As stared down at Meredith with furrowed brows, his mouth a grim line, as the knock on the door sounded again.


    "What should I do?" Meredith asked, panickedced in her tone.


    "Go and open the door. I will hide in the bathroom." He murmured hurriedly.


    Meredith nodded and quickly put on her nightwear. As As got up from the bed, Meredith noticed his big bulge. She flushed and tried not to lick her lips as she watched him put on his pants.


    "Princess are you there? I hear some voices, are you okay?" Maria''s concerned voice sounded behind her bedroom door.


    Meredith scurried toward the door, throwing a few nces at him over her shoulder as he walked toward the bathroom.


    Meredith stumbled into the small table near the door entryway, knocking a vase to the floor. It shattered noisily and she cringed.


    "Princess! I''ming in!" Maria said, paned in her voice.


    "N-No-no, I''m fine!" Meredith shouted once she opened the door.


    Her chest heaved and she tried to calm down her beating heart. Fortunately she was wearing the ring, Marcus had given her so no one could read her emotions right now.


    "Maria….what''s up?" Meredith asked, her voice slightly shaking with her hand on her waist and brows arched.


    Maria cast a suspicious look at herdy, "Are you alright princess? I heard some voices and I thought…"


    "I''m fine." Meredith interjected, rubbing her neck.


    "Are you sure?" Maria questioned, raising a suspicious brows


    "Yeah, I was doing exercise. I''m sure the voice you heard was the online instructor''s voice."


    "Hmm but you''re not even sweating and you''re still wearing your nightwear-"


    "Maria-" Meredith interrupted her maid.


    "Yes mydy."


    "Are you questioning me?" Meredith asked, crossing her arms across her chest as she red at Maria.


    "N-no mydy. I apologize for my bad manners." Maria quickly bowed her head in submission.


    "Good. Don''t forget your ce." Meredith said sternly. She didn''t want to be rude to Maria but she had no choice.


    She had to act tough or Maria wouldn''t stop questioning her and she was in a hurry to run back into As''s arms.


    "Why are you here this early?" Meredith questioned.


    With her head still bowed, Maria replied, "The prince asked me to help you prepare. He wants to show you something."


    "Marcus?"


    Maria nodded, "Yeah."


    Meredith bit her lips and contemted on how she was going to send Maria away in order to sneak As out.


    "That…can you get me sanitary pads?" Meredith feigned shyness as she tucked her hair behind her ear.


    Understanding passed through Maria''s eyes and she nodded, "Yes, mydy. I will be right back with it."


    Maria said and darted out to find the sanitary pads for Meredith.


    Meredith breathed a sigh of relief once Maria left and closed the door.


    She gasped in surprise when she felt someone hugging her from behind.


    She turned around and As tugged her forward, against his chest. He had put on shirts.


    He wrapped his arms around her and Meredith breathed in hisforting scent, nuzzling her cheek against his warmth.


    As buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply, his arms tightening around her.


    "I wish I could hold you like this forever." As murmured.


    "I wish it didn''t have to end." Meredith said, smiling softly at him.


    As removed his hands from her waist and he lifted his hands, cupping her face gently. He tilted her face upward and met her gaze with his beautiful blue eyes.


    His eyes were filled with the strangest mixture of sadness and happiness, as he studied her face.


    "Mmm.. me too."


    He breathed as his eyes shifted back and forth between her own. He joined his forehead to hers.


    "I want you to know that I enjoy every moment spent with you. Our moments are always special to me and I will cherish them for the rest of my existence."


    A tear slipped from her eyes as she smiled at him. As tenderly brushed his thumb and wiped away the tear.


    "I know. Me, too." Meredith whispered.


    "Hmm so I''m going to be selfish, Angel. Because I cherish our moments so much I can''t let it be just one moment. I want more." As kissed Meredith''s lips softly before he pulled away.


    "Even if you marry the vampire lord, I will never stop wanting you."


    Meredith nodded in understanding and cupped As''s cheek.


    "I''m sorry for being with you like this. You deserve so much better As. Not stolen moments behind closed doors. I wish I could give you more."


    Another tear rolled down her cheeks and As kissed them away. He pulled her closer to him.


    "I don''t care how I get to be with you Angel, even if it''s a stolen moment behind closed doors, I will cherish it."


    Meredith had no idea how long they stood there, lost in each other''s embrace and both not wanting to let go.


    Meredith pulled away and a sad smile graced her lips. She knew their moment wasing to an end and very soon Maria woulde back.


    "Come, you can leave through the front door."


    As frowned at her suggestion, "Are you sure? What if someone sees you?"


    Meredith shrugged, "I will tell them you came to visit me. You''re a friend I made at the ballst night."


    As chuckled, "My Angel is bing a naughty girl. You''re getting better at lying."


    Meredith stuck out a tongue at him and took his hand, leading him out of the bedroom.


    Once they opened the entrance door, they came face to face with Maria.


    "Prince-" Maria trailed off when she saw Meredith holding As''s hand.


    "Maria!" Meredith called out, anxiety welling up inside of her gut.


    "Who-are you?" Maria asked, her eyes wide with shock.


    Meredith exchanged a nervous nce with As.


    "I will take my leave, princess." As bowed slightly at Meredith and left her alone with Maria.


    "Did you get the sanitary pads?" Meredith asked as she walked back into the room ignoring Maria''s curious look.


    "Ah-yes…" Maria snapped out of stupor and replied.


    "Princess…." Maria called out shyly.


    "Yeah?" Meredith turned around facing Maria.


    "D-do you want something to hide your hickeys?"