THE BILLIONAIRE'S GIRLFRIEND

THIRTY

When Malora got up by five a.m., Titan was still asleep beside her on the king-sized bed. She took few minutes to appreciate the fine view the man presented before her bladder forced her to the bathroom. After doing her business, she seized the opportunity to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Malora returned to the room to find Titan still deeply asleep, which was highly unusual, but it pleased her greatly to see him let his guard down like this around her. She slipped on the Royal blue robe and grabbed before retreating to the balcony to watch the sunrise over the Grand Canal.

The canal wasn't occupied by the normal gondolas that dominated it during the day and its murky waters glittered with the soft orange glow of the rising sun. Although she'd once read that the canal smelled sometimes, Malora was glad that this wasn't one of those times.

The question Titan posed to her the night before rang in her mind, which prompted her to call Mika. Her friend friend didn't answer the phone which annoyed Malora, but she chalked it up to the time difference. She needed someone to talk to right now. So much was happening and it was mind-blowing.

Her sister has been missing for over a year now, her nephew was dead, and something strange happened to her which hurt her, yet Titan wasn't willing to tell her anything.

Then, there was the case of the nightmare she'd been having. She couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow all related.

"Hey."

Malora turned to see Titan in the doorway, shirtless, and looking all roughened up and hot at the same time. Even the bed creases on his cheeks made him look ravishing. His eyes were lidded with that just-got-out-of-bed look, and that happy trail leading into his sweatpants gave her ideas that was too rated for the early morning sun.

"Hey," she responded, suddenly all self-conscious.

"Can't sleep?" He made no move to join her, but his eyes did take inventory of her body. It took years of practice not to make her squirm under his scrutiny.

"Yeah." She pulled the lapel of her robe tighter around her body. "Hoped to catch the sunrise."

"Oh."

Lawd. This was so painfully awkward. It was like chickens dancing around each other, wanting to attack, yet warry or something a bit more mature. You know.

"Couldn't sleep either?" She questioned him when the silence lapsed for too long.

He shrugged.

Malora nodded, then turned around to watch as the sun slowly rose over the canal, lightning it up so that it glittered like liquid jewels. She knew he was behind her, but did not want to see the look on his face. If he had something to say, he could tell her, and if he didn't...well,she'd provided the perfect escape for him.

She was startled when arms encircled her waist and his chin came to rest at the top of her head. This was the second time he'd willingly held her without the intent of bedding her, and this was as surprising as it had been the first time.

"You didn't think I'd leave you to watch it alone?" He asked somewhere above her head.

"I didn't realize you're a fan of watching the sunrise." She answered honestly. "You're a very surprising man."

"'An enigma', Forbes once called me."

She smiled. It was hard not to when he was being like this. "Truer words have never been spoken."

"Hey!" He huffed in mock annoyance. "Aren't you suppose to refute that?"

Malora couldn't have restrained her laugh even if she wanted to.