I'm being watched again. Juliet could feel the same cold eyes staring at her as she lay in bed, pretending to be asleep. Try as she might, she couldn't ignore it and so, gave a huge stretch and a yawn, hoping to scare away the stranger away. It didn't work.

Despite the absence of light, Juliet could make out a shadow as it got up and made its way over to the bed. Her heart raced as he made his way closer and involuntarily, she tightened the robe that clothed her.

"How are you feeling?" the voice whispered as the shadow figure sat on the bed in front of her.

She chided herself for being so jumpy. He was only trying to help after all. "I'm feeling better, thank you."

"You're welcome."

A short silence followed and then she asked. "Why are we whispering?"

"There are some other people outside, also sleeping and recuperating. I don't want to wake anyone else."

"Oh." She sat there, not knowing what else to say. "Where's the light? It's a little dark in here."

"I didn't want to turn it on. I saw how poorly your eyes reacted when I came in to rescue you and I figured I should let your eyes rest some more and let them adjust to the light a little bit at a time."

She smiled although she knew he couldn't see her. "That was considerate of you."

"It was no big deal."

Silence rested over the two again. Then he let his hand travel over to her hair, brushing some of it back behind her ear. "So did you keep your promise and take care of yourself?"

Closing her eyes and letting her head rest against the palm of his hand, she nodded her head, suddenly finding it hard to say anything at all.

"I waited so long, Juliet," he continued to whisper. "It was torture not being with you and it was even greater torture not knowing what those bastards were doing to you." He reached and cupped her face with his hands.

"I'm fine now," she replied back, trying to dismiss the past with her words. Still, a catch in her voice managed to break down her facade.

"I was so worried." He drew her into his arms and started rocking her back and forth.

"Shh," she said, reaching up to brush away some of the tears she felt were rolling down his face. "It's over and I'm safe now thanks to you."

He drew her closer, inhaling her sweet scent before placing a kiss on her forehead. "You should go to bed. It's late."

"Bed?" She quietly chuckled. "I've slept for how many hours straight and you want me to go back to bed? I'm too wide awake."

"Well then, maybe I should leave you alone. You do need to get some rest and I'm distracting you."

He slowly began pulling himself away but she clung on tightly. "Don't leave me. Please. I'm scared."

In an instant, he was back by her side. "Okay, okay. I won't leave you. I already promised myself I would never leave you and I plan to keep it. I'm right here."

She hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry. I'm being selfish. It's just that I got so scared…"

When he noticed that she wasn't going to go on, he offered her his sympathy. "I bet. Move over so I can sit on the bed beside you and then you can tell me all about it."

She did as she was told and soon she was cuddled up in his arms, slowly spilling her story. "It was horrible. I never felt so isolated in my life. And those people. They did terrible things to me. It hurt too. It all hurt."

He let her cry into his shirt for a while. When she began calming down, he gently lifted her face up so he could wipe away the remaining tears. "I'm sorry I wasn't there," he mumbled. And then he got an idea. "Let me help you."

"Huh? You've already done enough, Lance. I-"

"Please. I just wanted to give you a massage to help with some of the pain."

Again, Juliet felt she could have kicked herself for this one. Cool it, Juliet. He's only trying to help. She turned her back to him and then had to stifle a moan when his strong hands began to knead her sore and aching muscles. "That feels wonderful, Lance."

"I'm glad," he replied. When he was finished, he asked her how she felt.

Once again, she snuggled up close to him, back in his arms. "Pretty good. If only I could pay you back-"

He quickly lifted a finger to her mouth, keeping her from saying anymore. "Don't even think about it. You've earned it."

Juliet froze, not out of fear but at the new feeling she was receiving. She'd tried to deny it all night but this was too much to ignore. Does he realize how his touch is affecting me? He'd been nothing but kind and gentle with her ever since she got here and now she felt her heart race again with this intimate gesture.

As if he knew what she was thinking, he drew back all of a sudden. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that. That was cruel of me. After what you've been through, another guy's touch should be horrible to endure."

Juliet clung once more to his hand though, as he made his way to get out of the bed. "No, it's all right. I mean, it's okay. Don't leave. It's just all new to me, this feeling. I've never been touched with such gentleness before, you know."

"And once again, I'm sorry for never being there when you needed me most," his ragged whisper answered as he got back into bed with her. "But I swear, I'll never leave you again, not if I can help it." As if to reaffirm his declaration, he took her hands in his and kissed them both.

Juliet couldn't help the shudder that ran through her when his lips lingered on her skin. Lightly, his lips sought out the wound on her right arm. "Does it hurt?"

"No," she managed to answer. Her breathing grew ragged and she grew light-headed as he kissed it in an attempt to make it feel better anyway.

And then he stopped. "Jules, I won't go on if you don't want me to. I understand-"

This time, she placed a finger on his lips. "No. I don't want you to stop, please."

That was all he needed and he finally drew her up for a kiss that he'd been longing to give her for quite sometime now. The kiss literally took her breath away and when they parted, she whimpered slightly, wanting more. He gave it to her, excited by her willing response. Gently, he lowered them down onto the bed and continued to kiss her.

Juliet's blood ran hot as she surrendered to his kisses. Her heart raced when a hand softly traced the underside of her jaw, loving the way his fingertips brushed her skin. Once more, he hesitated, his fingers tracing the outline of her robe. "If I'm going to far-"

She silenced him with another kiss. Taking that as a green light, he gently lifted himself up for a moment to take off the shirt he had on. He could feel her approval when her own hands began roving his bare skin. He enjoyed the attention he was receiving a moment longer before lowering his face down for another kiss.

He heard yet another whimper as she tugged on the drawstring of his boxers. Willingly, he obliged. His hands now clung to her, pressing her to him and still, he waited. As if sensing his hesitation, she slowed down. "What is it?"

"I don't want to hurt you, Juliet," his ragged voice answered. "You're supposed to be healing. They hurt you-"

She placed a finger on his mouth. "Please, Lance." Her voice was coated with desire and it was the last time he needed to be asked.

He helped her untie her robe, letting it join his own clothes in a heap next to the bed. Juliet never felt so happy or complete in her life. She enjoyed the feeling of his touch, the warmth of his skin next to hers. And afterwards, she lay content in his arms.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"For what?"

"Everything."

He chuckled quietly and bent over to give her another sweet kiss. "You're very much welcome."

Juliet leaned back, dreamily running her fingers over his bare chest and down his arms. Then she reached up to stroke hair she'd often teased him about in the past. The way it was always cut short-

Juliet frowned, the ill feeling she'd gotten long ago suddenly rushed back. His hair… It was way too long. I wasn't gone that long, was I? As she lowered her hand though, she felt something strange brush up against her skin. Earrings? Lance would never pierce his ears! Working up the nerve, she croaked out into the darkness. "Have you been growing out your hair?"

"Huh?" he asked, sleepily. "No. It's always been this way."

"Did you get your ears pierced recently?"

"Nope. I've had them done for a long time now."

She suddenly found it very hard to swallow but she had to know. "Lance?"

Out of the darkness, he chuckled. "I'm not Lance."

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