The one where she hit him

~ Bella ~

With a giant yelp, I tumbled backwards and landed heavily in Nikolai's lap.

I smacked him upside of the head. His only response was a light laugh.

"Like what you see?" He asked.

I blushed furiously. I struggled to get out of his lap but he locked his arms around me. Try as I might, I couldn't break his grip.

"Let me up, Nikolai!" I exclaimed, struggling against him.

"I see that you've regained your strength. That's good," he teased.

I gave up. I couldn't even budge him. I folded my arms and huffed in annoyance.

"I can't believe you fell asleep too," I said sourly. "What a guard you are. If someone was trying to attack me, you'd be--"

"Awake and holding their heads in my hand before they could get past the door," he said. His voice was cold with assurance and a touch of male pride.

I smirked. "Really? I got pretty close to you without you realizing," I pointed out.

He smirked right back. "And I knew the very moment you woke up. I know how you crawled your way one inch at a t