over my body again.
I try to steady my breathing, but I can feel it coming out in short, shallow gasps as he pulls me impossibly close. I can feel every inch of his body pressed up against mine, setting my skin on fire, and it's all I can do to keep from melting into a damn puddle right here.
I try to come up with some clever retort, but all I can manage is a whispered, breathless plea, my voice almost a whimper.
"You're not playing fair, goddamn it…"
He laughs again at my words, clearly enjoying how damn affected I am by him. His hands tighten on my waist, his fingers digging into my skin almost painfully now.
"Playing fair, sweetheart? When have I ever played fair?" he murmurs, his voice a low, gravelly growl. "You think I'm not trying my damn hardest to keep my hands off you right now? I'm a goddamn minute away from ripping that damn nightgown right off you, princess."
I let out a soft gasp at his words, his possessive grip on my waist and the heat in his eyes sending a bolt of heat straight to my core. I can feel my body responding to him, my legs almost going weak as he holds me close.
I manage to find my voice again, but it's breathless and shaky as I reply.
"Y-You damn well better not rip this nightgown, I just bought it…"
He huffs out a rough laugh, his eyes glittering with possessiveness and heat.
"Oh, princess, don't tempt me. You think I care if you just bought it? If it means getting you out of it, I'll rip the damn thing to pieces." he murmurs, one of his hands leaving my waist and moving upwards to toy with a strap of the nightgown.
I shiver as he touches the strap of the nightgown, my breath hitching in my throat at the possessive gesture. I try to come up with a smartass comment, but all I can do is let out a soft gasp as his fingers trail along the strap, sending a trail of heat across my skin.
"You… you're a goddamn menace." I manage to stammer out, my voice shaky and breathless. "This nightgown was expensive, you bastard."
He chuckles again, clearly enjoying the effect he's having on me. His fingers continue to play with the strap, his touch almost maddening in its possessiveness.
"Expensive, huh? I don't give two damns about that, sweetheart. If it's in the way of me getting you naked, I'll rip it to pieces without a second thought. And as for me being a menace, princess, you have no goddamn idea."
I try to keep up my defiant act, but his words and the way he's playing with the nightgown's strap is making it damn near impossible. I can feel my body responding to him, my heart pounding in my chest and heat pooling in my core.
I reach up to swat at his hand, feigning annoyance. "Stop playing with the damn strap, you bastard. You're going to ruin it."
He huffs out another rough laugh, clearly not at all intimidated by my feigned annoyance. His fingers continue to toy with the nightgown's strap, his touch almost lazy and infuriatingly possessive.
"Ruin it, sweetheart? If I have my way, that nightgown will be in shreds on the damn floor." he murmurs, his voice a low, gravelly drawl. "The only thing it'll be good for at that point is as a damn rag."
I swallow hard as he speaks, his words making my heart race and my body ache with heat. I can feel my resolve weakening, my attempts to be defiant slowly, unraveling under his possessive touch and heated words.
I try to keep up the act, but all I can manage is another breathless gasp as his fingers tighten on the damn strap again.
"Y-You're a damn caveman, you know that?"
He laughs at my words, the sound dark and rough.
"Damn right I am, princess. And when it comes to you, I don't give a damn about being civilized. You bring out the caveman in me, sweetheart. And right now, all I can think about is getting you out of this damn nightgown and into your bed."
I can feel heat pooling in my core at his words, the heat in his voice and the possessiveness his touch making it damn near impossible to think straight. His fingers are still playing with the damn strap, driving me insane with every moment.
"You… you wouldn't dare…" I manage to gasp out, but even to my own ears, the protest sounds more like a damn plea.
I can see a wicked smirk twitching at the corners of his lips at my words, his eyes glittering with a dark, predatory heat.
"You're really going to test me, princess? You really think I wouldn't dare? You have no damn idea, sweetheart. You have no idea just how damn determined I am when it comes to you." he murmurs, his voice a low, rough growl as his fingers continue to toy with the strap, every touch sending a jolt of heat through me.
I shiver at the heat in his voice and the possessiveness in his eyes, my heart beating faster and faster. His words are sending heat straight to my core, and I'm almost embarrassed by how hard my own body is reacting to him. I can feel my protests weakening, my will to resist fading more and more with every passing second.
I try to keep up the defiant act, but my voice is shaky and breathless as I respond.
"You're insufferable, you know that, you damn bastard?"