Waking up I was pretty cold, it wasn't hard to see why though. Creed had pushed the blankets down so that just his hips and legs were covered with the blanket. The light coming through the blackout curtains was just bright enough to tell me it was around six am. Not wanting to wake Creed up this early by fighting to pull the blankets up, I settled for just crawling closer to him because he was always warm. The man radiated heat. 

Getting closer was easier said than done. I settled on just rolling across the bed until I was touching him. If I was successful in my mission he wouldn't wake up. Once I was touching him there were only a few ways I could actually get comfortable, and laying my arm over those abs was one of them. It also turned out to be the most comfortable. His skin was soft under my fingers which was shocking to me.  I trailed my fingers across his skin not really paying attention to anything else. Running my fingers over his forming scar I thought about what Jackson said. 

"I would have taken to bullet for you to Creed."

I felt his arm moved and I stilled. He didn't move anymore and my fingers trailed closer to what was under the blankets. I wanted the lift the blanket and have a quick peek at what he was working with when he had morning wood but if he woke up I wasn't sure how to explain that shit away. There just wasn't anyway. 

"Alexi. Please move your hands."

Looking at where my hand was it was currently located right in the v of his hips before his boxers started. I wiggled my fingers and the hand that Creed had shoved under the pillow moved to grab my forearm.

"Alexi, That's not safe."

I ignored him in the name of exploring what was under my fingertips and was bound to end up mine at some point. His grip wasn't tight and I was able to move, slowly sliding my fingers lower I met the band of his boxers. I was going to breach the band when my hand was yanked away from his lower area. He was quick to adjust the way I was so that I couldn't move my hands. He had one pinned with his own arm and the other was tucked against my side. He took a look at the window through the blackout curtains before he let out a groan. 

"All this and it's not even eight a.m yet."

I rolled my eyes. His lips looked pillowy this morning, not that I would kiss them or anything. It was just an observation. 

"Alexi go the hell back to sleep."

"What if I can't?"

"I can just hold you here well I sleep then."

I glared at him. Wiggling my hips closer to him I moved my knee over his hips making the man groan loudly. 

"Who are you and where are you hiding Alexi."

"Haha, funny."

"You are never like this."

He was right. I didn't do human contact let alone whatever this was. But I wanted to put my hands on him, I craved to put my hands on him. My fear was still there, But I wanted to touch him more than the fear of keeping my distance. Jackson had made a good point, it wasn't like Creed couldn't protect himself. I could protect myself just as well. 

"Alexi."

"Yes?"

"You're deep in thought. Want to share with me?"

"I would, but I'm not sure how."

Creed pulled me tighter against him. My head was on his heart now and I heard it beating. I had never been this close, close enough to hear his heart. When he spoke his chest vibrated. 

"You have no idea how bad I missed you well I was in Italy. I wanted more than anything to call and bother you just to hear your voice."

"It's too early for this."

"Alexi."

"Nope. I need more sleep before you go start-----"

Creed flipped us so I was under him. Never before had he ever been over me in such a manner. My good hand was against his chest and my bad one was flat on the bed beside me. I didn't feel powerless with him over me, he also was keeping his weight off me. There was clear space between us now and I took that moment to peek under the blankets to see what he was working with. 

"You wouldn't happen to be looking at my real estate are you?"

"What, no. I would never."

"Mhmm. Well then eyes up here."

I looked up only to have Creed touch his lips against mine. His lips were definitely as plump as they looked this morning. We were having a moment but my phone cut that off when it rang. I snagged it off the charger ready to throw a hissy fit. Looking at the screen it was a private Italian number. Hitting the talk button I pushed it to my ear. 

"Alexi speaking, who is this?"

"Ah Good, Still have the right number. This is Siena, I'm finally just able to return your phone call. I've been so busy."

"Yes, your son filled me in when he called."

"Ah yes, I'm sure he explained everything to you about who he is and who his father is."

"Yes, He did, That's why I wanted to speak with you."

"He did make mention of that, also about a DNA test that he had now had done of course."

"Glad to hear that, I'll be waiting for the results to hit my email of course."

"I would expect no different of you Alexi. How is that uncle of yours?"

"He was well the last time I checked, But I must ask you something, Why now are you trying to tell my uncle about his son?"

"He was safe well my father was alive, but he's not safe anymore and I need Andrei to take his son."

"How is he no longer safe?"

"Alexi, He was safe well my father was alive because my father adored the boy, even though he is a direct copy of that damned man. My now ex-husband doesn't favour the only one of the children that aren't his. There have been small attempts on his life. He isn't even allowed to leave our home. Things are only getting worse and it's no longer safe for him to be here. I would call Don Vincent to discuss this, but I felt like Andrei should know before I hand my beloved son to him."

"I see, I will make sure Maddox is well assessed of the current situation. You can expect a call back regardless. Siena, I will make sure we do everything on our end to help."

I gave her the current number for my uncle, she needed to tell him all this herself. Where I stood now, I needed to inform Maddox about this. Which meant getting the fuck out of this bed where I was quite happy to stay. Siena hung up on me and no doubt called my uncle. I snagged a pair of sweat pants from the closet and pulled them on. Creed was also dressed just a quickly as I was. We both ignored shoes as we moved as quickly as we could. Maddox would still be in bed with Emerson. We no doubt would be in for his shitty attitude but it was important.